Does The Bell Still Ring For You?

Hopefully you have seen or read the book, The Polar Express so you know the meaning of the title of my post...... Yes we finally made it to The Polar Express! And I have to say it was MAGICAL! I can't tell you how wonderful it was, you just have to experience it. To see all the kids so happy and the true excitement on their faces during the whole time you are there is the best! If you have any negativity or blahs during the Holiday season you have to do this! I hear so many people get so negative about Christmas and know they are truly missing what the whole thing is bout.... It will rekindle your love of Christmas and the true meaning of it through you children's eyes.

So we left for Williams in the morning so we could go to the Deer Farm and some other things before we checked into our hotel and boarded the train. I loved the Deer Farm! They had of course deer walking around that would come up to you and you could feed, they are so gentle and beautiful. They also had buffalo, miniature horses, pot belly pigs, goats, camels, Llamas. It was really neat. So pretty and peaceful there, and also very cold - yikes!! I am so glad we do not live up North anymore, I hate the cold, lol! Sam isn't a fan of cold either, He always says hold me, warm me up Mommy!

Then we get to the Hotel which is on the grounds of the Train Station. The whioe place is lit up with millions of Christmas lights, and displays. All kinds of old trains that you can get on and check out. So we checked everything out, played in the snow and ate some soup and chili in the restaurant and then it was time to board. It is so wonderful to see this. You go out to the train and everything is lit up and kids are all running around so excited, and most of them and their parents in their pjs looking for their car that will take them to The North Pole on The Polar Express. We get on and you have a car director who tells you what is going on and hands out hot cocoa and cookies. She leads us all in Christmas carols and has us do silly things during songs. Then she tells us Santa will be getting on our car soon. The train is still going and she tells us we will be going through a magical tunnel that will get us to the North Pole very quickly. We go through a tunnel that is lighted with tons of lights and then soon after we are all told to look out the window. Out the window they have a huge display of the North Pole, A sleigh with a real Santa, elfs and all kinds of stuff. The Santa then gets on board. It was so much fun. Just riding the train and looking out the window at the town all decorated. Santa arrives to our car and he walks down the aisle briefly chatting with each child and giving them a bell from his sleigh. Sam was so happy. He was not impressed when we went and saw Santa at the mall, but this really impressed him, he was in awe. He is still talking about the trip. He was singing songs and just having the best time! I am so glad we finally did this and I hope we will do it next year and the next and the next....

I can't post all of our pics from the trip so if you want to see them click on this link and it will take you to our album: http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=q3f0wve.1izoj3o2&x=0&y=-1epitp