All Aboard The Polar Express

My family was given tickets back in July for us to all ride on 

The Polar Express

in French Lick, Indiana.

 We spontaneously decided to get a group picture taken after the train ride.  The photographer took ONE picture and it turned out so good!!  Most people looking, many smiling and it perfectly captured the fun time we had together.

We'd been looking forward to this event for months, made plans for the kids to wear matching pjs (that my sister made) and coordinated our travel plans.

We got there early so we could get in line together.  Everyone was really excited as we waited for our turn to board The Polar Express.

Olive just recently learned how to say choo choo so I was excited for her to ride a real train.  She did plenty of choo chooing throughout the ride despite having a freshly burned hand.  Here's a blurry picture of her doing the choo choo sign with her hand when the train started moving.

We boarded the train and some cute little elves seated us all together.  Olive demanded a window seat so she'd have a great view.  We sat with Papaw (my Dad) and enjoyed the ride.

 The older cousins rotated seats a bit so we got to sit with everyone.

 We were served hot chocolate and cookies.  I was hoping for chocolate chip, but they served sugar cookies instead.  We were the last train car so it was really difficult to hear the reading of The Polar Express.  We did have our own conductor who moved through the aisles punching tickets, showing the book pictures and singing Christmas carols.  The elves sang and danced too.  Each kid got a special jingle bell at the end of the ride.  Olive's is hanging on her Christmas tree.

Olive loved the singing and dancing along with the Christmas lights we passed.  She wasn't so sure about Santa and did not appreciate us making her stay out of the aisles.  Overall, she did really well for being so little and seemed to really enjoy herself.

This was the perfect way to jump start the holiday season the weekend after Thanksgiving.  I think we all left with a festive feeling.

Mimi and Papaw with the grandkids.

Aren't their jammies and bows adorable?!?!

 Thanks for bringing your real camera and taking most of these pictures, Sis!

Glad we got a picture together :)

Merry Christmas!!