Christmas is underway for us

In keeping with my theme of "We do not need anymore stuff!!"  We are trying to give our kids things that will not clutter up the house or get broken within 12 hours.

 We decided to take the kids (and Grandma) on a train ride up Cascade Canyon, by Durango, CO.

Yes, I know there is a Polar Express ride, and it sounds quite fun, but I'm a bit of a non-traditionalist and do not like to do the things that everyone else does.

This ride lasted from 9:45am-3:15pm, including boarding and exiting the train.

It was really a neat and unique experience and I'm glad we did it.  I am also glad Will adjusted the thermostat for the return portion of the trip.

Will also got them all special mugs that came with free, unlimited refills.  They drank lots of hot chocolate, and lemonade, and sprite.  Seriously...

At the turn-around, people got out and played in the snow and there was a little fire and whatever.  I don't know much about that part.  I stayed on the train and found that the dining car was much warmer than ours, so I stood in it for that time frame.

There was tons of fresh snow.  We traveled snow-packed roads for 3 full hours in order to get there.  And it kept snowing.

(I think we've gotten 6 inches or more at our house since yesterday morning.)

I am so glad the kids actually seemed to have a great time and enjoy themselves!!

I am also thankful it was not our little one who got their fingers stuck in a slammed-shut window right as we were pulling back into the depot.