The Minivan Express

Have you heard of the Polar Express?  Our kids love that movie!  We watch it all year round!  Well, thanks to Pinterest, I found an awesome idea!!  

THE MINIVAN EXPRESS!!

One Friday evening, we got the kids ready for bed (a little bit earlier than usual.  Since it was dark, they had no idea it was only 6:30 when they were climbing in their beds).  As they climbed in bed, they found a golden ticket on their pillow!  Cooper found one in Dawson's bed, when I was getting him in bed.  Then, he found one on his pillow.  Jaxton checked his pillow and there was one there too!  They ran to Kaylee's room and found that she had a golden ticket too!!!  What did it mean?  Jaxton read the words Minivan Express, and I helped them wonder whether they needed to go check out the minivan in the garage.  Jaxton immediately realized this was like the Polar Express.  The kids in the movie got on the train in the night time.  They were thrilled!!  They brought their tickets, grabbed their coats, and went out to the garage.  Going out there, they were greeted by this:

The Minivan Express Conductor.  He demanded to see their golden tickets so he could hole punch them (with a 3 hole punch LOL).  As each child got their ticket punched, they climbed into the Minivan Express.  Inside the "train" they found hot chocolate and popcorn in their cupholders!! We were off!

We watched The Polar Express as we headed out for the Festival of Lights.  Fort Wayne puts on a Festival of Lights every year.  You stay in the car and drive through the festival and look at all the light displays.  There are hundreds of displays put out by local businesses and families.  They are so intricate and unique and many of the lights make the display look like its moving.  We saw displays made out of lights that were kids ice skating, kids throwing snowballs, Santa and his reindeer flying through the sky, nativity scenes, and all sorts of other light displays.  What a fun fun evening.  It may also become a tradition every Christmas season!!