{The Polar Express}

This last Friday the kids had no school and Ryan's Mom had planned a little surprise for them. We didn't tell them where we were headed we just told them that we were going somewhere for a little over night trip. We packed up the car and headed south to Oregon and met up with Ryan's Mom and Step-dad in Hood River, Oregon. The kids were so excited to see Grandma and Papa they thought that was the whole surprise. So we went to dinner and the kids were asking where we were going to stay the night and Grandma said maybe a hotel and then we could swim. The Kids were stoked, but we told them before that we were going to check out the train depot that was just across the street. So into the train depot we go and it is all decorated for Christmas and they have the movie Polar Express playing on a tv and the music playing over the PA system. The kids wandered around for a little while and then Ayden pipes up, "when are we going to the hotel?" We told him not yet but asked if he could figure out what we were doing in a train depot, with all the Polar Express stuff going on. He thought about it for a minute and then we stated the obvious, that we were going to ride the Polar Express. Then he says, "but I want to go to a hotel and swim". I guess I am glad that my kids are so easily pleased with things. Anyways as we got ready to get on the train I wasn't sure what the kids really thought about the whole thing. Meysa was really quiet and a little apprehensive at first. Wyatt, who is into trains right now was really excited and he found a little friend who was just as excited as he was to "talk" with over trains!! Ayden is preteen it seems lately and his attitude was this was going to be boring, and Lauryn was her little happy self, just happy to be along for the ride.

(this was Wyatt and his fast friend checking out another train going by on the other track)


The train ride followed the movie pretty closely, minus the kids walking on top of the train in a snow storm and them riding on the front of the train. But we did run into some "reindeer" and we made it to the North Pole and saw all the factories and homes at the North Pole. We eve saw Santa's house which was all lit up with pretty lights. Meysa saw some people working in the factory and she makes the statement..."I thought the elves would be smaller than that." Nothing get past her I tell ya.
We enjoyed hot chocolate and cookies and we got to sing some Christmas carols.




The bum was great!!!
And then on the return trip to the depot the kids got a visit from the Big guy himself, Santa Claus. Each of the kids received a bell, which he explained to Meysa were from last years reindeer harnesses. They change them out each year and he lets children have the used ones. Ayden is on the cusp of figuring out the whole Santa thing but the younger kids bought the whole thing hook, line and sinker. It was a lovely night and the kids had a good time even though we didn't go to a hotel and swim. Thanks so much Grandma Margaret and Papa Greg, you made their night fantastic!!!