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| "Hey Grampa, the Choo Choo's here!" |
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After several weeks getting settled in our new home in Tempe, AZ this Fall, we headed north again to the Denver, CO area in Mid-December, where we would spend the Holiday Season. There were 3 obvious attractions there (and Jonah would soon add a 4th), daughter, Sara, son-in-law, Drew, grandson, Jonah... AND (#4) the Choo Choos.... namely the BNSF (Burlington Northern/Santa Fe) freight trains that rumbled past Sara and Drew's house in Louisville several times a day, and night.
In Eugene some folks debate this kind of thing ad nauseum... 1) are train whistles too obnoxious for modern Americans to have to put up with?... or, rather 2) some kind of sweet, nostalgic, All-American music to the ears? If you're asking me, absent any Jonah influences, mind you; when a train comes down the tracks just across the street from Sara and Drew's house at, say, 4 AM in the morning, whistles/horns blaring loudly, well it might be a tad disruptive. But if we're in the house with Jonah, or outside in the backyard, and he happens to hear that whistle (usually does... he's got good ears!), well it's something special to see that Little Man wiggle excitedly, oft-times spout, "Choo Choo!", and beg to be immediately taken to the fence or window to watch the latest BNSF freight train come "choo chooing" by. You might say he's creating future nostalgia on the fly; I know he is for his Grampa and Gramma for sure.
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| At the fence in the backyard waiting for the "Choo Choo" Train! |
On at least one occasion, probably more, as I recall, Jonah was sitting in his high chair enjoying a toddler meal when the fateful whistle sounded; and he was instantly fairly tearing at his safety belt to try to get out and have "Grampa" take him over to the viewing window. And another time we literally hauled him off the changing table... can't recall if diaper was on, off, partially on, soiled or clean... little matter really... to go watch the "Choo Choo"!
But Jonah is hardly a one dimensional... "yes, I LOVE Choo Choos"... kind of guy. He gets around, most-times very rapidly; and another thing he absolutely loves is going OUTSIDE, regardless of weather conditions. In the picture above, with Jonah looking through the slats for the train (that wasn't coming through at that precise moment), note the rosy cheeks and wintry clothing. It was probably negative frickin degrees out that day, and "Grampa", not as well insulated from frigid weather, was almost begging that little Guy to consider going inside to warm up. Instead he chose this, staring out toward the empty railroad tracks, waiting for the "Choo Choo"!
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| Four of the Boys check out the frozen tundra, Jonah, of course, in charge! |
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And here are some other scenes from Jonah's outdoor obsession. This kid seems impervious to cold weather.. or maybe it's the "baby fat" in his chubby thighs that helps keep him warm in inclement weather... I have fat too, in numerous places, but it's old guy fat, not nearly as resilient as this Little Man's "protection"!
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| "Grampa, you Wuss! It ain't that Cold!" |
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| Snowplowing down the slide... at negative 10 degrees! |
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| Knee Deep in the Fluffy Stuff! And Lovin It! |
But back to the trains. When Jonah couldn't escape outdoors, he took this train thing inside. He had a battery operated Choo Choo circling the XMas Tree (oft-times derailed due to "human" interference) when we arrived; and more train toys and books appeared on Xmas day. Jonah's special joy was watching the various tracks being assembled, then setting in with obvious glee to wreak good-natured havoc on said tracks.
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| "Hey, this is Fun! Any Choo Choos in here?" |
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| An Idyllic scene, pre-storm |
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| "Uh Oh" (Jonah's favorite expression) a Category 5 tornado (Jonah?... nah, he wouldn't, would he?... well maybe) wreaks havoc on the idyllic scene | | |
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Okay, enough about all of that. Jonah votes YES on everything to do with trains. I might also add that he is a quite persuasive young man; so much so that on the afternoon (Tuesday, Jan. 6th) we were set to leave him and those other folks (his parents) behind and head back to Arizona, he conned, not only me, but his beloved Grandma, into going outside one more time for "old times sake". Grandma thought she'd hang on the deck while Jonah and I took the familiar outside tour, keep the shoes dry, or so she thought, since we would soon be leaving for the airport. Jonah felt otherwise. Inevitably, he "persuaded" (dragged) his "gramma" out to be his "sled/train engine" (Grampa just wouldn't do in this case); and they were soon chugging together around the still snowy backyard. Only a few hours later, with all the rest of our shoes already packed in our bags, Lanie and I would board the plane with damp shoes. Oh well, the things we do for the grandkid!
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| Gramma and Jonah... they belong together! |
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And then we were off, pausing, with the Louisville Kids (Sara, Drew, and Jonah) to eat dinner and enjoy a lingering Denver sunset, before jetting away to Arizona. We miss them (and the "Choo Choos") already!
