the polar express.

when i was growing up, christmastime was full of traditions.  we drank cranberry juice mixed with ginger ale, my mom made cookies shaped like candy canes, and we'd spend the night with my grandparents and ride around in our pajamas, looking at christmas lights.  there were many, many more, but one of my favorites was every christmas eve we'd get in my parents bed and cozy up together.  my mom read two books: one about the birth of jesus, and the other was the polar express.  to this day, it's one of my favorite books.  the illustrations are just breathtaking and i love how magical it is.

here in new england, there are a few old railroads that have "polar express" rides at christmastime, where families get to go on a train ride which emulates the childhood tale.  my sister and i have been wanting to take our kids, and this year it seemed like they were all at just the right age.  because of the popularity of these rides, we all had to split up but it was still so fun even if we weren't all in the same car.

i never want to forget how cute they looked in their matching pink jammies dotted with snowmen.  they were grinning from ear to ear with joy that only children have as they anticipate something with such excitement.

the day was cold and crisp, and we were set to board the train at dusk.  when the conductor announced "all aboard!" we excitedly dashed to our car, music playing overhead and the steam from the train blanketing the ground.  we were in the caboose, and sat way near the back so we could peek out the back door as we rode.  

over the loudspeaker, the story of the polar express was read and christmas music flooded the train.  at our first stop, a flood of people dressed in white coats and tall chef hats descended upon our car to pass out cups of hot chocolate and passed baskets of cookies.  

they danced and got the kids to dance with them.  the girls absolutely loved this part... see for yourself:

the next stop was the north pole, and there was santa, in all his glory, waving to the passing train before getting on to greet every single child.  the girls loved him.  bella gave him a huge hug, and meme had to hold emmy back from running right down the aisle to him!

after santa's exit, the conductor came through and punched every child's initials in their golden ticket.  then each child was given a silver bell from santa's sleigh.

that night as we drove home, our hearts were full.  there's nothing like seeing christmas through the eyes of your children.  every christmas since becoming a mom, the verse luke 2:19 plays over and over in my head "and mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."  as i watch them and try so desperately to soak in everything about their little faces, their eyes lit with wonder, i think about that verse and what it means about motherhood.  all of these moments at christmastime make me stop and treasure, storing these memories in my heart to last a lifetime.