Tag: Halloween
Best Decorated Halloween Homes 2015
We do this every few years and take pics of some of our favorite Halloween homes. All of these are a few blocks from James and all are unique in one way or another. There are many many more decorated homes but we only have space to put up a few of our favorites. These homes look very good in the daylight so you have to assume they look great at night. The neighborhood we live in has always been very active in decorating for every Holiday, guess we are just lucky. One of our favorites is the skeleton tree where all the skeletons are made out of gallon milk jugs.
James Halloween Party 2015
James had his annual Halloween party and everyone had a wonderful time. Its really hard to believe that this is his fifth year of doing this, and he (or should I say “we”) are still having fun. This year we had plenty of crafts for the kids, and also a few jokes and magic effects. We often say this isn’t really a party, more of a get together or open house since we don’t have any scheduled events or anything like that. Folks can stop in from 2pm till 7pm to say hi and can stay for a few minute or a few hours, whatever their schedule allows. James is very thankful to all who did attend and plans to have his 2016 Halloween Party on Oct 22nd, 2016.
Please note that the video below is a multiple video playlist, to play from the beginning simply click play, to view the list and jump around click the upper left corner of the playlist with the three horizontal lines.
Trick or Treat 2014
Trick or Treat finally arrived for a very anxious James who only had a half a day of school this day and by the time 6pm came he was ready to go.
James went down Tulane to Dartmouth, then Vassar to Annapolis and back before making his first candy deposit. He then went down Tulane to Annapolis and back for his second deposit, and finally Parker and into Dearborn for his third.
For the third year in a row the weather did not cooperate and we could not put up the inflatables. Always a bummer until Trick or Treat ends then you are glad you don’t have to mess with them at 9pm.
James did a cute pumpkin that was angry birds on one side and pig king on the other. A great day despite the weather (and yes, there were a few white flakes).
Halloween at Greenfield Village 2014
After a thrilling Lion victory in England, we decided to celebrate by going to Greenfield Village and enjoying another beautiful autumn day. For the second straight day the temperatures were in the mid sixties and it was bright and sunny.
Greenfield Village was lined with pumpkins and various Halloween decorations, perhaps the best example of this was the band stand and a graveyard by the Church. There were plenty of witch items and even a creepy woods for visitors to enjoy as they passed through various creepy things. James played a bit in the new playground and enjoyed visiting the lake with all the ducks. He also met one of his teachers from Hoover Elementary while he was at the Village, a small world indeed.
Halloween at Frankenmuth 2014
In what many expect to be the last really nice weekend of the year, we decided to visit Frankenmuth during the heart of the Halloween season and see what its like. James was able to participate in some very unique Halloween activities including pumpkin bowling (he threw a spare), exploring through a hay maze, and a pumpkin catapult. We then ate dinner at the Bavarian Inn and then explored Bronners. We finished up the day at a couple antique stores where we picked up a couple Halloween cookie jars at less than half price (which we added to our Halloween cookie jar shelf in the basement) and a Halloween blow mold of a ghost coming out of a pumpkin which we added to our Halloween display.
What a great atmosphere they have in Frankenmuth, so much to do and best of all most of the really fun stuff is free or very inexpensive. Very creative in this city, their chamber of commerce should be proud at how well all the businesses work together to put on a great show. All in all a great “summerish” day in late October.
James Halloween Party 2014
James held his fourth Halloween party for his friends, this time students from his new “middle” school attended as well as the elementary school. James was much more involved in this years party in everything from the planning and decorations to the beverages that were served. James had several highlights including playing UNO with his teacher and seeing both his new teachers and his past teachers. The costume of choice for the kids seemed to be Mario Brothers and Mom got several compliments on her pumpkin cake. The favorite decoration seemed to be the Exorcist although the graveyard and pumpkin bar got several compliments as well.
All in all a great day! James says next years party will be October 10th.
Please note that the video below is a multiple video playlist, to play from the beginning simply click play, to view the list and jump around click the upper left corner of the playlist with the three horizontal lines.
Haunted Garage Sale 2014
We have had much success the past few years picking up Halloween items at garage sales and such. Finally we made it to the ultimate garage sale, the Haunted Garage Sale held annually in Belleville Michigan on the County Fair Grounds. Mary found out about this through a friend on FaceBook and as it turns out this was the 13th annual time they had this event which really surprises me that no one in this family found out about it until this year.
Plenty of surprises and fun, the event was free to attend and I would suggest this to any Halloween enthusiast if for nothing else than to get some fresh ideas.
After Halloween Sale 2013
As I am sure it has been pointed out before on this blog, Dad get his Christmas and Birthday gift from Mom each year Nov 1, a shopping spree consisting of Kmart, Walmart, Joanns, and Spirit Halloween. This year was no exception, best deals we found were 70% off, but the rest was 50% off. However I think the best deal was the T-shirts, which were only a couple dollars each.
It may take a little longer to get decorations this way, but if you pack them away then open them a year later, its no different than if you bought them just then, this way you save a ton.
This year James got to join in on the fun as he was off from school for scheduled school admin stuff, so he picked out a few things as well including an Angry Bird Pig pumpkin carving set (you stick the parts into the pumpkin and you are done, no muss, no fuss).
After shopping Mom took the family out to Big Boy for the breakfast bar, a great day with lots of great values.
Hoover Elementary Halloween Parade 2013
Not the best conditions for a parade as it rained all day on Halloween. The parade was originally planned to go around the block but because of the poor conditions they only had the kids march around the school. Lots of great costumes despite the weather conditions. Speaking of weather, James decided on his costume a couple days before the event, he wanted to go not as a monster or politician or celebrity, but as a weather man. We made up a thunderstorm weatherman outfit for him with raindrops falling from the umbrella (as if we needed them today) and a thunderstorm cloud as well. Due to the weather it worked out well as he was dressed head to toe in wet weather gear, simulating a weatherman broadcasting from a hurricane area.
