One of the selling features of our new house was the large front yard. The dreams of 20-foot Halloween inflatables. Thoughts of obnoxious overcrowded displays inundated the minds of our two boys. Just mentioning the idea inspires thoughts of future displays showing their love of all things airblown. If there is a holiday we have an inflatable for it!
When explaining to our 3 and 5-year-old that we were moving 13 hours away I tried to focus on certain highlights. One which I knew was the selling point to them, the yard. Well, that selling point has come to fruition as we come upon the fall season.
AS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATED MARKETING PROGRAM, I MAKE COMMISSIONS ON PURCHASES MADE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING LINKS.
Related: Holiday Decoration Debate – To Inflate or Not To Inflate
Normally when we lived in Ohio the acceptable time to start decorating our front yard for Halloween was the first week of September. This was partially because we knew we weren’t the only ones that would do so. So the fact that this was our first year in a new house let alone a new state we decided to wait a while. When I stumbled upon the playroom with the playhouse decorated for Halloween I knew I wouldn’t be able to hold off the troops all that long.
I don’t think our new neighbors were not ready for what was about to be unleashed onto our yard. However, I tried to warn some of them that the boys had a “small” obsession with inflatables. I guess I didn’t accurately depict the depth of obsession. When the inflatables started to sink their stakes into the ground they were in a little shock.
Unleashing the Halloween inflatables!
Kevin likes to say that if we were going for the “shock and awe” we have now surpassed that and have become extremely troubled. He just hopes that no one he knows drives by our house. Knowing the display almost encompasses the whole front yard. However, Grayson loves to mention that he hopes we are on the news. I do find joy in seeing Kevin squirm at the thought that we would be on the news for such reasons.
The word regret rings true in Kevin’s mind about having so much room to house these obnoxious decorations. I like to believe that he exaggerates the number of inflatables we own. So when I started to help the boys unpack their coveted treasures I realized he may have a point. There are currently nine large totes that house them which is a decent amount.
As the boys started examining and planning where they would put their collection of inflatables. I watched as they worked together to stake down and plug in each inflatable with intention. Their teamwork is a big reason I take joy in their inflatables. They do this themselves working together diligently to decorate for the joy of others. Part of their fun is when people stop to look at the display. They revel in sharing their love of inflatables.
Start small and add more Halloween inflatables every day!
We started off small in the mulched area out front just to “get our feet wet”. Slow and steady wins the race as I explained to the boys. They were biting at the bit to explode every inflatable we owned into the front yard. My tactic was to play the “outside of the house is your dad’s domain” so that we could slow the explosion of decorations.
The boys were so excited to see the start of what they had been waiting for. Even though there were only four infatables in the front yard that was the beginning.
Kevin always knows when it is “that time of year” that he can no longer go to Lowes alone. The first sign of seasonal decorations means he has two little monsters in toe as he goes to any store with the possibility of new inflatables.
Normally between the months of August through January, he likes to say that Lowes, Home Depot, and the such are not safe places to take the boys! 🙂
Every day since we started decorating the boys keep putting more and more inflatables out every day. I think as the days go on the neighbors think we are crazier and crazier. Though, I think they do enjoy seeing the boys outside together staking and arranging the Halloween inflatables they have decided on for the day! Buying inflatables, inflating inflatables, and staking inflatables are all things the boys do well together. Where it gets murky is the moments of angst regarding who is going to plug which inflatable in or who is going to use the mallet. Beyond these subtle disagreements they love working as a team decorating the yard.
AS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATED MARKETING PROGRAM, I MAKE COMMISSIONS ON PURCHASES MADE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING LINKS.
Related: It’s Time for Halloween Inflatables
We have definitely added to our collection of Halloween inflatables this year. In the name of more room, there was the need for more inflatables. Kevin always uses these opportunities to remind me that they are mimicking me. Since of course, they stay at home with me every day.
As the days of September unfold I think we are getting to the point where we have put out all of our working inflatables. Grayson’s birthday is coming up at the beginning of October. This of course means more inflatables will be gracing our yard!
A little bit here and a little bit there means a whole lot everywhere!
The boys absolutely love it when any of the neighborhood kids come by to look at our inflatables and question how many more we plan on putting out. Our neighbors across the street were out in the front yard taking it all in. Grayson was so delighted stating that they loved our inflatables! Kevin of course didn’t share his sentiment and told him to close the blinds so that no one could see he lived there!
I suppose at this point the neighborhood won’t be shocked by anything else we put in our yard. It’s kind of like exposure therapy!
We have taken one drive through the neighborhood next to us in search of other inflatable obsessed. Unfortunately, we didn’t find any but as Kevin reminded the boys it is still mid-September. He likes to say most sane people don’t decorate till the appropriate time of October.
I will have to update the progress of their display as the days go on and the display becomes more and more obnoxious. Each day as they finish their school work they can’t wait to run outside to add and finesse their Halloween display. They can’t wait until Kevin gets home in the afternoon so they can show him all of their additions. Of course, any neighbor who walks by also gets the low down on what is new!
Even though they are enjoying all of the Halloween inflatables outside there is still the reminder that Christmas is next. Walking into the house the other day I heard the sound of fans inflating a very plump Santa and a round cheery snowman. This love of decorating with inflatables won’t end anytime soon!
