Guinea Pigs and Goats and TRAINS... oh my!

Monday, March 9, 2015

Lately, Mason has been OBSESSED with trains. OBSESSED. So, being the awesome mom that I am, I thought it would be super fun to take Mason on his first train ride. Seth was totally on board (no pun intended) so we decided to go this past weekend. The weather was supposed to be awesome (77 degrees in March!) which was an added bonus.

But where to go?

A couple months ago, I had bought this Living Social deal to the Zoomar's Petting Zoo in San Juan Capistrano. I thought it sounded like a fun place and it was literally right next door to the train depot in San Juan Cap. Our trip was planned.

The train station is literally 5 minutes away from our house. We gave ourselves plenty of time to get there (you never know what might happen between leaving your house and getting in the car with a toddler) and it was good that we did since Mason decided that he didn't want to be in the car, he wanted to be on the train (which I had been talking up to him all morning). Totally my fault and I had to calm him down and explain that we needed to drive to the train station and THEN we could get on the train. But try explaining logic to a toddler. Nuh-uh. Ain't gonna happen. So one unhappy toddler later and we were on our way.

We arrived at the train station and Mason was BEYOND excited again. We kept asking him what a train says and he would pump his arm up and down and say "choo choo". It was so cute.


We stopped by the ticket station, purchased our tickets, and headed up to the platform to wait for the train. It took a little longer than we thought and someone was getting hungry so we had an impromptu snack session while waiting... until we heard the train whistle! Mason jumped off the bench so quickly and wanted to see the train. Seth held him back so he wouldn't fall or run onto the track and then... it arrived! And we couldn't wipe that smile off Mason's face if we tried.


We hopped on board the Metrolink train at 8:46am and were on our way!

Mason was SO GOOD on board the train. He was so excited to sit in his own seat like a big boy and to look out the window. He kept pointing out the window at all the stuff he was seeing.

And then... this happened...


Yep, 5 minutes in and he was sound asleep. Go figure. So Seth and I enjoyed our little train ride, picked Mason up when we got there, and then woke him up when we got to the petting zoo. Thankfully he was in a good mood and was pretty excited to see the animals. I bought us a basket of carrots to feed the animals and Mason had a BLAST. He was all about feeding the animals and was having so much fun doing it.


After we ran out of carrots, we headed over to the train. My Living Social deal included 2 train tickets and I figured this would allow Seth or I to ride once with Mason. But, come to find out, only the kids cost tickets and the parents were free (score!). My overly worried self thought one of us would need to go with Mason but after watching the group in front of us go around on the train, Mason was beyond excited and once Seth hooked him in to his seat, he was set. No parents needed.

Cue the mommy tears and the mommy proud-ness at the same time!

He went around and around and around the track with the biggest smile on his face and it made me so incredibly happy. He had so much fun that when it was done, he wanted to go again. So we handed over our last ticket and put him in the front seat and he had the train all to himself. He was in HEAVEN.



We finished the train rides and decided that we would go grab some food since our train back was not for another hour and a half-ish so we hit up Ruby's. Feeding the animals and riding the train must have really worked up an appetite because Mason ate his whole lunch (without any encouragement from us - which almost NEVER happens!). After lunch we went to the park and walked around a little and then we were back to the depot to wait for our train ride home.


Mason was again SO excited for the train to come and smiled the whole way home.

I think it's safe to say that he had the...
Best. Day. Ever.


16 comments:

  1. Awww all the excitement really tired him out! Noah is a huge fan of trains but I always wonder if we took him on a commuter train that he'd be disappointed expecting one like Thomas lol.

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  2. How fun! I still remember our 1st ride with Liam; special memories for sure. And how funny that he fell asleep right away! My child has and I swear never will fall asleep unassisted. We never gave those moments.

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  3. That does sound like the best day ever! I'm jealous. I always loved trains as a kid. I don't think I've ever been on a legit one though. Too funny that he fell asleep though. Got all his energy out being too excited haha. And a pile of guinea pigs!!! Kind of makes me want a pile of guinea pigs.

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  4. No way! I can't believe he fell asleep so quickly!! Ha ha, all that excitement wore him out! What a funnnnnn day! You are the best momma! Mia would have died, she's so into trains as well lately! "Mom! Mommy! I's a twain! (insert super high pitched voice) CHOO CHOO!!" ha! And the petting zoo! What a perfect ending to a perfect day for Mason!

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  5. What a fun, fun day!! He looks so happy, and I love that he zonked out on the train :) Seriously, it looks like the perfect day for a toddler along with great weather!

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  6. You find the best things to do on Living Social. I clearly need to check out those deals more often!
    What an awesome day! Serious "Mom Points" awarded to you!
    Know what other place has a big train, a little train, AND a monorail? It starts with Disney and ends in Land! Just trying to convince you guys of season passes, too. :)

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  7. That is so funny that he fell asleep on the train! What a blast!

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  8. What an absolutely perfect day for a train loving boy. Great job mama you did so good.

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  9. Sounds like a great day. Way to go, Mom! You get a gold star for the day! :)

    Mandie ~ http://badbrewpack.blogspot.com/

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  10. Those guinea pigs though. How adorable is that photo?

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  11. OH MY GOSH!! This sounds like such a great day!! Trains, animals, and more trains!! I'm looking forward to taking Wyatt on a train ride this fall. (It's kind of expensive and we want to go when the leaves are pretty.)

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  12. Adorable, what a fun day!! Mason is too dang cute, love his pocket tee. :) Proud mommy day for sure - sounds like it was a hit all around!! My favorite is him asleep in his seat though. ;)

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  13. Is that a pen full of guinea pigs??? Awesome. Also, we are planning to drive 4 hours to take Reed to ride Thomas. Yep, crazy mom, right here.

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  14. Such a lovely day...nap on the train included! Thanks for sharing :-)

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  15. Aww!! What a fun day for little Mason! I love how excited he is about the trains! and what a big boy on the little train all by himself, I would have definitely had tears in my eyes!!!

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