The Polar Express

The last few years I've been wanting to take the kids on the Polar Express train ride.  It

seemed like such a cute thing, but it is SO expensive!  Finally this year I decided to give it a

try.  It's the last year we wouldn't have to buy a ticket for Miles, plus the kids are really into

the movie right now, so it seemed like perfect timing.  I am so glad we did.  It was a really

fun experience, and the kids loved it (as did Ryan and I).  

We arrived at Union Station and headed over to the check in area.

It was totally decked out with Polar Express stuff, including a steam Engine.

Even the actors looked really similar to the characters in the movie.

We boarded the train and waited for the fun to begin.

They basically took you through the movie.  They played the music, everyone waved their tickets in the air and someone came and wildly punched a bunch of holes in it.

Miles loved the ticket part.  In fact, this might be one of my favorite videos of all time!

Look how excited he gets.  It's like he can hardly contain himself.

After the tickets, came the cookies and hot chocolate, complete with a song and dance.

Then things calmed down a little bit and they read the kids the Polar Express book.

And the big finale...Santa came to visit and gave each person a sleigh bell.

For the last few minutes of the ride they sang Christmas carols.  For one of the songs they

asked for volunteers and Joe raised his hand and went up there.  I was shocked.  He is

normally so shy in these kinds of environments, but he walked right up to the front of the

train car and put on his antlers.  The Christmas spirit must have moved him.  ;)

It was definitely a pricey experience, but it was totally worth it.  It was way more than just a

train ride.  It was almost like we were watching a play as we were riding on the train.  And I

say riding in loose terms because the train only went back and forth on the same piece of

track at about 5 mph.  But that didn't matter at all because it was so entertaining we could

have been standing still and it wouldn't have made a difference.  We all loved it

and I would absolutely do it again.