The Polar Express Ride

I've been wanting to take the boys up to the Polar Express for the last couple of years.  I was waiting for them to get a little older and this was the year.  It's also nice timing because Logan is obsessed with trains, specifically the Polar Express. We made a weekend out of it by staying at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel which is just across the street from the train depot. It was super cold so we did our best to bundle up.  We ate a nice buffet dinner at the train depot restaurant. It had a train theme, including a good size little power train that drove around tracks along the walls above the tables.  We rode the 7:30 pm train to the North Pole. While on the ride we were served hot chocolate and cookies.  The chefs also read us the story of the Polar Express. At the North Pole, Santa jumped on the train and handed out little silver bells, just like in the book. Logan was worried his was going to disappear, just like how the little boy lost his in the movie. It was pretty cute as he made the connection to the movie/book to what we were doing. On the ride back we all sang Christmas Carols and took lots of pictures. 

This picture was right after dinner, earlier in the evening when it was cold but not freezing yet.  

Lincoln getting bundled up in the hotel room. 

 Mommy and boys outside our hotel. 

Me and Lincoln boarding the train. 

 Lincoln on the train car. 

 Family picture - we did play a little musical chairs so we each got to sit with each of the boys for part of the ride. 

Logan being silly with his cookie. 

 Logan was so excited when the train conductor came through and punch his ticket (see below) just like the movie. 

This was our non hole-punched souvenir ticket.

The boys looking out the window to see the North Pole.

Lincoln shaking his bell that Santa gave him. 

 Logan and Daddy singing Christmas Carols from the little song book we got. 

Family picture as we are bundled up ready to exit the train. 

 Merry Christmas Engine. 

 The boys met Mrs. Claus back in the train depot after our ride. 

 Lincoln wrote a wish list letter to Santa at the depot Christmas village. 

 Me and the boys and the end of the night...right before Logan ran off and got lost for a minute which gave me a heart attack and temporarily dampened what was a fun and memorable evening.