Fall Fun!!!

We had a wonderful family day as part of my birthday weekend! First stop: Hesston Steam Museum. After driving past it all my life, I went for the first time. I'm so glad we did! It was so cool! Admission was free. We were able to see all the old steam engines, ride in the 'welcome wagon' pulled by a tractor, watch the old steam-powered saw mill and then we forked over a few dollars for a ride on the 'Ghost Train'. The Ghost Train was the largest of the 3 trains available for rides. It took us on a 15 minute ride through the 'haunted forrest'

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The Steam Electric Generating Station

 The Ghost Train!
Hesston keeps the memory of narrow gauge steam railroads alive.  Geared locomotives like this 1929 Shay were a common site in logging camps and gold and silver mines in the west. 

 The steam-powered saw mill

These 1/4 scale locomotives are steam or gasoline powered and were mainly built for amusement parks from the 1920's to the 1950's. These trains were meant to haul kids and their parents over half a century ago and are still steaming along today.

The 999

Our smallest railroad is history in miniature  where steam locomotives operate just like their big brothers. Turning water into steam using a real coal fire, these "little trains" take as much skill to operate as the real thing. Painstakingly built by the people who run them, these trains run on track with rails only 7.5" apart and travel through the heavily  wooded hills and under a bridge in a mile long winding route.

 The conductor of the Ghost Train

 Afterward we had dinner at my dad and step-mom's house and rode the ponies.

 And the best part of Fall Fun...trick-o-treating. In this case, we're going to trek-o-treat on McCoy Creek Trail. Joining me for the treating was Rocky, Supergirl and Rupunzel!

 We liked Tigger

 We (Hank) didn't like Darth Vader

IU/Brown County Weekend

Every year I am lucky enough to be able to get together with a group of girls I met during my days at IU. I like to call them my IU gals. They are an amazing group and likewise have amazing families. This year we met in Bloomington and stayed overnight in Brown County. Neither the weather, the venue nor the people get any better!

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Reid was so cute and proud of the flowers he picked. You can't see from the picture but the roots are still attached and all.