Mom treated Doug, Tot and me with a trip to the Polar Express! We would drive up to Williams where it can be quite chilly (!), board the train, head to the “North Pole,” then sleepover in the hotel.
So, we headed out on Monday right after school. Apart from stopping a few times for yours truly, we arrived just in time to put on our jammies. Nobody (except Tot) knew that we would match and that I would look ridiculous, but that made it more fun. And honestly, I just did not care that I was in a…..
Penguin onesie. Yes, this exists and I had it adorned with hood and slippers. We were a cozy pair!
Got outside and OOOOOOH, baby, it’s cold outside!
We headed out to hit Santa’s workshop before boarding. Tatum and I found the Nutcrackers and who should we find!!????
Santa’s mailbox was next, so Tatum whispered what she hoped to get. Little did she know she might just see Santa on board!
Before we boarded, we came upon this vintage. Wait! I think we hear the choo choo to board!!!
Phew! We made it! All aboard!!!
Cozying up with my honey!
Honeys!
Tatum was ready for the Hot Hot HOT chocolate! She checked with the chef???
Here it comes! 
What more could you want? Cozy jammies, Christmas carols, cookies and chocolate. Dancing waiters? Hmmmmm (not sure if I needed this part)
Well we started the story, and I brought a book aboard to follow along. 
The conductor made sure we had our tickets because it was time for our arrival to the NORTH POLE
As he punched away, guess who was boarding the train …..
with a bag full of….
Jingle Bells!
And it did ring; we all heard it. Christmas spirit is alive and well!
Well, we get back to the hotel, and I was supposed to share a bed with Tot.
I think she forgot.
The next morning, it was frigid cold outside, but that did not stop us from finding a park to get our wiggles out before the road trip home.
We discovered the tetherball…(well, I had flashbacks of my middle school recess days with large people hitting the ball beyond my strength.)
Tatum found it fascinating.
But the wind had us and so….
We took a few pictures on the sleigh. REALLY FAST.
Did I say FAST!!?? 
The wind had us icy, so we hit the road and headed home.
Benefits???? Celebrating the season with my family makes the cold warm and the warm snuggly soft. Blessed.