On Christmas morning, after all the presents were opened, we found one last box deep under the tree. Inside was a big silver sleigh bell with a tag attached. It was addressed to our family from Santa and said, "You have been such good boys this year that Mrs. Clause and I would like to invite you to come visit us in the North Pole on the Polar Express this weekend! Wear your pajamas and get ready to be JOLLY! Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas!"This kids were so excited and asked a million questions that I didn't have any answers to. I had never been to the North Pole on the Polar Express either, not even as a child in my dreams.
So we bundled up and headed off to Williams, Arizona, where the Polar Express made its stop. It was a mere 6 1/2 hour drive, and a world away from our desert home into a winter wonderland!
The old William's train station serves two destinations - the Grand Canyon and the North Pole. We had to check our tickets twice to make sure we were headed to the right place.
We stood for a while on the platform waiting for a trainload of passengers that had just returned from the North Pole to get off the train.
There were hundreds of other people, and many, many children in their pajamas and bath robes (had coats, hats, and scarves) who had also been invited by Santa.
We were so COLD waiting for that train! My poor little desert rats were not very prepared for how cold it would be. Really, really, really cold!
But also really excited for this once in a lifetime invitation to the North Pole.
When the conductor yelled, "All Aboard" we were thrilled (mostly to get out of the cold and onto the warm train with promised of warm cookies and hot chocolate.
Once the train started rolling, the dancing chefs came twirling down the aisles with warm cookies, homemade by Mrs. Clause herself...
and rich hat chocolate, the elves' own secret recipe! It really hit the spot!
Everyone was so excited to be on our way!
The chefs informed us that we would soon be traveling through the magic tunnel that would take us to the North Pole. They told us to look for it, and yell when we went through it. We knew it when we were there, because it was all lit up! Now we were really on our way to the North Pole!
Then they began to tell the story of the Polar Express, and the dancing chefs walked up and down the aisles showing the pictures of the book, and letting the kids take turn turning the pages!
Then we were informed that we were approaching the North Pole! The kids were so excited to see it, and hoped to catch a glimpse of the Big Guy at his hometown! They crowded around the window to get a good look.
And then we saw it, all lit up in the dark night - The North Pole!
Santa was there, of course, sitting on his sleigh behind all of his reindeer with a HUGE sack of toys in the back. He waves to all the kids, and made my boys' day.
There were songbooks on all of our seats, so we sang some Christmas carols together as we rolled along. They had some kids, and some parents get up and help with the singing. Caleb got to help too!
Then they announced that there was a special visitor. Santa himself had boarded the train with us!!! The little guys were so excited and kept looking over their shoulder for Santa to come in the back door of our car. We sang "Santa Clause is Coming to Town" and he appeared!
He was so friendly and jolly, and a few pounds heavier from all the cookies and milk he had consumed on Christmas Eve!
Luke was so excited to meet him!
And I think the other boys were too!
Santa handed every child a big silver sleigh bell, just like in the book...
Then when Santa moved on to the next car, we all sang "Jingle Bells" while we jingled and jangled our gifts from Santa. It was the best rendition of Jingle Bells I have ever heard!
With more caroling, and more jingling, we finally made it to our last stop - Williams Station.
Back into the chilly night, but feeling much warmer now - warmed by Christmas cheer!
What a magical evening aboard the Polar Express!
So we bundled up and headed off to Williams, Arizona, where the Polar Express made its stop. It was a mere 6 1/2 hour drive, and a world away from our desert home into a winter wonderland!
The old William's train station serves two destinations - the Grand Canyon and the North Pole. We had to check our tickets twice to make sure we were headed to the right place.
We stood for a while on the platform waiting for a trainload of passengers that had just returned from the North Pole to get off the train. 
There were hundreds of other people, and many, many children in their pajamas and bath robes (had coats, hats, and scarves) who had also been invited by Santa.
We were so COLD waiting for that train! My poor little desert rats were not very prepared for how cold it would be. Really, really, really cold!
But also really excited for this once in a lifetime invitation to the North Pole.
When the conductor yelled, "All Aboard" we were thrilled (mostly to get out of the cold and onto the warm train with promised of warm cookies and hot chocolate.
Once the train started rolling, the dancing chefs came twirling down the aisles with warm cookies, homemade by Mrs. Clause herself...
and rich hat chocolate, the elves' own secret recipe! It really hit the spot!
Everyone was so excited to be on our way!
The chefs informed us that we would soon be traveling through the magic tunnel that would take us to the North Pole. They told us to look for it, and yell when we went through it. We knew it when we were there, because it was all lit up! Now we were really on our way to the North Pole!
Then they began to tell the story of the Polar Express, and the dancing chefs walked up and down the aisles showing the pictures of the book, and letting the kids take turn turning the pages!
Then we were informed that we were approaching the North Pole! The kids were so excited to see it, and hoped to catch a glimpse of the Big Guy at his hometown! They crowded around the window to get a good look.
And then we saw it, all lit up in the dark night - The North Pole!
Santa was there, of course, sitting on his sleigh behind all of his reindeer with a HUGE sack of toys in the back. He waves to all the kids, and made my boys' day.We passed the North Pole, then the train stopped for a few minutes before reversing direction, passing the North Pole again, and heading back to Williams.
There were songbooks on all of our seats, so we sang some Christmas carols together as we rolled along. They had some kids, and some parents get up and help with the singing. Caleb got to help too!
Then they announced that there was a special visitor. Santa himself had boarded the train with us!!! The little guys were so excited and kept looking over their shoulder for Santa to come in the back door of our car. We sang "Santa Clause is Coming to Town" and he appeared!
He was so friendly and jolly, and a few pounds heavier from all the cookies and milk he had consumed on Christmas Eve! 
Luke was so excited to meet him!
And I think the other boys were too!
Santa handed every child a big silver sleigh bell, just like in the book... 
and they made the most beautiful music! (But only if you believe, of course!)
Then when Santa moved on to the next car, we all sang "Jingle Bells" while we jingled and jangled our gifts from Santa. It was the best rendition of Jingle Bells I have ever heard!
With more caroling, and more jingling, we finally made it to our last stop - Williams Station.
Back into the chilly night, but feeling much warmer now - warmed by Christmas cheer!
Derek found a pressed penny machine in the depot, too!
What a magical evening aboard the Polar Express! Thank you, Santa!!! It was an evening we will never forget!
And our bells will always ring, because we will always, always BELIEVE!
1 comment:
That's awesome!!!! I have a little boy who would have loved that.
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