Madeline Dreamed of Trains

Sometimes, the best days are the ones you don’t plan for—the ones that fill up with family, laughter, and a touch of Christmas magic. This past Sunday was one of those days, unexpectedly brimming with connection and holiday cheer.

The day began with a special celebration: Aleene’s 85th birthday. Since Blake and Debbie were out of town, Alison and I agreed to take her to tithing settlement in the afternoon. The way this arrangement unfolded was, honestly, hilarious. Debbie texted earlier in the week, and before I even knew it, Alison had replied, “Sure, no problem.” Or so I thought. Turns out, it wasn’t Alison who responded—it was Madeline. Our little one loves playing with our Apple Watches while we hold her, and in her curious swiping, she sent a perfect, preemptive “Yes!” to Debbie. Alison later explained the whole thing, and of course, we were happy to help.

Since it was her birthday, we headed over a bit early to spend time with Aleene. We brought along some leftover Snickerdoodle ice cream to share—a small but sweet way to celebrate. While we were there, we introduced Madeline to Kitty. Kitty, true to her feline nature, was a bit cautious but mostly indifferent, while Madeline, wide-eyed with wonder, was completely enthralled. Watching Aleene hold Madeline felt like a little time capsule—a blending of generations. I hope it was a birthday surprise she’ll cherish.

Later in the day, Kristin and her girls came by. Kristin and Skylee are performing together in a couple of weeks with Alison accompanying, and they wanted to rehearse their song. Skylee also had a special mission: wrapping the gift she picked out for Kristin last week. I was glad they stopped by because it gave me an excuse to unveil the train set I’d ordered just the day before. Anna, always up for a project, was the perfect helper to set it up around the Christmas tree in the loft.

The timing worked out beautifully because dinner was ready by then. For December, I’d chosen Raclette as my signature dish. Earlier in the week, we’d picked up some authentic Swiss cheese from Caputo’s, and I was eager to try out the raclette maker for the first time. I went traditional: melted cheese poured over boiled potatoes, sausages, and roasted cauliflower. It was a hit, though I learned a thing or two—like how essential a proper raclette knife is (don’t worry, it’s already on order).

As a random but delightful addition to dinner, we cracked open a pomegranate I’d picked up on a whim—just $1 at the store. Alison, with Kristin’s help, took on the tedious job of prepping it. While they worked, Alison shared the story of Persephone with Skylee, weaving mythology into the simple act of extracting ruby-like seeds. 

After dinner, Anna and I headed to the loft to assemble the train set. I have dreamed of having a train around our Christmas tree for years. A couple of weeks ago, while holding Madeline, I came across a video of a train circling a Christmas tree. In that moment, I decided she needed one, not just for now, but for all the Christmases to come. It felt like the perfect tradition to start.

The train was everything I hoped for: it has a bell, a whistle, a steam chimney, and even a conductor. Best of all, it could be controlled from my phone, moving forward and backward, speeding up and slowing down. Anna was mesmerized, taking turns controlling it and trying to load things into the cars while it chugged along. Skylee joined in too, giggling at every near miss and derailment.

When the train was running smoothly, I brought Madeline upstairs for some tummy time. Her little face lit up as she watched the train circle the tree, her hands reaching out in delight. Kristin came up to lounge with us while Alison and Skylee wrapped presents. She laughed, noting how much Mads loved the train. I snapped what felt like a thousand pictures, trying to capture every joyful moment.

It’s days like these that remind me what the holidays are all about. There was nothing particularly grand about this Sunday—no big plans or elaborate events. Just family coming together, sharing stories, and building memories. And yet, it felt extraordinary. These are the moments I want to remember: the laughter, the love, and the simple joys of being surrounded by people we love.