Grandma's World: A Day Out with Thomas the Train

Our trip started on Friday morning at 10 am. We set out to travel to southern Indiana to spend the night in a hotel. Not a 1st for my grandkids, but they do not remember ever staying in a hotel, so it was fun for them. The trip down was fairly smooth. Only had to stop once for a potty break, and once for lunch. We arrived at the Comfort Inn in Richmond, IN at 3:00 pm. The 1st thing to do on the agenda was to swim in the pool. This was a wonderful experience for them. Little JT loved the hot tub. Mercy, Big JT, Nick, Dianne & Ken took to the big pool. Then it was time for dinner. Jill & I had been looking forward to eating at the Big Boy restaurant all week. We pull into the parking lot. There are employees standing around outside. THEY HAVE NO ELECTRIC!!! I can't believe it. We go shopping at Wal-Mart for an hour and return. They now have electric and we get the BIG BOY sandwich that we have been craving forever.

Back to the hotel to get some sleep. We have to leave for Our Day out with Thomas at 7:00 am. We arrive at 8:30 am after a few detours. Little JT received a Spiderman costume for his birthday from his mom & dad, so the picture of all the kids with Thomas, has Spiderman there. We then go on our train ride. It takes about an half an hour. After the ride we hit the bathrooms in the depot. They are playing a video of Thomas in the depot. Kelly & JT take some of their stuff back to the car. Dianne & Jill use the bathroom 1st. Mercy, JT & myself are watching the video. Dianne comes out and Mercy decides she has to go to the bathroom. I tell Dianne I am taking her to the bathroom. Only I fail to mention to her that little JT is sitting there watching the video, because I think she sees him. I come out and they are all out across the pavement at the Tattoo booth getting tattoos of Thomas. As Mercy is getting her tattoo and I ask Dianne what kind JT got. She looks at me and says that she doesn't have JT with her. Jill and I panic and run back to the depot. I am calling his name, he is not in there. I go outside, now I am in a full panic. I tell a lady that is at the booth outside the depot that I have lost my grandson. I go back inside the depot and there he is standing watching the movie. I grab him and asked where were you? He looked at me and said "I had to poop". My god, I thought I was having a heart attack.
By 12:30 pm we were all hot and wore out. They were getting cranky. It was time to head for home. They were both asleep before the 1st stop light. Now I know why I had only one kid. They woke up about an hour 2 hours out of South Bend. The "he is touching me" and "how much longer" drove me nuts. I was very happy to pull into my driveway.

Mercy & Daddy doing tricks......