Win Before You Buy:

Enter to win one of (2) family 4- packs to the Ringling Bros. Circus

by posting "The Circus is coming to GR September 16-19 at the Van Andel Arena" as your facebook status

and leave a comment on the grkids.com Facebook page reporting that you did it.

Contest ends June 28 and winners will be notified via Facebook Message.

My daughter had never been to a dance class before last week.  She just turned 3, in case you were wondering.  Probably like most 3 year old girls out there, she loves princesses and dresses that twirl.  So when I told her that we were going to try "twirling" camp for a week so was beyond excited.

I was glad that Tianna from Integrity Dance in Byron Center chose to advertise her dance camps on grkids.com because that is how I learned about them!  We chose Tiny Twirls because it was one of the few classes that accepted 3 year olds.  Couple that with a grandma who was willing to help with logistics and we were ready to give it a shot.

Did I mention that my daughter is 3?  Well, I mean that in the fullest sense of the word.  Everything we do is dramatic, has to be done her way, and things that were once easy are now hard.  I literally had to dress her in the van the other day because she wouldn't cooperate inside the house!

Now picture this strong-willed child walking into her dance camp, lining up & participating, and having perfect manners for the next 90 minutes.  Wow!  That's a testimony to how engaging and well-organized the camp was!  The camp my daughter went to was structured in 3 segments: tap, devotions and crafts, and tap.  I thought it was a $65 well spent and we are considering signing her up for another camp this summer.

They offer classes for older dancers, too.  And it seems that boys get half off of their class fees as an incentive to get boys to dance.  If you want to know about specific offerings this summer, click here.

It was an unusual Father's Day... hubby, son and grandpa took off for a Tiger's Game.  That left me, due any second with our 3rd child, to entertain our 3 year old girl.  What to do?

The weather was beautiful.  The beach beckoned.  But which one?  I thought of driving out to Lake Michigan but didn't really want to make the commitment.  Millenium Park?  That might work but I thought it would be really busy on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.  Then I recalled Versluis Park in Plainfield township.  I had driven by a few times, but never visited myself.  It was about 15 minutes from our house and cost $8 for a vehicle to enter.  So it was settled...let's go!

Upon our arrival I was struck by the multitude of rules posted at the gate.  Here's a synopsis:

• No food on the beach (they don't want to encourage geese and ducks to hang out on the beach)
• No flotation devices (rafts, swimmies, etc), except for coast-guard approved life jackets
• No swim masks, flippers, snorkels, etc.  Goggles are okay as long as they don't cover the nose.
• Parents must be in the water with children under 10 years old.
• If you leave, you must pay to re-enter.

Now that we've got the rules and regs covered, let's talk about the fun stuff.

Versluis Park has 2 great playsets, one on the beach and one near a picnic area.

As far as facilities are concerned, there is a drinking fountain/shower/footwash as well as a basic bathroom area.  There is also a vending machine with pepsi products, but no food is for sale in the park.  If you plan on eating in the park, pack a picnic or hit McDonalds (just across the street) before you come in.  You may not walk out of the park and then return...foot traffic is not allowed.

Overall, we had a fun time.  I brought along a bucket and shovels and camp chairs and we stayed for about 2 hours.  The beach was full but not crowded.  The beach is not all that big, so be prepared to be close to other people while you play in the sand.  The water was clear and clean, although I did overhear other people talking about how it was covered in cottonwood just a few weeks earlier, so be aware of that possibility earlier in the season.

Prints and Printsess is excited to offer you the following Buy One Get One Promotions:

• Buy 1 print plaque, get one at 50% off.
• Buy 1 cookie plate or rectangle platter and get 1 plaque, plate, or mug for 50% off) 

Plus, don't forget that there is a Prints and Printsess Coupon available for you on grkids.com (click here).

You can also find additional offers/coupons on their website. or check them out on facebook as well.

Let me introduce you to a new business in town...Party Creations! 

Just as their name suggests, they create themed parties for you!  From princess to pirates to movie stars and more, they will help a busy parent have a great party with minimal work on your part.

Parties are 2 hours long and come with theme specific invitations, themed costumes for each child to wear, cupcakes with punch, a birthday party picture for the guest of honor, thank-you cards for gifts and goodie bags for all kids.

And for a few weeks this summer, Party Creations is running special events so you can come on in a check out the facility even if you aren't having a party.  This Thursday, June 17 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm they are having a TEA PARTY: Dress up in costumes, learn tea party etiquette, play games, enjoy "pink lemonade" tea and snacks at the party.

Thursday, June 24 is a Hawaiian Luau, from 6 - 8:30pm.  Expect to learn to hula, wear grass skirts, play games and have summertime fun.

Both events are $10/person.

Finally, Party Creations offers customized gift baskets for every type of occasion.  Check out their online gallery here.

If you want to know more, contact Kristin or Ken at (616) 261-2500

We've written about Frederik Meijer Gardens many times on grkids.com because it is a fabulous place to take your family any time of the year.  From the butterflies in spring, to the concerts and children's garden in the summer, to the Christmas trees in December, there is always something to do and look at for all ages.

We are pleased that Captured In Clay is giving away a Family Membership to Meijer Gardens for a grkids.com user!

Captured In Clay is the company started by Deana Brownlow in 2002.  Her goal is to help you capture the memories of your children while they are small by preserving hand and foot impressions in unique clay tiles.  Her website has a multitude of samples and options for you to peruse.  And, as always, you can schedule an appointment with her by calling 616.949.9781 or emailing here.

To enter to win the Meijer Gardens Membership from Captured in Clay, you will need to visit Captured In Clay's facebook page (click here.)  Once there, click that you "like" the page, and leave a message on Captured in Clay's Wall that you like the page and what your favorite product is.

If you want a second chance at entering the contest, "suggest the page to friends" and leave a comment on Captured In Clay's wall telling us how many friends you suggested the page to.

Good luck!

You have until June 21 to enter this contest.

There is no need to leave a comment on the grkids.com blog for this contest