This year we did not schedule a family ride on the Tinseltown Trolley since they did it last year. Then, of course, Deacon says it is his FAVORITE memory of Christmas. By the time he talked about it, the only available date/time I could get all four of them together was at 2pm on Friday, December 13. A school day.
SOOOOOOOoooooo … the parents got a sneaky idea. They got them up as if they were going to school, drove them PAST the school and gave them the news they were taking the day off to make more Christmas memories! Kate had wrapped a set of flannel sheets for each of them and had them hidden in the back of the SUV, which started the magical day.
They went to a favorite breakfast joint and were allowed to have hot chocolate. Kate had to pick up script at Fred Meyer's (Krogers on east coast) and Jesse took the boys shopping for her and Gramma. Then Kate took them to get something for Dad. They didn't have time to get a photo with Santa and be back for 2pm for the trolley ride.
The Trolley runs from Lake Oswego to downtown Portland. It only operates during the summer and as a Christmas Trolley for the holidays. The Willamette Shore Trolley is operated by the Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society under a contract with the City of Lake Oswego. It’s about 90 minutes round trip going 5.5 miles to Portland.
It's an interesting ride (a group of adults chartered it once, brought our own boxed lunch and wine) and had a great time. Tunnels, trestle bridges, right through an upscale neighborhood where you can almost touch the houses. We went during the Fall and is runs on the west side of the Willamette River through colorful trees.
For Christmas, the City has costumed characters, Santa, cookies, candy canes and more hot chocolate. Ranger Ben was acting as Santa and both boys know him but we still don't have any non-believers yet.
Everyone was so tired from running around all day, that they postponed Movie Night. The boys did a little wrapping while I made an easy dinner and all four of them went to bed early.
Now THIS is a memory!
That was a special day and a great what to build memories with the boys. The ride sounds good at any age. You've got to love historical societies.
ReplyDeleteThey also took the boys to watch the Christmas Ships go by the Spaghetti Factory ... as they will be at Dad's side of the family on Saturday when they float past our complex.
DeleteHow absolutely wonderful. These times are what everyone will remember, not what was under the tree.
ReplyDeleteI was hoping it would be much LESS under that tree! I got them each two things and one to share. Lots are clothes that they need, since they each grew a size since September!!
DeleteThat's neat for the parents to do this! Its okay to "break the rules" once in awhile especially for fun things like this. We took the kids out of school for a whole week one time to go and celebrate their grandparents' 50th anniversary and then have some family vacation time.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun trip with the trolley! I would like the Christmas one for sure, but better the adult version with boxed lunches and wine :)
Merry Christmas!
betty
Our little City of 35,000 does a fabulous job of offering so many things to do. All year round. Great place to live!
DeleteThat sounds like a lot of fun! I bet the kids were thrilled to have an unexpected day off of school!
ReplyDeleteMIssing school was probably the BEST thing of the day!
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