Polar Express Train Ride

"The thing about trains...
It doesn't matter where they are going.
What matters is deciding to get on."

We took Bronwyn and Hayden for a very special trip this year down to Durango to board the Polar Express Train! Danny and I were so excited about the trip and waited till the last night to tell the kids the surprise. They were definitely excited but I don't think they realized what was truly going to happen. We had over a 7 hour drive down to Durango where the magic happens. We made the trip, checked into our hotel. grabbed some dinner and then we were off for our ride.
The train ride is based off the book, The Polar Express. We waited in the train station until they opened up the doors and we got to go outside as the train arrived. Once it pulled up the conductor came out onto a platform and the main character of the book comes out too. Here's a video of the excitement!

On the train we were all served hot chocolate and cookies from the chefs that ran our car dancing around. The conductor came through and punched all of our tickets and Bronwyn decided that hers read, "believe". All the music from the movie was playing!


























The train took us to the North Pole where we got to stop and open up the windows and see all the buildings. Santa was also there! Afterwards, Santa got on the train and held up a special sleigh bell from his reindeer. He announced it as "the 1st gift of Christmas" and walked up the train aisle and stopped and handed it to Hayden! It was so amazing! Hayden was absolutely thrilled! There is just no way to describe the magic of the moment. Once all of the other kids aboard the train received their bells we took the trip back to the station while hearing the story read and seeing the book and then singing Christmas carols.


















Once we got back to the station we got to see some of the reindeer and then headed inside the train museum for pictures with Santa. We had bought Hayden a pocket watch from the gift shop before boarding and it really kept his attention every second. While waiting for Santa he managed to break the clasp and the lid from the watch fell off. He was so distraught and cried and cried. I calmed him down and told him we could replace it after we saw Santa. He seemed okay but once he saw Santa and started walking up he went into the most emotional cry I have ever seen and told Santa he broke it and asked for him to bring him a new one for Christmas. It was so sad and so adorable. Santa and the photographer turned the tears around and had the kids laughing so much for the photo. It was really sweet to have them in their pajamas with Santa having such a fun time!









This whole trip was so much fun! Danny is already planning to do it again next year. I loved that we could do something so special to the kids. They watch the movie all the time and often act it out when the are pretending. I will cherish this memory!