Polar Express

On the Saturday before Christmas, the Farrell-Landers family drove up to the snowy town of Williams, Arizona.  It was time again to board the Polar Express to the North Pole.  This was our family's third visit, but the first time that both of the kids would be old enough to understand what was about to occur.  Our good friends, the Bukatas, joined us for the adventure.  We all stayed at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel. The weather was beautiful crisp and chilly with snow still on the ground, but enjoyable all the same.  We arrived at the hotel about three in the afternoon.  This gave us enough time to check-in and wind down before our five thirty train boarding time.  The kids were so excited (so were the parents)!  We had the *best* train car this time.  The baker girls were enthusiastic and got everyone in the car in the holiday spirit. Plus, they were able to get Madi to sing and dance in the aisle with the other children.  We just couldn't believe it!  The entire train experience was fantastic!

The only bummer of the weekend occurred Sunday morning as we were preparing to leave the hotel.  The CRV's driver side lock jammed and broke while the ignition was running.  Luckily, the Bukatas have AAA so we called them to assist and all ended up okay.  But poor Josh and Dan tried to get the door unjammed for about an hour in seventeen degree weather.

We will definitely be doing it again next year!  Such a memorable experience!