The Allen Family: North Pole Express

We went for a ride on the North Pole Express Train last Saturday with Tina, Alan and the girls (Emily and Claire). When we arrived Tina and I looked around a little while with the kids while the guys got us a spot in line. There wasn't much to do there that we thought they would stay interested in for long so we went and got in line with the guys after a quick potty break for all. Once we got through the line they put us in a heated tent before we got on the train, the kids played with each other, colored, ate yogos, and then it was time for some caroling. Brant even got to be one of the kids to help say the "Ho, Ho, Ho" part of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer when they came around with the microphone to several different kids during caroling. All the kids got up on stage to help sing and it was like the paparazzi were there with all the parents and Brant was too hard to see in the midst of all the kids so I didn't manage to get any good shots of that. After caroling we got on the train and walked all the way down to the end of the train and found some seats. The kids had fun riding the train and listening to a story and singing some songs on the train. They had a conductor come by and punch their tickets, and of course one of the big highlights of the night was when Santa came on board the train and came to each train car talking to each kid individually and shaking their hand or saying hello to them. The ride was really neat. I think we'll probably take him on the train during the day sometime so he can look out the window and actually see some sites since it was too dark to see much of anything except the occasional Christmas lights. I think we'll probably do this again next year, but we'll go early to participate in the other things that they have in the town going on that were a little too far way for us to go to and make it into the line to get good seats. Here are a few pictures from our evening adventure.

Brant admiring his ticket.