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Jack turns 7 tomorrow.  I can’t belive it.  I remember this night 7 years ago like it happened yesterday.  But, I won’t bore you with the details.  As everyone with kids knows, it sure goes fast.  Super, super fast.

Jack, if you didn’t know it already, is a train freak.  Our move to the Chicagoland area was like a dream come true for him, as there are trains running through town CONSTANTLY.  (He was disappointed we didn’t buy the house we saw that had tracks within sight of the front porch.)

He’s been able to get his fix, though, as there are tracks all over the place around here.  And, we’ve been into the city several times now, via the train.

For his birthday this year, rather than a big party in our paltry backyard (on a rainy day), or at an inflatable palace, or a bowling alley, I decided that he could choose a few friends and we’d take the train into Chicago for lunch.

Jack invited four of his closest friends, and his sister, and we arranged for a babysitter for The Little Boys.  Jack’s friends all met us at the station this morning and off we went.  Dan and I against 6 young kids.  On the train and into the city.

The Great Train Ride

We had a blast.  The boys, of course, were rambuncous and boyish (we had to remind them a few times that we didn’t want to hear “poopy” talk or “barf” talk… that kind of thing).  But they were all good and it was fun.  We took cabs from the train station to the Rainforest Cafe where we had lunch – including a Volcano Cake.  Then, (because I’m an idiot and don’t know how to read a train schedule and we ended up with time on our hands) we walked back to the station from the restaurant.  The kids bounded along the streets of Chicago, perfectly entertained and content with each other – not at all bothered by a long walk in rainy weather.

The train ride home mostly consisted of bouncing in seats, making observations through the windows, and passing my iPhone around so everyone could play FlightControl (thanks Jeremy and Katey) and TicTacToe.

Homeward Bound

After getting the boys all dropped off, I came home and iced a million cupcakes for school and Jack went off to play with his new gifts.

We’re all exhausted (including The Little Boys, who had a blast with Auntie Joyce!) so now I think I’m going to bed.

P.S.  I could kick myself – I forgot to bring a decent camera with me.  All I had was my phone…