Last Minute Halloween Decorations

I've been a little lazy when it comes to Halloween decorations. They're all the way up on a shelf in the garage. And getting to them would require getting a ladder out and actually climbing up the ladder. So it just hasn't happened.

But since it's Halloween today and I needed a little something to keep the kiddos occupied, I decided to pull out the construction paper and dress up the house a bit.

And this is what we ended up with...

We started with a spooky spider family with inspiration from simple as that. And it really is simple as that. This project doesn't really require step-by-step instructions, but I'll give them to you anyway.

Supplies: Construction paper, glue, scissors and googly eyes.

(Quickly check wikipedia to verify that spiders have 8 legs.) Cut 8 strips of paper and fold them accordion style. Cut out a large spider body as well.

Give the boy some paper and crayon to keep him occupied.

When that doesn't work, send him to bed. (It was nap time anyway.)

Take a picture of your little cutie. And move on to the gluing...

Glue on the legs, eyes, noses and any other parts your kid wants to add. Finley drew a mouth and a tongue on this baby spider and a mustache on the daddy spider.

Now for the next part. I found this printable Boo Banner from Pick Your Plum. So cute and so easy -- print it out, cut it out, and staple it to some ribbon. (Can you tell I don't do fancy around here?)

I stapled some ribbon to the spiders and the pumpkin we made for my pumpkin loving boy and hung those on the mantel with the banner. Not too bad for a last minute craft/decorating project. I'm sure we'll be looking at them until I pull out the ladder to get at the Christmas decorations!

Halloween Fun at the Indoor Playground in Shoreline

The Indoor Playground is getting spooked out for Halloween tomorrow. They'll have games and hands-on art for kids aged 1 - 4. So dress those kids up and head to Shoreline for some fun.

Details ---
Where: Spartan Recreation Center (202 NE 185th St. Shoreline, WA)
When: Monday, October 31st 9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Cost: $2 per child
More Info: Here

Greenlake Kids Denistry: Candy Buy Back

Photo by Adam Kalsey

For those of you who don't raid your kids' Halloween candy and leave only wrappers behind, you might want to check this out. Greenlake Kids Denistry is offering kids $1 per pound of candy they bring in (up to 10 pounds per kid). The candy will be donated to Operation Gratitude and then packed up and sent to service members overseas in care packages.

So if your kids get loads of candy and you can't possible consume it all, take it to Greenlake Kids Denistry on November 1st between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. It's a great way to get that extra candy out of the house and donate it to some men and women that will really appreciate it.

Details ---
Where: Greenlake Kids Denistry (6900 E Green Lake Way N. #H Seattle, WA)
When: Tuesday, November 1st 3 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Cost: Earn $1 per pound of unopened candy (up to 10 pounds per kid)
More Info: Here
Details: For kids 12 and under, accompanied by an adult

Old Navy Sale: $3 Halloween Costumes and More

 

Are you still wondering what your little ones are going to be for Halloween? Well, head to Old Navy for some super duper good deals. The Halloween costumes are $5 through October 30th (for the toddler sizes at least, not sure about the older kids ones). Halloween clothing is 75% off. And if you use your Old Navy card today you can save an extra 40% during their Stuff & Save sale! Only $3 for that super cute cupcake costume! If you don't have an Old Navy card, you can still save 25% using this coupon.

The Stuff & Save sale continues through November 3rd. After tomorrow the savings go down to 30%. Oh, and did I mention that everything on clearance is an extra 50% off? And did I also mention they are offering a Super C-A-S-H promotion right now? The deals just keep on comin'.

While I was scouting things out for you all, I picked up a little something for myself today - jeans for $2.69 and a couple of shirts for $5.70 each. And a ridiculously cute winter coat for Grady. I didn't think he could get any cuter. But with this coat, he can.

IHOP: Free Count Spatula Pancake for Kids on Friday

I want to eat your face!

Kids 12 and under can enjoy a free Count Spatula Scary Face Pancake at IHOP on Friday from 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. What kid doesn't enjoy a pancake with a face on it? And what parent doesn't like free?


Details ---
Where: IHOP (Call your local IHOP to make sure they are participating.)
When: Friday, October 28th 7 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Cost: Free! No purchase necessary.
More Info: Here

Halloween Happenings: October 28th, 29th, 30th

Lots of Halloween fun leading up to Trick-or-Treating on Monday.

Museum of Fright
October 28th 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Mill Creek YMCA Harvest Festival
October 28th 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Barnes & Noble Halloween Storytime
October 29th 11 a.m.

Fall Festival at Bellevue Arts Museum
October 29th 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Autumn Fest at the Woodland Park Zoo
October 29th and 30th

Imagine Children's Museum - Halloween with the Lights On
October 30th 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Boo Bash at Rosehill Community Center
October 30th 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Boo Bash at Rosehill Community Center in Mukilteo

Photo by William Warby

Lots of fun happening at the family friendly halloween event this Sunday:

• Mad Science Booth
• Storytime
• Pumpkin Carving Contest
• Teen Digital Photo Scavenger Hung (bring your phone or camera)
• Trick-or-Treating
• Arts & Crafts
• Free Photos by Vicki Derks Photography
• Family Friendly Haunted House
• Games and more!

Details ---
Where: Rosehill Community Center (304 Lincoln Avenue Mukilteo, WA)
When: Sunday, October 30th 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Cost: Free! (Donations to the Mukilteo Food Bank are appreciated)
More Info: Here

Fall Festival at Bellevue Art Museum

Photo by FHKE

Here's another fun and free activity for the weekend. Bellevue Arts Museum is opening their doors for a Fall celebration. Learn about Dia de los Muertos, Halloween and get involved in some fun projects. This is a great way to see the museum and also enjoy some fun activities. And all for free! My kiddos aren't old enough for this one yet but I'm putting it on my calendar for 2014 when I can take them both!

Details ---
Where: Bellevue Arts Museum
When: Saturday, October 29th 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Cost: Free!
More Info: BAM event website
Details: Appropriate for ages 4 - 12

Harvest Festival at the Mill Creek YMCA

Photo by Samantha Bilodeau

The Mill Creek YMCA is welcoming the public to some ghostly fun this Friday night. Bring the family for some fun and games, tricks and treats!

Details ---

Where: Mill Creek YMCA (13723 Puget Park Drive Everett, WA) When: Friday, October 28th 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Cost: Free! (Donation to the food bank is appreciated) More Info: YMCA website

Museum of Fright Halloween Party

Photo from Museum of Flight

Beware! The Museum of Flight is closing and the Museum of Fright is opening. Meet ghosts of aviations past and hear frightful stories of flights long ago. Bring the whole family and celebrate Halloween with treats, games, and more!

Details ---
Where: Museum of Flight (9404 East Marginal Way S Seattle, WA)
When: Friday, October 28th 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Cost: Free!
More Info: Check out the Museum of Flight website 

Your Guide to a Happy Halloween

Lots of opportunities to fill those kids with candy at these free Trick-or-Treat events in the area!

Treats on Main Street
Where: Mill Creek Town Center
When: Monday, October 31 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Cost: Free!
More Info: City of Mill Creek Parks and Recreation

Trunk or Treat
Where: Mill Creek City Hall Parking Lot (15728 Main Street Mill Creek, WA)
When: Monday, October 31 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Cost: Free!
More Info: City of Mill Creek Parks and Recreation

Safe Halloween
Where: Country Village and Bothell Main Street
When: Monday, October 31 4 p.m. - 6 p.m. (Country Village) and 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. (Main Street)
Cost: Free!
More Info: City of Bothell
Details: Along with the trick-or-treating, you can take your kids aged 4-12 to the Halloweeny Haunted House at Country Village (admission is $1.00).

Crossroads Bellevue Annual Mall-o-ween
Where: Crossroads Bellevue Mall
When: Monday, October 31 5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free!
More Info: Here

Bellevue Square Halloween Family Fun Fest
Where: Bellevue Square
When: Monday, October 31 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Cost: Free!
More Info: Bellevue Square Mall website
Details: Enjoy trick-or-treating at select shops, dance to Recess Monkey in the Center Court, check out the Mad Science Booth on the second floor, and find one of the many clowns creating balloon animals for the kiddos.

Edmonds Halloween Extravaganza
Where: Downtown Edmonds
When: Monday, October 31 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Cost: Free!
More Info: Edmonds Chamber of Commerce

Trick-Or-Treat at Alderwood Mall
Where: Alderwood Mall
When: Monday, October 31 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Cost: Free!
More Info: Alderwood Mall website
Details: For kids 12 and under

Free Family Trick-Or-Treat at Everett Mall
Where: Everett Mall
When: Monday, October 31 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Cost: Free! (Food bank donations are appreciated.)
More Info: Everett Mall website

Frozen Fright Night at Comcast Community Ice Rink
Where: Comcast Community Ice Rink
When: Monday, October 31 6 p.m.
Cost: Adults/Kids - $5; 5 & under - $3.50 (Wear your costume, bring a can of food or call 425.322.3629 to book your group and save $1.00 per ticket.)
More Info: Comcast Community Ice Rink
Details: Halloween skating and activities - pumpkin bowling, costume contest, DJ, goodie bags and door prizes

Painting Pumpkins

I was really excited when I found this painting pumpkins post at Young House Love. Finley had fun painting her little pumpkins from Flower World and I loved the idea of using painter's tape to make them look a little more Halloween-y.

Let me just say that my children were not blessed with the Young House Love decorating genes (they've got the programmer genes, poor things). If you're looking for pumpkins that could be sold at an art gallery, go here. (Honestly, check out their pumpkins. They're gorgeous!) Otherwise, keep on reading...

Tools Required:

• Pumpkins
• Painters
• Painter's Tape
• Paint
• Paint Brushes
• Exacto Knife (I couldn't think of a "p" word for that. Darn, I was on a roll there.)

The idea is to put tape on the pumpkin and use the exacto knife to cut out the face shapes. Then you peel away the extras and you're left with a cute little pumpkin face. 

Apparently, that was above my crafting skill level or my knife was a little dull. It didn't work for me at all so I just cut the shapes with scissors and taped them on.

And since that took longer than the 30 seconds of patience the kids had, I quickly did some stripes on one pumpkin and some squares on another.

All ready to paint!

This was Grady's first time painting. The boy thinks everything is food so of course the paint brush went straight to the mouth. I guess I'll be brushing his teeth tonight. ;)

Finley had a lot of fun painting her rainbow pumpkin. She's very serious about her art.

It was at this point I was feeling pretty good about getting through a painting project without a huge mess or a meltdown (from me or the kids). I patted myself on the back, put the completed pumpkins on the kitchen counter to dry, and took the 3-year-old doing a strange little dance to the bathroom. Then I realized... it's quiet. Too quiet. That can't be good. And it wasn't.

I walked into the kitchen and found this mess. Using my CSI skills, my prime suspect was a small child, about counter-height, missing a binky and covered in paint.

It didn't take long to find him. Book 'em!

But who can stay mad at that cute face?

Back to the pumpkins... After the paint has dried, start peeling away at the tape and you're left with this...

They're kinda cute aren't they? If you have little ones this is a great way to do the Halloween pumpkin thing without a trip to urgent care.

Happy Halloweenie!

Imagine Children's Museum: Halloween with the Lights On

If you snagged that Mamapedia deal for the Imagine Children's Museum this might be the perfect time to use it. On Sunday, October 30th you can enjoy the fun of the museum along with special storytimes, a cauldron of bubbles, ooey gooey potion and disappearing ghost poop (what I wouldn't give for disappearing kid poop!). The museum will be open normal Sunday hours (11 a.m. - 5 p.m.) and the Halloween fun will be between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Details ---
Where: Imagine Children's Museum (1502 Wall Street Everett, WA)
When: Sunday, October 30th 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. (open until 5 p.m.)
Cost: $7.95/person (children 12 months and younger are free)
More Info: Imagine Children's Museum website

Don't forget about Free Friday Night Live at ICM tonight (October 21st)!

Barnes & Noble: Halloween Storytime

Get your little goon dressed up in their Halloween best and take them to Barnes & Noble on Saturday for some stories, treats, and Halloween fun. They will be reading Goodnight Goon and other stories.

Details ---
Where: Alderwood Barnes & Noble (19401 Alderwood Mall Parkway Lynnwood, WA) and Woodinville Barnes and Noble (18025 Garden Way N.E. Woodinville, WA)
When: Saturday, October 29th at 11 a.m.
Cost: Free!
More Info: Alderwood Barnes & Noble and Woodinville Barnes & Noble

Before you go, sign up for the Barnes and Noble Kids' Club and receive a 30% off coupon for any toy or book. You'll also get rewards for ever $100 you spend and a cupcake on your child's birthday!

Halloween Happenings: October 21st, 22nd, 23rd

Get that sugar rush going early. Check out these fun and free Halloween events happening this weekend.

Goblin Splash at Forest Park: October 21st 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Teen Halloween Party at Mill Creek Library: October 21st 7 p.m. - 9.m.
Disney Dress Rehearsal Party: October 21st and 22nd
Wights Home & Garden Halloween Party: October 22nd 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Autumn Fest at the Woodland Park Zoo: October 22nd and 23rd

Wight's Home & Garden: Halloween Party

Photo by Paul Keleher

Head to Wight's Home & Garden in Lynnwood this Saturday for a fun and free Halloween Party for the kids. Lots of games and prizes, refreshments, a costume contest, penny hunt and a chance to meet Jackie O'Lantern. From their facebook pictures from last year it looks like a fun party that the kids will love.

Details ---
Where: Wight's Home & Garden (5026 196th Street SW Lynnwood, WA)
When: Saturday, October 22nd 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. (Costume contest begins at noon)
Cost: Free!
More Info: Wight's Home & Garden events page

Looking for more Halloween fun this weekend? Check out the Halloween Happenings page.

Mill Creek Library: Teen Halloween Party

When your teens tells you they are studying at the library this Friday night, they might actually mean it. The Mill Creek library is hosting a teen halloween party from 7 - 9 p.m. Drop them off for some Rock Band, "Minute to Win It", refreshments, a costume contest, and more. The party is co-hosted by the Mill Creek Parks and Recreation and Friends of the Mill Creek Library.

Details ---
Where: Mill Creek Library (15429 Bothell-Everett Highway Mill Creek, WA)
When: Friday, October 21st 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Cost: Free!
More Info: Here

Looking for more Halloween fun this weekend? Check out the Halloween Happenings page.

Goblin Splash at Forest Park

Photo by havenholidays

Take a dip into some Halloween fun at Forest Park Swim Center this Friday. They are hosting a spook-tacular halloween event on October 21st. Take part in the pumpkin toss, win prizes, take a dip and enjoy some refreshments. The event is free but they are asking for canned food or monetary donations to benefit the Volunteers of America Everett Food Bank.

Details ---
Where: Forest Park Swim Center (802 E. Mukilteo Blvd. Everett)
When: Friday, October 21 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Cost: Free (canned food or monetary donation requested)
More Info: http://www.ci.everett.wa.us/default.aspx?ID=1182

Looking for more Halloween fun this weekend? Check out the Halloween Happenings page.

Lowes: Free Monster Truck Project

Lowe's is holding another Build & Grow event at their stores this weekend. Bring your Goblins to Lowe's for a morning of fun. This month's project is a Halloween themed Monster Truck complete with a flashing light, and glow-in-the-dark stickers. Each goblin will also take home an apron, goggles, a project themed patch, and a certificate of completion.

The project is open to kids ages 5 and up. Just be sure to sign up before Saturday. Some locations have already filled up but Monroe, Rainier and Silverdale are still open.

If you're kids are under 5 or you can't make it to Lowe's this weekend, you can buy their workshop kits and make them at home. The kits are around $5 - $10 each.

Details ---
What: Monster Truck workshop for kids 5 and over
Where: Lowe's
When: Saturday, October 22nd at 10 a.m.
Cost: Free!
More Info: Lowe's Build & Grow website

Play: Family Fun at The Farm at Swan's Trail

We took a day off last week to celebrate Finley's 3rd birthday at The Farm at Swan's Trail. It's a great farm to visit in the Fall. They have it all - pumpkins, pigs, kittens, fishing, slides, hay barn and hay maze for the kiddos, a huge corn maze in the shape of Washington state, baby bunnies, a pig show, a play corn bin, goats, a cow train, chickens, wagon rides, ducks... In other words, enough to keep your kids busy for a few hours or more!

The pumpkin patch was a lot of fun and kept us busy for quite a while. Grady tried to sit on every single pumpkin he passed.

Me and the birthday girl.

The pumpkins are priced by size. The smallest ones are $1 and they go up from there. We got 4 pumpkins for $11. The pumpkin above is priceless, of course.

Don't forget to stop by the pig show, too. Little bitty piggies and a big fat piggy running around. What could be cuter? Grady was mesmerized. (Mmmmmm....bacon.)

Play, Stay Away, or Just Okay
I give this outing a super duper Play. I love this farm. It has so much to see and do. The best part (for this frugal lady) is admission and parking are free! Yippee! You just pay for the different activities you're interested in. And they're open on weekdays which is an added bonus. A lot of the other pumpkin patches and farms are only open on the weekends so this is great for those of you who need a weekday outing or want to meet up with your mom's group.


Details ---
Where: The Farm at Swan's Trail (7301 Rivershore Rd. Snohomish, WA)
When: Daily 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. through October 31st
Cost: Admission and parking are free, prices vary for the different activities
More Info: The Farm at Swan's Trail website


Happy Pumpkin Picking!