Making Dreams Come True

AKA: Finally taking our train obsessed 5 year old on a train ride!

Back in the middle of November we took a whirlwind trip (really....we were only gone 36 hrs!) to Branson, MO with the kids.  We met my brother, sister in law, and our two nephews too.  We went for the sole purpose of riding the Branson Scenic Railway Polar Express train ride.  Eli has never been on a train before, but I'm pretty sure he dreams about it about 100 times a day.  So, when I saw a billboard when we were there this summer, advertising the polar express ride, I knew we needed to go.  Branson isn't an awful drive for us and I knew we could make it a fun, but short trip.  So I asked my brother if he would be interested in going with us too.

Fast forward to the big day.  FINALLY!  Eli was so excited.  We left for Branson around 6 and got in right at 11.  We got to do a little shopping at one of the outlet malls and let the kids walk around and burn off some energy.  Then we headed to the hotel for naps for the little boys.  And the big kids got to go swimming at the hotel pool.  Which also had some pretty sweet, and big, slides.  I'm pretty sure they were too small to go down any of them, even with daddy, but I think they still had a blast.  After naps (or lack there-of for Parker) we headed to the train station for the big event!  Eli was pretty excited!

So the pictures...... 

Overall the train ride was pretty cool.  In reality I actually thought it was totally lame and a waste of money, but the kids had fun.  That's what we were there for:)  I only thought it was lame because the train literally just went back and forth on the track.  The kids didn't really even know the difference once it turned dark:)  And I hated it because we had to keep the kids in the their seats the whole time.  I get it, it's a safety thing, but seriously, the ride was a bit over an hour.  It is very challenging to keep 6 kids, 5 and under, in their seats for an hour.  Especially the two year old and 10 month old!  But again the kids had a blast.  They got a cookie and hot chocolate, a bell from santa, got to sit on santa's lap, see  dancing elves, see lights, and listen to the polar express story.  A fun evening!  After the train we headed back to the hotel with the kiddos because they were beyond tired and poor Sawyer wanted to have some freedom to crawl!  And the kids got to watch cable in their bunk beds, in their own little bunk nook....they thought that was pretty cool:)  

The next morning we packed up, checked out, grabbed breakfast, and headed home!  It was a fast and fun trip!  Next year we are just going to spend the day at Silver Dollar City and see the lights:)