The Minivan Express

As part of our 25 Days of Christmas Magic, Saul and I planned to surprise the kids with a special trip on the “Minivan Express”.  It took a bit of planning ahead, but this new family tradition is so much fun.  The idea is similar to the famous Christmas book, The Polar Express, where the children get to ride a special train on it’s way to the North Pole.  On their way, they get to sip the worlds best Hot Cocoa, and re-kindle their belief in the magic of Christmas.


First, Olivia helped me make Christmas Trail Mix  while the older kids were at HSA.  This was the perfect snack for our ride!

 

Christmas Trail Mix:

4 cups Golden Grahams Cereal

3 cups mini marshmallows

1 cup chocolate chips

1 cup mini M & M’s

 

Then she helped me fill up ziploc bags with the mix.  I  stapled some scrapbook paper to the tops of the bags, and then added a label on top of that.

Print your own label here.

 

Our evening routine was pretty normal, except when we asked the kids to go get in bed, they found the tickets to the Minivan Express on their beds!  I saved the ones that I made last year and punched another hole in them for this years ride. 

Won’t it be fun to use these over and over through the years?



They each grabbed a cup of homemade Hot Cocoa and a bag of Christmas trail mix and off we went….





…..to see Santa!















Isaac and Nate both asked for Legos, Elaina asked for a princess Leapster game, and Olivia asked for pie.  Santa chuckled at that.  Yes…pie sounds good!





We drove around and admired the Christmas Lights after that.
  


What a fun and special evening!

Click here to see our ride on the Minivan Express last year.