the North Pole Express

Last night, my whole family came to our house so we could ride the North Pole Express! Formerly known as the Polar Express, until there was some legal issues on copyrights, the North Pole Express is a really fun {secular} the magic of Christmas experience. Based on one of my all-time favorite Christmas season books The Polar Express (and popular movie), this once-a-year event has become quite popular here in the metroplex. This was our first year ... and I think we will be going back again!  These 3 cousins had a blast!

It turned out to be a cold day ... and even colder evening ... so we bundled up with several layers under (and over) their Christmas pajamas, for our outdoor experience.  It was cold but we still had tons of fun!  Kendall saw this huge red ornament first off and asked to take her picture with it ... and with that, let the picture taking parade begin!  {Consider yourself fore-warned!}

Kendall with her cousins Mason and Tucker

We had some time to look around the train grounds before our train ride, so we checked out the General Store ... and spotted Santa Claus immediately!  It was the 1st time she saw Santa this year.  It was there that she realized and said aloud (as we saw him from across the room) "He a man."  I guess until then, to her, Santa was just a cartoon character on tv, or in books that we've read ... I didn't realize she didn't understand that Santa Claus was a guy.  But, there he was ... and a man he was ... and since there was no line to wait to see him {we couldn't believe it!}, we decided to take our turn to see him, while we had the chance.  She just kept staring at him ... couldn't say a word to him and especially didn't want to sit on his lap ... but decided she could go see him with us all together.  So hand in hand, that's what we did ..

I love that she has walked up to him, standing on her tip toes ... it's just classic Kendall, right now!

We all made our way to the pre-boarding station ... complete with heaters & hot chocolate!  And a bit of a musical show to get everyone in the Christmas mood ... to see Santa Claus!

 

 

 

 

 

Even the kids got to join in the show, singing Jingle Bells

All Aboard!  We took a short walk through the {man-made falling} snow & snow-flocked Christmas trees to catch our vintage train ... the Conductor punched each train ticket and we found our seats, ready for our big ride to the North Pole! 

 

 

my happy little family of 3

Aunt Rachel, Mason, Tucker and Uncle Mike

our side of the train ... Daddy, Kendall, Mommy, Grams & Pops

Pops, Kendall & Baby Bear ... and Auntie E across the aisle

Once we arrived at the North Pole, we received a very special visitor in our train car ... Santa Claus!  The excitement & cheering grew as he moved through the train car to talk with each child and give them a silver Christmas bell (like the one given in the book The Polar Express) ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were several stations set up around the grounds with fun things for the kids to do ... due to the late hour, we checked out a few of the stations, but had to stop at the ornament making one ... Kendall & Mason picked out which ornament they wanted and started working away ... while sweet 18 month old Tucker enjoyed getting out of his stroller & running free around the room!

 

 

 

The whole fam enjoyed dinner out at Macaroni's Grill (Grams' request and everyone happily agreed) ... even though it was getting quite late, all the kids did great ... having the yummy bread didn't hurt either!

 

 

We had a great family adventure at the North Pole Express ... and we were especially happy to have Auntie E visiting us from Hawaii be able to join us, too!  Mason & Kendall are already planning next year's trip to the North Pole on the North Pole Express!