Polar Express Party

Last night, we attended the Polar Express Party at the library. The response to the party was overwhelming with both the Monday and Thursday night parties at maximum capacity (140 people each). Rachel is always up for a party...and was especially excited that she could wear her pajamas. As we prepared for the party, I asked her what jammies she wanted to wear. It came as no surprise when she said, "Horse jammies." She would wear them every night if I let her.

We got our tickets and waited for the party to start by singing Christmas songs. We then worked on our crafts for the evening. I mastered the jingle bell necklace pretty quickly- which is the one that Rachel liked the best. The glue dots and I were having some disagreements, so the Rudolph finger puppet didn't turn out so well and we just gave up altogether on the snow globe. Rachel enjoyed her cookies and apple cider and then came the highlight of the evening! SANTA! I was surprised when Rachel agreed to get in line to talk to Santa. We talked about what she was going to ask Santa for (a black horse- might want to make room in the barn, Mel!) and sang Jingle Bells while we waited our turn. As we walked over to Santa, I could feel Rachel's grip tightening on my neck. As we came closer, her legs tightened on my waist, and when I sat down next to him, Rachel began to cry and there was no way she was going to let up on her grip of me. She wanted nothing to do with Santa...even if he could bring her a black horse on Christmas.



Rachel clinging to Mommy for dear life. Nope. Still not a fan of Santa.

The train made from refridgerator boxes, however, was a huge hit!







All Aboard the Polar Express!! Next stop- the North Pole!

On the way home, Rachel and I were discussing the party. Rachel mentioned that Santa was wearing gloves. I asked if she liked Santa's gloves...she said "No." I would have thought it was the beard. But she did "love" the cookies.

 

I think my favorite part of the evening was when we got home. While Rachel and I were eating cookies and enjoying our hot chocolate, Nick finished the Christmas lights. As we came down the road near our house, Rachel said, "Pretty! Daddy make 'Chel's house pretty!" I think that made the ladder climbing worth it for him.