Tag: Trick or treating

My Family Hit the Streets

The entire family was home Friday night.  We took advantage of a mild Halloween night and went trick or treating.

Andrew was a SWAT team member, while Ella was a unicorn fairy.  She wore a hat, so the unicorn horn stayed home.

We walked the entire neighborhood (a little over a mile) and had a nice night.  It’s always great running into other neighbors and their kids out and about.

One thing I noticed was that neighbors were giving kids a choice this year.  “You can take two pieces from each bowl,” or “We have potato chips, popsicles, or candy. Pick one.” Well, wait just one cotton picking minute….

We never got a choice as a kid!  We took what they handed to us.  Then we’d go home and create a “keep” pile, a “garbage” pile and a “mom or dad” pile.  None of my kids like Almond Joy.  I always had a ton of them after Halloween.  This year, they picked their favorites, so zero for me this year.

By the end of the night, they were pooped.  But both were in awe of our neighbor’s huge pumpkin, so they had to get a picture in front of it.

Yesterday was a lazy day.  We stayed home and I took down the Halloween stuff.  I probably should have taken advantage of the mild weather and put up the outdoor Christmas stuff, but I didn’t.

Instead, I began to rake the leaves.  I wound up with a big pile, but no leaf bags.  I apparently used them earlier in the year.  The kids didn’t mind at all.

Well, I know what I’ll be doing later today.

Halloween Pain Train

Aunt Margaret called us this week and invited us to join her and her family at Crossroads Village and the Huckleberry Railroad. The Ghosts and Goodies Halloween theme has been going on all month and it is such fun. They do up the whole town in spookiness and the family gets to trick or treat from building to building.

It was such a treat to see so many kids dressed up in their costumes. Costumes are optional, and my kids didn’t dress up. We rode the train first. They have all kinds of wonderful things along the train route for the kids to see. Pumpkin rock bands, Skeletonville, aliens, and so much more.

The steam engine that pulled the train was build in 1920. All of the train cars have all been restored and some date back to the late 1800’s. We had the windows up and the kids were looking outside. Because of the age of the train and the cars, the windows don’t always stay up. Sam and I each held up the window where the kids sat. For one brief second, Sam let go of the window and it came down on Ella’s arm. It had to really hurt! I was worried she might have broke it, but thankfully, she just has one wicked bruise!

After the train ride, we grabbed our bags and began trick or treating. Each of the buildings was done up in Halloween themes. We were there during the day, and I am sure it has to look even cooler at night.

Midway through trick or treating, we passed the carousel. This is the fastest carousel in Michigan. It is FAST. You have to really hold on. I’ve taken a spin on it a few times, so when Margaret informed us that we were all riding it, me and Uncle Walt found a bench to sit on!

When we got done with the carousel, and the dizziness subsided, we went outside and there was a kiddie ride. Ella called it a roller coaster, but it was just a mini merry-go-round with horses and buggies.

Ella did fine, but Andrew was hanging on for dear life!

After we finished trick or treating, we got to go to the cafeteria where everyone got donuts and cider. Ella loves frosted donuts, so she wasn’t sure about the cinnamon sugar ones. Once she tried it, however, she loved it. She also stole a piece of Aunt Margaret’s pizza!

It was a perfect day to be there. It was a tad chilly, but sunny. We probably would have stayed a bit longer, but Sam had to go to work that night. Memories were made and there was a lot of smiles and laughter. Thank you Aunt Margaret for sharing such an amazing day with us!

They will be doing a Christmas train this winter, and we hope to be back for that, too!