Let's sum up

Caution! The following post is somewhat long and slightly tainted with self-pity.

Two weeks ago we set out on an experience to remember.
I spent way too much for tickets to the Polar Express train ride out in Hood River. I bought a month ago and they are completely sold out for the season. Henry has been VERY anxious to go and ride on a "real" train and talk to Santa Claus about his wish list. On Monday night DL has the realization that he has HUGE meeting a work. People coming in from 4 states and a big dinner afterward. Basically there is no way that he could ditch out early. Henry lays on the guilt trip by saying, "But we were supposed to go as a FAMILY."
We were all disappointed but there are no refunds and no way to switch tickets for another night, so off we went. We should have left earlier, but Calvin woke up later than I though and I wasn't paying attention to the time. We head out of town and then I realize that the kids have to eat before we get there or else they won't have dinner until 8 pm. I stop at McDonald's. (We don't go there often, but let's face it, sometimes the plain cheeseburger just brings back fond childhood memories. ) We try to pay with a gift card and they were having trouble getting it to work. I kept saying, "Don't worry, I'll just pay." But they were determined. 10 minutes tick by. Now we are VERY late.
I head out to pick up the freeway. The on ramp is not where I thought it was. A few minutes of panic. We are on our way, and then hit traffic. I realize that Hood River is 60 miles outside of Portland , not out of our hometown. Add another 15 miles for that. So another wave of panic. I call the train depot. They say they will hold the train for 15 minutes, but that's it. Now I am driving way too fast on somewhat icy roads, trying to explain to Henry that we might not make it. He tries to be brave about it.
The train is supposed to leave at 5:30. I call at 5:30 and tell them I am 2 exits away. They wait for us. We race to the train, almost slipping and killing ourselves on the ice. I get settled and realize that we are supposed to have 2 more seats. I had to pay for them even though we didn't use them. Luckily, the conductor came by and fixed that for us. He turned some seats around and we were MUCH more comfortable.
At this point Henry tells me his stomach hurts and he feels sick. Great. I give him some pretzels and tell him to take his coat off. Calvin begins to yell, "Choo Choo!" People start looking.
Henry now feels better, but Calvin really just wants to run up and down the train car, and I can't really blame him. He has energy to burn.
Finally the hot chocolate comes out and the cookies, that really taste homemade. Henry is happy, Calvin is still crazy. We slowly pull up to the North Pole. Looking out our window we see Santa and his singing elves waving at us in the snow. The jolly fellow boards the train and off we go again. Santa makes his way to each seat, visiting with each child and giving them special bell. (Very nice touch.) He gets to our spot and the batteries die on my camera! Of course I have no spare and I can't seem to figure out how to work my camera phone, so I decide to do this the old fashioned way and sit back and enjoy the moment, sans technology. It was actually pretty nice. Of course, Calvin is scared to death.
We finally make it back to the depot, go to the bathroom and head back across the icy death trap of a parking lot to our car. Calvin REFUSES to wear a jacket so he is crying and yelling "Cold!" while everyone looks at me in confusion. We head out and stop to get gas, because at this point we are really riding on fumes. The attendant who pumps our gas (I am SO glad that I live in Oregon! No more pumping my own gas.) tells us that the road condition are bad all the way back and that there have been storm warnings all evening. Great! Even a fun trip home.
I drive home cautiously, convinced I am going to slide on black ice and end up in the Columbia River trying to save my children in icy water. We encounter no bad conditions, I curse the gas station attendant for freaking me out and then get home, head into the bath and leave the kids for David to put to bed.
Henry did make me feel better after all was said and done. He had such a great time and on the way home he said, "I am going to save my bell and give it to Dad, since he couldn't come."
*Note for next year* Save my money and go to Zoolights instead.