thomas in trouble

we just got home from our 

sweet little friend, vida blue's  

birthday party.

vida is 4 and lovely

and brimming and bright.  

she was all about marshmallows and cupcakes,

headbands, and necklaces this evening.  

there were hundreds of balloons, twinkling candles

and 

a 

train.

for christmas this sweet little girl got 

a train set that looked something like 

this:

i'm pretty sure it's the polar express by lionel.

it's something like a 0-gauge train set with 

real puffing smoke.  

it's pretty cool.

needless to say, bodhi 

did not care about 

pizza,

cupcakes,

or gift opening.

he spent a total of 4.5 hours 

with the train.  

he would emerge now and then with,

"mom, you gotta check this out!"

and of course, i'd go.

a couple times i had to help him

"smoosh" (his words) the tracks back together. 

i'd say he was completely and totally smitten. 

the wonder on his face did something to my heart.

there is something incredible and inspiring about
seeing your child
engage and connect.
 here i am, looking it up on ebay.
and although i'm pretty sure the train thing
won't last forever
and i'm also pretty sure (after checking it on ebay)
we won't be getting the polar express train set,
i want to be the one that is "checking it out", excited, and encouraging,
when bodhi does find, engage and connect with that thing
that will last forever.

does that make sense?

 on the way home

he leaned his head back in his seat and half whispered, 

half breathed,

"that polar express was so awesome

and so 

so trainy."

"trainy" - my new favorite word.  

i wouldn't be surprised if bo is dream'n of that train

right this very minute.  

here's a photo of my boy, for good measure.

love him, just so dang much.