Grapevine Vintage Train Ride

I'm going to preface this post by saying that I took over 115 pictures of our train adventure and was able to narrow it down to 20 for this post.  So 20 may seem like photo overload to some of you...but it could've been a LOT more! lol  Now on to the post...

Yesterday Barrett left for a weekend vacation with Daddy Steve and Namaw to Huntsville, Alabama.  Daddy Steve is teaching a conference in Huntsville next week and since Barrett's still under 2 years old (meaning he can fly free) they wanted to go a few days early and make a memory with him like they did with Brody when he was almost 2.  (They took Brody to Colorado Springs in '08.)  This meant that Brody was an only child for the weekend!  Mike and I wanted to do something special with him, so we bought tickets for a vintage train ride from Grapevine to the Stockyards in Ft. Worth.

The train ride was a surprise for Brody and I think it about killed him that we wouldn't tell him what we were going to do!  He was really excited when we pulled up at the train depot and parked.  He asked, "Are we going to get to ride on a real train?!?"  (I guess the little train by the Ft. Worth Zoo doesn't count as "real"?)

We waited on the platform for the train to arrive.  You should have heard the excitement from all the kids when the train came into view!

Brody and Mike watching for the train.  (I really posted this picture so you could see how hot my hubby is!  He and Caleb have been working out a lot lately and I love how defined his guns are now!!)

Our attempt at a family picture.  I know Brody has a cheesy smile and you can probably tell that Mike just said, "Enough pictures already!"...but this was the best I could do!

On the way to the Stockyards we ran into a little problem...train robbers!!!! 

Brody was a little worried when the outlaws boarded the train and started demanding that people hand over all their money.

We told him that they were just pretend outlaws and after they handed him some fake money and a Deputy badge he was excited about the adventure.  He asked me to tell him some stories about a real train robbery...so we spent some time telling stories of the Old West.

The pictures below show some of the beautiful countryside we passed on the trip.  I'll be honest and say that I expected most of the ride to be through the countryside...but instead a lot of it took us behind stores, through alleys, and overlooked peoples' backyards.  However, if I only post the pictures of the pretty sights...maybe that's how we'll remember it?! 

As we pulled into Stockyard Station we joined the hustle and bustle of Saturday afternoon shoppers.

We browsed through several stores and I fell in love with this hat!  It looks sooooo cute on Brody!  The bad thing is that is was $30.  I know that may not seem like a lot...but Mike and I just couldn't bring ourselves to spend $30 on a hat (instead we spent $5 on a pop gun that Brody enjoyed a lot more than he would've enjoyed a hat...but still...isn't it just too cute?!?)

It was a very warm summer day in Texas, so we decided to get a snack and something to drink at Riscky's BBQ.  Just as we finished our snack, we noticed people lining up on the street out front.  We joined the crowed and learned that we were waiting for the longhorn cattle drive.

We did some people watchin' as we waited.  This lady caught my attention and I couldn't help but take a picture.  Doesn't she look like she has a cool story?

The event we'd all been waiting for...

Then it was time to head back to the train station. 

This time when we heard "All Aboard!" we bypassed the more open train car (with wooden seats) for the train car with smaller windows and plush, padded seats.  It was much more comfortable...but I would recommend a train ride in the fall, winter, or early spring rather than the heat of the summer!

The sun might have been warm, but it made for some neat pictures!  We splurged on some taffy at the candy store in the stockyards and that held Brody's attention for a while on our return train ride.

Even though it was hot and the views out the window weren't as majestic as if we'd been on a train ride through the mountains, it was a great day.  We had so much fun spending some alone time with our oldest son. 

 

We had one more surprise in store for Brody after we left the train depot.  Tyler and Ann live very close to Grapevine.  They were hosting a dinner for their small group and had invited us to join them.  Brody was so excited when we pulled up at their house.  We had fun seeing them and getting to know some of the people in their small group.  Brody had fun playing with the other little kid there and of course with his uncle and aunt.  It was after 9:30 before we headed for home and we knew Brody was worn out.  He was fast asleep in the backseat within 5 minutes. 

 

What a fun day!  I love my family!