The Polar Express

We've been looking forward to The Polar Express Train from Mt. Hood Railroad for months--tickets sell out in September or October. There were many sweet moments--the kids get hot cocoa and cookies on the train, served by helpers dressed like the book characters. Most of the kids are in pajamas and robes. They see a lit-up Santa's village from the windows of the train with movable reindeer, a sleigh, and watch Santa and his helpers board. Santa spends time with every child and gives them each a bell, as in the book. Santa's elves lead carols on the train while the kids ring their bells, which Clara loved. We got Clara a lot closer to Santa than we ever thought possible, since she's been telling us daily since July that she is "going to not sit on Santa's lap this year." Note in the photos that she kept her word.

Unfortunately, the trip was also a bit of a nightmare! Windy, crazy rain on the hour-long drive both ways. We had to beg a ride from our friends because our car broke down right before departure, meaning they had to put more seats in their car, pick us up, put up with the kids provoking each other on the way there instead of having a sleeping child in the car, listen to Clara babble all the way home while their child slept quietly, and take us home. Thanks, good friends! It was snowy and wet at boarding, and too cold and damp on the train for our kids to wear their pj's. And the train ride, which was supposed to be an hour and a half (already long) ended up being TWO and a half hours. Not counting the additional hour for bathrooms and ticket retrieval and boarding. Even the well-behaved boys seated next to us were crawling on the floor by the end. All the kids were pretty wild. We overheard one of the elves saying desperately to another, "can you go check in the next car to see where Santa is?!!!?," which sent Amy and I into peals of laughter. We won't name names, but one of our party answered his child's question "What do we do next?" with "We go home so Daddy can get some liquor." Pretty much summed it up for everyone, I think! If we go again, it'll be when Clara's at least 5, so we've had time to forget! The family on the trainOur conductorPassing out cocoa and cookiesClara approved of the cookies.Santa woos Clara. She is not impressed.He tries harder. I'd recommend clicking on this one to see it full size--poor Santa would be done for if looks could kill.Santa gets discouraged.One last attempt--Clara gets two bells while everyone else gets one. She mumbles a thank you, but that's the best he's going to get.Clara is happy to see Santa leave and the carolers begin singing.