Polar Express 2013

We once again took the kiddos to ride the Polar Express.  We left from French Lick and made our way to the North Pole on November 8th.  We were very lucky and had great weather!  We arrived early enough to snap a few photos before boarding the train.

Ma-maw and Pa-paw (and Aunt Lisa) joined us once again this year.

As well as Gram, Pa and Aunt Josie!

Patiently waiting for the train to leave the station...

Sometimes they will act as though they really do love one another!

In addition to the grandparents, my cousins and their families joined us!  In all, we had 25 people in our party.

L-R: my cousin Jerry, his son Austin, and his niece Vivian,
and nephews George Martin and James, and their grandpa Jim

Reba and Dallas having their tickets punched

More of our party

My Aunt Joyce and three of her eight grandbabies.
L-R: Grace (Jerry's daughter), Vivian and James (Kathleen's youngest two)

Listening to the story "The Polar Express"

Love the cookies!

And the hot chocolate!

After the story is over, the children are encouraged to get up and dance in aisle.  Grace and Reba only joined in once I got up to dance.

Arriving at the North Pole and waving to Santa...

This was the best picture I was able to get of the kiddos with the Jolly Big Guy.

Once we arrived back in French Lick, we piled all the kiddos into one seat for a picture...you can only imagine what it was like to get 8 kiddos age 5 and under to look and smile
(side note: there might be a little "photo shop" altering to the following group pictures)

L-R: Mattox (8 months), George Martin (4 years), James (7 months),
Dallas (5 years), Grace (3 years), Austin (5 years), Vivian (2 years), Reba (3.9 years)

Little Miss couldn't get enough of the babies!

Daddy and his little girl

Another group photo opt...

L-R: Grace, Vivian, Austin, Dallas, George Martin and Reba

Our little family of 4...soon to be 5! (Dallas may or may not have been "over" pictures by this point)

Until next time...
You can see our previous trips here (2012) and here (2011).

2012 Polar Express

This past Friday, we took the kiddos to French Lick to ride the Polar Express!

Unlike last year, we had lots of company with us...including Pa-paw and Ma-maw

Dallas waiting for the conductor to punch our tickets

The waiters serving hot chocolate and cookies!

We even had the same conductor as last year!

In addition to Pa-paw and Ma-maw, we had some cousins along for the ride...Brooks having a blast

Here's Brooks' mom and dad (Amy and Craig)

That's Austin, George Martin and Dallas in their matching jammies 

After reaching the North Pole, Santa boarded the train (L-R: Dallas, Santa, Vivian, Ma-maw, Reba, and George Martin)

We were able to get all of the cousins in one seat...this was my best picture.  I love George Martin and Reba's smiles in it

L-R: Luke & Kathleen (George Martin and Vivian's dad and mom), Didi (Austin & Grace's mom), Grace (on Didi's lap), Reba, Aunt Lisa, and Dallas

The kiddos loved having Aunt Lisa along

One last picture of the 7 kiddos - Dallas, Reba, Grace, Austin, George Martin, Vivian and Brooks

Until next time...

Fun Friday Fotos - Polar Express

We had the privilege of taking the kiddos on a train ride to the North Pole this evening aboard the Polar Express!  I cannot begin to tell you how much fun we had, so I will let the pictures show you...

Getting ready to leave to catch the train...

A quick family photo opt as soon as we got to the train station 

And another...see the excitement building on their faces?

We had some time to browse through the gift shop and an activities area tent before it was time to board.  What kinds of activities?  Playing with trains, of course!

All Aboard!

Tickets please!

 A few more family photos

 We were able to listen and see the pictures as they read "The Polar Express"

 Then, we were served hot chocolate and cookies!

 And, finally! We arrived at the North Pole!

Look!  There's Santa!

We had so much fun, and we heard the jingle bells ring all the way home

Until next time...