Thursday, February 7, 2013

Christmas Train (Another Advent Calendar Adventure)

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For the last few years, we have taken a ride on the Polar Express train as one of our advent calendar adventures.   This has become super special, as I now have a train crazed fan in the house.   This year, a little mishap nearly caused us to miss being able to ride the train.   The Polar Express only runs two nights here in OKC, and we knew we were going to be out of town one of those nights, and we had super sweet seat tickets to the Thunder Game on the other.   I was totally willing to miss out on the game, and Doug was too…..after a few hard elbows to the tummy, but we figured out a way to smooth it all over and not have to miss out on anything.  

It seems there is a “Christmas Train” that runs at the same train museum, same exact train actually, as the Polar Express.  Only it runs during the day.   Basically, the same special ride, just during the daylight hours.   Some kids still wore their jammies, but because we were on the go that day, and just coming in from a trip that morning, we passed on that.   Minus the pajamas, the whole ride had the same feel of the PE.  Heck, I may even stick with this one in the future just to avoid getting home late and “I need to go to bed” meltdowns!

Upon boarding the train, we ran into The Man himself.   He actually invited the kids to come sit with him.    Seth is still not 100% on this guy’s team.  He likes him.  Tolerates him from a distance.  Will occasionally give him a high five, but sit with him?   No thanks.

The meeting went down like this:

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Ah!  Who invited him on this train?

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Hug?   Are you crazy?   You are totally violating our ‘touch on my terms”  treaty.

 

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Okay, you will hear from my lawyer.  I am out of here.   Keep your presents.   I will see you in court.

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At least I have one kid living in my house that hasn’t filed a restraining order against Santa.

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There were bells handed out and cookies and candy canes and carols.   There was a reading of “The Polar Express” by Mrs. Claus and dancing elves throughout the car. There were clowns and balloon artists and sweet little old ladies dressed in their flashy Christmas sweaters passing through, smiling, winking at babies and refreshing drinks and cookies (my personal fave). 

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And about that hot chocolate…..right here in this shot you see Kaelan’s face as she asks the rest of us, “Is it me, or does this hot chocolate taste a little like foot?”.   

She drank almost all of it.  Not sure what that means.

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Green cookie in his teeth.  Not mold, for the record.

After our ride, we explored the grounds of the museum.  I love that they are so open to just letting kids get on the trains, explore, play.   Great place for my boy who doesn’t do “No Touching” museums. 

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What I remember most about this day, is that after all the other things we did that day, I felt like I had been hit by one of those trains.

Great times, though.

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