HalloWonka 3 - Volunteering Night

Tonight we (Clay and I) were back at EdVenture for HalloWonka. We had a really fun time checking in volunteers, making sure everything was going okay with games and candy, and just having a great time. Though, we're both tired now!

This was also the announcement of the sculpture contest. Unfortunately we didn't win the contest, but we tried....and had a great entry! It was a fun time....we're already looking forward to next year.

Showing off our participation certificate

The winning sculpture

The sweet volunteer (in the middle) made crowns for me and Fran to wear (out of Piggly Wiggly bags!)

HalloWonka 2 - Preview Party

Tonight I took Ben and his friend, Cullen, to HalloWonka at EdVenture. (Cullen's mom, Vicky, met us there.) The boys played games, got candy, ate, played and had a terrific time. Clay was volunteering and so we didn't see very much of him.

The food was awesome --- Ben and Jerry ice cream bars, fried pickles, Chick-fil-A, wings, meatballs, mini corn dogs and more......And, there were all the "friends" there ---- Cocky, the Chick-fil-A cow, the Palmetto Pride Lion, and the Publix Dragon.
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This was our first year attending and it was so much fun! We even won two "golden tickets"...one was a $40 gift certificate to Italian Pie and the other a much-needed manicure!

HalloWonka 1 - Live with Lucas

This must be the week for 3's! 3 trips to the Zoo, 3 trips to EdVenture for HalloWonka.....This morning, and when I say morning I mean morning, Ben and I headed to EdVenture for the taping of the "Live with Lucas" segment on HalloWonka. I had to get up at 4:30 (this coming from someone who barely gets out of bed before 6:30....and I have to be at work at 7:30!)and be there by 5:30. I told my parents that I hoped I wasn't too unfriendly, but I was barely awake!

Ben wore his costume, played games, ate candy, checked out the new Vietnam Fairy Tales exhibit, visited with Willy Wonka and got to be on the news. (If you go to www.wistv.com and check out the "Live with Lucas" tab, there is a video of Ben's interview, though you can't see his face.)

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It was actually really neat to see live television. HalloWonka is going to be a blast and this was a terrific way to kick it off...it was even worth the loss of several hours sleep!

(By the way, if you don't live around here you probably are wondering "what in the world is HalloWonka?" EdVenture --- a children's museum--hosts this event in conjunction with Wonka Candy. Wonka donates candy for prizes, the sculptures, a candy bar raffle, ec. and it raises funds for the museum. Kids dress up, play games and get lots of candy! It is a great Halloween activity. This is our first time going since we've just moved here, but I have enjoyed being on the committee and I'm looking forward to sharing it with Ben, his friend, Cullen and Cullen's mom tomorrow night.)

HalloWonka is Coming!

Next week is HalloWonka at EdVenture and we can't wait!! Ben and I are going on Monday morning (at 4:30 AM!!) for Live with Lucas and then back on Tuesday night for Preview Party (Clay is working at it on Tuesday and Thursday) and then, since I'm on the HalloWonka Committee, I have to work on Thursday night.

In addition to all of next week's fun, Wonka donates candy for schools to create themed sculptures (made entirely of Wonka candy). This year's theme was "Animal Fun" and THANK YOU to our art teacher who helped the students fine-tune their idea, build the paper mache structure and the animals. It arrived in our room Tuesday and we spent time gluing the candy on and finishing it up. I have many, many burns on my fingers from the hot glue gun and everything in my room is covered in glue, but I had a great time working on this with my students. Becky, our art teacher, came to pick it up today to take it to EdVenture and she was almost in tears because she couldn't believe how great it looked! She kept telling me how beautiful she thought it was!And, I must say that I think it turned out really beautiful!! Keep your fingers crossed the judges think so, too and we win! (We find out next Thursday night!)