When I was 8 months pregnant (I forgot how swollen I was- yikes), Jimmy and I bought a new house in Garden Hills. It is our dream home. Every single day we walk in and think how lucky we are to live here. Everything about it is perfect for us. There is a "grown up" kitchen, fenced in backyard, 2 fireplaces, and a master bedroom that's better than any hotel where I have ever stayed.
Before we lived in Garden Hills, we lived in a house in Ridgewood Heights (see our old house in the photo above). Even though I was VERY ready for a fenced backyard and more storage space, I was a little sad to leave because I loved our neighbors so much. The twins that lived two doors down were in our wedding, and my good friend lived across the street. But hands down the BEST thing about our neighborhood was Halloween. I've always loved Halloween. When I was little Ben and I would practice Trick or Treating for weeks before the big day, ringing our own doorbell and asking for candy. Carving the pumpkin was a major event every year, and we would work together making eyebrows or missing teeth. That love for Halloween continued into adulthood. The first year I ever lived in that house I made a massive deal about having the scariest house in the neighborhood. I had dry ice, a welcome mat that screamed, and friends who jumped out at the kids. Every year after that the kids would call my house "the scary house," which was a title I worked to uphold.
SEVERAL weeks ago we broke out the decorations at the new house - I have a statement to make. 
We have a full graveyard, a string of bloody knives running from the driveway to the lantern, numerous ghosts hanging from trees, three pumpkins, and a few bloody arms on the lawn.
Driving in and out of the neighborhood I've noticed that some of the neighbors really go all out on the decorations. Yesterday I borrowed a new lens from my uncle, and Oliver and I started out on foot to try out the new lens and scope out the competition. Let me tell you, these people are serious!
Oliver was not 100% certain about going on this adventure but agreed reluctantly.
We started in out own yard where I tried to blur out the fact that I have not been watering those planters enough by focusing on the very scary bird!
Oliver's first pumpkins with his initials.
Scary ghost hanging in front of our entryway.
Our graveyard.
We started walking...
This pumpkin pops open and closed.
I've always liked this modern house, and they really went all out! I love the cobwebs everywhere. We don't tend to do a lot of cobwebs, but that's only because I'm lazy about taking them down post Halloween.
The sign that marks Halloween central.
These people totally out graveyarded us!
I'm so jealous!
Sometimes Mother Nature has the best decorations.
So many pumpkins, and if you look closely you will see the screaming face looking out the window!! That took me a minute.
Close up of the doorway. I love the skull in the planter.
Better shot of the face!
I love how simple this is... just a big old spider hanging from a doorknob.
And excellent carving skills.
This is right out of a magazine, and their planters are perfect.
I like how they used the skulls next to the door and the pumpkins going up the stairs.
Super creepy!!
At this point Oliver was sort of over the exercise, but we pressed on anyway.
Jimmy hates anything having to do with the circus, so this jester would probably make it the scariest house for him. Those cobwebs are perfection.
Love this originality!
Here is a more simple southern kid-friendly door :)
Don't miss the collection of witches on the right side.
There is something so simple and classy about white pumpkins.
But also something wonderful about a mulit-colored skull surrounded by bats.
I fell in love with little casper here.
Amazing!
This was the single best decoration I saw. An army of skeletons carrying a casket! What's not to love?
I love this doorway as well. I've never seen that color of pumpkin before, but maybe that's because its a gourd?
This spider got his web all tangled in the bushes.
There is something so simple about this one- a nice American flag and a grim reaper. Perfect.
Next year I'm going to have to get a huge spider and maybe a skeleton in a top hat.
Ghost tree.
Frightening skull in front of a beautifully decorated door with mums.
The bones can't quite get out of the grave because of the cobwebs.
UGA pride.
Just a little ghost trio.
I love this hurst!
This is one of my favorite houses in the neighborhood, and of course their pumpkins look perfect!
A perfectly placed Halloween wreath.
And finally we made it back home.
"Get me outta this stroller mom, I'm hungry!"
One thing is for sure, even if my yard is not the best in the neighborhood, I'll certainly have the cutest pumpkin on Halloween night!
-Blayne Macauley
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