The Mini-Van Express

This Christmas we added a new tradition!  Cause that’s all we need, right…something MORE in the midst of the “more-est” holiday of the year!  Mark and I got to thinking and we want to bring back “old-school” memories.  We do pretty much plant ourselves cuddled up on the couch every night with a Christmas movie and some goodies but even that gets tiring. 

                I remember as a child driving around looking at houses all dressed up for Christmas.  Dad would play Christmas music and we had to drive passed the same houses year after year.  As a child I can say I remember thinking this was silly, but looking back on those rides as a parent I am so glad they happened.  It was dad’s way of making it special, different, & fun.  Today I can hear Sandi Patti’s The Gift Goes On and I am back in the car singing with mom and dad while we drove around looking at these houses!

                I came across someone else’s tradition who took it from the Polar Express Movie.  I wish I could claim it as all my own idea, but I can’t.  What I can say is that it’s started a very fun family tradition!

                I printed out golden tickets and laminated them.  They are tickets to ride ‘The MiniVan Express’  We popped popcorn and made some hot chocolate and put them in sippy cups on each child’s seat in the van.  The tickets were placed under each child’s pillow.  We told the kids that they were in for a fun family night which was translated to them to be a fun Christmas movie night so they were excited.   We invited my parents over for an impromptu to chili dinner and a very short – KungFu Christmas movie and then they were off to bed. 

                Now go back a little.  Knowing my kids I was pretty certain that they wouldn't find these tickets.  My kids aren't pillow huggers.  But Keegan had a super loose tooth and a determined mom and dad.  So dad using pliers got that baby out (it didn't hurt Keegan…it truly was ready to come out).  This was perfect I knew once Keeg put his tooth under his pillow it would all happen!

                Mom and dad went upstairs with Mark to ‘tuck’ the kids in bed.  Ella and Grissom both got into bed before Keegan and sure enough neither of them found their tickets.  So once Keegan did all excitement broke free!  Keegan starts screaming that he’d won the golden ticket!  He yelled at the other kids I found it under my pillow but I don’t know what it means!  Ella then found hers and Grissom soon after.  I was waiting downstairs with my hole puncher!  Ella made everyone stop so she could read the ticket and said We get to ride the MiniVan Express!!?!  They came running downstairs to show me but I was in character.  I took each ticket and punched it with my hole puncher and told the kids to stand in line.  I marched them around the house while mom & dad got out to their car.  Then we marched IN OUR JAMMIES out to the garage where I placed each child’s robe on and put on their buckles!  The giggles were constant and you could feel their excitement!  After all the kids were seated they also were given a blanket.  Their winter coats where tucked under their seats.

                We drove through the neighborhood looking at lights and we listened to The Polar Express book on CD.  We headed over to a few houses that we knew were all dressed up for Christmas.  We sat and listened to a special radio station at an over the top home on the southside of Brownsburg while we ate our popcorn.  Then we headed downtown to the circle to see those lights, but most importantly to mail the kids’ Christmas letters to Santa!  We were able to park on the circle without a problem or a penny.  We mailed our letters then walked to the exact place where Mark proposed to me.  Mark role played it of course.  How funny!  I’m quickly reminded of all the places mom and dad took us as kids as they went back in time…over and over and over…so many times that to this day I can tell you just where mom went to prom!! Ha!!  It makes me laugh to think we’d just started that same thing with our kids.  I’m now looking forward to the day that we go back after many times and the kids all roll their eyes and say…”Yea, we know…blah, blah, blah…this is where dad asked you to marry him…!!” 

                We walked to the large manger scene that was on the circle and I am taken back to the many freezing cold nights that we were out walking around the circle looking at the same scene as a little girl.  I remember one year being carried all bundled up in a blanket!  A sweet lady came out of the building next to the church to take our whole family’s picture!  Which made this night great for me cause that is proof Mark and I were both there! 

                After this we got back into the van and headed home.  It was only about 9:40 and the kids were asleep before we even reached home…what a memory!

                Did I mention that at least 2 dozen times outta the blue Grissom would scream at the top of his little lungs, “This is the best night EVER!!!!!”

                That next morning we were all pretty tired, but the kids all wanted to write about their night so they wouldn't forget it!  Finally I've got a tradition that is new and a fresh one that I didn't do as a child, and one that doesn't cost but a little bit of gas.  I am pleased and excited to say this year has been fabulous!  I’m feeling more and more like our family is starting to get back into the life we've wanted.

                 We may never have money, we may never get to do or have all the things we want.  But I’m ok with that (at least right now) because things aren't eternal…they come and go, but we are making memories and I think memories could be eternal!

Merry Christmas!