Critter Barn Living Nativity

December 7, 2011 By Big Binder Leave a Comment

Ever since we had such an awesome experience at the Critter Barn this summer, the kids have been asking to go back.  I have a few ‘field trips’ planned over Christmas Vacation and one of them is to see the Living Nativity there.  I have never seen a Live Nativity, but I am sure they will do it up right!  Unlike the original, the barn is heated.

It features sheep, goats and donkeys along with the sounds of Christmas carols and the Biblical account of the birth of Jesus Christ.   They also have large colored photos of the historical sites in Bethlehem and Galilee where Jesus was born and lived, and information is shared about shepherding and farming like it was 2000 years ago.

The hours of the Living Nativity are:

  • Monday through Thursday 9am to 5:30pm
  • Friday and Saturday 9am to 8pm
  • December 19 to 23 open every evening til 8pm

It runs from December 5 to 29, and it’s $5 per person, and $20 maximum per family.  I can’t wait!

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Sparta Celebrates Christmas

December 6, 2011 By Big Binder Leave a Comment

Sparta’s Old Fashioned Christmas really gets rolling tonight {Tuesday, December 6} at the Civic Center {75 North Union Street} from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, when you can have Supper With Santa.  $1.00 per person includes hot dogs and popcorn as well as photos with Santa, crafts, and cookie decorating.

Then on Thursday, December 8th from 6 pm – 8 pm it is Pet Night with Santa in the Santa House! Get a free photo with a pet food or cash donation to the Humane Society.

The Santa Train & Kids Parade is Saturday, December 10th.  Enter the free raffle to win a chance to ride with Mr. & Mrs. Claus in the kids parade. Santa Train arrives Saturday morning at 10:10 AM, then the Kids Parade to the Santa House starts after the Santa Train departs.  Santa Hours are 10:30 AM to noon.  Santa’s Reindeer are there from 9:00 AM to noon, and there are free horse and wagon rides from 11 am to 1 pm.

Also on Saturday, December 10th is the Round Again Elf Workshop.  From 10:00 AM to noon kids are welcome to stop by the Elf workshop to pick out and wrap a surprise gift for free!

Kids can also visit Santa in the Santa House {This is WAY BETTER THAN THE MALL!!} on at 94 North Union Street Saturday, December 17th from 10:00 AM to noon and again Thursday, December 22 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.

Saturday, December 24th fr0m6:00 PM  to 9:oo PM  there will be Horse Drawn Trolley Rides through Harper Drive in Sparta.  The loading zone and treats are at the Sparta Fire Department.

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December 10 Blandford Nature Center Homestead Holiday Festival

December 6, 2011 By Big Binder Leave a Comment

The Homestead Holiday Festival at Blandford is Saturday, December 10th from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. The cost is $5 per person, and you’ll be able to  sing carols on a horse drawn sleigh, make traditional holiday crafts, dip cookies in delicious hot chocolate, and much more.  All proceeds benefit Blandford Nature Center, which is a non-profit organizations.

If too much old timey-ness is getting to you, grab your smart phone and head out to the trail, where you can check out the cool new Blandford App!

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December 10 Lowes Build And Grow Lowes Train

December 6, 2011 By Big Binder Leave a Comment

Do your kids love Lowes Build and Grow clinics? Mine do! My husband is always to take them, being a man who always needs something or other from a home improvement store.

This Saturday, December 10 kids can make part two of the Lowes Train – the coal car.  Then next Saturday {December 10}, they’ll make the final part; the engine. Make sure you sign up and print off your registration; these clinics are very popular!

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Free Carriage Rides in Rockford December 8, 9, 15 & 16

December 6, 2011 By Big Binder Leave a Comment

Source:

The Rockford Chamber of Commerce offers free horse-drawn carriage rides from Grand Carriages each year so that visitors to Rockford may enjoy the sights and sounds of the beautifully decorated streets of the downtown area.

I love this! What a great way to go back in time, even if it’s just for a little while!

FREE carriage rides are available Thursday, December 8 from 5:30pm to Friday, December 9, 2011 8:30pm and again Thursday, December 15 from 5:30 PM to Friday December 16 to 8:30 PM.

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Ten Things I Need To Do Before VACATION!

December 5, 2011 By Big Binder Leave a Comment

Top Ten {Tuesday}
Yes, that’s right! We’re going on vacation and we have some things to do before we head out.   It helps me to have lists, so here are the Top Ten Things I Need To Do Before We Go On Vacation.

  1. Figure out how to pack the Ocean Question Box we made.
  2. Finalize boarding arrangements for my dog. I am not telling my husband, because it won’t occur to him until we are walking out the door that someone needs to watch her while we’re gone and he won’t want to pay boarding fees.  I am especially not telling him that I am paying extra to have her hair and nails done while she’s there.
  3. Do that mail and newspaper vacation stop thing.  I’m so glad I can do this online!
  4. Locate Redboxes near where we are staying. Check out a movie in the morning in one state, watch it on the plane, and return it at night in another! Why don’t they have Redboxes in airports??
  5. Add some more recipes to my Pinterest Vacation In The Keys board.  It was meant to be a menu planner because we are staying in a condo with a kitchen, but as of right now right now all we will be making is delicious, tropical drinks.
  6. Get exact directions to Publix. One thing I miss about living in the South is Publix, and I am going to shop there every day.  Twice, some days.
  7. Make sure the kids’ headphones for all electronic devices are working to keep them busy on the plane, and that everything has fresh batteries or is charged.
  8. Make sure I have Benadryl in case they are not.
  9. Dig through the stuff from our Honeymoon and try to find the name of that Cuban Sandwich place we loved so much, we ate there every day.  Twice, some days.
  10. Ooh! I almost forgot.  Cash in the salon gift card I got for my birthday and get a pedicure.  How sad that my dog’s pedicure occurred to me before my own.

What am I missing?

This post is linked up to Top Ten Tuesday at Oh! Amanda.

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Rosa Parks Circle Ice Skating Schedule -December 2 through March 4

December 5, 2011 By Big Binder Leave a Comment

Rosa Parks Skating Rink 1-6-09 3Photo:

Ice skating at Rosa Parks Circle started December 2 and goes through March 4!

Hours and times are:

  • Monday and Tuesday 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM
  • Wednesday and Thursday 12:00 noon to 9:30 PM
  • Friday and Saturday 12:00 noon to 10:00 PM
  • Sunday 12:00 noon to 9:30 from 12:00 noon to 10:00 PM

Extended hours during winter school break (December 18 to January 1); open from 12:00 noon to 10:00 PM.

Admission is $1.00 per person. Skates are free with ID. Call 616 831-2900 for more information.

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What’s Happening At The Library This Week

December 5, 2011 By Big Binder Leave a Comment

KENT DISTRICT LIBRARY

Dance Party

Join us for pure dancing fun as we rock out to tons of kid-friendly music! Burn off a little energy, have a lot of fun, and share special time with your child. Come and go as you please. For ages 6 and under.

Wednesday, December 7, 6:30 PM – Sand Lake branch

Holiday Gift Making

Don’t know what to get friends or family for the holidays? Make them something! They’ll be focusing on transforming ordinary craft supplies into beautiful works of art. For all ages.
Saturday, December 10, 10:00 AM – Alpine Township branch
Saturday, December 10, 10:30 AM – Alto branch

Be a Miner 49′er

Mosey on down to your library for some good, old-fashioned, Gold Rush inspired fun! Crafts, games and activities for all ages.
Monday, December 5, 10:30 AM – Alto branch

Gingerbread Lane

Take a stroll down Gingerbread Lane and enjoy some tasty gingerbread stories. Each child will make a simple gingerbread house. Registration is required and participation is limited. For all ages.

Wednesday, December 7, 10:00 AM – Caledonia branch
Thursday, December 8, 10:30 AM – Englehardt branch

Thursday, December 8, 6:30 PM – Spencer Township branch
Saturday, December 10, 10:00 AM – Plainfield Township branch

Saturday, December 10, 1:30 PM and 3 PM – Kentwood branch

The Reindeer Are Coming!

Traveling all the way from the North Pole (via the Rooftop Landing Reindeer Farms), live reindeer will be visiting the library. Dress warmly and don’t forget the camera! For all ages.

Thursday, December 8, 4:00 PM – Alto branch
Thursday, December 8, 6:30 PM – Comstock Park branch

Christmas with Santa

Visit Santa Claus, make a craft and enjoy treats at the library. Sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, the Lions Club and the Friends of the Sand Lake/Nelson Township Library. For all ages.

Saturday, December 10, 10:30 AM – Sand Lake branch

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Recipe Roundtable {Fresh Apple Cake}

December 4, 2011 By Big Binder 2 Comments

I mentioned this recipe before in my Designer Imposters post.  It tastes exactly like Tastefully Simple’s Nana’s Apple Cake; and since apples have been really inexpensive lately I am going to make it again!  It’s perfect for a brunch, or for desert on a rainy almost-winter day like today.

Fresh Apple Cake

Photo:

  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg or 1 teaspoon mace
  • 1 teaspoon ginger
  • 6 cups peeled diced tart apples

Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients and add to mixture. Stir in apples. Spoon into greased 11 x 13 pan. Bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes or until the toothpick comes out clean.  If desired, dust with powdered sugar.

This recipe is from Food.com

Recipe Roundtable is co-hosted by BigBinder and Sarah’s Deals. Each blog will host it’s own recipe, but share a common linky. The co-hostesses links will appear at the top of the list and you are welcome to join in. Please link to your ACTUAL POST and not just your home page so people can find it easier. Also please put the recipe title in parentheses to help out the other readers. Old recipe posts are fine. While we appreciate a link back or the addition of the button above, it is NOT required. Thank you for participating!

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Local Fun For Kids Friday {Make A Question Box!}

December 2, 2011 By Big Binder 2 Comments

We are terribly excited around here.  Thanks to an extremely generous family, we headed to Florida! The kids are very excited; they have never been to the ocean and know only the freshwater awesomeness of Lake Michigan.  Maybelle, like me, is afraid of anything that can both sting or bite AND swim, so she will stick with me on the shore while everyone else frolics in the salty water.

Naturally, I launched an extensive Homeschool Curriculum on Florida wildlife, flora and fauna, and the ocean. The kids came up with questions that we could ask tour guides or park rangers, and then thought it would be a good idea to put them into a “Question Box”.

I am so seriously uncrafty they had to come up with the whole thing.  They took felt and covered a Kleenex box, then I helped push some brads in to hold it in place.  I also bought them foam stickers, not realizing foam wouldn’t stick to felt very well.  Regardless, they did a fantastic job.

We haven’t decided yet who has to try and get through security with this as a carry on, but we’ll cross that metal detector when we get to it.

This is linked up to Local Fun For Kids Friday.  Go see what else is going on over there!

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