An Overnight Adventure: Palestine and the Polar Express

This was our third year to ride the Polar Express in Palestine. We always go after Christmas because the weeks leading up to Christmas are jam-packed! This time, when we left Houston it was a balmy 75 degrees. We hit the rest stop on 59 (with a train bell to ring!) and about 10 minutes later, the rain came and the temperatures dropped 30 degrees!

We like to explore East Texas on the way to Palestine, and this year, we visited Caddo Mounds State Historic Site near Alto. The visitors center/museum was just completed this fall and was the perfect hands-on spot to learn about the Caddo Indians.

The Caddo Indians built two temple mounds, a burial mound  and a village here more than 1200 years ago. The site is roughly contemporaneous to Mesa Verde, which was interesting for all of us.  

It was cold when we explored, but fortunately the rain stopped while we were outside!

Caddo Mounds State Historic Site is definitely worth a visit if you are in the Palestine area! 

When we got to Palestine, our rooms weren't quite ready, so the boys had hot cocoa and decorated sweet treats in the lobby.

We booked the 5pm train ride, which is the perfect time because it is light outside when you arrive but dark on the train ride back.

All aboard!

This year, we decided to upgrade our seats to the Lone Star class, which meant we got fancier cookies, keepsake mugs, and best-of-all, a reserved table! The table alone is worth the extra price simply because you don't have to juggle cookies and drinks.

Santa signed our book this year!

Riding the Polar Express is one of my favorite holiday traditions. I love the train, the Christmas songs, reading the story and watching my kids' faces light up with joy and excitement. The Polar Express is a lovely, magical Christmas experience and one we all look forward to each year.

We had grand plans to stay in Palestine two nights and spend time exploring some of East Texas's beautiful parks and historic sites, but we woke up to rain and 34 degree temperatures. We eventually packed up and headed back to Houston.  We did manage to stop at the Rusk Depot (the train runs between Palestine and Rusk and we had never been to the Rusk Depot before). It was very cold but only drizzling and we all needed to get out and stretch our legs a bit. The park is beautiful and we all decided it would be fun to visit again in better weather.  

Til next year!

Christmas with Nana and Pop

Christmas with Nana and Pop is loud and boisterous and fun! Since we all have children who like to open big gifts from Santa at home these days, we arrived at Nana and Pop's just in time for lunch. After we all ate, it was time for presents! 

My boys were thrilled to get a Skylanders game.

And books -- lots and lots of books! Nana and Pop gave Henry Papa's Mechanical Fish by Candace Fleming, and he was so thrilled. "I have wanted this book forever," he said.

Mary received many new clothes and she modeled them for all of us.

Grill tools for Pop

and Portuguese olive oil for Gene and Mike!

After presents, we all got outside for one of the only nice days of the entire winter break! The boys played football.

Mary tried out her new bow and arrow.

Will played a couple of games of chess -- he beat Gene and played Pop to a stalemate.

After a delicious standing rib roast dinner, the kids and Gene regaled us a new twist on "Deck the Halls," using the words from the book Deck the Walls.

Next year, little David will be a participant in all the fun!

What a lovely Christmas it was! 

Christmas Morning at Home

Our Christmas morning routine is to sleep until we hear Santa's sleigh bells and a hearty ho-ho-ho! Then it's time to wake up and check to make sure the big guy came and brought presents.  

Stockings first, of course! They were filled with chocolate, nuts, oranges, candy canes and new CDs for the boys. I got earring and Gene got Tabasco salt. 

The boys asked for a Wii U for Christmas this year and wouldn't you know, Santa came through! They were so thrilled to find this box under the tree.

We took breaks for some Christmas piano music too.

Some gift highlights:  lots of books! My boys love to read and are thrilled to find books under the tree. It's actually what Henry asked Santa for this year.

These Jacob's ladder weren't wrapped because two mischievous boys opened the package the day it arrived on our front porch!

Gene asked for this backgammon set. He and Henry play constantly.

We also got Gene a ceramic bowl from Empty Bowls, a charity that benefits the Houston Food Bank. All four of us now have special bowls that we use all the time!

Another favorite gift: a chess set!

We had to set it up right away on our new game table, We had been searching for a game table for over a year, and Gene finally found the perfect piece on eBay. It arrived on Christmas Eve and we have used it every day since! The best thing is that the top folds up and it takes up very little space when not in use.

My "surprise" gift was a new flash for my camera. (It was not a surprise because Gene ordered it using my amazon account, so the receipt came to my inbox!)

 

Art books for my artist.

After gifts, Gene set up the Wii U using the boys' headlamp.

We hope your Christmas was full of fun, laughter and time with family!