Trains (in California)

Luckily for Beckett Sacramento is a big railroad town.

We took Beckett to the California State Railroad Museum. We went last year too. Beckett knows a lot more about trains this year. Below he points out the knuckle coupler.

The train below was Beckett's favorite last year. This year he pointed out all the parts of the train: the smokestack, the cow catcher, the whistle. He also knows if a train runs on wood or coal. This train runs on wood. You can tell by the conical smokestack (and the wood in the tender).

Beckett loves signals.

Listening on facts about trains.

Getting ready to watch the movie about trains. He didn't last through the whole thing. It was pretty boring.

And this was Beckett's reaction when we had to leave the museum.

Beckett also got to ride a few trains while we were in California. 

On a nice morning we went to Funderland. I had heard a lot about this little amusement park, and Beckett was old enough to enjoy it this year. It's a perfect amusement park for little guys.

First we rode the cars, but for the whole ride Beckett talked about riding the train.

So we did that next.

Then he went with Nate on the mini rollercoaster. He's tall enough for it, but not brave enough. When we got off I asked him if it was fun or scary. He said scary.

The log ride was next. It was a hit. Beckett likes boats.

Felix rode the stroller.

We ended the morning with three trips around the park on the train.

As if that wasn't enough, later in the week Grandma Dorothy and I took Beckett to ride the Folsom Valley Railway.

We had actually ridden this train once before, back in 2007 when we went to California for Nate's grandmother's funeral, but I never posted about that trip. (You are shocked I'm sure.) Anyway, it was exactly as I remembered it--down to the engineer who fixes your camera settings and then takes your picture. These pictures do look pretty amazing.

 Here he is driving the train.

On this trip we learned that the Folsom Valley Railway is the smallest steam train still in operation. And, of course, Beckett loved it.

Beckett's final train trip was a ride on lightrail. This is his train face. Trains are serious business.

Believe it or not, there are plenty more trains to ride in Sacramento. We'll have to go back.

Discovering Gold

One of my very favorite thing about California this summer was that I got to spend a day with one of my best friends.

Jill drove up to see us from Palo Alto. Jill just recently moved to California, so we took her to Coloma for a bit of California history.

Coloma is the site of Sutter's Mill where gold was first discovered in 1848. Below is a reconstruction of the mill owned by John Sutter and James Marshall.

Beckett mourned the fact that he was not authorized personnel and thus could not go up into the mill itself. (Thankfully. That looks like a scary place for a 3-year-old.)

We checked out the museums. Beckett really liked this mining car display. Go figure. It involved a train car, train tracks, and a tunnel.

Here's Beckett in front of the Mormon Cabin. Members of the Mormon Battalion, on their way to Utah from Southern California, helped build Sutter's Mill and played a role in starting the gold rush. Henry Bigler wrote in his diary in January of 1848, "this day some kind of mettle was found in the tailrace that looks like goald." Mormon merchant Sam Brannan walked up and down the streets of San Francisco with a bottle full of gold flakes shouting "Gold, gold, gold in the American River!" Sam Brannan became California's first millionaire. How did he make his millions? He sold mining supplies to all the gold rushers. 

Behind us is the gross, swampy spot where gold was discovered. (Rivers change. I'm sure this spot was more fast flowing in 1848.)

After checking out all the historical stuff, we went to pan for gold in the river. The whole river bed is glittery. We scooped up a couple flakes.

The water felt so nice and cool after walking (running in Beckett's case) around in the hot, hot sun.

Pools

Brooke and Aaron have a pool in their backyard.This is something that is completely foreign to me, but, after a couple of days swimming in the backyard, I can see why having your own pool would be so nice.

Beckett is crazy about the water. Seeing how much fun he had in the pool made me feel bad that we haven't been able to swim more this summer.

Beckett wore this crazy innertube-outfit so that he could swim all by himself. Someday he is going to look at these pictures and wonder why I made him wear something so embarrassing, but at the time he completely loved swimming all on his own.

Beckett, Nate, and Keontay got in some rough housing.

Brooke and Aaron's pool is really warm, so Felix loved his first swim.

 

It's Baby Leo and Baby Felix.

Keontay and Daysha were looking particularly adorable.

Baby Leo (or Baby Veo as Beckett calls him) is a super happy guy.

I might be a bit biased, but, seriously, Felix is the cutest baby.

Boats

Nate's brother, Aaron, has a boat. Beckett and Nate went out on the boat twice. I finally succumbed to the pressure and went out with them the day before we left. The boat was super fun and tubing was awesome, despite my motion sickness. I think Beckett even fell asleep while Aaron pulled us on the tube. Beckett keeps talking about "Uncle Aaron's boat." When we pulled up to the dock B put his arms up and yelled, "I did it!" Maybe he thought he was driving the boat?

Every time we visit California we go to Lake Natoma. This year we took Beckett out in a canoe. He really wanted to paddle the boat himself. After a few minutes Nate and Beckett dropped me off and Beckett got his wish--a paddle all to himself. I got a sup board.

Felix stayed on the shore with Grandma Dorothy and slept in his stroller.

Home Again

We're home from our 3-week summer trip. We spent ten days in California with Nate's family and ten days in Colorado with my family. Be prepared for lots of vacation posts.

Park Time

There's a brand new park by our house. Nate's been taking the boys for some play time.

Nate and Beckett have been playing soccer at the park. Beckett looks like he's quite the little goalie.

Felix's first time in a swing.

Proof that Felix isn't always happy.

Lying on the artificial turf.

 Beckett is so fast.