Ford is THREE! and the not-so-Scary-Train.

Ford has been talking about the "scary train," to anyone who would listen, since Jayne and I took the kids to Tweetsie Railroad last year thinking it would be the time of their lives... and then the train got robbed by bandits and the kids never forgave us. 

Sometime since, Ford decided when he was three he would be big enough to take on the bandits, and Seth obliged him by equipping him with a cap gun for just that purpose. The Scary Train for his birthday (with Grandma & Grandpa, as requested), it was. 

Scary Train Birthday weekend was everything everyone dreamed of. We rented this gorgeous cabin.

We roasted marshmallows,

played cards,

blew out 80,000 candles,

opened presents,

and made a pilgrimage to one of our fave spots, Appalachian Mountain Brewery and the Boone Tot Park (post- rainstorm).

Plus we totally killed it at Tweetsie. 

Both F and F braved their fears of the terrifying train

and I kept my mouth shut about the wild impropriety of Indians with hatchets and redface.

F+F rode rides together, over and over again (hi, cutest thing ever)

 met the Easter Bunny after the cancan dance (because of course)

reveled in having Grandma & Grandpa with them,

and said hi to the 'pacas.

It was an idyllic birthday weekend for our big three year old guy, who was so proud he was no longer scared of the Scary Train.

And although we skipped Easter services, our holiday-prompted long weekend also involved a visit (plus a needs-assembly birthday present) from our beloved Natalie,

"deer hunting" in the yard,

and an epic last night with Grandma & Grandpa at the new Fayetteville Woodpeckers stadium.

That last one has to be the photo of the week. And what a week it was...! Happy birthday to our baby.