The Polar Express

Tonight was a big Christmas Special Event surprise for Alex and Nicholas.  The Colorado Railroad Museum is doing The Polar Express.

We didn't tell the kids where we were going, just got everyone (yes EVERYONE) dressed in our matching Christmas pajamas, loaded ourselves into the car, and made the drive to Golden.  Once there, they both saw the trains (it IS the railroad museum after all!) and got super excited about maybe going on a train...then Alex saw the Polar Express signs and I think she would have exploded with excitement!

They then started to call families to come to the performance area where we would get cookies, hot chocolate and a reading The Polar Express.  We got to be in a small group that shared this experience on a private car!

 We had a great conductor and chef that entertained and engaged the kiddos in our group.

Then we headed outside to wait for the Polar Express to arrive.  Through out this experience different parts of the story were acted out...which was way cool too!

 Then we boarded our private car with the same small group from before, getting our golden tickets punched, watching out the windows to see the Hobo on the train, the wolves in the woods, the elves having a dance party, until we arrived at the North Pole where we watched Santa bestow the first gift of Christmas...the sleigh bell.  Then Santa visited our car and presented each child with their own sleigh bell in a special box with a note...

After we made our way home and were headed to the car our conductor and chef, who were then waiting for the next crew called out to the kiddos, by name, Goodnight and Merry Christmas.  It was such a wonderful and personal experience.  They both had such an amazing time and to share the joy and magic of this with them made it all worthwhile.

We don't have many more years where Alex is truly going to believe in Santa...she says she does now and I think she really does, but I see her starting to question things...but she loves the magic so if nothing else, she WANTS to believe.  And as long as she does, then we will too.

Nicholas is just starting to get the idea of Santa and the magic of believing.  He LOVED seeing Santa tonight.  The smiles we saw were would melt even the coldest of hearts.