Model Trains and Nini Day

Model train set in the basement of the Quechee Antique Mall

Yeah, I'm still miniature-obsessed... So imagine, my surprise when we wandered down to the basement of the Quechee Antique Mall after a super-sweet and fun day exploring with my mother-in-law, Mark, and E, and finding this amazing (and huge) model train set complete with different seasons, farmland, and even little kayaks in the river.

My mother-in-law, Betsy, had gone to the Antique Mall's website before going to check the hours, and she noticed a review that only mentioned "a basement with a lot of junk in it." We had never been in the basement, though the rest of the place wasn't "junky."

This review also failed to mention the train set in the basement. Why?? I felt like I was in the Leave it to Beaver episode where Wally wants to go to the neighbor's house to visit the girl he has a crush on, and Beaver wants to go with him -- but only to see the model trains that the girl's father has.

In this scenario, I was the Beave. Nothing else mattered. I snapped pics (more on Instagram) while E studied the little villages.

The rest of the day was great, too, and E had so much fun with her nana, as she lovingly calls "Nini." Ninis always come bearing gifts, hugs, and kisses, and E spent the day graciously accepting all 3. She also counted to 3 for the first time today! When prompted, we've always gotten a "2" and "3" out of her, but today she actually said, "1, 2, 3." She understands the concept of "1" and knows when she has "2" of something. I'm still not sure she understands the concept of "3" other than that it's more than "2," but it doesn't matter -- we're on the road to advanced mathematics. I can't believe she picked this up so quickly just by listening to me counting as we did certain little activities.

At the end of the day, she left Nini's house with 2 bouncy balls and happily spent the car ride home balancing them on her head and giggling as they rolled down her shoulders and into her lap. Then she'd laugh and say, "Thank you, Nini!"

Yes, thank you, Nini!! You somehow manage to make me feel just as loved and happily spoiled. It was the perfect day!

Next weekend, Nini and Bee time! Can't wait! Time to start writing our books: "Nini and Bee," "Chicken and Bee," etc.! Xoxo