Polar Express

*** 12/22/08 - UPDATED WITH PICTURES ***

I'll add pictures later. A stomach bug is making it's way through our house this week. This is all I could muster up the energy to publish today...

Wow! What a fun day we had on Saturday. As I’d mentioned, we drove up to Chattanooga to ride on the ‘Polar Express’ train Saturday evening. It was one of those experiences that I know the kids will remember for a long time.

We boarded the train in our pajamas about 5:30pm. Soon after we boarded and got settled in our seats, the hostesses made their way down the aisle serving everyone a gingerbread cookie and a YooHoo! Owen was quick to notice that these cookies they served us, which were made in by Santa’s chef and served with ‘magic dust’ sprinkles, looked suspiciously liked the Little Debbie ones we had at home. I think I was able to convince him that although they looked similar, ours at home certainly didn’t have Santa’s magic dust.

After the train departed the station and we oo-ed and ahh-ed over the light displays outside our windows, the story-teller came out and read The Polar Express and she walked up and down the aisle. It helped that the kids had all just watched the movie on the ride up in PawPaw and Nana’s Navigator, so it was all fresh in their mind. Owen wondered if the conductor would be by to punch our ticket. And Abby asked about whether we would go down the out-of-control hill they did in the movie.

Soon after the story ended, we heard the locomotive whistle blow which they’d already told us meant we were about to enter the ‘magic tunnel’. Once we made our way through the tunnel we were in the North Pole. Soon we were seeing Santa’s Workshop and feeding stations for each of the reindeer. We even made a dramatic stop when one of the pesky reindeer decided to block the tracks. In a few minutes, Santa’s came into view as he stood track-side and waved at all the passengers. Once our train came to a stop, he boarded the train.

He started at the back of the train and began making his way row by row, to greet each kid and sit with them for a few minutes. When he got to Riley and Owen, he took a few items from their list but then really focused on making sure they knew they must behave and be very good if they were to get any gifts on Christmas morning. Before he moved on, he gave them each a high-five and let them sit on his knee for Daddy to take a few pictures. He really did a great job with all the kids and gave each child a silver bell to remember him by.

Once Santa left our car, Mrs. Clause joined us. She led the kids in several Christmas Carols and even had Tyler lead everyone in a song and then picked Riley to lead one as well. I don't know why I would have expected anything different, but Riley loved the microphone. Definately doesn't get that from his Momma!

That was it, soon we were back at the depot and our trip to the North Pole was over. We stopped at Cracker Barrell for dinner and then hit the road to head home. What a fun day!