Matthew enjoys all-things trains. This past year, he has moved beyond the wooden ones we have at home to the electric model trains, helping his uncle in laying down new tracks at his grandparents’ and orchestrating multiple trains with precision, averting potential mishaps with deft track switching. 

As a result, visiting local train museum has become a staple during our travel. On Tuesday, we made a beeline for the San Diego Model Railroad Museum in Balboa Park. Matthew, brimming with excitement, darted back and forth between the display windows, eager observing the moving model trains. He even picked up some tips from the docent on crafting realistic landscapes — chicken wires for shaping, plasters for the mold and sprinkles of green grind up foam for turf. I would not be surprised if he suggests making one for his next project! 

While Jordan may not share Matthew’s fervor for trains, she found her own enjoyment in the life-sized trolley just outside the museum entrance, engaging in imaginative play as a conductor and passenger alongside her brother. 

On our way back we stopped by downtown Oceanside and took a leisurely stroll down the Pier, where the water gently glides ashore, shimmering under the warm sunlight in hues of reds, yellows, and oranges. We watched the surfers brave the waves, their determination evident as they rode them time and again. 

Returning to our condo in the late afternoon, we relished in a laidback evening with some time in the swimming pool, followed by a nice homemade meal.