Chattanooga Choo Choo!

Actually it is the East Tennessee Valley Railroad, but it was in Chattanooga. We have been wanting to go up and ride the train but were waiting until the summer when the steam engine is running during the week. Other train rides I looked at were 4 hours long (with a almost 2 year old and almost 4 year old - no thank you) and would cost us over $100. They had a 55 minute ride that cost us $36 - perfect! Carter was soooo excited but I knew he would not like the noise, and he is quite the cautious little boy. When the train started coming down the track towards us he put his hands over his ears and yelled at Daddy - who was too close to the track taking pictures - to get back away from the track. When the train had passed, I told him that was the train we were going to ride and he said (with his hands still over his ears), "I think I'll just wait for the next one." He loved it though. We went over a big creek on a trestle bridge and went through a long, dark tunnel. God has been thanked for both of these things in every blessing and prayer since our trip yesterday. We also got off at the end of the track and watched the engine turn around on the big turntable - quite impressive and really really hot in the sun! Luckily our car was air conditioned and we got back on for the ride back to the station. After our ride was over we went to take a picture in front of the engine and got to talk to the engineer. He told Carter he would let him take the engine home if he could have Carter's Thomas shirt. Carter agreed. I convinced him it was too big to fit in the van - darn. We had a great time and I think this will be a regular adventure for us!