Polar Express

So if you have anything left after the economy tanked and haven't settled on a charity this year, consider the USO. I want to tell you what an awesome day we had.

This morning, we went out to the Metrolink at Scott AFB where some USO members gave us free Metro tickets. We took the train to Union Station where more USO people greeted us and got us registered for the day's events. We went upstairs where the USO was providing danishes, muffins, orange juice, water, and coffee, oh, and big christmas tree sugar cookies. After a quick breakfast, we went downstairs to see Santa. We also got to visit Santa's Toy shop where the kids got to pick out a toy, and also Santa's Movieland, where each got to pick a DVD. Nathan got a 3 pack of construction trucks and the Muppets Wizard of Oz movie, and Abby got a stuff it yourself mini Buildabear and choice of outfit, and she picked Disney Princess Party for her DVD. They gave us big people a CD of christmas music by Mannheim Steamroller.

Then I did a quick bit of shopping while Sean took the kids to Santa's craft area, where they got their faces painted and got to write and mail a letter to Santa (just in case he forgot?)

Everything was completely free for active duty military and their dependents. What an amazing event. It is hard to describe how NICE it feels to know people care about the soldiers and their families.

We got to ride the train back and Nathan loved that. Abby and I were talking about how it was just like the Polar Express movie, but they didn't hand out jingle bells.