Family is in the spirit

Halloween.Perry0767JPG.jpg
Halloween.Perry0767JPG.jpg

Zane Perry and sons Mason (left) and Connor are ready for Halloween, from the decorations in the front yard to the boys? designer shirts. ?When I was growing up, we didn?t do much,? Zane said. ?After our first son was born, I wanted to make sure our kids enjoyed the holidays.?

A Hillsboro father and his two sons enjoy decorating for the holidays, and it's evident when passersby see what they have done for Halloween.

Zane Perry and his sons, Connor, 4, and Mason, 2, started setting up festive items in their yard at 406 S. Washington St. in late September.

?When I was growing up, we didn?t do much (for the holidays),? he said. ?After our first son was born, I wanted to make sure our kids enjoyed the holidays.?

Along with some vintage Halloween decorations, Zane and his sons have also added some fairly sophisticated things.

In the lawn is a 6-foot witch and skeleton, who both appear to be greeting motorists passing by.

Dotting other parts of the lawn is an inflatable spider, Mickey Mouse pumpkin, black cats, ghosts and other scary critters.

A motion-activated grim reaper stands on the porch ready to talk on cue when trick-or-treaters approach the door.

A fog machine, strobe lights and spooky music round out the mood and characters.

On the north end of their yard is a graveyard complete with coffins and 15-inch tombstones.

?We have had people drive by and tell us they loved the yard,? he said.

Since some items are hard to find in stores, Zane said he has made a few of the decorations himself.

One in particular was the coffins, he said.

?It takes about three and a half weeks (to decorate),? Zane said, and every year, he and his sons consider new things.

One of those new frightfully fun things is a 10-foot monster hanging over the garage.

Although Zane said he had some decorations before his children were born, it didn?t rival what?s been collected since Connor was born

Zane and wife Robin moved to Hillsboro in January 2009 from Mississippi.

?This is a great environment to raise young children,? Zane said.

What makes Hillsboro even more special to Mason and Connor is the change of seasons, Robin said. ?Every morning before school, they play in the leaves,? she said. ?It?s a whole new experience for them.?

On Halloween night, Zane said he will be taking the boys trick-or-treating while Robin will stay home to welcome other little ghouls and costumed-creatures for candy distribution.

Even though Halloween will conclude this weekend, the Perry family is just getting warmed up.

?We have twice as many decorations for the Christmas season,? he said.

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