The six-year-old told me just this morning that he's too old to play with Thomas anymore.

I built a simple track with only the other two boys in mind.

Lo and behold, the eldest joined right in and soon complained that the track layout was a boring figure 8.

Alright, I admit it: I was lazy and unimaginative.

The two-year-old is learning the engines' names: James, Toby, Emily, Gordon. And other special cars: "coach," "caboose" and "coal car" (I know, I know, "tender"). And he has favorites already!

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