Polar Express

The day after Thanksgiving, we took the kids to Williams, AZ for the Polar Express. They were all dressed in their pajamas and then we boarded the train for about an hour ride to the North Pole and back. Then Santa boarded the train and gave all the kids a bell. We had cookies and hot chocolate and sang Christmas carols. 

 We got pictures with Mrs. Claus as we were waiting to board the train. They had a fun gift-shop where we let the kids pick out a souvenir. Dallin chose a big gold coin with a picture of a train on it.

The chefs took our tickets to board and then they passed out the cookies and sang and danced and they read the Polar Express book.

 We took the 3:30 train, so it wasn't even dark yet.

 The conductor came around and punched the tickets. Very official.

 You can see in this picture how the train windows were cracked open a bit. Carly put her foot out the window as she was sitting on Jarom's lap and her shoe flew off and was lost somewhere near the North Pole. After our train ride we drove to Flagstaff and stayed in a hotel. They had an indoor pool and Dallin went swimming at about 9:30 that night. Jarom went with him. I stayed with the other kids in the room.

On our drive home we went through Sedona. We were going through Oak Creek Canyon and Dallin could see the water in the creek and he wanted to pull over and throw rocks in the water. So that's when I took the above picture.

  Then we kept driving and Dallin saw the sign for Slide Rock National Park and asked if we could stop. So we did and everyone took their shoes off to put their feet in the water. It was FREEZING!

Dallin crossed this little stream several times. It was only a few inches deep in that part.  Sean wanted to cross it too, so I told him I would go with him. Well the rocks are very slippery (hence the name "Slide Rock") and Sean fell down instantly and was swept down stream. I thought I could just walk down and get him, but he slipped into a deep pool of water and went under. So I had to hurry and I slipped and went the same direction as him right into the same pool. Remember I said the water was freezing? Well, it takes your breath away when you are completely immersed in it! I lifted him over my head and he just clung tightly to my head and I stayed under the water. Luckily, a nice man came and grabbed Sean off of me and then helped me out. Jarom was holding Carly and was trying to hurry and help but he slipped and fell on Carly. It was quite the experience! So we went back to the truck and changed our clothes and finished driving home. The pains we go through to make memories with our kids! Yikes.