If you live in Arizona and have kids, or grandkids or nieces and nephews and you have never gone on the Polar Express you need to!! Or if you just want to relive some of your childhood you should go!!
This is the second year we have gone on the train as a family and it has become a fun Christmas tradition.
This year we got to the station a little early and took some pictures by some of the old trains and buildings!
There is a lot to do and see at the train station. Christmas lights are strung everywhere and they have a little tiny elf-size village replica of the north pole!
Levi and Derek went to Santa's workshop where they got to write letters to Santa and put them in his mailbox.
After they mailed their letters to Santa they were able to sit on Mrs. Clause's lap.
There was a tiny train on one side of the workshop that was winding through a small, snowy Christmas Village.
When the boys were done writing their letters to Santa we went outside on the train platform to wait for the train to come!
It sure was cold but we stayed warm cuddling together.
Waiting for the train to arrive at the station... it's coming, it's coming...
It's here!!! We all waved to the train conductors as they passed by us!
All of us waiting to board our train car. This year we were on the "J" train!
Finally it was time to board the train and here's where the fun and "magic" really start!!
The whole family on the train!
One of the best parts about the Polar Express train is that you can wear your pajamas!!
Nate and I wore pajamas last year but this year decided not to. But that sure didn't stop the kids!
I didn't get any pictures of it this year for some reason, but another great thing about the polar express is they serve you hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies!
Then they read you the Polar Express story and the train attendants walk up and down the isles showing you the pictures!
Then we sing Christmas Carols!
Our favorites were Frosty the Snowman, Santa Clause is Coming to Town, Jingle Bells and The Twelve Days of Christmas!
The whole train car sang the Twelve Days of Christmas and the conductors had all the men stand up and put their hands above their heads whenever we got to the "Five Golden Rings" part! It was pretty fun!
After all that we finally arrived at the "North Pole" after we traveled through a magic tunnel that transported us there. They have this small village set up in the middle of nowhere, with lights and Christmas trees and Santa is there with his sleigh and reindeer.
Then after a time, Santa comes on the train and gives gifts to the kids. The gifts are large jingle bells that I personally want to throw out the train window!! Ha, just being honest!
The kids however love the bells and for the next hour or so that's all we hear as they shake them and shake them!
Our time at the polar express was truly magical this year. All the kids did great, had great attitudes, there was no pouting and everyone had a lot of fun!
After the train came back to the station, we went in to the gift shop briefly then went to a local pizza place and had a yummy dinner of pizza, pasta, breadsticks and wings.
To make the trip extra special we stay the night in a hotel and relax the next morning and go to breakfast at one of our favorite restaurants near the train station.
This is definitely a fun family time and will for sure continue to be a tradition in our family!
