[part of the Tuesday for Travel blog series – reviews, recommendations, and stories based on our travels and excursions]

Instead of shopping, we embarked on our first trip of Christmas on Black Friday.  It’s only fitting because I DEPISE shopping.  I seriously made 95% of my Christmas purchases online this year and having them delivered right to my door was amazing!

We decided that our gifting with our parents this year should be experiences instead of things.  We all have way to much stuff and any time we need/want anything, we just go get it.  Far more beneficial to us AND our children is spending time together having new experiences.  So, gift #1, a family train ride with my parents to see Santa at the North Pole. 🙂

The boys were SO excited.  I prepped them the night before by watching The Polar Express and all day they waited for nightfall so that we could leave.

Looks like Nini was a little excited, too! 😉

In true Carter fashion, he examined every detail and compared the actual ride to the movie.

Both boys enjoyed a “snowball” fight with stuffed or air filled snow balls.

The conductor came to punch the kids’ tickets.

The kids even got to jingle sleigh bells while singing Christmas carols.

After riding past the North Pole and seeing it all lit up with beautiful Christmas lights, Santa boarded the train and visited with the children.

Camden was a little leery of a strange man holding him, Santa Claus or not! 😉

Sharing some hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookie time with Grandpa.

Camden had to drink every last drop!

Smooches for Daddy!

Here’s a sip for you, too, Dad! 🙂

The trip was enjoyed by all – especially the sugar rush from late night hot chocolate and cookies afterward! 😉

I love to hear from you! Comment below.

– Nikki

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