Halloween 2012 edition
Posted by Michelle on Dec 3, 2012 in Hayley
Halloween
Posted by Michelle on Nov 7, 2011 in Hayley
What a Halloween scene! The highlight was hitting the insane haunted house in Snow Camp, the Original Hollywood Horror Show. As most of you know, we are horror nuts and love to be scared. So we made the hour drive to be scared out of our minds in the best haunted house around. It was well worth the drive! The bonus of the night was the site was a shoot for a vampire movie earlier in the week and some of the actors hung around – including Michael Welch (Mike Newton in Twilight!!) and Johnny Pacar (Damon in Make it or Break it and Jackson in Flight 29 Down). OMG – an actor from Twilight (he’s the local guy from town who asks Bella out early on and stays her friend) and Johnny Pacar… Hayley has loved both of his tv shows. Johnny hugged her and she swore she wouldn’t wash it for weeks.
The guys were hysterical hams before the haunted house
and great with Hayley
What a messy Halloween – it rained when we went pumpkin picking and rained all Halloween. Didn’t stop the girls from going out for candy of course. Hayley’s friend Mia came over again and Mason went with them on their candy run.
Picking pumpkins
Tired post-trick or treating
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Amazing night!
Posted by Michelle on Oct 15, 2011 in Hayley
Hayley with Michael Welch (Mike Newton in Twilight) and Johnny Pacar (Damon from Make it or Break it and Jackson from Flight 29 Down)
Halloween 2010
Posted by Michelle on Nov 6, 2010 in Hayley, Jeff, Michelle
Know how you can tell Hayley is getting older? Less photos. She went to a costume party as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz on Friday night and I got no photos. Then on Halloween she had her friend Mia come over to trick or treat, I got one photo and *poof* they were off into the night.
The Hippie and Skeleton Witch
Although, we did do tons of fun Halloween stuff this year. Since we all loved to be scared silly, we watched stacks of horror movies and went to haunted houses. Jeff and Hayley went to a scary night time corn maze and got so spooked, she fell over and took him with her – haha. Then we did the Clayton Fear Farm, the hayride was lots of fun. Lordy this child loves anything scary and yes we’ve relented finally on some of her horror movie requests – still no extreme gore tho. Thank goodness Halloween is my favorite holiday!
Busch Gardens trip
Posted by Michelle on Oct 17, 2010 in Hayley, Michelle
We headed to Williamsburg and spent a few days at Busch Gardens with my friend Nicole and her son Mason. We both remember going as kids and thought it would be a fun trip to do together since Mason is now in a year round school down in Wilmington. Halloween at Busch Gardens was fantastic – thank goodness we went up Thursday night so we hit it Friday morning when the crowds were light because by Saturday it was packed full of people. What was very cool was how it changed at 6pm from kid friendly Halloween to MOTHER OF GOD he has a chainsaw. Hayley, who like me loves all things scary and horrible, had me go to every scary haunted house they had but boy oh boy did she get spooked by one character as we were leaving the park.
I went on more rides than I thought I would – the log ride was the best and The Lochness Monster was intense. People were really friendly, Busch Gardens was amazingly clean and the prices were better than we expected. We stayed at a great condo and as always had a great time with Nicole and Mason. Twenty years since Nicole and I pledged together, still adore her.
Hayley in the front row center in blue UNC shirt with her little skinny legs sticking out on the Griffon!
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Halloween and Thanksgiving
Posted by Michelle on Dec 22, 2009 in Hayley, Jeff, Michelle, More Family, pups & other pets
I didn’t take many photos at Halloween or Thanksgiving. Between having a party for Halloween with Jen for the street and having the usual gang for Thanksgiving, I just didn’t pick up the camera much. A neighbor has more Halloween ones of the kids and I’ll those when I get them.
Hayley went as Nancy Drew:
Grubbing
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Halloween: Nancy Drew is on the case!
Posted by Michelle on Nov 8, 2009 in Hayley
I’ll post more photos later but Hayley went as Nancy Drew for Halloween. I didn’t really take many photos as we had a party in the cul-de-sac and was really having too much fun to take pix.
Neighborhood Fall/Halloween Festival
Posted by Michelle on Oct 17, 2009 in Hayley, Michelle
We had a long day – Hayley came home from my folks, went to a birthday party, headed to our neighborhood Fall/Halloween Festival and then watched Twilight outside at the Lanes’ house on their huge projector screen. Cold but much fun!
I was helping during the festival so I didn’t take many photos.
Photos: Our Day of the Dead
Posted by Michelle on Nov 14, 2008 in Hayley, Michelle, More Family
I have always loved Halloween. When I was young, I read a Ray Bradbury book called the Halloween Tree. I read it once, twice and then again, repeating that every fall. I loved that book.
The book starts on Halloween and takes a group of children on a scary journey through cultural history and version of Halloween, as they attempt to catch up with and save a dying friend. One of the key elements is the Mexican celebration Dia De Los Muertos (The Day of the Dead) which seemed fascinating to me.
Celebrated on on Nov. 1st and/or 2nd, The Day of the Dead is where gatherings of family and friends to pray and remember loved ones who have died. Some other cultures celebrate similar holidays as well and the Day of the Dead has its roots in Aztec culture. The idea is to honor the dead but also that people who have passed away are supposed to be able to hear your prayers better at this time than any other time. November 1st is traditionally to celebrate children who have died and November 2nd for adults.
Dia De Los Muertos isn’t as sad as it sounds, it is rather upbeat. Good candy, good food and good memories. The celebration can be at the graveyard or an altar/shrine in your home. You decorate with photos, food flowers, candles and items of those of who have passed away or things they’d like. You are supposed to tell funny and warm stories about those people and talk to them.
I was printing of some weekly reading assignments I thought would interest Hayley and found a great one of the Day of the Dead but it was written for 5th to 7th graders. Of course, she read it perfectly and loved it too. So we decided to make our own shrine at home to celebrate.
Interestingly last night Hayley was over at my folks and they went to the family graves this morning to tidy up. How perfect for our Day of the Dead event!
We set out to do it for my Grandpa Jim, Grandma Jeannette and Uncle Mike (my mom’s parents and her brother) but then Hayley decided we should add in our dog Sam who passed away, which was awesome. We made sugar skulls ourselves and decorated them in the style. Hayley talked to my mom and made lists of food and hobbies of our family members who passed. I got out photos, my grandmother’s engagement and wedding rings, my granddad’s prayer books and golf hat and ton of articles on my uncle’s golf championships plus Sam’s dog collar. My mom made a family recipe book that was a great addition. We added all sorts of food and snacks – doggie biscuits too. (I’m going to post a photo on flickr with all the items labeled.)
After some time talking to them, we ate the candy and food and blew out the candles. It was a great way to share about family history, learn about another culture’s history and traditions, not to mention be creative and silly! (It is so much fun it is to have a child with an inquisitive spirit.)
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Photos: Halloween
Posted by Michelle on Nov 2, 2008 in Hayley, Jeff, Michelle
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We had a GREAT Halloween! Hayley decided to go as something different this year and we put together her costume ourselves. She went as Danica Patrick, the first woman to win a Formula One race. I’m not really a racing fan but Formula One is more interesting to me than NASCAR and Patrick certainly made an impact culturally. We went through about 20 ideas and Danica Patrick was the only one Hayley loved – I’m sure because she is gorgeous that helped Hayley with the decision.
Turns out they sell replica jersey versions of her racing suit (just the top part). That with a hat we got from there, black soccer pants, black underarmor soccer shirt and riding gloves made for one adorable but mean race car driver.
Our friends up the street had a party beforehand so we all went up there for dinner. They did a great job with their garage! I made a green jello Frankenstein hand and encircled it with looser red jello – it was GROSS looking but tasty.
Jeff and Hayley took off to trick or treat with our next door neighbor Wes and their kids Ethan and Mason. We figured Ethan would tucker out sooner so Wes ended up taking him home and Jeff continued on with the girls. Jen and I hung out on her front porch and handed out candy. Of course if you know me, you know I love Halloween. For the 4th year, we handed out glow sticks with our candy – and this year I got Pop Rocks and Pixie Stix. Oh yeah, I rule and you know it! ha!
The kids came back with insanely filled bags, we weeded through them, traded and tossed some out over at Wes and Jen’s. We let the girls play until about 10:30 and finally took the 10 steps to our house and crashed.
**updated note –> Hello to the people who came here from the Danica Patrick fan site that link here!
