October 31, 2008

Happy Halloween!

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, but it was a bit quiet this year. I never did get my decorations out, and we didn't have any parties to attend. Crissy used to threw the best pumpkin carving parties. But we still know how to have a good time. For some reason Boulder Valley was off today so after I got back from my run (that didn't suck for once) and cleaned up, we went to the ZOO! Well, first we stopped at Starbucks and got donuts, then we went to the ZOO!

Ariel was quite the help with the maps. Hmm, we went past the kangaroos and the elephants, now where are we?



This picture is for those who know why I took it:



We did the bird house next. Ariel was a bit apprehensive at first, and I don't blame her. I was irrationally terrified of the bird house when I was a kid. I remember there used to be a beaded curtain and I cried when I had to go through. But she got over it and of course Alex had a blast.

Then we rode the carousel:



Alex was the reason behind everyone's animal choices, he *had* to ride on the Double Waddled Cassowary. And yes, he knows what a waddle is.



Which left Adam to the dolphin, which was fine by him:



And then we had lunch. Hot dogs, PB & J, goldfish and grapes for Ariel:



Cut anything into a heart and she'll eat it:



After lunch, we visited the lorikeets. I loved feeding them (even if I got pooped on) but the kids wouldn't try it.



Next, we walked all the way across the zoo (I did not bring a stroller or wagon for today, and it turned out fine) to Tropical Discovery.

Then we walked all the way back for cotton candy. Ariel had some, but not nearly as much as Alex:



And lastly, at Ariel's request, we rode the train:



This was really one of the best days I've ever had at the zoo. It was unbelievably uncrowded and none of the kids had a meltdown.

I think Ariel had a good time too:



We dropped Ariel off at Laura's work with Becky for a Halloween Party. Hope you guys had fun.

And our Halloween festivities - here's Bobo Fett and Comander Fox:



Adam left his helmet home anyway, it just was hard to see through:



And when we got back from the zoo, Judy came up and we had a speed cutting pumpkin party. Judy grew all these pumpkins in her back yard.



My annual kitty:



Judy gets the Super Super Grammie award for carving this for Adam:



Heh.



The kids went trick-or-treating for about 45 minutes, or 1 1/2 streets. They asked to come home, their pumpkins were too heavy. That's a pretty good self-limiting factor, you can't get more candy than you can carry.