Over the River and Through the Woods

We always used to sing this song on the way to my grandparent's house.  We always went out to see them in western Nebraska, at Christmas break time, and while they didn't exactly live "over the river and through the woods", we were going to "grandma's house", and there were a few trees around their home place in the sandhills.  Now we take that trip to MY folks house and we do go over the river, but there aren't any woods to go through either, they are all "out back" near the river overflow that the house is situated next to.  


It wasn't exactly Christmas break this time, but the first time my brother was visiting my folks, since moving as far away from the middle of the US as he could get. So, we went, even though snow was expected and hindered part of us getting there in a timely manner, as well as making the home going difficult. 


However,  the whole point of this is the remembering.  Remembering the places we've visited and the places we've lived, and the toys we played with. 


My daughter and family came along, so almost three year old Zane needed toys, so out came the toys that are left from the raising of four kids.  

The ones that are left, are my favorites.  I remember playing with these Fisher-Price toys, A LOT.  

We had the whole set, house, barn, garage, school.  We took turns (I hope) on who got what building, set them up and played, visiting our people back and forth, telling stories, playing games, and shutting up our naughty children in the little staircase that had an actual door to get in it.  

Zane liked the the garage the best, which is understandable since he likes anything with wheels, and acts like there are no other toys worth playing with in the world.  

They don't make the Fisher-Price house and barn anything like this anymore.  They are big with "chunky" people.  So, kids won't swallow them, I suppose.  But, little kids didn't play with these sets.  I played with them until I was 10 and long past putting anything into my mouth except food, and lots of it. I don't think kids play with toys very long anymore.  We did, we didn't have anything else TO do. There weren't electronics in those days.  I loved these because of the details, the paper on the inside of the rooms had carpet and wallpaper and other things that didn't come as furniture. There were stalls and animals in the barn, ABC's and apples in the schoolroom, and roads on the garage. Because of these, I like anything miniature. I had so much fun with these I expected my kids to, but they didn't.  They never played with them like Zane did when we were there.  I guess each kid likes his own thing, and that wasn't ours.  

We are making new memories, too.  Grandpa Black often has raspberry cider for us to drink. I see Zane enjoyed it too. 

This little train is another memory.  I don't remember playing with it myself.  But, it has been around a long time.  Dad painted it.  But I would have liked it just the same it it wasn't.  

Zane made good use of it as a place to hold his snacks. 


Time marches one, things change.  It is nice to see some things never change.  Especially little boys and their fascination with wheels.