last christmas we wanted to go on the polar express. but we didn't know we wanted to until 4 weeks before christmas. so it just didn't happen. so this year we thought we were super-on-the-ball by planning it in september. but when we went to buy tickets, we found out that 4 months STILL isn't early enough!!
the ONLY weekend polar express had left was nov.19. yeah, a week before thanksgiving even came! we took it. and since nothing screams "take-me-with-you!!" like my sister's in-law's 15-passenger van, we loaded it up....to the gills. 7 kids, 3 car seats, 4ipods, and 4 adults. and about 30,176 snacks. i wish i could say it was us worrying about the kids on a 5-hour road trip....but, let's be honest. we actually took the time to seperate out the for-mass-consumption-snacks, from "moms only" snacks. you know it's important.
levi watches polar express pretty much year round. and he has every minute detail memorized. so he was extremely excited. which made me extremely worried. because i doubted it was going to be an exact recreation. but i was wrong....they did a REALLY good job!
The train station was all decked out in lights. There was a cute historic hotel with a huge christmas tree and a big fire blazing. THAT was hard to leave - it was freeeeeeezing!! Mrs. Claus had a workshop where you could do some crafts, and write a letter to santa.
once we were on the train, levi was beyond reach: he had actually left this world and become the actual boy in the polar express. he wouldn't stop gripping his ticket with both hands because he knew it was going to blow outside. and...since he could see the wolves eyes out there funning alongside the train, he wanted to make sure they didn't get the ticket. he kept asking me where the boy is who needs to run to get on the train.
and here is where began what i didn't know would be a month-long conflict with myself. this is my first year as a parent where i'm facing the "lies" of the christmas season. i'm pretty wierd about not giving levi pat answers, or blow-off explanations. we don't make up funny nicknames for bodyparts. i don't hide the real motives or reactions for adults from him. i don't decide he's too young to deserve to hear words that mickey mouse doesn't say. i'm sure i'm not the only parent to feel this way. but i just feel that with the life we have, that he has, he has to believe that i always tell the truth. ....so how does that work with the whole "santa" issue??? i'm not sure. hence, the month-long struggle.
we drank hot chocolate and ate cookies. we read the polar express story. we went to the north pole and saw santa and his elves. we sang christmas carols. and then .... santa came on the train, and gave every kid their own silver bell. i thought levi's head would explode.
the kids all loved it. i think all the moms were pleasantly surprised. for sure we're going next year. my fantasy is that we gather enough people that we have our whole own car!!.....you in??
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