This past weekend we traveled to Palestine, Texas with Miss J's Aunt Tiffany, Uncle Jeremy and Cousin K. We had an awesome time on this mini-road trip and I have a feeling many more trips will be in our future.
Tiffany and I decided that we wanted to take the kids on the Texas State Railroad Pumpkin Patch Express after they experience the Polar Express last Christmas. Well, we decided on a date, booked the hotel and then procrastinated buying train tickets. Word to the wise - DO NOT WAIT TO BUY TRAIN TICKETS. A month before our trip we decided to buy the tickets - lo and behold it was sold out for Saturday. Thankfully tickets were still available for Sunday afternoon and it worked out. We drove up to Palestine on Saturday, had dinner, the kids played in the pool and then went to bed. Honestly, there isn't much to do in Palestine - the downtown area has so much potential but it was a ghost town when we drove through. The next morning we had breakfast and drove to Rusk, TX and hopped on the train.
 |
| October 18, 2014: Miss J and Cousin K swimming in the hotel pool |
 |
| October 19, 2014: Nelly & Miss J waiting to get on the train |
All the kids were in costume and the minute J saw this she immediately put on her Darth Vader. She was the hit of the train because how many Darth Vaders are sporting a pink bow and leopard print shoes?
 |
| October 19, 2014: Miss J as Darth Vader |
 |
| October 19, 2014: Cousin K as a construction worker and Darth Vader |
The train ride was about 30 minutes to the pumpkin patch. At one point I turned around and did a double take when I spotted this: :-P
The train dropped us off to the open field that had a pumpkin patch, trick or treating, games, jump houses - everything a kid could want.
 |
| October 19, 2014: Cousin K and Miss J in the corn bin |
Darth Vader in the Pumpkin Patch. See the line and shacks behind Miss J? The kids would knock on each door and trick or treat. Beats the pants at of walking through the neighborhood!
The pumpkins were kid sized and they had a station setup under a tent to decorate them. We ran out of time and were unable to do this but when we got back on the train the employees passed out extra decorating kits.
After a few hours (we had lunch at the patch) we chose to sit in the open air cars to get a break from the heat. By this time the kids were done with their costumes and happily sat back and enjoyed the ride.
 |
| October 19, 2014: Miss J, my Nerd, Cousin K and Uncle Jeremy |
This two have such a great bond and it is such a joy to watch them grow up.
