Grand Canyon & Polar Express

I found a neat trip online for the Polar Express train. It's a night time train that takes you to the North Pole, Santa Gets on and gives the kids a bell, then it take you back. The train leaves from Williams Arizona, and the same place also offers a Grand Canyon train (2hrs out, 4hr layover, 2hrs back), so we decided to make a little trip of it. We left the day after Christmas and got back Wed. the 29th. We went to the Grand Canyon, Sedona, visited family in Flagstaff and spent time in Williams. The snow was nice, and everyone had a great time. I think this will be a yearly trip.

Christmas

We did a small gift exchange at the in-laws before we went over to spend Christmas Eve with the rest of the family. Then we woke up early on Christmas to open gifts.

Knotts Merry farm and Big Bear

We went to Knotts Merry farm to see the holiday things set up before they all went away. Jaydon had a great time. He loves roller coasters and rides and loved watching snoopy on ice. We saw the tree lighting and rode the train around the park and really enjoyed the time there. The next day we went to Big Bear to collect our snow gear for our trip to Arizona after Christmas. Unfortunately it was too hot and there was no snow up there, but maybe the next time we head up there will be.

Christmas Train

Saturday night we went to the Burbank Amtrak station and watched the Christmas train come in with Santa. The Metrolink train was totally decked out in lights and looked great. The event was free with lots of free goodies as well as some food and beverages provided. The Burbank Fire department was there collecting donated unwrapped toys and Jaydon got a Jr Fireman's hat and some bells.