CAT | Travel
Instead of a birthday party this year, we gave Grant a trip to St. Louis on Amtrak. We left 2 days after his birthday after waking up at 6 to catch the train in Elgin.
Grant and I after boarding the Metra train for the first leg of our trip, Elgin to Chicago Union Station.
Waving goodbye to the womenfolk as the train pulls away from the station.
After boarding the Amtrak train in Chicago. The business class area was nice, with spacious seats, power outlets, and dedicated restroom 
Mugging for the camera.
We packed our lunch. Mom even stuck a few Amtrak napkins in our bag!
Grant watching as we pass another Amtrak train at speed.
Two thumbs up for the lunch Mom made for us.
Trying to rest. It took quite awhile for Grant to relax and fall asleep since the train was so exciting.
Finally out.
Grant and the Gateway Arch.
Our train at the St. Louis station.
More in the next installment, coming soon!
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Hitting the Museum of Science and Industry with the Woodruff’s
No comments · Posted by Gary in Friends, Travel
On Martin Luther King Day, we hit the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry with the Woodruff’s. We had fun spending the day with what felt like 3 million others who decided to go on a holiday with free admission! It was busy and hectic, but worth it as we got to spend some time with friends until our kids melted down around naptime
Running to check out the Burlington Zephyr at the MSI. 
It was neat to see one of the trains from Grant’s train books in person. 
A Rube Goldberg type contraption 
Matt and his boys watching the machinations with Grant and Norah.
Matt and Connor sitting in one of the big tractors in the agriculture area of the museum. 
Grant and Norah had fun pretending to drive the huge tractor.
Part of the massive HO scale train layout. 
Grant absolutely loved watching the trains 
The family in front of one of the other trains there at the museum.
We packed the family into the minivan and headed north to Minnesota to see Uncle Ben and Aunt Jaime and their new house. The kids had fun with their new puppy, Bear.
Bear was totally puppy. Gnawing on everything in sight. By the time we left, Grant and Norah were walking around with their hands up in the air so that Bear wouldn’t nip at them!
Grant and Aunt Jaime reading a book (probably about trains!)
Aunt Jaime and Audrey
Uncle Ben got two leashes for Bear so that Norah could help walk him. What a guy!
They took us to a cute little pumpkin patch. The pumpkins were cheap too, unlike the places around us.
Helping each other out.
They also have a neat park a few blocks from their house. Some fun, unique equipment.
I’m king of the world!
No, that’s not a tiny apple. Look at the size of that marshmallow! We had some fun toasting these over a fire in the pit.
The Gargantuan marshmallow and his family!
Two peas in a pod
Bear thought that the stems were fun to chew.
It was a big pumpkin. Had to be to fit my head!
We had a great time and hope to go back up soon!
Aunt Jaime · Family · Minnesota · Uncle Ben
