Polar Express December 19 2013 Pictures (Part 1 of 2)

December 19, 2013

We picked Joseph up from school around 10 am. We were traveling to Hood River Oregon, 2.5 hours away from our home.  We wouldn’t tell the children where we were going except it was a surprise.  We listened to the story, Polar Express, and watched the movie Polar Express. We stopped at a McDonalds for lunch, and shortly after arrived at our destination.  Ben saw the train and says “This doesn’t look like the Polar Express in the movie.” It was pretty cute.  We walked around before the train departed and Dad let Mom get a conductor hat, Joseph, Emily and Isaac all got trains, Ben got a wand that said Polar Express and lights up like a light saber, and Dad got a pocket watch.  We then rode the train for about an hour and a half, which surprised me, I thought it was 30 minutes. It kind of made it hard, after traveling that long, and knowing we would have to get back in the car and do it again.  The kids enjoyed the hot chocolate, and cookies, the conductor punching their tickets, the hobo. They enjoyed talking to Santa Clause and viewing his workshop and reindeer stalls.  They said they had a lot of fun. Isaac loves trains and this was his first time on one. I think it intensified his liking of trains.  Emily did not want to talk to Santa and she told us she was not going to (evidently she was more interested in picking  her nails) but when she saw that it was like the movie and book and Santa was giving away a jingle bell, she surprised everyone, including Santa when she hopped up on his lap. Isaac didn’t want to see Santa so we have a short video of him, proving he sits with Santa. It was a fun trip and I hope it was good memories for all.