Thursday, December 24, 2015

Chugga Chugga Toot Toot!

Each of the boys received a customized Christmas present this year.   Connor got the DIY backlit Vikings headboard.   Since Ramsey loves cars and trains (pretty much anything with wheels!), his personalized present is a new train table.

I had found a number of train tables online.  But, even though they were quite expensive, they seemed flimsy or not exactly made of the highest quality materials.    I happen to know a very good carpenter (Mom's neighbor, Allan, who has done quite a lot of work for us here at the house).  I asked him to create a custom table for Ramsey, complete with an inset (so his train tracks, trains, cars, etc, would not fall off the edge), two toy bins, and a nice shelf (for another storage area or a place for him to drive or park more vehicles).  And, I asked him to create a "cover" for it, so all of the tracks and such could be easily covered and it could be used as a coffee table.  Multi-functional!

Allan had some cherry wood leftover from a cabinetry project.  Cherry?  For a toddler?  Hey, it was less expensive than the pine that he had, so we went for it!

After laboring for about a week, Allan had completed the table and toy bins.  And, he had also created a chair that converts into a stool.  Clever!   It was bare wood, so I had to stain and clear coat it.  (Yay)

The end result:



Like Connor's large custom gift, this too was much too large and heavy to wrap.  So, Ramsey spotted it a few hours before gift-opening time.

The lid/top had to come off.  When he saw it, he started banging his trucks and Star Wars figures on it in excitement.... and added a few light scuffs!  Whoops!

Here are pictures from Tuesday, the day after we'd opened presents.  He had received some Thomas & Friends wood train cars, a felt toy mat, and a set of wooden railway tracks.





Mom laughed today and told me that she thought I liked playing with the train set and table just as much as Ramsey!  I admit, I think I do!

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