The Polar Express

On Monday night (Shayne's Birthday) we went up to Williams, AZ to stay the night and to ride the Polar Express Train. We had a great time. We left school about a half hour early and left for the North. Shayne got to open his birthday presents in the car on the ride up there. As we climbed elevation toward Flagstaff, we started to see snow on the ground. The hotel we stayed at is less than a block away from the train station. When we got to the hotel we settled in, layered up in our warm clothes and headed to the train. By the time we got to the platform at about 7:45, it was 9 degrees. Our train boarded at 8:00and the ride to the North Pole and back took about an hour and twenty minutes. On the way out, they read the story of The Polar Express and pass out cookies and hot chocolate. Then, when we arrived at the North Pole, Santa boarded the train and came through each car to say hello to everyone. On the way back everyone sang Christmas carols. We had a great time and the kids really loved the ride and seeing Santa and all of the Christmas decorations. We walked back to the hotel and had birthday cake and went to bed.

Shayne and Rick posing for goofy pictures on the way back

Maya pretending to sleep at the hotel room

The next day we took a swim in the hotel's indoor pool, which was a lot of fun. After that we played in the snow, which the kids have only done one other time, and went to a cool sword store that was across the street.

On the way back, a little south of Flagstaff, we stopped at a rest area that overlooked a beautiful scene

It was a great trip!