Christmas in Nashville (Part One) - Polar Express Night

We have a LOT of family....so this post will have a LOT of parts!  A tradition that was started years ago in my family was Polar Express Night.  Basically everyone gets a "ticket" inviting them to ride the Polar Express train.  We all wear our pajamas, have an easy dinner at my mom's (easy is a relative term....anytime you have dinner for 18+ people....there's not a LOT that is easy about it) then we watch Polar Express together!  When my dad was alive he was the conductor....complete with a conductor's hat and reading glasses and all!  We would get in line and he'd punch our tickets and then we pile up in the family room and watch the movie.  Then during the Hot Chocolate scene he would serve us all hot chocolate (complete with homemade marshmallows thanks to my sister, Nadine!)  and then someone would get the 1st gift of Christmas at the end.....a bell from "Santa's sleigh" (i.e. Target , Dollar Tree or wherever my mom could find a bell)!  Although we don't have a conductor anymore and we get our own hot chocolate, it's still always one of my favorite nights at Christmas time!  There's something comforting about this tradition of ours.....maybe the fact that we know my dad would LOVE that we are still doing it!

                                      Carter and Kiki

                                Dani, Nadine  & Denise in front and Bella, Blake, Zia and Nick in the back

                            Lolli and Carter smiling!       Kiki is tired of me taking pictures!!

                             

                  Playing with Pop Pop's train set!

 Then Lolli broke out the karoake!!  Yay!!

                    And of course, Zia had to have her turn!

 

 Bella just wanted to show off her nails!  Kiki had taken her to get a pedicure and maincure that morning!

   The boys had their first sleepover with cousin Blake that night!  Here they are leaving to go to his house!