And the Days Dwindle Down!

Time is growing short until our big, family Halloween party and, since there will be family coming in and out and more football pretty much from tomorrow on, I thought I might better wrap up the 2018 decor in case I don't make it back here again before the big day. Not a lot left to show you but let's get to it.

I didn't change much out front this year.

The sunroom has just enough to give a nod.

The guest bath is ready for company!

 Since we have so much family for this holiday, I always like to add just a few touches to each guest room...and the master. Just enough to get in the spirit! I have to admit that this is where I use things that I really should be getting rid of but somehow just can't quite say good-bye yet!

 I couldn't forget the master bath either.

Wow! Just realized that "the witch is in" theme seems to be running everywhere through the house-wonder why?

So that's it for Halloween 2018. I am heading to St. Pete for a week right after the party so I'm not sure when I will get party pictures posted but you can be sure I will. Lots of fun in store the next 2 weeks. Can't wait to share. Stay tuned.

It's Getting Close!

So this weekend was our traditional kids' weekend at Nana's. We have done these special weekends with just the grands almost since our first was born 22 years ago! And, we do them for almost every holiday throughout the year, but, because of my crazy love for Halloween, this one was always "over the top".

But, as the kids headed off to college, got jobs and other responsibilities of their own, getting them all here became a bit of a challenge. You would think I would have been willing to throw in the towel when football entered the picture as it not only consumes all Saturdays but every week night evening as well. But NO, as long as even one of the munchkins asks if we can do it, I am ready!

And so our 2018 weekend happened! If you are a faithful reader of this blog, you know that this is a time when I pull out all stops. We spend every minute of our time cooking, baking, crafting, playing games, watching movies and making gifts and decorations for all things that holiday themed. We have accomplished great things in our 22 years!

But, as I age and time becomes more and more precious, I find myself willing to let go of some of the glitz and just cherish the time we have together and the memories we can make.

And so, our weekend didn't disappoint! It started early Saturday morning with the first game and then back to my house where my brother and sister-in-law hosted an afternoon meal and we spent time making bracelets, talking and swimming until we were back at the field for the second game of the day!

The "littles" came home with me that night and we just had time to watch "The Addams Family" before it was well PAST bedtime!

In the morning, the kids wanted scrambled eggs and ghost pancakes and my little helper did a fine job on our ghostly friends.

The rest of the family soon joined us and since this was initially set up as a "chore" day, we headed to the field behind my house. My son-in-law wielded the chain saw and the rest of us followed by pulling the HUGE, stickery weeds to make some pathways and then cutting up the trees that were felled! As soon as we were done with that chore, we got to squeeze in a bit more Halloween fun.

We started by making "linner". The kids wanted mummy pizzas, spooky trees (also known as broccoli) and a salad. This meal was nowhere near as spooky or complicated as all of the ones in the past but somehow it didn't matter. They had fun and thought it was delicious!

Gotta love Halloween in Florida-when the kids had a few spare minutes, they spent them in the pool!

Then we were on to vampire mouth cookies for dessert.

Normally on this weekend, we would have done lots of crafting, baking and games but, quite honestly, we fit in much more than I thought we ever would. Presley did use her extra time making friendship bracelets and I was the recipient of some of her bling. I can always use another Halloween bracelet and I am sure I will wear it often!

I seriously have to chuckle when I look at these pictures because we were a mess but I am so thankful that the kids still want to be here and are happy to squeeze in time with Nana when they can that I cherish every minute we get-even if it doesn't look anything like our past years! The laughs and love are just as strong!! Stay tuned.

My Favorite "Haunt"

As much as I can get cozy in lots of different spots around my house, I go most often to my spot in the family room. "My" chair is on an outside wall so my view is pretty much of all of the rest of the room. I usually have something lit on the mantle and since this is my favorite time of year, this is one of my favorite mantles as well. Come on in.

This is the view on entering from the kitchen area.

This is my view from my chair and a half-super comfy!

Here's what you see when coming in from the pool.

This is the view from the front window towards the pool door.

 
The only change I made on the mantle is to put the clock up on the box that used to be on the coffee table. Since I have the new, round coffee table and the new large tray, there was simply no room for the box with candle any more. But, the disparity of heights always bothered me on the mantle so the "ah-ha" moment couldn't come soon enough! With the clock raised on the box, my symmetry OCD issues are put to rest-Lol. For whatever reason, it is much more balanced to me-and that makes me smile.

I had a little fun with pillows. First, I got fancy with the sequin pillow my grand daughter gave me for Christmas and then I decided that these chairs needed a pop of color. They were both fairly recent changes so you might see them in some photos and not in others-sorry.

This is my view every night and it just makes me happy!

So now that you've seen the family room from more angles than you probably ever wanted, we'll call it a day but there is still a bit more to share. Stay tuned.