AtmosFX Digital Decorating Kit Review

The AtmosFX Digital Decorating Kit is a all-in-one digital decorating system. It has a high-quality standard-definition (SD) projector that creates stunning displays for Halloween, Christmas, Easter, Valentine's, birthdays, Independence Days, and much, much more! The projector has been preloaded with 14 AtmosFX Digital Decorations: two Christmas themed scenes, eight Halloween themed scenes, and four other seasonal scenes that turn every occasion into a celebration. It also has an SD card slot and USB slots to increase your digital capability, making it easy to add additional AtmosFX scenes.

Includes:

• Projector
• Professional mounting tripod
• Remote control (2 AAA batteries not included)
• UL power adapter
• Projection material (4' x 6')
• Digital Decorations SD Card with 14 pre-loaded scenes

How We Used This and Our Thoughts:
I set the AtmosFX Digital Decorating Kit up for Christmas this year and since it came with a manual of instructions it was fairly easy to do. I got it out of the box and plugged it in to the UL power adapter and then found a great spot to project from and to. We have two houses on our property and the front one has larger windows and the front window closest to the driveway can be seen great from the road as you come up onto the house. So I opted to use that one for the projection. I screwed the projector onto the tripod and pointed the projector towards the window plugging it into the closest outlet. The tripod was very stable and you could position the projector on it up or down and straighten it out easily on it to get the perfect level.

AtmosFX Digital Projector set up.

I placed the SD card into the slot, turned the projector on, and went through the menu of scenes that were preloaded onto the machine using the up and down arrows. I placed batteries in the remote control thinking that this would be easier to flip through the menu and play the scene that I wanted from a distance, but the remote didn't work at all from a far off range. You had to be super close to the projector and pointing it at it for it to work. The buttons on the projector were a lot less finicky.

I looked at both the Christmas scenes, but ultimately, I picked All Through the House, Part 1 & 2, from Night Before Christmas. It was my favorite of the preloaded Christmas scenes. There were also two different formats to pick from, vertical and horizontal depending upon the configuration of your window. Our window was more horizontal so I picked that one. I placed the projection material over the window on the inside. The window was slightly longer than the material was tall, so I had to mess with it multiple times to get it placed correctly. Unfortunately, this used up more of the 3M double sided sticky squares that came with it than I would have and I ended up having only two to work with when I finally got it placed right. After a while it fell down on one side, so I ended up stapling it down instead.

AtmosFX All Through The House movie clips in my window

The scenes had to be focused with the dial and zoom lens so they wouldn't be all blurry at first. They came with sounds as well and I opted to mute those because they became a bit annoying after a while over and over again of silly belly chuckles from Santa. You can't really hear the sounds from outside the house where you would be seeing the projection anyway. The Santa they picked for the scene was a believable one with a real beard though which was cool. I also loved that the projection made my home look very festive...complete with a Christmas tree with lights and a roaring fireplace. I liked the look of the scene from the outside of my home even though it didn't quite fit my window because the projection was a bit wider still. The image quality was great. It looks best when all the lights are out in the house and it is dark outside as well though.

The other Christmas scene was Deck the Halls, from Santa's Workshop and it was very cheesy with silly looking elves in my honest opinion. I am glad the All Through the House one included because I really liked it a lot. I also loaded a photo I had done two years ago of my horses in Christmas hats eating candy-canes onto a USB thumb drive and plugged it into the projector. When I projected the picture though the words were backwards so I had to flip it with the menu so that it would read correctly to passersby through the window. Thankfully I could do this easily with the projector menu and so I didn't have to re-edit the photo.

My horses Christmas photo projected in my window.

I love this kit! It is wonderful for the holidays. I can't wait to use this for Halloween too! There are so many spooky/scary looking scenes to choose from in this kit.

BUY IT
Purchase the Digital Decorating Kit on the AtmosFX website along with other scenes to add to your collection. 

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received this complimentary product to facilitate this review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

The Book of Kringle: Legend of the North Pole Book Review

The Book of Kringle: Legend of the North Pole is a children's book with gold foiled hardcover by Derek Velez Partridge with Mary Packard and illustrated by David Wenzel. This tale is a story about the North Pole, elves, Santa Claus, and magical reindeer. This however isn't the story you are probably familiar with. Kris Kringle has a evil brother that rules the North Pole with darkness...even Kris. The battle between light and dark has started between the two brothers and the elves go to find Santa, the one, truly kindhearted soul who could bring back laughter, play, and Christmas to the world. Could they do it in time?

This book is eloquently written and gorgeously illustrated. I love the storyline which is a classic battle of good and evil. My girls who are 8 and 6 enjoyed reading this book and looking at the elaborate illustrations. This book is truly magical. It is a wonderful, heart warming book that is perfect for the holiday season.

Social Corner
Website: http://www.thebookofkringle.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebookofkringle/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bookofkringle
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeR_BeWupT-RcKzClgxQZ2w

BUY IT


DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received this product for free to facilitate this review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review. Affiliate links can be found in this post. Thank you for your support of this blog!

The Polar Express 30th Anniversary Edition Book Review #ReadandBelieve

I received The Polar Express 30th Anniversary Edition Book free to facilitate this review. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.


The beloved Christmas book, The Polar Express, written and illustrated by Chris Van Allsburg is having its 30th Anniversary. The publisher, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) and the author are celebrating by having special editions of the book made with a keepsake ornament and audio version read by Liam Neeson that you can download with purchase. The 30th Anniversary Edition also has a new jacket design and expanded interior layout. What a wonderful gift for the holiday season!

I love this story of a boy that goes on a magical train ride on Christmas Eve to the North Pole to be given a special gift from Santa Claus. My family has enjoyed riding The Polar Express train ourselves. We love the book, with its lovely illustrations and wonderful story and listening to it while we ride. I had not had a copy of this book for my own library, so when given the chance to review it I took it. It captures all of the magic of the holiday season and reminds us to keep the Christmas spirit with us long after we have grown.

The added bonuses for the 30th Anniversary Edition are fantastic. The golden "All Aboard" ornament is in a small bag fastened inside the back jacket cover. It is a Train with the words "The Polar Express" and "All Aboard" around it. I love the download of the audio version of the book. Liam Neeson does a fabulous job at the reading and narration. I love his voice. You can also go to polarexpress.com for activities, recipes, and prizes, plus a Christmas Countdown Calendar! Make sure to enter to win the All Aboard for The Polar Express Durango, Colorado Sweepstakes while you are there!

All Aboard for The Polar Express Durango, Colorado Sweepstakes! 
Want to win a FREE Trip on THE POLAR EXPRESS for your family next holiday season?

One (1) Grand Prize winner will receive:

• Four tickets to ride THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride in gorgeous Durango, Colorado*
• Four round-trip airfare tickets
• Two nights in a hotel
• Four free ski lift tickets to Purgatory Resort
• A free signed copy of The Polar Express: 30th Anniversary Edition

Click HERE to enter! See official rules HERE.**

*Per Official Rules, one accompanying person to the Grand Prize winner must be a child under the age of 18. Official entrant must be over the age of 18. **Sweepstakes Runs October 15-December 31, 2015. Rules and Restrictions Apply. No Purchase Necessary.


Also, be sure to check out a rail event near you to ride The Polar Express for yourself! Ours is through Mt. Hood Railroad in Oregon.

You can also Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of The Polar Express by sharing a memory of the beloved holiday classic using #ReadandBelieve. For every post on Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr or Instagram made between October 15, 2015 and December 31, 2015, HMH will donate a copy of The Polar Express to Christmas in the City. Happy holidays!

Be Social:
You can connect with HMH Kids on Facebook, Pinterest and @HMHKids on Twitter.

BUY IT


DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received product for free to review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review. Affiliate links may be in this posting. Thanks for supporting my blog.

Merry Christmas, Splat ...and More Winter Stories: Scholastic Storybook Treasures DVD Review

I received this DVD for free to facilitate this review.

I love Scholastic Storybook Treasures! They take story books and bring them to life through animation. You can collect them all and even read along with the story on screen if you choose to.

Merry Christmas, Splat ...and More Winter Stories is a wonderful collection of 4 snowy stories that will be sure to warm your heart.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, SPLAT (Written and illustrated by Rob Scotton, narrated by John Keating) This is an adorable story of a cat named Splat who tries a little too hard to be good before Santa’s arrival so he can get what he wishes for most on Christmas day. Anyone who has ever been a child waiting for Christmas morning knows how much the excitement and anticipation sometimes get the best of us. This is a great story that is purrfect for all ages.

FLETCHER AND THE SNOWFLAKE CHRISTMAS (By Julia Rawlinson, illustrated by Tiphanie Beeke, narrated by Katherine Kellgren) It’s Christmas Eve and Fletcher the fox wonders how Santa will find the rabbits' new burrow because they have moved. His big heart will touch yours. I love the beautiful illustrations and gorgeous layout of words that this has.

SNOWFLAKE BENTLEY (By Jacqueline Briggs Martin, illustrated by Mary Azarian, narrated by Sean Astin) This is the story of Willie Bentley, who was a pioneering scientist who loved and learned all about snowflakes. I loved learning about this inquisitive boy who loved everything about the snow and wanted the world to see how beautiful snowflakes were. He was the first to capture snowflakes as photographs. This story makes you realize how big the world is in retrospect and how you need to slow down and take a closer look at it.

OWL MOON (Written and narrated by Jane Yolen, illustrated by John Schoenherr) This story is a wonderful story about a girl and her father as they search the moonlit woods for a Great Horned Owl. This being the girls first trip she is excited to say the least, but she remembers her fathers words that she should not make a sound while owling. This is a sweet bond of father and daughter relationships and a nature walk in the snowy night that will not soon be forgotten.

Bonus Features Behind-the-Scenes Look at Creating the Animation for Fletcher and the Snowflake Christmas; Read-Along. This DVD is Approx. 36 minutes + extras. Recommended for ages 3-7.

Download some fun free printables on PDF to go along with this DVD!

BUY IT
You can purchase the Scholastic Storybook Treasures Merry Christmas, Splat DVD on New Kideo for $14.95 as of this posting.

For more information on this title or any other Scholastic Storybook Treasures release, visit www.newkideo.com. Also, visit New Kideo, the online home for the DVD line, at their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/NewKideo

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received product for free to facilitate my review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review. 

The Magic Christmas Key Book and Santa's Magic Key Review and Giveaway

We received product free from Wendell August to facilitate this review. 

Have your kids ever asked you how Santa gets inside homes that don't have a chimney or fireplace? My littles have. I have always told them it is just magic and that I really didn't know anything more than that. I don't recall anywhere that we have lived with a chimney or fireplace. So these questions didn't really come as a surprise to me. Small children are inherently, naturally inquisitive.

Wendell August, the maker of heirloom-quality personalized metal gifts in the USA since 1923, is proud to bring the tradition of Santa's Magic Key to children across the globe.

More and more homes these days are being built without fireplaces and fireplaces are also being replaced with "more efficient" sources of heat. Where does that leave Santa then? For centuries he has used rooftops as landing places for his reindeer and sleigh. Chimneys and fireplaces were his primary transportation to the inside of homes to get gifts to the children. Santa has had to seek other options, get more creative with his methods, and call out some favors of his elves. This is why Santa's Magic Key was born.

Instructions: Hang Santa’s Magic Key on your front doorknob on Christmas Eve, enabling Santa to get inside your house when you don’t have a fireplace…the coals in the fire are too hot…or Santa has had a few too many Christmas cookies to fit down the chimney! When Santa has finished his Christmas Eve visit, he will place the key on your Christmas tree to be ready for next year.

To take the tradition even further, read the book about Santa's Magic Key, entitled "The Magic Christmas Key." It’s a story about a young boy named Andy, his trusty dog Rufus and his loveable family. He goes on a marvelous adventure that starts with the gift of Santa's Magic Key and ends with some sound advice from Santa himself.

"Santa's Magic Key is a special gift that can be passed down from generation to generation," says Will Knecht, President of Wendell August. "It’s a heartwarming family tradition that reminds us that 'All things are possible when you believe.'"

This book has beautiful illustrations and a heartwarming story that is filled with wonder. My children enjoyed looking at the pages and me reading the book to them. The story has lots of words and does take some time to read, so make it a point to have time set aside for the occasion. My littles delighted in the excitement and magic of Santa Clause and his magic key. This story captures child-like wonder beautifully and reminds me of The Polar Express book.

The key itself is hand cast by Old Forge Pewter with Santa's Magic Key engraved in scrolly letters on the bow part of the key. The key comes with a red ribbon to hang the key with. This is wonderful to be used with the book as a keepsake and ornament.

The Magic Key and book are sold separately or together. Santa's Magic Key is 5 ½" long and retails for $25. "The Magic Christmas Key," written by Leann Smith and illustrated by Kip Richmond, is a 10 x 10” hardcover book and is available with the Magic Key in a keepsake box. The book and Magic Key sold together retail for $39.

WIN IT
Prize: The Magic Christmas Key Book and Santa's Magic Key

I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received products for free to facilitate my review. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review. 

Try iCaughtSanta.com Free!

iCaughtSanta.com Abel Home Christmas 2012

Last year I surprised my kids by showing them a photograph of Santa, the large jolly man himself, in our living room by our small tree we had put up. My littles were asking me how I captured him there. I never told them my secret ;)

iCaughtSanta.com is a online website where you can add Santa or Rudolph to a family photo to create a cool Christmas eGreeting Card, share the image with friends and family, scrapbook it or use it to create a fun button photo for you to wear. You can even add Santa in front of your Christmas tree or Rudolph outside your house in the snow this year!

I had a lot of fun making the above image come to life with the provided Santa image they had for me. They have other ones you can choose from too. The favorite of most is the sleeping Santa. All you do is load your picture that you want to place Santa or Rudolph into, pick which image of Santa or Rudolph you want, and move them around until they are where you want them on the photo. So much fun!

To help celebrate their 5th year anniversary you can try it out for yourself for FREE with code #SantaShare and remember, it expires December 10, 2013 (you may use the code as many times as you want until then)!!

ENTER THE CONTEST
After creating your photo you can enter to win all sorts of prizes (iPad Air + Amazon, Visa or Starbucks Giftcards) with the iCaughtSanta.com 2013 Customer Appreciation Contest via Rafflecopter! Over $1,500 in prizes! Enter at http://www.iCaughtSanta.com

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I am posting about iCaughtSanta.com to let you know about the promotion. Thanks to USFamilyGuide.com for providing me this promotion information and free product code. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for posting this promo.

Polar Express Coming to Mount Hood Railroad

All Aboard! THE POLAR EXPRESS comes to life this holiday season as the Mt Hood Railroad rolls out of the station bound for the “North Pole!” Come early and climb aboard with your family to cozy-up and enjoy our festively-decorated vintage train cars. Dancing chefs deliver hot chocolate and a cookie to each guest to savor while music from the Polar Express movie plays en route to the North Pole. Make sure to have your tickets handy, because your conductor will be by shortly to punch each child’s ticket.

Before arriving at the North Pole, the iconic book, The Polar Express is read as your Chef turns the pages to share the beautiful illustrations in the original book. With the station far away, THE POLAR EXPRESS magically arrives at the outskirts of Santa’s North Pole village, where Santa Claus himself and his elves joyously welcome the train! As you stay comfortably settled and warm in your seat, Santa and his helper elf board the train! During the return trip, Santa will greet each child with his signature holiday spirit and the first gift of Christmas: a bell cut from his sleigh. It is said that only children and those who still believe can actually hear the bell ring. Join in the singing as your Chef or Conductor lead Christmas caroling on the 30-minute return trip.

For those wanting the magic to last or to do a little Christmas shopping, visit our gift shop in the station for special POLAR EXPRESS gifts and merchandise. Oh, one last thing, children are encouraged to wear their PJ’s; adults who still believe have been known to wear them, too! So, are you coming? All Aboard!

Dates and Times
Nov 9-10, 16-17, 22-24, 27, 29-30
Dec 1, 4-8, 11-15, 18-22, 26-29
11:30am, 2:00pm, 4:30pm, 7:00pm

110 Railroad Ave. Hood River, OR
https://www.mthoodrr.com/mt-hood-polar-express.html

All Aboard the Polar Express is coming to the Mt Hood Railroad, visit https://www.mthoodrr.com/mt-hood-polar-express.html or call 877-726-7245 to climb aboard.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER:
For my participation in this US Family Guide Promotion I will receive FOUR FREE coach seats valid weekdays in November.

Thanks to USFamilyGuide.com for providing me this promotion information and free product. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for posting this promo.

ReindeerCam, Track Santa With NORAD, Lighting of the National Christmas Tree, etc.

• ReindeerCam is a fun website that lets your little ones see Santa's reindeer. They can even see Santa feed the reindeer at 10 am EST and again at 5 pm EST. My kids love to watch them and so do I. They are adorable!

• Track where Santa goes during Christmas to deliver gifts with the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Volunteers at the Tracks Santa Operations Center in Colorado Springs are monitoring Jolly Old St. Nick's progress around the world since 1955. You can also track his journey with Google's Santa Tracker.

•  You can watch the lighting of the National Christmas Tree and see the White House Christmas Tree.
 

• At Elf Yourself you can magically transform yourself into a dancing elf :)

• Some families have adopted an Elf On The Shelf. The pose-able elf figurine watches over your kids in the day time and reports back to Santa at night whether they were naughty or nice. You hide it at night and have your children find it in the morning. You can also pose it in so many different ways before your kids wake up. Children love playing hide and seek with the elf and it is a great discipline tool for parents during the holiday for their kids.

• Get a FREE personalized video from Santa for your child at Portable North Pole.

What websites do you love to visit during the holidays?  

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I am posting about these fun websites because I love them and thought you might enjoy them too. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any compensation for posting about these.

iCaughtSanta.com 25% Off Offer

Imagine the look of wonder and surprise when a child receives a photo of Santa and Rudolph caught in the act in his or her very own home. iCaughtSanta.com is a unique website that helps visitors create those memorable keepsake photos.

In three simple steps anyone can upload a holiday photo, add Santa Claus or Rudolph and print it as proof… or share it via Facebook and Twitter. Last-minute shoppers can purchase Gift Cards and eGift Certificates for loved ones with children, making iCaughtSanta.com a great gift idea even if you don't have kids yourself.

And for even more holiday magic, iCaughtSanta.com is giving away 2 iPads! No purchase necessary. Enter here: www.iCaughtSanta.com/Contest

Eccentric Eclectic Woman Readers Get 25% off your entire order at icaughtsanta.com. Use the following Promo Code at checkout SANTA2012 to instantly save: #icaughtsanta

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Because I am posting about iCaughtSanta.com I am getting a FREE Photo with Santa in my home. Thanks to USFamilyGuide.com for providing me this promotion information and free product. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for posting this promo.

Letters From Santa At TheHolidayLetterShop.com 50% Off Offer

We have a great new promotion with The Holiday Letter Shop. See the joy on your child's face when they open up their personalized letter. Even the most skeptical child will be amazed. Or send a special message to to the special someone in your life. There are a variety of packages starting at just $9.95 all include a Personalized Letter and Nice List Certificate, some also include activity books, stickers, ornaments and other extras.

Eccentric Eclectic Woman Readers Get 50% off your entire order at theholidaylettershopcom. Use the following Promo Code at checkout SLUSFG to instantly save: #theholidaylettershop

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Because I am posting about TheHolidayLetterShop.com I am getting a FREE Letter From Santa for one child. Thanks to USFamilyGuide.com for providing me this promotion information and free product. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for posting this promo.

Polar Express with Mount Hood Railroad - Our Experience

On Wednesday, November 21 my children dawned their PJs and we headed out for the evening to go on our scenic journey towards Hood River, Oregon to go on the Polar Express at Mount Hood Railroad. We stopped along the way and a magnificent rainbow arched across the sky. We took highway 14 on the Washington side and I was sure glad we did because the scenic drive was so gorgeous. It was raining a lot though so I didn't get my camera out for most of it. We fist saw Cape Horn and it is pictured above. We also saw some absolutely breathtaking waterfalls along the Columbia River Gorge. We couldn't tell which ones we were seeing from the highway, but some of the waterfalls include: Latourell Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Wahkeena Falls, Horsetail Falls and Multnomah Falls. Even from the distance we were, they were all spectacular. We caught a glimpse of  Beacon Rock as we drove. It was large and it looked like it was cut out from the surrounding landscape. We also passed the Bonneville Dam which I also would have loved to see up close. Then we passed the Bridge of the Gods. The wind blown trees along the highway were one-sided because of the high amount of wind that goes through the valley, hence the name of the nearby river, Wind River. There is also a stretch of highway 14 that goes through a total of 5 tunnels that I counted located between Stevenson and White Salmon in the lovely valley of Skamania. Then we went over Spring Creek and I wish we could have stopped to go see the fish hatchery that was there.

We finally arrived at the toll bridge to Hood River, Oregon and went across. We arrived at the Mount Hood Railroad and got the tickets at the call desk. While we waited for the train to arrive we looked at the many items in the gift shop and display cabinets. Then it was time to board. As we were boarding we were greeted by the train chefs :) The last picture of the chef is our train car. Brian wanted me to take a picture of the train wheels because they looked neat.

We seated ourselves and put our coats and bags in the upper rack. We had coach seats and I guess they are more traditional like the seating you see in the Polar Express movie. The train car was decorated with nice Christmas garlands, lights, bows, and ornaments. It felt very festive.

As soon as all the passengers had boarded the conductor greeted each family and punched the Polar Express golden tickets we were given. He was punching them close to Delbin's head so he got some clippings in his hair.

Then we were underway on our ride to the North Pole. Shortly after we were moving we were served cookies on a napkin and hot chocolate in Styrofoam cups. I was expecting mugs and plates, but I guess this was coach, so not as fancy. I wish we had gotten carbohydrate information for Delbin (he has type 1 diabetes) ahead of time because it took forever for the servers to track any down. They do not have the nutritional information on their website and for those of us with diet restrictions this would be very helpful. They also almost forgot about giving us any refreshments after a while passed and we had to remind them. Unfortunately they didn't have any straws and I was ill equipped as well with no sippy cup for Zari. The cups were easily spilled in the hands of my toddler, so I tried to manage by letting her have a couple of sips here and there, but this was very tedious. At least the hot chocolate was not scalding.

As we got closer to our destination the Polar Express story was read to us. The reader stopped to show the pictures to us at every page turn which was nice. He also tried to put as much feeling into the reading as he could muster. I am sure reading the story over and over gets a little old after a while.

We were interrupted many times while on the train by a loud "bum", Hobo Jo, (one of the characters of the movie) that said crazy things and tweaked the kids' noses as he passed. He interacted well with the kids and was pretty funny to watch.

We finally got to the North Pole and were directed to look out the far window. The inside lights were fairly bright and since it was so dark outside by contrast we couldn't see much except for the Christmas lights and dancing shadows of the elves. I would have loved to see Santa's reindeer better that were looking at us from below. We never got off the train to actually see Santa's workshop and the North Pole like I thought we were going to do originally. I was also thinking that the display would be better seen in the dark and that was why I picked the 4:30pm departure time, but unfortunately that wasn't the case. They really need to have the outside display more lit up next year!

Then after we waited a bit Santa's elves and the jolly man himself joined us on board the train for a picture and gave my kids each a large bell like the one given in the movie. The Santa definitely looked the part with his real beard. The elves were dressed merrily, although my husband said that I would have made a better elf because of how short I am in comparison. Santa was definitely the best part of the whole train ride.

The trip was fairly short. It basically consisted of the ride to the North Pole and a reverse leg back on what I believed to be the same track. On the return leg of the trip we sang Christmas carols. Most of the passengers were trying to remember the words and it felt a bit awkward to be singing in front of strangers, but at least we were trying to make it heart felt.

Even with everything not going as I had hoped we enjoyed our first time on the Polar Express at Mount Hood Railroad. My children will treasure the bells that they received and remember this time we had as a family together. It was a nice retreat from everyday life.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER:
For my participation in the US Family Guide Polar Express Promotion I received 4 FREE coach seats valid weekdays in November and chose to buy 2 more for my girls to go also.

Thanks to USFamilyGuide.com for providing me this opportunity and Polar Express at Mount Hood Railroad for hosting it. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for posting this review.

Polar Express Coming to Mount Hood Railroad

All Aboard! The Polar Express comes to life this holiday season as the Mount Hood Railroad rolls out of the station bound for the "North Pole!" Come early and climb aboard with your family to cozy-up and enjoy our festively-decorated vintage train cars. Dancing chefs deliver hot chocolate and a cookie to each guest to savor while music from the Polar Express movie plays en route to the North Pole. Make sure to have your tickets handy, because your conductor will be by shortly to punch each child's ticket. Before arriving at the North Pole, the iconic book, The Polar Express is read as your Chef turns the pages to share the beautiful illustrations in the original book.

With the station far away, The Polar Express magically arrives at the outskirts of Santa's North Pole village, where Santa Claus himself and his elves joyously welcome the train! As you stay comfortably settled and warm in your seat, Santa and his helper elf board the train! During the return trip, Santa will greet each child with his signature holiday spirit and the first gift of Christmas: a bell cut from his sleigh. It is said that only children and those who still believe can actually hear the bell ring. Join in the singing as your Chef or Conductor lead Christmas caroling on the 30-minute return trip. For those wanting the magic to last or to do a little Christmas shopping, visit our gift shop in the station for special Polar Express gifts and merchandise. Oh, one last thing, children are encouraged to wear their PJ's; adults who still believe have been known to wear them, too! So, are you coming? All Aboard!

All Aboard the Polar Express is coming to the Mount Hood Railroad, visit http://www.mthoodrr.com/ or call 1-800-872-4661 to climb aboard.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER:
For my participation in this US Family Guide Promotion I will receive FOUR FREE coach seats valid weekdays in November.

Thanks to USFamilyGuide.com for providing me this promotion information and free product. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for posting this promo.