Polar Express

 We kicked off our Christmas festivities with our first annual Polar Express night. My parents went all out for it and the kids loved it! It started out a few weeks before with an invitation sent in the mail to each of the grandkids with instructions on how the kids could earn tickets for the Polar Express store and an explanation of how the evening would run. When we arrived at their house that evening all the kids got into their stockings to find their ticket to ride the Polar Express as well as their tickets they earned to spend at the "store." Then the conductor (Grandpa Paul) came in, blew his train whistle and punched their tickets before loading the "train" (a flatbed trailer decorated and hitched to a four wheeler). The kids then proceeded on the train ride around my parents property. They pulled up to the back door of my parents garage with trees lit up in Christmas lights and then entered to find benches and blankets set up, as well as a projector for the movie, and the store. Each of the kids received a bell on a necklace and watched the Polar Express on the projector. Hot chocolate and sugar cookies were served at the appropriate time during the movie. The kids all got to "buy" a bag full of goodies from the store, and at the end of the movie the kids received the first gift of Christmas; tablets. Yes, my not even two year old has a tablet and I don't even have one! The night was a huge success. The kids had an amazing time and I hope it becomes a tradition!

 

 

 (Bentley didn't think the train ride sounded all that great so I got to accompany her on the ride. It was adorable listening to all of the excited chatter on the "train." "This is so fun!" "This is the best Christmas ever!" "Look, caribou!")