Our Day Out with Thomas Recap

We went on an hour long road trip to take Duke to spend a Day Out with Thomas at Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris, CA.  I honestly didn't know what to expect and assumed we would be there about an hour but that hour turned into 4 hours because we had so much fun!  Chris and I thought it was more than worth the $19 ticket price.

Our first stop was the Thomas store.  It was overwhelming.  All the Thomas you can imagine.  We convinced Duke to pick out the Day Out with Thomas 2012 Exclusive Train.

This was taken inside the Thomas store tent. 

The Day Out with Thomas event is a huge fundraiser for the Orange Empire Railway Museum so spend your money!  There are a bunch of vendors in the food court, I saw a Carl's Jr. truck, California Pizza Kitchen truck and the usual hot dog, nachos, bbq and ice cream vendors.

Uh oh, don't go past the porta-potty!

All Aboard!  Me and my littles!

Train graffiti is pretty damn cool.

These kids wanted to race Thomas.  They went hard but Thomas wins.

Don't forget to get your map stamped at all the locations - you get a prize at the end from The Conductor!

Meet Mike the Knight and get a free book and dvd!


There are tons of things to do!  Petting zoo, hay maze, ride other trains, look at train models, go jumping in bouncers, hula-hoops, live entertainment... The Imagination Station had train tables, coloring pages, Mega Bloks, temporary tattoos.  There was a Mommy tent stocked up with diapers and wipes.

Day Out with Thomas is a fun event for anyone.  I highly recommend it for the whole family.  Even though all the Thomas attractions kept us busy, Orange Empire Railway Museum is amazing.  I fell in love with all the old trains.  Some of them were so gorgeous!  Some looked like they lived a great, hard life - I can imagine the stories they would tell if they could talk.  I am bummed that I didn't think to check the grounds map before we went or while we were there because I missed out on the hobo camp!   Guess that means we'll have to take another trip out there!

Get social with Orange Empire Railway Museum on Facebook / @ThomasSoCal

WHEN:                 November 10, 11, 12, 17 and 18th – 9:00 – 4:00 PM
WHERE:               Orange Empire Railway Museum, 2201 South A Street, Perris CA 92570

Day Out with Thomas™ is the biggest annual fundraiser for the Orange Empire Railway Museum whose mission is to kindle interest in the integral role the rail industry has played in Southern California history. Tickets for Day Out With Thomas™ are $19.00 for ages two and up. $21 at the gate. Advanced ticket purchase is recommended to reserve the most popular times to ride Thomas the Tank Engine. For tickets and information, visit http://www.dayoutwiththomasperriscalifornia.com, email events.oerm@gmail.com or call (866) 468-7630 or (951) 943-3020.


Disclosure:  This is not a sponsored post.  My family was provided with tickets to Day Out with Thomas.  All opinions are my own.

This Is How We Homeschool

Homeschooling just isn't for us.  But we had to do it to see that.  I love the freedom that comes with homeschooling but organizing, planning and executing is hard.  I secretly wish we were wealthy so Duke could have a private teacher because I'm dreading sending him back to public school next year.
I haven't been feeling myself lately and it is just harder giving him my 100% attention with a baby around.  Granted, I'm probably giving him more attention than he would get in a class with 29 others but still... I feel guilty.

A typical day for us starts off by laying around in bed with a crawling super baby.  We line the perimeter with pillows and blankets.  After an hour, I lay a blanket on the floor in the living room and border it with pillows and blankets.  That keeps Omie busy while I teach Duke.  We work on English and Math.  Then retreat back to our bed where Duke reads to us.  Duke and I have lunch and then it's Social Studies and Science.

Some days we watch movies and discuss it.  Other days Duke will build with Lego or create amazing tracks with Thomas & Friends.  He really loves our field trips - everything counts as learning.  That's the best thing about homeschooling - you can turn a trip to the grocery store into a lesson.  My favorite way to teach Math is taking Lego minifigs and showing him how to add and subtract.  He's an ace at English and really loves Social Studies.  He is thriving.  

Life is a lesson.  

Make it fun!  

 
Duke lost his first tooth - He was so excited to get 2 quarters from the Tooth Fairy

Some days we go to the park...

Omie giving brother kisses.  Love when he does this, so precious!

Duke was worried about our New York friends during Superstorm Sandy.  He was lucky enough to facetime Gabo before it hit.

Duke is a great sport when Destructobaby is on the loose

Southern California Day Out With Thomas 2012 & Giveaway

My 6 year old son Duke LOVES Thomas & Friends.  I heard about this tour earlier in the year when a fellow blogger blogged about it so it was on my radar.  We're excited that the tour is finally here!  I can't wait to come back and blog all about it!  This is Thomas the Tank Engine's only trip to Southern California so make sure you see him!  Not only will it be a great time for you and your family but you'll be helping raise money for Orange Empire Railway Museum!

Help our favorite No. 1 engine find the clues and solve the mystery! Thomas the Tank Engine™ is pulling into Orange Empire Railway Museum for Day Out With Thomas™: Mystery On The Rails Tour 2012, presented by HIT Entertainment, a worldwide leader in children’s entertainment, and sponsored by MEGA Brands, a leading toy company.  This fun-filled event offers little engineers and their families the opportunity to take a ride with a 15-ton replica of Thomas the Tank Engine, star of the popular Thomas & Friends™ series.  Children will take a ride along with their favorite engine friend on his latest adventure and participate in Thomas-themed activities.  The tour, now in its 17th year, will make stops in more than 45 US cities and is expected to welcome more than one million passengers in 2012.

WHO:                   Thomas the Tank Engine
WHAT:

• A 25-minute (approximate) ride with Thomas the Tank Engine
• Games and activities featuring a mystery element
• The opportunity to meet Sir Topham Hatt™, Controller of the Railway
• A Thomas & Friends Imagination Station; featuring stamps temporary tattoos, hands-on arts & crafts, train tables, and coloring sheets.
• Commemorative activities, merchandise and giveaways including a special reveal poster previewing new engines and a new destination from the upcoming 2012 Thomas & Friends feature, “Blue Mountain Mystery”
• Storytelling , live music, and much more
• Petting Zoo
• Mike The Knight (first weekend!)

WHEN:                 November 10, 11, 12, 17 and 18th – 9:00 – 4:00 PM
WHERE:               Orange Empire Railway Museum, 2201 South A Street, Perris CA 92570

Day Out with Thomas™ is the biggest annual fundraiser for the Orange Empire Railway Museum whose mission is to kindle interest in the integral role the rail industry has played in Southern California history. Tickets for Day Out With Thomas™ are $19.00 for ages two and up. $21 at the gate. Advanced ticket purchase is recommended to reserve the most popular times to ride Thomas the Tank Engine. For tickets and information, visit http://www.dayoutwiththomasperriscalifornia.com, email events.oerm@gmail.com or call (866) 468-7630 or (951) 943-3020.

For information on Thomas & Friends™, visit www.thomasandfriends.com/dowt

Follow Thomas & Friends on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thomasandfriends and Twitter @TrueBlueEngine.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:  This is not a sponsored post.  We were graciously offered tickets to attend for our family and for the giveaway.  All thoughts are our own.