A BIG Accomplishment

For months we've put it off.... waited to see if he'd forget about it and move on to something else. But he didn't. And we had to make good on our promise. You see, our little train enthusiast (Ray) really really really really wants to build a model train layout. He has "graduated" from Thomas and GeoTrax and he's into electric trains. He swears he's going to be an engineer (the type that actually drives real trains) and that his house will be full of trains his whole life. Sigh. At least it's a pretty innocent passion, right?

Well, the problem is was that neither Jon nor I know much about building. We just aren't handy woodworkers. That doesn't matter to a boy who for his 7th birthday (coming this Saturday) just wants to be able to build a model train layout. Soooooooo........... we took advantage of Thanksgiving weekend to get this project going. Jon and I stayed up late the past few nights finishing it up.

Here's a picture progression of the project ----

We did it! We built a big sturdy train table on which Ray can design and build his layout. Jon and I both admit that it was actually a fun challenge for us to work on together. We are proud of figuring it out and making this happen for Ray. AND we are so glad it's finished!

On Saturday Jon will take Ray to a train show and let him pick out some trains, tracks, and accessories. And then we'll wait for Pappy and Mary to arrive after Christmas to help us build mountains, tunnels, and who knows what else!

It's amazing the things you'll do for love.... and how happy those things make you. I never thought I'd be building a train table, but I'm so glad we could do this for our train-loving son.

Happy Birthday Ray! I hope you'll enjoy building and playing on your train table for years to come.