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Friday, October 24, 2014

 

Ghosts, Superheroes and Christmas Trees


Ghosts, Superheroes and Christmas Trees

I know this is a subject of debate-but how do you feel about decorating for Christmas before the kids have done their yearly Halloween walk throughout your neighborhood?

 

Here in Anthem-the outlet mall, the community center and neighborhoods are all having various Halloween parties and trick-or-treating events, starting on the 25th!

 

Personally, when Sarah and Adam were young we started a tradition of going to the local mall and having them “do the walk” there.  After the second trip around, we’d settle at a fast food place in the food court and have the rare kid’s meal with friends and neighbors and take home the over-sugared costumed short people and put them to bed.

 

They always seemed to find a way to open several of the wrapped goodies before we could confiscate the bag for safety checks!

 

Here-the boys love to go to just about every house in the neighborhood.  Since they’ll be spending the night this weekend, I’m taking advantage of our community center!  First off, the main park is having a grand re-opening and an autumn fest.  The boys are on pins and needles to see exactly what the new equipment and expanded splash pad look like.  There will also be the carnival-complete with rides, games and food trucks. 

 

As if this isn’t enough-let me remind you of what Anthem, AZ is known for:  We host the tallest Christmas tree in America.  I kid you not!

One of the main TV stations actually sent up a helicopter (we heard it at the ungodly hour of 6 a.m.) to watch the truck driving it in from somewhere in Los Angeles. 

Not sure of the exact details, but every year we find ourselves unable to get off the freeway and to our home because of all the visitors who want to take pictures of how the staff decorates this 112+ foot specially raised tree.

 

It is really quite amazing.  Any idea how big those ornaments have to be to be seen on a behemoth Fir of this height?????  25,000!  Plus-180 pounds of LED lights.  It’s cap is a 3’ copper star that represents the state of Arizona.

 

So there you have it-while the kids are begging for treats from all of the stores, the staff will be hooked up to harnesses hanging decorative pieces the size of their bodies and dragging “gifts” into place to cover the bottom of the tree.

 

If this isn’t enough-Santa will arrive and take his position on his chair to hear all the wish lists.  Plus, there’s always a petting zoo (complete with reindeer).  Someone from American Idol comes to create even more of a traffic jam.

I’m not being a curmudgeon, really.  It’s just that I’d like each part of the holiday to have its own little celebration-rather than stringing them all together and start the entire season in mid-October.

The kids love it, of course. 

One other thing-while the rest of the country is feeling the “nip” of autumn in the air-we’ve finally seen our temps dip way down into the low 90’s.  Just one more reason why it’s hard to get into the spirit when you still have no desire to put on anything but shorts and a tank top.

Just to make it clear:  Happy Hallogivingkahmas

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