Trains

 Six and a half years ago when Case and I finally met Marc in Florida and we finally had these wonderous paychecks that would allow us to do things like pay rent and bills and eat (!) I bought Case a Thomas train set.

 Since then we have seen that little blue engine chug around the tracks thousands of times.  Millions of times.  We now have a larger cast of trains and have actually worn out several engines.  No one anywhere, ever, has enjoyed these little trains so thoroughly.

 So it thrilled me to no end the other day when instructed to draw a picture of Thomas, Case actually did.  No help, no instruction, just encouragement while I made dinner and he sat at the bar and drew.  Thomas is the small blue engine on the top, Percy is the little green engine.  Also included are an alarm clock set at 3:00, "James" written in red because he is a red engine, a very decorated "Mavis," and a ghost from Pacman.

 The next one was even better, with more happy engines and the musical notes indicating both the theme song and the various steamie's whistles.  It is so positive, with a cheery "great job!" accompanying the trains names, sounded out slowly by me to be transcribed.  Mavis is my favorite here, with the detail of her square diesel face with yellow diagonal stripes. 

 And last, another portrait of Mavis, a little music, and an impassioned plea to stop with the homework and please let him go play Wii already.