Why I love will call... and more from Mason's big "Day Out" surprise

Sorry for the long post and obscene number of pictures without a slide show or something; going to Day Out With Thomas at the Heber Valley Railroad was a huge day for us!

So, I'm a mean mom and I didn't ever tell Mason where we were going. The night before, I told him that me and his dad had a very special surprise for him in the morning, but he would have to wait until Dad was home from work so he could ask where we were going. Alan also opted out of telling him, instead waiting until we arrived for that first look of surprise as he realized we were going to see Thomas in person.

Mom's first stop was the main ticket counter (more on that in a minute). Afterward, with our train ride secured and everything settled, we headed over to temporarily tattoo our kid. It was his choice to get them on his cheeks. And since each person with a wristband got a tattoo, Alan generously donated his to Mason's cause so Mason didn't have to choose between Rosie and Henry. If Mason had three cheeks, I would've donated mine too so he could have had another. Also, he loves them so much that he is pretty dedicated to the idea of not showering so that they won't go down the drain.

Legotown. I was very nice and didn't post the clear picture I have of the person who obviously built it standing guard. He took it very seriously for something that was on display for a million little kids. I'm sure if I worked that hard on something I would guard it with my life as well, but Legos have never been my thing. In fact, just ask Mason-- I even hate picking them up.

Mason loved the hay maze and took off at full speed with Alan hot on his heels. He only made two wrong turns. I think Mason could find his way through anything if there was a train on the other side.

This is how he spent the majority of our train ride. He pointed out to me later that he hung out the window and didn't fall on the tracks. We were grateful for that.

Claire handled the outing like a champ. She enjoyed a rather long nap in her comfy stroller, other than one lunch break. I must say I was glad they provided a nursing spot. I just wish it hadn't been downwind from the petting zoo, in a dirty tent in the parking lot, with fold up metal chairs to sit on. I guess nothing will beat the set up I have at home with my rocking chair (Shani, that link is for you if you ever have the chance to read this again! You said you wanted a chair like mine).

We were too cheap and hot to pay for the pictures with the front of Thomas because we let Mason pick a souvenir instead. So we opted for pictures next to the famous #1 before the train took off.


Mason and Dad walking down the tracks back toward the car.

This is what happens when you get a boy to bed late, get him up early, and give him more excitement than he can possibly handle in one morning. He slept like that all the way home from Heber.

Now, for the adult side of the recounting. I don't know if I've mentioned it before, but I LOVE Will Call. I'm not organized enough to keep track of something as small as tickets, and definitely not for the time period that is often required. Well, apparently if you order your tickets for Day Out with Thomas more than three weeks in advance, will call is not an option and you must receive them in the mail. I hated that. I hated that I received them days before I had Claire (an event which in many ways reconstituted what brain I had left into mush). I hate that I put them "somewhere safe", which in my world means they will never be found again. I also hate that everything on Ticket Web says "no exchanges, no refunds, basically don't lose these or you will have just paid an obscene amount of money for nothing".

I love that Heber Valley Railroad was so nice and reprinted our tickets and let us switch to a different time for the train ride when my failure to cope well with getting two small children out of the house led to us arriving for our train ride only right on time (which would have been fine if could find the tickets). If we go again, I'm waiting to order tickets until less than three weeks before and I'm picking them up at Will Call.

Overall, as parents, we loved Day Out with Thomas for our train-lovin' boy. We commited to go (and arranged with grandma to be a backup if necessary since the day out was so close to my due date) so that Mason could have an activity a little more centered around him in this post-Claire world where he is no longer the center of attention. I think it was an outing he benefitted from in many more than just the obvious ways, and it's something special we did together as a family that he will remember for a long time.