Polar Express

 We took the kids on the Mt. Hood Railroad Polar Express for a Christmas excursion and it did not disappoint! 

 The kids are old enough now that they were able to anticipate and understand the story, the experience, and they just could not have been more excited about the whole 
thing!










They each got a golden, "genuine ticket to ride"....

....got bellies full of hot cocoa and cookies from the magical chefs on the train who even knew their names....

....Cameron's face below reflects his reaction when they had to stop the train to clear the herd of caribou in our way and he realized that meant next should be the ice lake...

Once we reached the North Pole and admired all the lights of the workshops, Santa boarded the train and visited with each child before giving them each their very own Polar Express engraved sleigh bell...
 
 Just before we arrived back in Hood River, the conductor came by to punch special messages into the golden tickets....

 ....and the hobo from the top of the train made a final pass through the kids.  The picture below is Tyler trying to explain to him that he can't hear the bell because he doesn't believe...

The elves, chefs, and passengers all sang Christmas carols the rest of the way home using their magical jingle bells.

Back in the beautiful, old Hood River Hotel we played games by the fire and Cameron promptly fell asleep under the tree.