The Polar Express!

When our elf Jack arrived at our house in early December, he had this envelope with him...

Andrew loves to open mail or other packages (aka "special delivery"). So they were so excited to see what was inside....

Polar Express Tickets!!!

The boys were sooo excited! We had ridden the Polar Express last year and had loved it. Andrew and Forrest have occasionally talked about it over the past year, so Wilson and I knew we really wanted to take them again this year.

Both of the boys talked about it daily for the 2 weeks before we went. And I think they told everyone we came in contact with about it, too! :) We read the book at bedtime each night and listened to the Polar Express movie soundtrack throughout the day, at home and in the car. (#3 on the cd, referred to as "the fast train song" by the boys, was listened to over and over!)

Forrest would repeat this same this little conversation with us often... He'd say "Mama, Dada, where are we going?!" We'd answer "The Polar Express!" Then he'd say "And where is it going to go?!" And we'd answer "the North Pole!" Then, he'd say, getting really excited, "Who are we going to see?!?!" Then he'd be so excited he couldn't wait for us to say "Santa". He just say it himself, with a huge smile on his face!!

Fast forward a couple of weeks...

and here we are... ready to ride the Polar Express

wearing Christmas pjs and robe, holding his real ticket

tickets punched and ready to board

at the 'North Pole', waiting for Santa to visit us in our train car

(outside the window you can see the North Pole decorations and lights!)

Forrest sees Santa and Mrs. Claus waving as the train pulls up to the North Pole

ringing the jingle bells that the "elves" gave us as Santa approaches!

a picture with Santa and Mrs. Claus!

Ann Evelyn didn't cry but she didn't smile either - just stared Santa down the whole time!

Forrest's jingle bell had come off the leather strip it was tied to, and he was trying to string his it back on as we were taking pictures. Funny boy was saying cheese but wouldn't look at the camera! Andrew, of course, is all smiles! I think this picture is so fun though because it really is true to how they were acting that night when they met Santa. They didn't miss the opportunity to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas...

For Andrew... a new trumpet (he had asked for this last year, too, but that trumpet broke. So he wanted a new one.), money - quarters :), oranges :), a candy cane and an airplane... I love hearing his Santa list each year. He comes up with it all by himself, and it's always so unique! :)

and for Forrest - Toy Story toys!! :)

Eating cookies and drinking chocolate milk after our visit with Santa

A picture in front of the "Polar Express"!

What a fun, fun family night (and weekend)! It was a very special time with my precious family! The Lord had just brought us through a very busy time of studying and work for Wilson. So, this was a much needed getaway together... and what a blessing it was!