Last Summer's Project

Last summer Jon & I created this train board for Bram's 2nd birthday present. We followed this Young House Love tutorial almost exactly. (http://www.younghouselove.com/2012/09/all-abord-the-train-board/) my favorite part was deciding with Jon precisely what we envisioned for the painted background. We both decided we wanted a river, a lake, a bridge going over the river, & a forest. Jon noticed one of our wood planks was sloped all along one side because of the way it had been cut originally. That plank would be one of the outside ones and we wouldn't be able to screw the tracks there because it was so uneven. Jon's solution was to make that part of the plank a sandy beach leading out to an ocean. We also decided somewhere along the line to leave a clearing in the forest, in case any matchbox minivans needed to stop there for a camping site down the road. This planning part was fun because we got to try and think like a kid again. 

Bram seems to be enjoying this more the past week or so. He's almost all but ignored it since August when we gave it to him, and honestly our fun gift has spent more time stowed away under our couch in the guest room than being used for its purpose. He seems to be more into  his Legos or his construction vehicles and accessories. But whether he plays or not, all tiny visitors and friends we've had over love playing with it. I'm sure it will get plenty of use over time. I definitely don't regret spending the time putting it together, and I had a lot of fun working on it seeing as it was Jon & I's first team project to execute.