I Believe

 The consensus is complete....we just love Grandmas and Grandpas around here.  We were so blessed to have Gma and Gpa Longmire here for 5 days!!! We did so much and had such a blast rounding out the holidays with their visit!

The girls got an extra special treat this time when we all got to go up to Williams, AZ to ride the Polar Express.  What an experience!   We made a whole day of the trip and stopped for lunch at this awesome place in North Scottsdale called DC Ranch.  Delightful pizza, company and a nearby park to climb trees and run barefoot in the grass.

After a couple of hours in the car we arrived at the depot for the Polar Express.  The station was filled with excited kids all dressed in their PJs for the trip to the North Pole.  

My girls were so cute and has such expectation about them.  Grandma Lynn and I really leaned into the magic and excited the girls with tales of seeing the North Pole and maybe, just maybe even getting to meet SANTA!  

Right before we boarded our car Evie found the pay phone and wanted to make a call.......

When asked she said, "I call Santa....!"   Great kiddo.....let him know we are coming!

We boarded our amazingly authentic 1920s train car and headed on our magical journey.

There is truly nothing more wonderful than watching the amazement of children.  From the moment we left the depot the girls were all in it.  They squealed when we went through the magical tunnel to the North Pole.  They believed we were there and couldn't understand why the North Pole didn't have more snow.  

They both sat mesmerized eating their cookies and hot chocolate during the reading of the Polar Express.

We made it to the North Pole and the girls saw Santa through the window waving away.  Lily was so excited.  As the train stopped to "fix a problem," we realized that Santa might just be making a personal appearance.  I even got excited!

When it dawned on Lily that Santa was ON THE TRAIN she couldn't contain her anticipation.  When the big man in red came to our car and talked right to her she was in awe.  I love this picture.......she asked Santa for a mermaid that swims in her bath........(guess what showed up this week.....thanks Gma and Gpa!)

The Polar Express was perfect and the simply perfect timing for Lily.  We got off the train and as we walked to the car she quietly turned back towards the train and whispered, "I Believe."  

Kids are only kids for so long and the journey on the Polar Express was one of those magical memories to last a lifetime.