North Pole Express

For Christmas Grandma Call wanted all of us to go to the North Pole together, so she got us tickets to the North Pole Express that leaves out of a little town in Idaho.  It was a great day with the whole family.

I had to wake the kids up to get them ready to leave, which I hardly ever have to do, they are usually our alarm clock, but they were reluctant to wake up until I told them we had to go get on a train to the North Pole to see Santa.  They both perked right up and started chattering.  Sophia exclaimed, "The Polah Expwess?!!!" and  Richie said, "Oh, I had a different idea.  I was going to hide somewhere in the house where Santa can't see me."  He was talking about trying to catch Santa on Christmas Eve, but he decided taking the train to see him was a good idea, too.  They were both so excited and anxious.  Richie said he had never met the real Santa, and seemed really happy that he was going to.  It took about three and a half hours to get to the little town where we boarded the train and Sophia kept saying, "We ah nevah going to get to Santa!"  They were both very relieved when we got to the train station and boarded the train.

The joy and excitement of the kids made it so fun for all of us.  As the train started moving Richie turned to me and asked, "Mom, whose idea was it to go to the North Pole?" I told him it was Grandma's idea and he turned and very sincerely said, "Thanks for bringing us to the North Pole Grandma." and gave her a huge hug.  It was so sweet because it came completely from him without any prompting from us.  Grandma said, "What five-year-old would say thank you like that?"  I was so proud of my little man, and so happy to see his joy in the experience.

We were on the train for an hour and a half.  It was a beautiful, scenic ride up the mountain.  There was a car with snacks and open cars so you could get a good view, and Christmas carolers came through the train singing songs.  It all helped the time go by so quickly and before we knew it we were at the North Pole.  Richie didn't think that the North Pole had any trees and he wasn't convinced that the stop on the side of the mountain was actually the North Pole, but Santa was there, so he accepted it in the end.

We waited in line to see Santa and Sophia got a little shy when we met Mrs. Claus.

They both told Santa what they want for Christmas . . .

. . . and then we all got together for a picture with him.

On the way back down the mountain Santa came through the train and talked to everyone again.  It was nice that he was able to spend more time with the kids and they enjoyed it.

Grace was oblivious to it all and was just a sweetheart all day.  She is five months old now and I can't believe how quickly she is growing up.

The kids were really good considering how much driving we had to do.  They were very tired in the end, but they behaved most of the way home.  At one point Richie was talking about numbers and for some reason he said, "Mom, I don't think Sophia can count to 29."  To which Sophia responded, "One, two, fwee, fowa, (pause) 29!"  She showed him, didn't she?

Going on the North Pole Express was a great way to kick off Christmas. Thanks Grandma Call!  The kids are SO excited about Christmas.  Sophia asked if today is Christmas Eve and when I told her yes she said, "DOES THAT MEAN WE CAN OPEN PWESENTS?!"  She was a little disappointed when I told her that we don't open presents until tomorrow, but tomorrow will be here before we know it.  Having kids at Christmas really helps make the season magical.  Merry Christmas Eve!