Our Great Train Adventure - Part 5

Our final day on the train started out on a high note. Unfortunately due to a serious medical emergency on the train the night before and the serious flooding in North Dakota and Minnesota due to the Red River, we were four hours behind schedule. The kids were doing great on the trip but you can imagine what the additional hours meant to Matt and my sanity. =)

We spent the day much like the day before, playing and enjoying family time. Chloe and I went to breakfast, just the two of us, and enjoyed some much needed Mother-Daughter time. After that Chloe and I headed to the Lounge Car to do her homework. We got her all caught up for the week. Than we joined Matt, Aidan and Brenna who spent the morning sleeping in.











There are some pictures of the smaller rooms on the train and the dining car.

We were supposed to get off the train at 4:00PM but due to all the delays we didn't get off until 7:20PM. This completely screwed up our plans. We had a rental car set up for us to pick up at the station but the rental car place at the station closed at 7:00PM--No exceptions. There was a nearby rental place where we could get a car but it was a few blocks from the station but it closed at 8:00PM. We were left with a serious problem. How could we get off the train, get our luggage, catch a cab (with all the kids and our luggage) and make it to the rental place on time? So after some discussion (and a lot of prayer) Matt got off the train immediately with everything he could carry and ran to a taxi to head to the rental place. I had no choice but try to navigate through Union Station Chicago, on my own with three kids and way too much luggage.

God's hand was definitely on us. The kids and I were able to get a red cap to take us to the station and we quickly managed to find baggage claim. All the kids were incredibly cooperative, especially Aidan, which was a miracle because we didn't take a stroller with us, so he could of run all over the place but didn't. With the help of some very nice women who saw me trying to manage three kids and our luggage, we managed to get everything loaded onto two carts and situated in a safe (if there is such a place) place in the station. He continued to keep us safe while we waited for Matt.

Matt was busy getting a taxi and trying to get to the rental place in time. He got the car and than unfortunately got lost in the maze of one-way streets and construction in downtown Chicago next to the train station. It took him almost an hour and a half to find a place to park near the station. Yet, even though he was worried about us being alone in at the station, he had complete peace-totally God's hand on this situation. He found us and we got loaded into the car, which was an adventure since it was dark and he was parked on the street but we managed to do it and get on our way.

Once on the tollway we were making good time despite it being so late at night. Suddenly about 30 minutes from our destination both sides of the tollway came to a complete stop. Nothing was moving in either direction, we could see a lot of lights in the distance but had no idea what was going on. After sitting for a good twenty minutes, Matt climbed out of the car to see what was going on and someone told him to turn on a radio station for news. Than we found out what was going on. An ambulance, driving East, had a patient fall out of the back of the ambulance onto the highway. As you can imagine this caused a huge accident as people swerved to avoid this person. Cars were all over the median and a semi truck jack knifed. Crazy accident. So please pray for this person, we don't know if they survived or not. Once the medivac helicopter took off we were able to keep going. What a night!

Our Great Train Adventure - Part 4

We spent the afternoon in the Lounge Car of the train. The upper level has lots of windows, comfortable seats and tables so you can sit back and enjoy the view. The kids enjoyed coloring at the big tables so they could spread out. Matt and I played cards and tried to coral Brenna, who was all over the place.




Here is some of the view from the Lounge Car. I must admit, there is really nothing exciting about Eastern Montana or North Dakota. Both states look identicle. It felt like we would never get out of Montana.





This is a train we saw at one of the stations we stopped at in Montana. It was so cool so Matt took the picture.

Our Great Train Adventure - Part 3

On the train at last!! Yippee! We finally got onto the train at 7:00PM to Matt and my great relief. We were ushered into our Family Bedroom by our car steward (yep, that's right, one of the advantages to First Class on the train). Our room was small (like a larger walk-in closet), but at least we have space to move around and call our own. We dumped our gear and ran upstairs to the dining car for dinner. It was great and the views were even better. (Of course I didn't have the camera with me =P but hopefully I can get some more of the views on the way home). After dinner we settled into our room and watched Bolt. Than it was off to dreamland with the choo choo lulling us to sleep.

Here is us in the morning....





This is the gorgeous view we woke up to in Montana's Glacier National Park. It was amazing. Even more amazing is the fact that I got these pictures through the window of a moving train. It was such a relaxing way to wake up and enjoy God's beautiful creation.




We had fun on the train exploring and playing. We had fun playing and having much needed family time in our little room. Brenna was able to crawl around a little bit which was nice. Aidan played with his cars and bugged his sisters (his favorite past-time). Chloe enjoyed coloring and doing homework at the little tables (well, maybe not the homework so much).

Our Great Train Adventure - Part 2

Okay, our train was supposed to leave at 4:55pm. We were all set to leave at that time, we had the kids set to leave at that time and what happens? The darn train is delayed until 7:00PM. AHHHHHH! Are you kidding me? Has Amtrak never travelled with kids? What was a beautiful, relaxing afternoon suddenly became a very long wait. The kids were anxious and antsy, ready to leave and not understanding why our train wasn't here. Aidan was furious every time a train came by the station and he couldn't get onto it. My poor husband, who was very doubtful of this whole train experience, was even more unsure.

Here are the kids impatiently waiting for our train...







And yes, Brenna is downing a strawberry smoothie. We are so from Washington. =)

Our Great Train Adventure - Part 1

Today we headed to the train station in Everett to catch the Empire Builder. The kids were so excited that they couldn't wait to pile into the Land Yacht and head out. Nanna went with us and that made the trip even more fun. I think Matt and I were even more excited just to finally be done packing and on the road. =)

Here are pictures I took at the train station while we checked baggage and hung out waiting for our train. I must say something about train stations. They are either incredibly simple or just downright beautiful. Everett's train station is stunning. It is brand new and very modern. We had so much fun exploring the building and the garden outside.


































Aidan, who loves trains, was in absolute bliss! He enjoyed watching the freight trains hurtle down the tracks. Chloe enjoyed posing for the brand new camera. (Doesn't it take beautiful pictures?--I LOVE it!!) Brenna had fun practicing her walking. Next stop the train--or so we thought! Check out the next post for details. =)