Since Wade's only request to Santa was a "real Polar Express train", we made sure to take a trip to the North Pole via the Chattanooga Polar Express train. It's the same trip we did last year and it was double the fun because Bree joined us along with a huge group of friends.
Wade couldn't wait to pack up the car for "Chag-a-nooga". We even watched the movie Polar Express on the car ride up there. We were in the mood as soon as we left our driveway.
In order to take advantage of the city, we left early Saturday and visited the Creative Discovery Museum. We had never been and really enjoyed all the activities for the kids. It's comparable to the Imagine It Children's Museum in Atlanta, but bigger! We couldn't even fit it all in before lunch and had to come back for more...
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| Wade mastering the water table |
We dug for dinosaur fossils in the excavation room...
Bree was very happy to throw sand from the sidelines, but did not step one foot in the big pit!
After the museum, lunch with the Calverts at Mellow Mushroom, more museum play, and an attempt at a quick nap....we headed off to the train station for the Polar Express ride to the North Pole! Wade was very concerned that we were riding a Diesel train instead of a Steam train (like the movie) but quickly got over it.
Hunter & Avery Calvert, Bree, Mason & Buie Crawford...
Millie Kate Gray joined in to greet the polar bear...
ALL ABOARD! This was the same conductor from last year. Wade was in HEAVEN!
Bree and Miss Mandy waiting to board the train...
We had such a large group we almost took up a complete train car! Some were our friends, some friends of friends, but all ready for train fun.
I had to include this montage of the Bree & Millie Kate's LOVE AFFAIR! MK is so motherly and wants to hug on, love on, help with, and be sweet to any child that is the tiniest bit smaller than her. Bree was her little baby doll on the train. And most of the time Bree just goes along with it. But sometimes it leads to a full on wrestling match. They're destined to be best friends!!! It looks like MK's being aggressive, but I promise they are just loving on each other...
And then innocent dancing....
Becomes a headlock!
Sweet Sloan Everett was an ANGEL on the train...
Gingerbread cookies were served with hot chocolate (really just YooHoo!)
The Calvert family
The Crawford family
The Hake Family
After a trip through a magic tunnel, we arrived in the North Pole. The kids were waving to Santa...
This is one of my new favorite pictures of Bree. She was genuinely so excited to look outside and see all the Christmas lights. One of her favorite words is "WOOK" (look) and that's all I could make out of her gibberish.
Our little family. Bree's saying "Choo Choo"
Wade checking out Santa's digs at the North Pole
Here comes Santa Claus! We picked him up at the North Pole and then he rides back with us spending a little time with each child.
This is the closest and happiest Bree would get to Old St. Nick...
After an exhausting train journey, we got a quick dinner and then back to the hotel for our "Elf Tuck In". The Chattanooga Choo Choo really makes a great effort to make December a fun and festive family destination - even in the winter!
On Sunday, we played around the hotel before heading home. They had an Elf Workshop with plenty of art projects for the kids.
As we all know, December is a crazy month full of fun. I still struggle to find the balance between doing fun things with the kids and over doing it. BUT, this quick weekend getaway is worth every minute. It's close by, fairly easy to do with small children, and truly magical to see such a simple concept bring your child so much JOY! I asked Wade if he'd rather go to Disney World or Chattanooga and his answer was Chattanooga. Until that answer changes, I think we'll opt for Chattanooga!!!
(I promise this is not a paid endorsement from the Chattanooga Visitor Bureau, just a mama tellin' it how it is!)
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