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| Galesburg, IL train museum---May 22, 2012---Brycen & Mommy |
Since the kids are out of school already, I decided I wanted to spend some special time with each of them this week with G'ma & G'pa O's help to watch them separately so I could do so. I wanted to plan a special trip with each of them for part of a day to someplace I think was unique to each of their likes. Of course everybody knows Brycen has an obsession with trains, so what better place to take him to than a train museum. Lucky for us, the town we are living in is on the Eastern side of the state which is quite close to many train depots and museums, so I chose to take Brycen to Galesburg, IL for a little day trip. Any mention of going to see trains produces immediate happiness in him!!
So after therapy, we packed a lunch for the car and off we went to Galesburg for the afternoon. It's about an hour and half but with Brycen that time goes by so fast as he loves being in the car especially on the interstate where he can watch semis all day! The only "pet peeve" of his is when we are passing another vehicle...he does NOT like us to be in the left lane for too long and will begin making unhappy noises and pointing to the right lane as soon as he thinks we should move back over. He's getting a little better about this but you can tell it causes him some anxiety :(
As soon as we got out of the car and was walking across the street to the museum, a train whistle could be heard not far away. Brycen watched as the crossing lights started flashing and started tugging my arm very hard to walk faster!
After the train went by, we went into the museum, but unfortunately cameras are not allowed inside. Luckily she said I could take pictures outside on the train cars and engine that we could tour with one of the guides. After about 20 minutes of watching a small train layout inside (and I talked to one of the workers who believes she has a 2 yr old grandson that has Autism), we went outside with one of the guides for the tour.
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| Into one of the train cars |
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| Ringing the bell |
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| Finally looking at me for a picture in front of the engine |
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| In the caboose |
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| Taking the wheel...choo choo! |
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Holding my new pull back train from the gift shop (and posing for mommy!)
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After the museum, we ventured next door to the actual train depot where we saw a few passengers waiting to board their trains. During the time at the museum and depot, we saw at least 5 trains go by!! We decided to walk across the street to the Discovery Depot which is a children's museum with hands-on activities.
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| One of his favorite toys ever! |
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| Climbing through a train "tunnel" |
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| Tree house slide |
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| Water room...wanting the duckie to float |
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| Climbing the wall...this was as far as he would go and then fall down on the mat & laugh! |
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| Of course he spent the most time at the train table |
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| Cool set up where you roll golf balls down... |
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| ...and they come rolling back on the bottom. |
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| Off to drive another train. |
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| "All Aboard!" says Brycen |
Before leaving the Discovery Depot, we watched another train go by on the tracks before walking down the block to a little French cafe called The Landmark (the staff at the depot said it was child friendly and recommended it for it's unique food). Brycen was happy to sit at a table by the window and watch the cars go by. Then we headed home for an evening treat at a local ice cream place.
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| Drinking pop at the cafe |
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Eating his grilled cheese and homemade potato chips
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| Holding onto the handle in the car...not because of my bad driving :) |
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| Yummy chocolate ice cream at Yums! |
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| I mentioned "seeing the trains"... |
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| ...then we watched the video on my camera of a train and he was all smiles. |
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| VERY happy boy after his special day with Mommy! |
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