All Aboard!

Thursday afternoon we went to Old Sacramento & hitched a ride on the Polar Express...

Here we are waiting to begin our journey to the North Pole...

We were joined by our friends Jack, Kim, Macy & Bob...

and Grammy & Grandpa W

Grandpa even wore his Box Car Willie hat! Choo choo!

The train was all decorated for Christmas...

We went chug chugging down the river... but as Jack so astutely observed, why were we traveling south when we're heading to the North Pole... hmmm, boy's too smart for his own good, I say!

On the train they served hot cocoa & cookies and read the story (and played songs) over the loud speakers. All the kids wore their PJ's too!

Ayla sported her bunny feet jammies!

Ayla had such a blast dancing & clapping her hands!

In the movie version, there is a hobo character who doesn't "believe"... so he showed up on the train & tried to convince the kids that there is no Santa... but luckily they all saw through his little act :)

Here's Ayla arriving at the North Pole... pure magic!!! Look how well she can stand on her own!

Santa decided to hitch a ride back into town with us... He told Ayla not to worry, she will grow more hair :)

He passed out silver bells to all the kids... in the story, only the children can hear the bells... the adults could when they were children but can't now that they're grown up...

Ayla loved her bell! It is hanging prominently on the Christmas tree right now!

We had such a great time sharing this experience with Ayla and our family & friends... we can't even describe how much fun we're having creating family traditions that will last for years to come!