I'm using the word miracle lightly in this post, but every little bit of good fortune deserves to be called a miracle around the holidays, right?
So here's our Saturday night...
The situation:
I wasn't sure if we'd have time to make our annual trip to Travel Town to ride the train and visit Santa. Therefore, I didn't buy tickets in advance. Do you see where this is going? By the time we left, the online tickets were sold out...and when we got there we found out that there were no more tickets left at all.
Christmas Miracle #1:
There was enough to see throughout the museum without riding the train or visiting Santa, so the long drive wasn't a total waste.
The situation:
We realize we can leverage our time at Travel Town much longer if there are trains to play with at the train tables. But you're supposed to bring your own, and I didn't think to bring any of ours. That left the kids without many options.
Christmas Miracle #2:
The gift shop is open! Inside you can leave your ID as collateral and borrow some train cars. Shelby picks four and has a blast at the train tables (how ironic that she has a room full of trains and train track at home...).
Side note - when the guy returned my ID, he asked, "is this you?". Have I aged that much since I got married? Maybe it's the new hair cut that threw him off...
The situation:
After playing for a while, Shelby asked when we were going to ride the train. We had to tell her there were no tickets for us. She was so sad! She's a sweet girl - no tantrum, no anger, just sheer disappointment. It broke our hearts.
Christmas Miracle #3:
We see the line waning and it looks like the night's final train ride won't even be close to full. Tom went to the front to work his magic and try to leverage some tickets. It worked!!! He came back with tickets in hand and we were ready to ride. Thank you to Jackie, our new favorite Travel Town employee!
The situation:
Toward the end of the train ride, Shelby asks for Patch. Tom and I both paled - when was the last time we saw him? Oops! I had him last, but long before when we were at the store (which has now closed, by the way). We told Shelby that Patch wasn't on the train and might be hiding somewhere. Immediately her eyes filled with crocodile tears. Yep, here we are again in the lost Patch situation!
Christmas Miracle #4:
No one at Travel Town had seen Patch. By this time the place is near closing, the store is locked for the night, and we have no choice but to leave sans Patch. Shelby was super distraught. We told her Patch may have gotten confused and went home on a different train. Tom "called" Patch and found out that he was indeed home and waiting for Shelby to find him. On the long drive home, Tom loaned her his phone so she could "call" Patch and tell him we were on our way. Hearing that sweet girl "talk" to Patch on the phone and tell him "I miss you, Patch"...nothing has tugged on our heart strings more!
Anyway, to the miracle - we still have Patch Version 1.0 at home. Tom raced upstairs and we did a switcheroo. Shelby was so relieved to see that Patch is alive and well. Gosh, that dog...he may be the death of me!
I think every Travel Town employee got overly acquainted (read: annoyed) with us during our eventful night of begging for favors and searching for lost friends. They were probably relieved when we finally left. But all chaos aside, we had a very fun night. We were well taken care of.
I really love our Travel Town tradition. Next time we'll try not to make it so eventful. But thank goodness for little Christmas miracles!
So here's our Saturday night...
The situation:
I wasn't sure if we'd have time to make our annual trip to Travel Town to ride the train and visit Santa. Therefore, I didn't buy tickets in advance. Do you see where this is going? By the time we left, the online tickets were sold out...and when we got there we found out that there were no more tickets left at all.
Christmas Miracle #1:
There was enough to see throughout the museum without riding the train or visiting Santa, so the long drive wasn't a total waste.
 |
| We took a photo of Shelby here among the lights last year, and now it's sweet Cameron's turn! |
The situation:
We realize we can leverage our time at Travel Town much longer if there are trains to play with at the train tables. But you're supposed to bring your own, and I didn't think to bring any of ours. That left the kids without many options.
 |
| Siblings at play - aw! |
Christmas Miracle #2:
The gift shop is open! Inside you can leave your ID as collateral and borrow some train cars. Shelby picks four and has a blast at the train tables (how ironic that she has a room full of trains and train track at home...).
Side note - when the guy returned my ID, he asked, "is this you?". Have I aged that much since I got married? Maybe it's the new hair cut that threw him off...
The situation:
After playing for a while, Shelby asked when we were going to ride the train. We had to tell her there were no tickets for us. She was so sad! She's a sweet girl - no tantrum, no anger, just sheer disappointment. It broke our hearts.
 |
| Tom showing Shelby the train tickets. She's so excited! |
 |
| Don't just stand there, mom - let's go to the train! |
We see the line waning and it looks like the night's final train ride won't even be close to full. Tom went to the front to work his magic and try to leverage some tickets. It worked!!! He came back with tickets in hand and we were ready to ride. Thank you to Jackie, our new favorite Travel Town employee!
 |
| Riding past "Santa's Workshop" |
 |
| Shelby kept hugging Cameron during the ride. Cameron was so wide-eyed and adorable as he watched the lights go by. |
Toward the end of the train ride, Shelby asks for Patch. Tom and I both paled - when was the last time we saw him? Oops! I had him last, but long before when we were at the store (which has now closed, by the way). We told Shelby that Patch wasn't on the train and might be hiding somewhere. Immediately her eyes filled with crocodile tears. Yep, here we are again in the lost Patch situation!
Christmas Miracle #4:
No one at Travel Town had seen Patch. By this time the place is near closing, the store is locked for the night, and we have no choice but to leave sans Patch. Shelby was super distraught. We told her Patch may have gotten confused and went home on a different train. Tom "called" Patch and found out that he was indeed home and waiting for Shelby to find him. On the long drive home, Tom loaned her his phone so she could "call" Patch and tell him we were on our way. Hearing that sweet girl "talk" to Patch on the phone and tell him "I miss you, Patch"...nothing has tugged on our heart strings more!
Anyway, to the miracle - we still have Patch Version 1.0 at home. Tom raced upstairs and we did a switcheroo. Shelby was so relieved to see that Patch is alive and well. Gosh, that dog...he may be the death of me!
I think every Travel Town employee got overly acquainted (read: annoyed) with us during our eventful night of begging for favors and searching for lost friends. They were probably relieved when we finally left. But all chaos aside, we had a very fun night. We were well taken care of.
 |
| Happy first Christmas train ride, Cameron! |
I really love our Travel Town tradition. Next time we'll try not to make it so eventful. But thank goodness for little Christmas miracles!
2 comments:
I just love this. Love your cute family
I'm glad everything worked out so you could keep up your annual Travel Town Christmas train tradition!
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