{Annual Polar Express weekend // All Aboard!!}

 And then it was time for the main event—the absolute star of the weekend: riding the Polar Express! No matter how many times we’ve done it, it never loses its wonder. If I had to choose just one word to describe the Polar Express experience, it would be pure MAGIC.

{Annual Polar Express weekend // Friday}

 This past weekend was our annual Polar Express Weekend, and it was every bit as magical as always! This tradition is one of my very favorite parts of the Christmas season. It’s one of those weekends where we slow down, soak in the holiday spirit, and make memories together as a family.

{The Polar Express // 2022}

The Polar Express looked a little different for us this year. Mason opted to not ride, which meant that Nate and I wouldn't be riding either. Ty & Michelle opted out as well. It made my heart sad even though I knew this time was coming. Mason's getting older and these days are fleeting. However, there was a last-minute change in plans and I was able to go on the Polar Express.  PawPaw gave me his tickets because Nana wanted me to come and take pictures. 

{All Aboard!! // Annual Polar Express train ride // 2021}

Even though we have been riding on the Polar Express since Mason was a baby, it never gets old! It's such a magical and sweet time together. I pray that this is a tradition that Mason will carry on with his children one day. It truly is so special. I cherish the time we spend as a family making the most magical Christmas memories. I love that this is something our growing family of now 11 does together each year. I always look forward to this weekend.

{All aboard the Polar Express // 2020}

 If you've been around this blog for a while then you know that the Polar Express is an annual tradition in our family! We love making a weekend out of it and camping and doing all things Christmas. Like I said in the Grinch post, it was a little different this year but we still made the most of it. 

{ALL ABOARD THE POLAR EXPRESS / 2019}

I've already shared about our camping in Palestine {here} and visiting the Grinch's Lair {here} so the only thing left to share about this trip is the Polar Express! This was the 5th time to ride the Polar Express in Palestine, TX {for most of our group, at least} and it never disappoints. It's the most magical and amazing evening and I can't get enough of it.

{Camping in Palestine, TX // annual Polar Express & Grinch weekend}

This past weekend was our 5th annual trip to Palestine for all things festive and magical! It's literally one of my favorite weekends of the year. Every time I try to explain this weekend the only word I can come up with is magical, and it truly is. From camping in a magical forest to visiting the Grinch's Lair, and then capping it off with a trip to the North Pole via the Polar Express, it really is a feel-good-get-in-the-spirit time! I'm forever grateful for this weekend with my people and for all of the special memories we have made in Palestine, TX.

{Polar Express 2018 // the actual ride}

One last and final post for our 2018 Polar Express weekend! Our tickets for the Polar Express were for Saturday evening at 8pm. We like to take the last train ride of the evening because it feels more like the movie. And it's just so dang magical. We arrived a little early to get our tickets and then we hung out waiting to board the train. We visited the gift shop, took pictures, got popcorn, etc. while we waited. Mason and I wanted to buy the Polar Express book because we surprisingly do not have that one, but they didn't have any available. Note to self for next year; order the book prior to going!

{Polar Express 2018 // Camping}

I mentioned yesterday (post here) that a couple of weekends ago we loaded up and headed east for our annual Polar Express weekend! Yes, we go in November for a couple of reasons. 1.) It's not as crowded as it is in December and 2.) Our Decembers are already full to the brim and we need more than just a month for all of the Christmas things. And, I secretly (or not so secretly) love that we get a jumpstart on our Christmas festivities!!

{Polar Express 2017}

Way back before Thanksgiving we rode on the Polar Express train ride in Palestine, TX! I mentioned it briefly in a 2017 Winter Bucket list post, here, but wanted to share more pictures from the weekend. We always get our tickets to Polar Express for November because our December is way too crazy! And, I love that it introduces us to the Christmas season a little earlier than normal!

{Winter Bucket Update // A Polar Express and Grinch filled weekend}

Time for another bucketlist update! This one deserved it's own post. It's one of our favorite trips and we look forward to it each year...our Polar Express and Grinch weekend! We travel a couple of hours East to a quaint little town nestled in the Piney Woods for a weekend of camping, train-riding and Grinching. This year it rained the majority of the time, but we still had a great time.

{2015 Christmas Bucket List // The Polar Express}

Once upon a time back in November we went on the Polar Express train ride! I have been trying to find time to post about it. For a few years we went to the North Pole Express in Grapevine, TX {posts here and here}...but each year we started enjoying it less and less. It started becoming too commercialized, overcrowded and the train ride seemed to get shorter and shorter. And I think I didn't even post about it our last trip because we just didn't have the best of time. I mean, it was fun because it was a Christmas event and we were together as a family, but I think it was more stressful than anything.

We missed a year of not going at all  and during that time we kept hearing about this amazing Polar Express ride on the Texas State Railroad in Palestine TX. So, after we got back from our Labor Day trip Nate's mom and I started looking into getting tickets. We weren't sure if we could get tickets that early, but wanted to get them as soon as we could before tickets sold out. To our surprise, tickets were available. We picked a date and purchased our tickets. We all know how crazy December is for us, so we opted for a weekend in November...the 21st to be exact.

The perfect kick off to our Christmas season!!! I will take any opportunity I get to start celebrating before December 1st. I love this time of year so much and wish it lasted longer.

We left for Palestine Saturday morning. It's about a 2 hour {easy} drive from us. So we left around 9:30 I believe. The Palestine Depot was on our way to our campgrounds so we stopped to look around and take pictures. We knew that our tickets were for 8pm and it would be too dark to fully see and grasp it all. I am so glad that we did this. There was no one there and we had free range to look at everything and take pictures. I captured some of my most favorite Christmas-time pictures of Mason of all times. Made my heart so happy! But, I think I will have to save them for a separate post for the sake of making this not the longest post in the history of ever.


And the color there. Oh the color!! They actually get a "Fall" color change in East Texas. Crazy how a town just 2 hours East of us is that different. It was so beautiful. We were in awe of the trees and the color.

We got to the depot about an hour early to get our tickets from will call. It was all lit up and just so beautiful. The line to get tickets moved at a snail's pace and it was pretty chill, but it was festive so I didn't mind. We waited inside a very crowded hall until they let us go line up at our gate. We waited outside probably another 10-15 minutes.


Then it was time to board the train!!!! The train cars were so cool, but didn't have best of lighting. I didn't get the best of pictures, but we have the best of memories.

The train drives 30 minutes to the "North Pole" and on the way there they play music and pass out cookies and hot chocolate. We had 3 very awesome 'chefs' on our train car. They made it so fun and enjoyable. Once we arrived at the North Pole we saw lights galore, lots of Elves playing and dancing and of course SANTA!!!! The train stopped to let Santa on to visit with the kids. He made it pretty quick to our train car and started passing out Polar Express bells to the kids. He was so personable and stopped to visit with each. Mason loved him!!!



Santa visited all the kids on the way back to the depot. Once he had left our train car our awesome chef came by with a bag full of bells to pass out to anyone that wanted one. I thought that was so neat and kind of them to do! I was able to get one and turn ours into an ornament for the tree and Mason could keep his!!

It was such an awesome experience and before it was over we talked about making that a new yearly tradition!!! I am so excited. Family traditions are my love language!




While we were in Palestine we also got to visit the Grinch's Lair! Post on that soon.

Do you have a Polar Express where you live? Do you ride it?

{Texas Tuesday - North Pole Express}

Mason's absolute favorite movie right now is Polar Express. The boy loves trains, so it's no wonder he loves the movie. I bought him the dvd off Amazon and a week later he lost it somehow in the transfer from the living room to his bedroom. We are on our 2nd dvd of the movie now. I'd say we've watched it no less than a dozen and a half times in the last 3.5 weeks. Which is a lot for someone that normally doesn't like to watch t.v.   So, Sunday night we took a one hour drive to Grapevine, TX to take Mason on the North Pole Express. It was a complete blast. Mason has been once before, but he was just 6.5ish months old. I know he doesn't remember it, but I certainly do. I cried like a big baby. It was just so magical. It was my baby's first Christmas and the "feeling" {post coming on that soon} of Christmas returned to his daddy, Nana and me.

Getting ready to leave for Grapevin

 This year was just as great. Mason was much more involved and excited about what was going on.  He wore some cute little Christmas pajamas and a festive Christmas hat. The anticipation of the train ride and seeing Santa was shown on his sweet little face from the moment we got there.
The first thing he did was ride the little ride on toys they have sectioned off. What did he choose? Thomas the Train, of course.

He played for a while and then we noticed that you could take pictures with Santa in one of the buildings. So, we headed that way. Again, Mason was so excited and not the least bit scared of Santa. He was so anxious in line and kept asking, "is it my turn now?" And when the kid in front of him climbed off Santa's lap Mason didn't hesitate one moment and took off running to Santa. It was the sweetest and cutest thing! 

Mason and Santa had a good chat and we bought the outrageous $20 picture package for (3) 4x6 - 2 of them had their logos plastered all over it. But, It was worth it to see Mason so excited about Santa. After Santa we walked around and took a few more pictures.

Mason rode the rides for a little more until it was time to go into the tent for the pre-show. They let you in a good 30 minutes before the show actually starts...so needless to say there are a lot of anxious, restless kids! Mason being one of them. They played clips of various different Christmas movies on the big screen while we waited.

Classic!

 Finally the show started and they sang a few Christmas songs and put on a little skit. Mason says, "Mommy, I want to go on stage and sing." I'm sure if I would have said yes he would have gone right on up there! I love that he's so fearless!!!
After a 15 or so minute show a conductor came out and said a few lines off the movie. Mason's eyes lit up and he knew that it was time! They started boarding the train, but of course we were the last section to go! We found our seats and the train was off!  

  

The conductor came by and punched all the kids tickets. Mason was excited because it was just like the show. 

 

   Santa came out and the train went crazy! Mason was screaming "Hi Santa"!! Santa made his way down the train and people were pulling him right and left to take pictures. And somewhere in that chaos he skipped right over Mason. It made me so sad! Luckily, Uncle T-Ty was in the row in front of us and directed him back to Mason. He gave Mason an awesome Christmas bell and Mase was pretty excited. He wouldn't even look at the camera he was so focused on the bell!  

  We had such a great time! I love seeing the excitement on Mason's face. I think this will be a yearly tradition with the Hall family. Nate's mom talked about making a weekend out of it next year and staying at the Gaylord! I can't wait...

The next morning Mason told me, "Mommy, I wanna go back to the Polar Express. It was so bunch of fun. I so essited for Christmas."    - I think it's safe to say he loved it!!!
What is Texas Tuesday? A chance for you to show off the awesomeness that is TEXAS!! You can blog about anything; restaurants, vacation spots, venues, concerts, your hometown, shops, fashion, sports, etc. The linkup is not limited to Texans, we just ask that the post is about Texas.