Cam and Emily: Santa Train (aka Stand In Line alot Train)

Today was the day! We had planned this day for months--our first trip on Santa Train! We have been talking and reading about trains, we even rented the Polar Express in preparation for Clementine's first train journey.
Earlier today we headed down to North Bend to meet up with Sissy, Patrick and Nolan at the train depot. The babies were very excited.

We stood in line waiting for the train to arrive. Clementine was very excited right off the bat.

The train ride from North Bend to Snoqualmie was fun and very silly. Our super busy girl just isn't used to standing in lines and sitting still on trains.

I held Clem on my lap for awhile then it was Daddy's turn. While Cam was holding our girl one of the volunteers came up RIGHT behind them. He was decked out in a strand of blinking Christmas lights--I knew we were in for some real fun! He had a microphone and started singing Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer. Loudly. And directly behind Cam's head.

Here is Nolan's expression during carol-singing. He was a little confused.

Clementine was not confused. She knows this carol very well but wanted no part of the microphone holding, blinking light bedazzled man. She got as far away from this guy as she could--while still remaining in Cam's lap.

Then we got off the train and stood in another line. This one was a DOOOZY! It was the line to see Santa! We were there for a very very long time. Clem is one busy 2 year old so this was today's challenge. We each tried holding her. Cam put her on his shoulders. There was a coloring station, music and a random golden retriever hanging about. I had brought many many different snacks for our girl. But Clem had her mind set on climbing, running and being rambunctious. She stayed busy while we were in line, but she really did a lot better than I had anticipated!

She did pause to look at the miniature town under glass at the depot.

All that waiting in line...and we finally met Santa. He was a great Santa; no loud HO HO HOs. He was very soft spoken and asked Clementine as we walked up to him what she wanted for Christmas.

Just as she did with the caroler on the train, Clementine wanted as far away from this strange man as possible. She was practically scaling my body to get away. So we whispered to Santa a few things on our wishlist. Then gave Nolan a turn (I can't wait to see these pictures). Clementine never did sit on Santa's lap.