{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?

{Christmas and Winter Photo Checklists}

A couple of months ago I shared a Fall photo checklist and because photos are my most favorite thing ever, I have made a Christmas and a Winter photo checklist to share today. I've included the full size photo links below for those that want to save and print.

{Elf on the Shelf Sunday // Week 1 Recap}

On Monday I mentioned that I was going to implement Elf on the Shelf this year and shared our calendar for the month {here}. I am going to post every Sunday to recap our week and all of our Elf's Shenanigans!!

We are having so much fun with our elf and now I am wondering why I didn't do this sooner!!

Mason met his elf on December 1st and was in complete awe of him!! He was so excited that he actually got an elf this year. He just wishes soooo bad that he could hug his elf. He says things like "I love my elf" and "I don't want him to go back to the North Pole after Christmas!" It's the sweetest thing.

Now for the recap of week one...{ps - I found this awesome elf font on day 2 and downloaded it so that I can keep his little notes consistent! I just printed them on cardstock and cut them out}




Our elf arrived and had tied himself to one of my Christmas tree decorations with lights. He left a welcome letter for Mason and asked that Mase name him. Mason originally chose the name Leroy, but I had to remind him that he had a pet frog named Leroy. So, he chose Max. Mason was instantly smitten with him. He talked about him all the way to school {about a 20 minute drive} and said he told his teacher and friends all about him! We think Max may have tied himself to the tree with lights because he knew that we were going to our town's Christmas tree lighting event that night. ;)

On day two Max made a little Winter Wonderland and built Mason a snowman out of marshmallows. Mason got a huge kick out of it. He asked me if he could hug the bowl since he can't touch Max. And Mason was pretty excited that Max brought back a little magic dust from the North Pole.







On day four we found Max inside of a rocketship. He left a note saying that he lost track of time and almost didn't make it back to the North Pole in time so he had to build a rocket to get there quicker. There was magic dust from the North Pole sprinkled all the way around the rocket ship. Mason said, "Max really is magic-full because he built a rocket. I have the coolest elf ever."

On day four we found Max reading to Mason's Nativity set. He was reading them the Christmas story. He must have known that Bethlehem Revisited kicks off this weekend in our little town!! He left us a sweet little reminder that said "Jesus is the Reason for the Season".






On day five Max brought us a gingerbread house {with extra candy} to build as a family. This is one of our favorite yearly traditions!! Mason was super excited. But...I  am certain that's because of all of the candy!







On day six Max sent us on a candy cane scavenger hunt!! He hid 6 candy canes around the house for Mason to find. I didn't take many pics because we had a funeral to go to and we were rushed.




Are you doing Elf on the Shelf? What has your elf been up to?

{Five on Friday // Tis the Season }

Happy Finally Friday! Is it just me, or does the week following a holiday seem to drag on and on? I'm so glad it's the weekend. I plan to soak up as much time as I can with my sweet boys and maybe knock a few things off of our 2015 Christmas Bucketlist.

Time for Five on Friday. And because it's all about Christmas over here...that's all I have for you today.

{O N E}

Posts from this week...in case you missed it.

Monday >> Thanksgiving 2015
Tuesday  >>  Our Elf on the Shelf Calendar
Wednesday  >>  How we keep the magic in Christmas for Mason
Thursday  >>  Christmas traditions to do with your kids

{T W O}

I wanted to do an advent this year, but fell behind because I was so busy trying to plan out our Elf on The Shelf Shenanigans for the month. Then one evening I was scrolling through Pinterest and found these adorable tags. I saved them immediately. And then a few days later I was searching Pinterest yet again and found a Christmas scripture countdown. Perfect! I combined the two and made my own sort-of-advent. On the back of each tag I wrote a scripture for that day. I am loving it and will probably use this for years to come.


{T H R E E}

Last year Mason and I did the cotton ball - Santa's beard countdown and it was so cute. This year I found a little craft in the Target dollar spot to use as our countdown. It's so fun to count down the days with my best little guy!


{F O U R}

Mason brings home a DRA (Developmental Reading Assessment - based on their level of reading) book, sometimes two that he has to read every single night by himself. Last night he wanted to read his book to his Elf. It was just about the sweetest thing and it melted me completely. I love the heart this sweet boy has! PS - the Kindergarten DRA levels are A, B, C, D, 1, 2, 3, 4. Mason is already at almost a level 3. So proud of him!


{F I V E}

I am so thankful for the blessing of being able to work at home. Especially when this is my view...


I think I could leave my Christmas tree up year round and never get tired of it.

Happy Friday! What do you have planned for the weekend?

{Christmas traditions to do with your kids}

It's all Christmas over here right now and I am loving it! This truly is the best time of the year. When I think about Christmas I start dreaming and brainstorming all of the fun things that I can do with Mason. So, I compiled a fun little print of Christmas Traditions to do with your kids.

What are some of the things you do with your kids during Christmas time?

{15 ways we keep the magic in Christmas}

Seeing the magic of Christmas through Mason's eyes will forever be one of my favorite things!! It's so important to me to keep the magic in it for him. Even though it's a lot of work on my end, I enjoy it. Because, seeing his face light up and the way he believes makes my heart and soul so happy. 

Below are the ways that we keep the magic in Christmas for Mason...as well as some others.

1.) Make a personalized video from Santa - and add as many pictures and personal details that you can. We use Portable North Pole {link} to make ours. We have done this every year since Mason was born and I feel like he gets even more excited each time. I love to video his reactions to the Santa video. Precious memories.

2.) Take them to see Santa - they are easy to find! We like to scope out the more realistic looking ones so that there are less questions.

3.) Let them write a letter to Santa and mail it. Write a letter back to the child. There are tons of free letterhead on Pinterest {here, here, here}.

4.) If you do not have a chimney {we do not} make a special key for Santa to be able to get in. Example {here} 

5.) Put Santa in your photo. We use Santa was in my house {link}. There are also apps on Apple for this. And there are even apps where you can video Santa in your house leaving gifts, or in front of the tree. {link}

6.) Grow a candy cane. Plant a peppermint, come back later to see a candy cane has grown. 

7.) Let them watch the live Reindeer camera. {link} There are also apps on Apple for this.

8.) Let them watch the Santa Tracker {link}. 

9.) Make magic Reindeer Food {oats, sprinkles & glitter} to put out in the yard on Christmas Eve to guide the Reindeer to your home.

10.) On Christmas Eve take bites out of the cookies and the carrots and leave a thank you note from Santa.

11.) Use flour and a pair of boots to leave Santa's footprints in the house.

12.) Elf on the Shelf - we started this tradition this year. And after only two days I can see how amazing this is going to be. Mason is in complete awe of his elf and thinks his 'magic' is just about the coolest thing ever.

13.) Watch Christmas movies that prove that Santa is real.

14.) Drop a bell in the yard and tell them it fell off Santa's sleigh on Christmas Eve/Christmas Morning.

15.) Sprinkle glitter around the tree on Christmas Eve to show that Santa was there and left some of his magic dust.

How do you keep the magic in Christmas for your littles? Any traditions you have?

{Elf on the Shelf}

We are doing the Elf on the Shelf this year and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited! Mason came home from school talking about it one day and asked why he hasn't had an elf. Apparently his friends were all talking about their elves. I told him there was a 'waiting list' {wink wink} but that maybe this year he will get an elf. I didn't buy the Elf on the Shelf kit, though. I bought a vintage looking elf at the tree farm a couple of years ago and plan on using that. I think he's cute and different than everyone elses. I hope Mason agrees!

Anyhow, since this is my first year to do it I wanted to be prepared. So, I put together a calendar of things for our elf to do throughout the month. I know most people start theirs the day after Thanksgiving, but we are starting today, December 1st {how is it already December?!?!}. Maybe next year I will get adventurous and start earlier. We'll see.

I tried to coordinate my events to things that were going on during our month. For instance, the day we are going to Bethlehem revisited I plan to have the Elf reading the Christmas story to the nativity to go with the theme. We have breakfast with Santa on the 12th and kids wear pajamas, so our elf will bring new pajamas that day. Fun, fun!!


Do you do the Elf on the Shelf? If so, do you put a calendar together in advance, or do you just wing it each day? What fun things do you have planned to do?