Grandma Visits - Julie, Matt, Owen & Maddie

The first thing on the agenda was to attend a walk - a -thon at Owen (age 4) and Maddie's (age 3) school.  They are scheduled to walk as a fund raiser for the school.  Sadly, Owen caught the flu that was going around and could not attend due to "spitty ups" the night before.  Welcome to Indiana :-).

Julie, Maddie and I arrive at the school under cloudy skies.  The parking lot is all laid out for the walk-a-thon.  Maddie goes to class to await her turn to walk.  Julie and I make signs that will join others that will be hung up around the track.

Soon the walkers appear to applause from parents, grandparents and friends.  Maddie grabs my hand and off we go around the track.  She is #1 so we are first to start the fun.  On the second or third time around I suggest we run.  She looks up at me and says, very seriously, Grandma this is a WALK-a-thon :-).  Sigh! Julie takes over and they go around several times.  By the end Maddie is running anyway.

Maddie admiring one of her signs

One morning Maddie and I and Crissy (their nanny) go to gymnastics class for Maddie.  Owen is on a field trip - he is fully recovered.  Maddie listens intently to her teacher and then does the circuit of activities.  She is so cute.  You can tell which parts she likes and which she doesn't.  Maddie has a stubborn streak a mile wide and will do it her way or else.  But her little dimpled face is so adorable you tend to forgive her anything.

The highlight of the visit was Grandma Memory Day.  On this day Owen, Maddie and I go off together to ride the train!  The train is going to Atlanta (yes, there is an Atlanta, Indiana).  It is a historic train and the car we ride in dates to 1936.  After 20 minutes we are there.  A festival is in full swing - well, sort of.  It would be in full swing if wasn't raining cats and dogs!

The first place we head is to the caboose ride.  We can wait inside for the caboose to return and then we will get on it and spend another 20 minutes out of the rain on a caboose.  We board the caboose and find that it has a coupala, which means it has an upstairs accessed by VERY STEEP steps.  Owen rides on one side and Maddie and I on the other.  Once up in the coupala we see way off in the distance.  I think this is the highlight of their day.

Owen in the Coupala

Once off the caboose, we head to the pizza wagon for lunch.  Behind the wagon is a small tent with two chairs and a table.  The pizza lady brings out a towel to wipe off the chairs and the policeman sets up the table.  Voila!  A dry place to have lunch.:-).  It pays to have little ones along for more than one reason.

I get them a can of 7-UP to share not know that they have NEVER had soda before!  Owen loves it but says it is "spicy" (the bubbles).  Maddie takes a couple of sips and asks for water :).

Back out in the rain we walk along killing time until the return train arrives.  Back on the train and home with new experiences and memories made.

Sharing an Umbrella in the rain