{The Polar Express}

Saturday we took a ride onThe Polar Express at the Heber Valley Railroad in Heber, Utah. We wanted to take Isaac on it last year, but were unable to get tickets. This year we ordered our tickets early! For those of you who don't know Isaac very well--he is obsessed with trains! The Polar Express is one of his favorite movies that involve trains and he watches it often. He has been counting down the days and has been so excited that we were going to go this year! This week I found some pictures of a Polar Express ticket, similar to the tickets on the movie. I made some adjustments to the picture and was able to print tickets to give to Isaac and his cousin, Jonathan to take on the train with us. They were thrilled! The tickets looked great and they were the only kids on the train with 'real' tickets! The ride was a lot of fun! It was a much longer ride than I had anticipated--close to two hours long. We were given hot chocolate and cookies, we sang songs, read the story of The Polar Express and looked for the 'North Pole' and Santa out the windows of the train. When we got to the 'North Pole', Santa boarded the train, and since we were on the last car the boys waited excitedly for Santa to make his way to us during the ride back to the station. Finally, Santa was in our car! I couldn't believe how excited the boys were! I thought they were going to cry! Santa went to each child and gave them a special Christmas bell. It was the best! Here are some pictures of the adventure (lots of pictures)! Thanks Grandma Rondi and Grandpa Brad for sharing this adventure with us and for helping keep Eli happy so David and I could take pictures and video of this experience.

Here are Jonathan (my brother's little boy) and Isaac with their special tickets. On the other side it says, "The Polar Express" and "Round Trip" with a picture of a bell and some holly.



Grandma Rondi and Eli. I'm not sure why I cut my dad out of the picture. Sorry, Dad!


This is the part where the boy are anxiously awaiting Santa's arrival. They are standing on their seats and their eyes never left the door of the train car.


"There he is!!!!! I see him!" That is what they were saying when I took this picture. It is hilarious! Don't they look like they are so excited that they might start crying? I love it!



Santa walking down the isle, giving bells to each child and saying "Merry Christmas! Ho, ho, ho!". The boys couldn't wait for their turn.



Santa and the boys.


Here they are after getting their special Christmas bells. Check out Jonathan's expression! Hee, hee!


Here they are after the ride was all over. What a fun adventure!