Our Day Out with Thomas....and Gabriel....and Horsey

Guess who we spent our last Saturday in April with?!

If you have a kiddo who loves trains and you've heard that Day Out with Thomas is coming to a railroad station near you, I actually recommend purchasing the over-priced ticket. Couldn't pay enough to see the one million smiles on Judah's face that day. Oh, and for all you practical mama's out there~the event is very well organized and there is much more to do than a 30-minute train ride. We met Thomas at Baltimore's B&O Railroad Museum...another must-see if you're in our neck of the woods...Thomas or no Thomas.

First things first~riding on the train Thomas was "pulling." Once inside the train, this concept was a little difficult for Judah to grasp but luckily we were on the first car, so he got to see the bright blue engine through the door.

Not really sure that mattered, though. He just thought it was cool to be riding a train. The only "train" Judah knows is the DC Metro (subway) and let's face it, it's not quite the same :-)

Fortunately, Judah's best buddy Gabriel was able to sit with us. My child literally explodes with excitement each time he's with Gabriel.

{Yes, Gabriel and Judah are the same age and yes, they are both Ethiopian (I know you were wondering:-). I'm incredibly blessed by a friendship with Gabriel's mama, and we think our little boys have a special bond.}

While riding the train, there was music and a Thomas story over the speaker....complete with "peep peeps" and steam from Thomas' tank seen from the windows. And we can't forget the conductor who punched our ticket (Judah thought this was awesome) and gave the passengers a certificate at the end.

Is it just me, or does this conductor actually look like Sir Topham Hat?!

After the ride, Judah had to tell/sign Thomas "thank you."

There was lots to do after the train ride....like ride more trains.

I cannot believe my child did not try to jump out of this quickly-moving train. Look how frozen he was. The next pic is when I told him to wave at Mommy/the camera as he passed.

He and Gabriel rode yet another train together. This pic is typical J and G: Judah smiling at Gabriel as Gabriel talks and talks.

Just a warning that the next pics will MELT. YOUR. HEART.

This day gets more and more monumental because not only does Judah ride a train for the first time, but he also rides a HORSE. I could not believe it when he saw the horses and wanted insisted to ride. I thought he would for sure chicken-out when Daddy got to the front of the line (remember Santa?) But my brave boy rode the "baby horsey" and loved every minute.

I told you I would explain his new-found love of horseys ;-) I've since bought him a miniature toy horse to whom he gave the name "Baseball." No kidding. Baseball the Horse~his two favorite obsessions.

What a great day, filled with three of Judah's favorite things. Maybe we'll see you again next year Thomas. Peep peep!

Discovery

Although this fun event occurred one month ago and I clearly thought it was cooler than Judah did, I still want to document it....

We saw a space shuttle! The very last space shuttle ever (for now anyways). A space shuttle "riding" on an airplane~the way I described it to Judah.

I've been to Cape Canaveral and grew up near a NASA's Space & Rocket Center. However, to see Discovery circling our great city from our National Mall before it landed at Dulles' Smithsonian was way cool.

and much to my surprise, it became closer

and closer

and closer

I think Judah understood as best he could, but he probably had more fun blowing bubbles with Marilyn.

Space shuttles flying over the Mall. Just reason #5,479 I love this city.

Complicated

Today is complicated and has been surprisingly difficult for me. With the novelty of my first Mother's Day celebration in the past, I am reminded how difficult this day was for me for so many years. This year, my heart knows so much joy, yet it continues to groan and ache.

I am grateful for the miraculous gift of motherhood, yet my heart aches for the many women who are longing and waiting for this gift.

I am grateful for God choosing Judah to be my son, yet my heart aches for the many children of the world who have no one to call mommy.

I am grateful for an amazing mother who has always been my biggest cheerleader and greatest comforter, yet my heart aches because I long to see her more than a few times per year and I want to squeeze her tightly today.

I am grateful for a mother-in-law who loves me like her own, yet my heart aches because miles separate us too, and I know how difficult it is for all of her boys and grandchildren to live so far away.

I am grateful for two beautiful "grand" mothers who were such an integral part of my childhood, yet my heart aches because both no longer walk this earth and I miss them so.
               
I am grateful for the ultimate sacrifice and love of Judah's birth mother, yet my heart aches with her heartache and what must be overwhelming grief and emptiness.

I am grateful for precious mommy-friends who inspire me daily and a husband who encourages me to be the best mom I can be, yet my heart aches for mommies with little support and who struggle to make ends meet.

It's all gratitude, however, that I have a God who carries me through the complications and turns my sorrow into joy.

I'll leave you with a quote from one of my favorite resources for women who long to be mothers...
[As Hebrews 11 demonstrates)], "God never promises that He will reward the faithful with an easy road through life.... what God promises us is that He will eventually, either in this life or the life to come, turn our adversity into our profit."
               
             

Derby, Party of 3

Two fantastic events converged last Saturday, May 5th....Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby! Considering this family's love for Mexican food and Judah's new-found passion for horses (more on that in a different post), I planned a party. The guest list was small (thanks to our small place), but the idea to celebrate both occasions was big.... what could be better than guacamole, mint margaritas, fried chicken, Derby pie, big hats, the greatest 2 minutes of sports, and precious toddlers "horsing around?!" Menu was planned, invitations sent, and kids' activities were ordered. What we were not planning for was our little Judah to be sick :-( Ultimately, the party was canceled but we did our best to celebrate with our little party of three. Judah seemed to feel horrible (thanks to an ear infection) but I was thankful that the guacamole and horseys brought brief smiles to his face :-)

Laughing at all the stick horseys that were going to be used for Judah and his friends to recreate their own Derby

Helping Mommy in the kitchen. Don't worry, he didn't get a taste of this....

Still enjoying the guac and his juice with mint leaves through the tears and runny nose

Horseshoes with Daddy! So serious...You know he feels badly when he gets his "papis" outside of his crib

How about a little horsey art with fun stickers?!

Okay, he's all done and ready for night-night. Maybe next year...

Sopper

I never thought it would happen so soon, but I am officially a soccer mom (or "sopper mom," as Judah says). Yep, every Wednesday afternoon Judah has "soccer class" with Coach John at one of our local parks. (Coach John needs no last name; he is famous with the pre-schoolers in the DC community). Judah will miss class (again) this afternoon due to not feeling well, so I thought I'd at least blog about it.

Some people think I'm crazy when they hear that he already "plays soccer." But let's be honest~there are no games involved, no one is keeping score, and it provides twenty minutes of energy-releasing entertainment for several 2 year-olds and their mamas. I was a little skeptical myself at first, but I was hooked from the very first class. It provided a sneak peak at Judah's enthusiasm and love for all things sports, and I was so impressed with how well he listened and followed directions.

We arrived a little early (shocking), so Judah was able to see the older kids' class in action. He was soaking everything in and waiting patiently for his turn. (Winter attire clarification: these pics were taken the second week in April when it was still quite chilly in DC).

As soon as the older class cleared, Judah ran out to claim his spot. 

I'm ready Coach John!

First activity: kicking over the orange cones. This was a hit with Judah.

Although he paused for a bit so his ball could wear a hat :-)

He was such a big helper. Here he is assisting Coach Jamie with picking up the cones. 

Next, it was "red light, green light," running toward the goal. Judah is a little speedster.

Where is everybody?!

Finally, it was time to run and kick the ball all the way in the goal. Look at that focus!

Our coordinated kicker.

Who knows? Judah may one day want to trade in the sopper ball for the trombone or perhaps a paintbrush, but for now he is having ball ;-)

In His Hands

In keeping with the "green" theme, Judah and I wanted to share our Earth Day craft with you. I had intentions of creating this on April 22nd~ the day set aside to celebrate this beautiful place we call home. However, as you will continue to see (if I ever get caught up) April was very busy for us. We were hardly ever home, so we just didn't get to it.

Home is the only place we've been, however, for the past six days as Judah has been suffering from a terrible ear infection. High fevers, extreme fatigue, poor appetite, pain...it's been terrible. There's only so much Mickey and Dora and Elmo we can watch, and I think we've read every book we own multiple times. So out comes the forgotten Earth Day craft. A little late, but we should celebrate earth all year, right?!

If you want to replicate, all you need is cardboard from your next frozen pizza box, a little finger paint, foam & glue. Although not feeling well, it was a fun distraction for both of us!

Judah initially painted delicately with his fingers

But it didn't take long to cover the cardboard circle in green, blue & yellow and of course, he wanted to keep painting. So I tore off big pieces from our white paper roll, and messy hands followed!

His favorite was making green paint by combining the yellow and blue...a fun way to reinforce color combinations!

One yellow hand + one blue hand

Equals

Green hands!

We continued painting while the earth dried. Then it was time to glue on the hands.

He was kind of over it all at this point, as he was beginning to feel badly again. So I just let him play in the glue while I did most of the "handy" work ;-)

The finished product

He's got the whole world in His hands

He sure does.