Polar Express Ride to the North Pole

We boarded the Polar Express for the first time; last year tickets sold out quick and we missed the ride. The train departs out of Horseshoe Bend and travels 1 hour up the railway to reach the "North Pole."



Waiting to board the train....Allie was so excited to ride the train. It was her first time on a train and a first for all of us up to the North Pole

We got there a little bit early and luckily they had heat lamps outside to keep us warm.  Sophie is hanging onto the pole of one of the lamps....staying nice and toasty

Once we boarded we found our boxcar and then found our assigned table.  Each table had the families name on it; it was pretty cute

Allie and Cam ready to get up to the North Pole

I printed out some Santa letters the kids could work on while we rode the train.  I heard the kids could get a little bored, so I packed some activities to keep the kids busy



Allies letter to Santa; love how she signed it from her and Sophie.  Looks like she had some help on her "wear" and "read" categories.  I learned a few things about what Allie wants....2 front teeth.  When I asked her about this, she said she wants to loose them for Christmas.  Ever since the dentist said that her teeth are wiggly, she has been dying to loose the teeth.

Sophie coloring with Papa Jim; she is just starting to show in interest in scribbling:)




Sophie enjoyed climbing up on the table and standing; yes I have another climber in my household

The first person we met on the train was none other than......The Saber Tooth Tiger.  WHAT???  Really not sure what he was doing heading to the North Pole but it was fun to have him join us




We ended up going with the whole Hansen clan and also brought my Dad and Deborah with us.  Katie and Rod had a table right next to ours.

Grandma Deb and Papa enjoying the scenery on the way up

The kids all coloring

LOVE this picture!!! Sophie is such a busy body; you never know what this kid is going to do...here she decided to grab Blake's eye

Finally made it to the North Pole

Love this classic photo of Sophie meeting Santa; she was not thrilled about it

Family shot at the North Pole outside of the Polar Express Train

It ended up being a long morning and Sophie was so tired on the way back; Grandma Deb was entertaining her with the bells

On the way back Santa and Mrs. Claus came to visit us in our boxcar for a personal visit.  Allie was very excited to be meeting Mrs. Claus; it was a first for her

The kids played a dice game on the way back.  First to dot out all their numbers won; by the looks of it everyone's Gingerbread men got covered in Chicken Pox

Allie spotted Santa one last time toward the end of our trip and wanted one more picture with her and Santa. Thanks for the magical ride. We had a blast!!!