Every year during the holiday season, we visit the Rotary of Lights display in downtown La Crosse.

It’s one of our traditions!

This year Blake and I decided to surprise the kiddos with a Christmas celebration evening – and would not tell them what we were going to do.

We planned to eat dinner out before we drove through the lights display!

It was a great idea that the kiddos LOVED!

I headed to town with a van full of children who were guessing and guessing as they wondered where we were going!

We met Grant and Blake at the HuHot Chinese restaurant, and the kids were SO excited!

We NEVER eat out – so this was a great surprise for them!

This restaurant is a great gluten-free place to eat as they serve whole foods and healthy choices!

They were very accommodating to our needs.

It was so sweet to see everyone enjoy their meal so much!

Especially this one!

Who used the chop sticks so skillfully it was like he has been using them everyday!

I even enjoyed some meat and veggies cooked in garlic broth!

I wonder if they will catch on to the cauliflower rice trend sometime soon?

After dinner we headed to the Rotary of Lights!

First we ditched two of our vehicles in a parking lot and all squished in the van!

I think the children are going to hold us to this new twist to an old tradition!

It was SO yummy!

And it was an experience had, a memory made, with hearts connected!!

A perfect Christmas celebration!