The Polar Express

Riding the Polar Express

We have enjoyed a wonderful Christmas season. We spent all our time with visiting family and weren't able to keep up with the blog during the holidays, so now we'll catch up. One weekend in December, we drove to Branson, MO where we could take the Polar Express to the North Pole to see Santa!

All aboard!

Katarina on the train

Bella (and Lily bunny) waiting for Santa

Gabi sitting on Santa's lap

Annabelle didn't want to sit in Santa's lap, nor did she accept the bell from his sleigh. Once Santa left, she changed her mind and wanted a bell. Luckily, Daddy had one for her!

In addition to a visit with Santa, we enjoyed cookies and hot chocolate on the train, sang Christmas carols, and watched Christmas lights through the window. There were more lights decorating the train station, too.

Before our evening Polar Express ride, we had the day to enjoy Branson. We took a tour through Talking Rocks Cavern, which was the perfect activity for our family.

A nativity scene in the cave

Look how the cave is "growing" and taking over the stairs that Gabi is standing on!

Bella's defiant three-year-old attitude may bring a challenge to life, but it also allowed me to catch her in this model pose.

We spent a couple fun hours crawling (and slithering) through two "simulated cave" 3-D mazes as well. It was quite a trick to squeeze through some of those twisting tunnels!

It was a really cold weekend, but we had a great time! The chilly weather made hot chocolate at our hotel even more appealing.