All Aboard the Polar Express

 G and I took the kids on our annual Polar Express trip in French Lick this past weekend. It was cancelled last year due to the pandemic and I gave up Big Ten Championship tickets to be there - And am SO happy with my decision as we had a blast! We arrived Friday night, had a late dinner in the atrium, got settled in our room (which included Tay playing Floor is Lava with the pillow and cushions, Avery working on her Friends activity book from the Advent Calendar, playing Mancala - Tay won all the games but stole my stones!!, and Avery reading us The Polar Express). After a good nights sleep we enjoyed breakfast at West Baden. While waiting for our food Tay made up a game called called "Person Pick" which was basically him playing "eenie meenie minee moe" - And then deciding who would "battle" and make the finals. He also brought a couple action figures and had them battle the silverware and napkins and we had to pick who would come out victorious - there was lots of explanations around their powers and unlocking new games and levels. We were biting our cheeks to keep from laughing and basically none of us got a word in besides Tay. After breakfast we explored the French Lick Resort - We checked out the decorations, wrote Letters to Santa, shopped (Tay found an invisible pen that became a highlight of the trip and included him writing on his coat, clothes and backpack), saw Santa, painted at the Kids Club, completed the Scavenger Hunt, and took the trolly. After that, we went for a swim before getting ready for dinner in our matching pajamas (much to G's chagrin but she was a good sport!). At dinner we played "Person Pick" again but this time there were no words and it involved Tay eye-rolling and using his tongue. SUPER ODD and again we found ourselves dying laughing. We then boarded the train and had a magical ride to the North Pole with very sweet elves. Afterwards, we watched Michigan easily win the Big Ten Title, built the new Locomotive Transformer that G bought for Tay at the gift shop and worked on a puzzle. Then, right outside our window there was quite a bit of hullabaloo going on - Cop Car, Hysterically crying woman in leopard dress and fishnet tights, a Car being emptied and possibly put on a flat bed truck, lots of frantic calls and "new characters" coming in and out of our view. The kids were fascinated and spent a couple hours staring out the window trying to figure out what happened. When it was winding down, one of the main "characters" looked up and waved at Avery - Clearly our snooping was not so subtle. Avery shyly waved back and then proceeded to double lock our door and put on the Do Not Disturb sign - LOL. Sadly, we never got answers but spent tons of time speculating. On Sunday we made it to the French Lick Colonnade for buffet brunch right before it closed, stuffed ourselves and had an easy trip home. It was the perfect way to kick off Christmas and we can't wait to go back next year!!

WE BELIEVE!