What a treat! Enter this contest and win a pack of (4) tickets to Meijer Gardens, a very magical place to be at the Holidays, with more than 40 captivating international trees and displays, strolling carolers, horse-drawn carriage rides and more surprises than can fit under the tree. The Gardens Holiday Express train exhibit, a holiday favorite designed by railway garden designer Paul Busse, winds its way through three separate indoor gardens. Their exhibit, Christmas and Holiday Traditions Around the World runs from November 18 - January 10. Some of the highlights include:
To enter to win, leave a comment on the blog describing your favorite family holiday tradition. The lucky winner will be chosen by random drawing on Monday, November 23. Good luck! And Happy memories this holiday season! CommentsMarci Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:12:56 Our favorite holiday tradition is decorating the tree and house the day after Thanksgiving. We have a 12 foot tree, so once it's up, the boys' eyes just light up. Plus we have an ornament with a running train and our 2 year old could sit for hours watching it. Kim Roon Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:16:27 Our favorite tradition is having a fondue dinner on Christmas eve before exchanging gifts. Lindsey Kallemeyn Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:38:31 Our favorite family tradition is baking pies for our family gatherings :-) Cindy Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:26:10 Our children's ages range from 25 to 6 and one of our favorite traditions for all our age groups takes place after our Christmas dinner. My husband and I buy an ornament for each child that represents something important that happened/was experienced by that child during the year. They look forward to it with great anticipation for not only themselves but for their siblings as well! The blessings continue as we trim the tree each year and remember our adventures/our past moments...the joy and laughter fill our house...now our married children are continuing this tradition for their families. One key: keep a record of the ornaments and the significance of them :-) Laura Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:58:35 Our family tradition is for my child to receive a new ornament to add to the tree the evening of our decorating. She is so excited to see what new ornament she gets this year. Sara Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:07:15 My favorite tradition is picking out ornaments for the kids. They'll have a good stock once they grow up and get married and start their own Christmas tree. Kate Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:17:21 Our favorite family tradition (so far) is going out at the beginning of Dec and cutting down a 10-12 foot Christmas tree. Pat Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:32:56 In early December we have a cookie baking day on a Saturday. It seems to set the tone for the season and gets us all in the christmas spirit. Marianne Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:56:10 Maryann Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:34:49 Walking (hopefully through the snow) to a neighbor's home we have dubbed "Small World" Their entire huge yard is filled with kiddy decor, lights, animation, music,etc. The whole family Erin R. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:00:17 One of our favorite traditions is a big Christmas Eve party for family and friends each year, then heading to the candelight Christmas Eve Service after the party. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:00:36 In the weeks proceeding Christmas, we have a gingerbread house decorating party. Its a tradition that my parents started when I was little and now I carry it on with my own family. We invite a different family each year for dinner and decorating. Candy, frosting, and fellowship. My kids look forward to it every year! Crystal Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:16:19 Our favorite holiday tradition is going to Bronner's to see the Christmas wonderland and visit Santa. Our girls' Nana and Papa, as well as cousins come too...afterward we always go to lunch. Heather Hollander Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:40:40 Favorite holiday tradition is driving around at night to see all the houses that are lit up. The kids love the lights and are so excited if they even see a front porch light on. I just can't get enough of the happiness that they have for it. Andrea Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:13:19 Our favorite holiday tradition is driving through East Grand Rapids on Christmas Eve to see the bags that are lit up and lining the streets. Then we're off to a Candlelight service. Laura B Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:13:34 Our favorite family tradition is going to church on Christmas Eve, then driving around to admire Christmas lights. Liz W. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:18:08 Our favorite holiday tradition and spending time with family. Sharon A Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:44:31 We take an evening to drive around looking at Christmas light displays around the city, just like my mom and dad did with us when we were kids. Lisa H Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:53:47 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:01:04 Our family tradition is to have an extended family dinner with the whole family.We love to sit around the table after dinner and talk about all the funny things that happen at the last dinner. Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:57:33 Our favorite tradition is setting up the Christmas tree and going through all of the ornaments. My 3 year old loves picking the ornaments that go on the tree and also, setting up her own pink tree in her room with her fairy ornaments. Paula Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:52:50 Our favorite tradition is finding a place in the woods on Christmas Eve, having a fire, roasting marshmallows and drinking hot chocolate while talking about the true meaning of Christmas. Tinnille Hoffman Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:54:27 My favorite Christmas tradition is decorating Christmas cookies with my three daughters. My Mom and I make the same Anise Cookies her Mom made for her and that she made for me when I was younger. My daughters love decorating the cookies with Mom and Grandma every year. Amanda Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:53:37 When my brother and I were younger our favorite tradition was to exchange our presents to one another on Christmas Eve before heading to bed. We were able to enjoy each other and the thought that we had each put into the present for the other. Now that I have a daughter and son of my own we have started the same tradition with them so that they can build their own special bond and tradition with one another. Natasha Ohlman Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:58:45 This was a tradition that my mom started when I was a child and I have passed it on to my own. Every year each family member receives an ornament that reflects something significant to that individual from the past year (a sport, riding the bus for the first time, a trip, new hobby, milestones, etc.). Then when they leave home they have a collection of nostalgic ornaments to begin decorating their own tree with. My oldest is 18 and will soon be taking his box with him, my youngest 18 months...a few more years of searching for just the right ornament:) megan Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:17:16 Our favorite holiday tradition is spending Christmas Eve at my Grandparents house then going to my parents to spend the night. In the morning, we all get up and open presents and have a lovely Christmas brunch. Then we head over to my in-laws for Christmas. Carinn Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:18:25 Our family is young and still making our own traditions, so far my favorite family tradition is that on Christmas morning we make spiced cider to go with our big breakfast. It's so tasty and makes the whole house smell of "Christmas". Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:43:20 My favorite family tradition is spending the night at my folks house with our little, new family and running downstairs in the morning to open the gifts. Just like it used to be when I lived at home and I was the "child" opening the gifts on Christmas morning! Jaime Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:07:14 Our favorite Holiday tradition is hanging a pickle ornament in the trees outside. If you find the pickle ornament you get a special treat! Rebecca Geysbeek Sat, 14 Nov 2009 06:06:24 My favorite holiday tradition is our family "tree day". This is the way we kick off the season. The first Saturday of the month of December we head out to a local tree farm and cut down our tree. There are sleigh rides and hot chocolate which make it so fun. Then we are off for lunch and a stroll around downtown rockford to take in all decorations. Then it is back home to watch Bing Crosby's white Christmas while we trim the tree. Becky Sat, 14 Nov 2009 06:09:41 I think my favorite holiday tradition is the boobie prize that my mother puts together each year for the grandkids. The prize sometimes is something really really great - or sometimes it happens to be something really funny. But the grandkids really enjoy this tradition. Cristina Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:54:01 The kids favorite Christmas tradition is decorating the tree and then putting their "ride on" train around it so they can ride around the Christmas tree. Meredith Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:37:50 Our family tradition is having a gingerbread house decorating contest! tracy Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:50:21 our family tradition is decorating the tree and then getting Elfie out....elf on a shelf. Every morning until Christmas the kids look for his new spot. Kelly B Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:50:54 Our family tradition is baking special cupcakes for Santa on Christmas Eve. We save one cupcake for that night to put a candle on and all of us sing Happy Birthday to Jesus. So, we can keep the true meaning of Christmas alive. Shirley Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:04:20 Driving around looking at Christmas lights with the kids. Jana K Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:10:47 We love to go to the Tree Farm and pick out the perfect Christmas tree, enjoy hot cocoa and ride the wagons around the farm. Sarah G. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:09:34 My family has so many wonderful Holiday Traditions! The one I love the most..is when we all pack into the car and drive to the White Caps parking lot to drive through the lights! After we stop for hot chocolate and then do some caroling! Paula Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:28:09 My family has collected many Christmas and holiday CDs over the years. Starting Dec. 1, we take turns picking a CD to play during dinner each night so we can enjoy the music together as a family. We each have our favorites but it's a great way to share the Christmas spirit together and it's fun to see what each person picks! Stephanie Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:17:42 One of our favorite traditions is selecting the Christmas tree after Thanksgiving. We love to watch "Dad" cut it down...that's quite a feat! Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:28:24 Our favorite Holiday Tradition is to take the kids out the first weekend in December to cut down our tree. Christmas day is usually busy with family so we take this first weekend to be together as a family, open a gift or two, order pizza and have lots of hot cocoa! Willow Cramer Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:30:45 Our favorite holiday tradition is making a birthday cake for Jesus and singing happy birthday to Jesus on Christmas day so we don't forget the real reason for the season!! w] Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:31:58 Heather Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:07:15 Our favorite holiday family tradition is each year right before Christmas, we decorate an ornament to hang on our tree. It is fun to look back and see ornaments that my kids finger painted when they were only 1! Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:22:16 Thanks for your wonderful comments. The winner of the family pack of 4 passes to Meijer Gardens is Cristina. Enjoy, and hope you all make it out to see the trains and other neat things at Meijer Gardens this year! Leave a Reply | Welcome!This blog is a place to share the ways we spend our time with kids. A pleasant experience should not be wasted! Where did you go, what did you do, how was it? We all want to know. I will be documenting the things that I do with my two kids,6 & 3 and I'll be sure to add in a little commentary along the way. Go Ahead! Grab My Button!
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