We have another NFF picnic in the books!  It was great to see so many families in the park enjoying themselves on a lovely overcast fall afternoon.  I am so grateful that the weather held out and we didn't have any rain!  

Erin and I are looking for feedback on our picnic...What did you like?  Is there something you'd like to see that wasn't at the picnic?  Is there something that was at the picnic that you'd like to see go away?  Constructive feedback is always welcome!  Keep in mind we do have a fixed budget for the event. 

Thank you again to all who helped to make our picnic a great success!

Looking forward to our next activities and  events:
You've Been Boo'd during the month of October
Halloween Parade in the Park on October 31
Breakfast with Santa on December 8

See you around the neighborhood!
Beth

2pm: Picnic starts! 

When you arrive, please check in at the welcome table!  Upon check in you will receive a raffle ticket for a DOOR PRIZE!  Be sure to check in.

2-5pm     
Food
LIVE music from Mike Vial and Mark Sobczak
photo booth
lawn games
craft table
inflatables 

Inflatables include: two bounce houses, obstacle course, jousting arena, and two sport games.

​(The jousting arena is for middle school and up, please and thank you!)

3-4pm    
Firetruck visit

3-5pm      
Petting zoo
trackless train rides
face painting
cotton candy provided by Connie LaBarge Thomas
 
3:30-4:30pm
A special visit from....Baby Shark!

3:30-5:00pm
Mini EUCHRE Tournament!  
You can sign up ahead of time or the day of...$5 pay in to play.

4:45pm     
50/50 Drawing and Door Prize Drawings


There will be a port-o-potty available at the park, also. 

Every child will take home a pumpkin, too!!

​

Our picnic is on Sunday and I have been obsessively checking the weather...it is calling for showers early, but by picnic time it should be overcast and 68 with southerly winds which is great!  We have a GIANT tent coming so don't let the weather deter you.   The first picnic my family attended when we moved in 5 years ago was a drizzly day and we still had a great day so don't let a few clouds keep you from coming. 

When you arrive at the picnic, please check in at the WELCOME TABLE!  It will be super easy...find your address and sign in with your name and number of people you brought with you.  There will be name tags, also.  Thank you for taking the time to check in when you arrive!  

There will be PUMPKINS for all the children in attendance!  Which means...there will be A LOT of pumpkins!  Be sure to bring a pumpkin home for each of your children before you go leave.  EVERY child gets a pumpkin.  There is a lot you can do with a pumpkin...paint it, carve it, toast the seeds, make pumpkin muffins, bake a pie, and the list could go on.   A HUGE thank you to the Carroll Family for picking up all the pumpkins for us...your help is GREATLY APPRECIATED!  

Thank you to the Storen Family and the Hall Family who will be picking up food for the picnic for us.  Thank you to the Kosiorek Family for the hay bales and corn stalks donation to help decorate our tent.

If you haven't RSVP'd yet for Sunday, please do so!  

Looking forward to seeing everyone on Sunday!

Beth  

Only a few more days until our picnic!!  Thank you those who have RSVP'd already...if you haven't had a chance to do so, please do so soon.   

Thank you to those who have signed up for food and for helping out...we can still use help during the picnic, so please sign up on the volunteer sign up genius...time slots are only 30 minutes!  We have A LOT of children coming, so help with the bounce houses, obstacle course, jousting arena, and managing the cotton candy line would be super  appreciated.

Help with 50/50 and with the food tables in also greatly appreciated. If you like walking around,  talking to people,  and getting them to buy things, then the 50/50 raffle is for you!  The more tickets we sell, the bigger the prize! Food help is making sure things are neat and accessible at the tables...NO COOKING involved. : )  

What else is going to be at the picnic?  

The Rochester Hills Fire Department will be bringing by one of their engines for the kids (or grown ups) to sit in and take pictures with...if you have a future firefighter or a little one who love trucks, then be sure to check it out.  The truck will be parked on Millbrook Court.  

There will be some carnival games to play...basketball, baseball, and Big Mouth Lion.  Those are always fun for everyone!

Feel free to start up a Wiffle ball game or kick ball game as we will have equipment for that at our baseball diamond.

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the picnic on Sunday!

Beth

I have shared a lot about activities for the kids, but what about the grown ups?  There are things for you, too!  

If you like to play lawn games, we will have ladder golf and bag toss to play...challenge a neighbor to a friendly competition.  If you have never played them,  no worries!  They are super easy and usually played one handed as the other may be holding a beverage...whatever that beverage may be is totally up to you.  Your NFFHOA will be providing bottled water, but feel free to bring other drinks of your choice.  

If you like to enter raffles, we will have a 50/50 raffle so be sure to bring a little spending money...that is the only thing you will need money for as everything else is FREE!  Last year the winner went home with a little over $100...I know we can do better than that this year.  I will be needing some help with the selling of the tickets...you can sign up easily on our Volunteer Sign Up Genius which is posted on our picnic information page.  It is also posted on our neighborhood Facebook page.  I will also take walk up volunteers the day of the picnic. : )

If you don't want to worry about feeding your family that day, then come to the picnic!  NFFHOA will be providing fried chicken and sandwiches.  Plus, neighbors will be bringing appetizers, sides, and desserts to share.  Be sure to check out the Food Sign Up Genius to add your name and dish to the list!  If there is any indication from last year, there will be TONS of food!  You may even be able to bring some food home with you, especially if you hang out to help clean up at the end.  

If you like inflatables, you are welcome to challenge others to the obstacle course and the jousting arena, too...big kids includes our adults, too. : )  I may challenge my 8 year old son to the obstacle course to show him what mom can do.  Challenge your significant other to a jousting match!

The BEST reason of all to come is to hang out with everyone from our AMAZING neighborhood!  We have a bunch of people who have moved in since our picnic last year, so this is a great opportunity to meet new neighbors and reconnect with the neighbors we've known.  

Stay tuned for more information about the picnic!

If you haven't RSVP'd, please do so!  

If you have, THANK YOU and ask your neighbors if they have RSVP'd yet.  

Looking forward to seeing everyone!
Beth

Chamberlin Pony Rides and Mobile Petting Zoo will be at our picnic again this year.  We also had them at our Egg Hunt this year.  They were a big hit both times and I am excited to have them again.  They will be at our picnic from 3-5pm.  

We will have a petting zoo, pony rides, and a pony cart ride.  The pony ride will be for kids up to 65 pounds.  The pony cart ride is for an adult and a child. Between the two pony options, this should allow for plenty of rides for our neighbors.  The petting zoo will have goats, chickens, ducks, sheep, and more!  You will be able to feed the animals, too...which is my daughter's FAVORITE thing to do!

This year there will also be TWO face painters.  Face painting starts at 3pm.  In addition, Chamberlin will also bring simple lawn games for the kids to play.

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the picnic!  If you haven't RSVP'd yet, please do so.  

Stay tuned for more picnic information!

Our annual picnic is quickly approaching on Sunday, September 30!  There is so much planned!  There are activities for ALL AGES!

First, we'd like to say thank you to Mary Ferrazza  for sponsoring our DJ!  She has been supporting our picnic in this way for many years...thank you so much!  Our DJ always plays lots of great music and usually has activities for the kids, too.  

Another big thank you to Connie LaBarge Thomas for donating her time and cotton candy talents to our picnic!  I know my kiddos really enjoyed Connie and her cotton candy last year...I think my son had 4 last year!

There will be LOTS of inflatables: 2 bounce houses, an obstacle course, and a jousting arena!  The jousting arena is specifically for our big kids...middle school and up!  If you are looking to wear you children out...be sure to come to the picnic.

If you want to have a keepsake from our picnic, be sure to visit the Photo Booth!  Have fun taking silly pictures with your friends and family...it was a big hit last year!

Be sure to check back for more updates about our picnic!  If you haven't RSVP'd yet, please do so!