1.11.2009

Who's that crazy woman running after the train?





The day we got to Utah was a little crazy. We decided before we came to Utah that we were going to ride the Polar Express (Heber Creeper).  Little did I know I would be packing all night- I didn't even sleep for 2 minutes.  
When we arrived in Utah I was exhausted and took a little nap.  When I woke up, I had to hurry and get ready. We were really pushing it for time.  Avery was meeting us up at the Heber Creeper because she was playing with her cousin and they were going on the "Polar Express" with us. 
When we drove past Midway I had a feeling we weren't going to make it. I was mad at myself because I knew if I planned better, this wouldn't be happening to us.  We were on the phone back and forth with Genise and Matt (Kev's siter and husband, who had Avery on the Polar Express) and when we turned into Heber we had less than a mile to go.  I was panicked. Matt told us that the conductor just said "all aboard and they were starting the engine.  We were speeding down the road and we could see the train. We hurried and parked and we could see Avery and her cousins and Matt and Genise on the train.  I slammed the car door and started running. Let me give you a visual... I had jeans on with huge 1980's moon boots- navy blue with red and white stripes, a fleece, my puffy North Face vest, and a snow hat on.  I started sprinting and I mean sprinting for the train.  Kevin grabbed Boston out of his car seat.
All of a sudden I heard the train whistle and I knew what was going to happen. The train slowly started to move. I started screaming and crying at the same time and literally grabbed a hold of the train. Boston was screaming because he wanted to be on the train and was stuck in the snow. Kevin knew there was no hope but for some reason I kept sprinting.  The conductor told me it was too late and to go talk to the lady in charge and the train station. I kept screaming "My daughter is on that train! My daughter is on that train!" With tears down my face... I had lost it! 
Meanwhile, Genise (kev's sister) was yelling to her husband, "Do something Matt! You have to stop the train!" I think everyone on and off the train, including our husbands, thought we were crazy. 
The reason I was so upset was because Boston wasn't with his cousins and sister. If they were together and we missed the train I wouldn't be nearly as crazy and upset. 
I ran to the lady in charge and she radioed to the conductor. They told me it wasn't going to happen. I was balling my eyes out. I honestly was acting like a five year old. 
Then all of a sudden the conductor told the lady in charge that the train had to stop because they had to wait at a train crossing, so if we hurried we could run and get on the back of the train.  I couldn't believe it! We were so lucky! When we entered the train everyone was cheering- I felt like we were apart of some cheesy Christmas movie. That's when I realized that everyone was watching me from inside the train. I could feel my cheeks get pink from the embarrassment. 
So yes, we were able to go on the Polar Express and share the experience with cousins.  We had fun listening to the story and having hot chocolate and cookies, singing songs and meeting Santa and Mrs. Clause.

Note to self- Be at least 30 minutes early next time :)


gotta love Boston's smile...it's his "I don't want to take a picture" face.

4 comments:

lramey said...

that's the saddest thing EV.VER. that hurt my heart imagining you running after the train, cring your eyes out!!! that's so rough! at least you got on- i'm so happy for you!!!!

next time you're here, we better see more!!!

Holly said...

I was laughing/almost crying the entire story. I could actually almost feel your pain! I'm glad it all worked out in the end.

Codi said...

I am convinced that motherhood creates a crazy lady inside us all, that appears from time to time. Before I had kids I would have laughed and thought you were nuts. Being a mom, I laugh because I would have done the same thing. And we will all do it again and again and again.

Stephanie Reneé said...

Oh Amy - I could just see you running for the train! You were not crazy at all! I would have done the same thing. It's so important to have family together for special events like that. Didn't the conductor see the movie verison of the book?!? The train HAD to stop for the one little boy who needed to get on... and his parents too! You are an awesome mom!