The Polar Express 2014

Each year we take a trip on the Polar Express, each year since Leo was a baby in arms. It has become an annual family tradition that we look forward to, and in turn it is now an occasion that Leo himself looks forward to and enjoys with us.

On Christmas Eve we arrived at the train station and found ourselves greeted by the rolling steam as the steam train got ready to depart the station for the North Pole. Leo gallivanted down to the platform, skipping with excitement as he went. He had been talking about the Polar Express for weeks, and watching it on DVD equally as much… In fact he had been watching it since last Christmas!

The Polar Express looked incredibly Christmassy decked out in tinsel and if you didn’t know you were heading to the North Pole before embarking, you would soon find out due to the festive cheer and decorations on board.  We took our seats and Leo chatted excitedly about the train and the impending journey, he talked about Santa Clause and maybe getting a present from the man in red himself. The Polar Express began to move forward slowly and more steam began to rumble alongside us, we began to pick up speed and before long we had left the station completely behind as we ploughed across open country and on to the North Pole.

Surprisingly the journey to the North Pole doesn’t take as long as you perhaps might expect, and very soon we were chugging through the magic tunnel that acts as the short cut between Worcestershire and the North Pole! Once out the other side we could see that the night was drawing in and the sun was beginning to set, fairy lights were beginning to glow and in the distance we could just make out the ‘North Pole’ Sign.

We had arrived.

Lead by one exciting 3 year old we made our way to meet Santa himself, manoeuvring around the crowds of the North Pole and meeting many a Elf along the way. Santa soon called for Leo to come in and say hello, and this year unlike previous years, Leo couldn’t wait to run on over and give him a hug, given half the chance I am sure he would have hopped on his lap for a cuddle. They had a lovely chat about what Leo would like for Christmas and Santa gave Leo instructions on how to tidy all of his belongings away in order for Santa to be able to make his delivery without falling over!

I could see from my perch by the door just how special this entire experience was for Leo, chatting away with Santa as if they were the best of friends, Leo’s eyes twinkling the entire time, and then Santa bestowed Leo with a gift and told him that he would be popping by later on Christmas Eve with the rest of his presents for being so well behaved.

We indulged with a hot drink and a mince pie each before making our way back on board the Polar Express, night time had truly arrived by now and the magic of the night was more alive than ever. The train steamed back to Cheltenham where we made our way home, ready for a night of Christmas TV and a takeaway feast.

Next year without a shadow of a doubt, we will be back on board the Polar Express with Leo, we are not about to start missing it now!

The Santa Express 2013

One of our avid and most anticipated Christmas traditions has to be the Santa Express. It is an event we have been taking Leo along too since he was 5 months old. This year was our third visit, and with each year we have gone along, Leo has become that little bit more animated and excited. 

This year I booked it in for Christmas Eve, I had been looking forward to it since the begining of November when I decided to get the tickets sorted. I couldn't think of a better way to kick start Christmas than taking a real trip on the Polar Express! I knew that the highlight of Leo's day would simply be chugging along on a steam train kitted out in tinsel, but for me I was excited for whole experience.

At 2 and a half years old Leo is now at an age where you can discuss where you are going and what you will be doing, so Leo was very excited on our trip to the train station when he realised that we would all be hopping on a 'choo!'. 

The car journey over to the station was full of chitter chatter about our impending train ride, and when we finally pulled up, Leo was skipping along holding my hand. He didn't even seem excited at the prospect of seeing Santa on this occasion, he was all abut the train. 

With one very excited toddler we boarded the Santa Express and found some seats where Leo could sit and stare contently out of the window while he clutched his magical train ticket. Everywhere I looked all I could spy were excited children who were off to see Father Christmas on Christmas Eve. The train conductor was walking up and down the carriage and telling everyone about the magical trip we were about to embark on. 

The funny thing about the North Pole is that each and every time we have visited over the last 3 years, there has been no snow. The conductor explained that due to global warming the North Pole has seen quite a dramatic reduction in the amount of snow that they actually see when they visit. Shocking.. But true. 

You would probably be suprised at just how quickly you reach the North Pole these days, but we go through one very long, very dark magical tunnel... and then you are there! An influx of passengers disembark the train and form an orderly line outside Santa's grotto, ready to see the main man himself. Leo was getting rather sleepy by this point, but we spurred him on and even managed to get a photo of the magical moment.  

We love our visits to the North Pole, they always serve up the tastiest of Mince Pies and with every visit it truly helps us slip into the Christmas Spirit. Leo even being one of the fussiest eaters I know will happily consume the North Pole Mince Pies...

Being on our magical adventure, one we have taken each year since Leo's very first Christmas always puts me in a reflective mood. I cannot help but look back and see just how far he has come, how much he has learnt and just simply marvel at all that he is. This whole adventure that really set out as one just to please me, is now something that Leo absolutely loves. It is something that all 3 of us can enjoy together, and it is set to stay that way for many Christmas's to come. 

You really can see a difference over the years we have been visiting, just look at how grown up Leo now looks in comparison to his first visit.