Boo at the Zoo

A couple of weeks ago I took Noah and Elliot to the zoo. It was Halloween weekend, when the zoo puts on its "Boo at the Zoo".  Kids come wearing costumes, and they hand out candy about every 15 feet it seems.  I didn't know that, so the boys weren't dressed up.

We got there a few minutes before it opened, so the kids killed the time playing outside the entrance.  They like this part just as much as they like the zoo, but it was pretty cold that morning, and we eventually went inside to warm up and wait.

One of the zoo employees, dressed in a "Jason" mask, sat down nearby, and far from being scared, Elliot went over and climbed right up on the chair next to him to talk.  The zoo finally opened, and the boys took off with me following.  We were among the first ones there, so they fortunately hadn't set out any candy stands yet.  

We took the tram over to the African Sky Safari, a ski lift-type ride that goes over Africa.  They insisted, although I'm no fan of heights, or riding on these things.  Elliot loved it, pointing this way and that at all the animals. Noah was a little more nervous, but got over it quickly as I somehow managed to convince him there was nothing to be afraid of, while I had a death grip on the safety bar. 

We had the place virtually to ourselves and the boys ran from exhibit to exhibit.  We walked/ran all the way back to the entrance - a distance of at least a couple miles I think.  Elliot finally gave in and asked me to carry him.  As we walked over the bridge that crossed the Blue River way down below, he asked to look over the side.  As I started to show him, he said, "Don't drop me dad.  I would fall all the way down there, and you would be sad."  Yes indeed.  

When we got back to the front part of the zoo, the boys were surprised to come across tables where they were handing out little candies.  It was a nice finish to a good morning for them.  

High-fiving "Jason"

Riding the tram

Checking out the hippos.  Elliot asked if they were "hungry, hungry".

Taking a break.

Three little monkeys.

Time for a snack.  This is the last time we saw E's jacket.

Having some ice cream after a long walk.

Posing in front of the pumpkins

Looking for the sea lions

Riding the merry-go-round

Final snack of the day.

A Happy Halloween

This year we had the funnest Halloween with the boys. This is the first year we did real trick or treating to any extent. In the past, we have always taken Noah to the Brookside shops in the afternoon and since he's not a big fan of keeping on costumes and was always pleased with his stash, he'd strip down when we came home and be ready for some treats and just handing out candy. This year we skipped the madness and crowds.

Instead we headed over to our friends' house where everyone ate, socialized, played, bounced and jumped in a lot of leaves.

E is signing "more" after Paul threw him in the pile

All kinds of crunched up leaves came out of the boys clothes when they undressed later

Then we decided to trick or treat with our friends up and down their block. Elliot did maybe half of the houses. Sometimes he'd walk up with the big boys and do it with them, other times we helped him. Never in a hurry, he wanted to just eat his candy right then. Who am I kidding, Noah was the same way. He kept wanting to go back home and quit so he could eat his candy.

Everyone loved this porch

Noah & his buddies

Group shot of all the kids after trick or treating. Notice my two boys are the only ones too busy eating to look at the camera.

That crazed hot tamale look on our way home

After we got home, we did only a little more trick or treating and of course we were thrilled to run into Noah's BFF, Hudson and family. This is Noah with Hudson & Kate (Hudson's cousin)

This is the first Halloween, or really time in Noah's life ever, I didn't limit his candy. I just let him eat what he wanted. I limited Elliot, but let him eat way more than Noah ever did at that age! Poor (or lucky?) second kids. I warned Noah too much would make him feel sick to his stomach and encouraged moderation, but you can guess that he didn't trust me! He did say his tummy didn't feel very good at bedtime and was pretty wound up, but it was a fun night. And after that night, the rest of the candy magically disappeared.

*I realize E is wearing a non-costumey sweatshirt over his skeleton outfit, but it was chilly :) I always choose comfort over cute. And heck, he is cute in anything anyway!

Halloween 2009 - Captain Serious

The two previous Halloweens, Noah was a Mizzou Tiger football player (Chase Daniels, if you want to be specific). That was primarily because he had no intention of ever getting into a costume, much to his mother's chagrin. In fact, people in costumes scared him quite a bit, so the prospect of even going out for candy was a bit dicey.

We played it safe by going to Brookside's Trick or Treat Street, an annual event at the neighborhood shops a few blocks away, where over 60 retailers hand out candy. Last year we went, got scared, got a smattering of candy and came home. Noah just looked at us, handed us his pumpkin and went off to play.

This year, he understands what candy is. He didn't understand that the point of getting dressed up and going out was to get some, but at least whenever he fussed about getting dressed up or getting in the car, we could say "Candy" and he would hang in there for at least a few minutes longer.

Unfortunately, Mandy was very ill and couldn't go, so I packed up E & N, and we went trick-or-treating. You can't see Elliot's costume, but I think he was a pumpkin. The ghosts and goblins didn't bother him a bit. He loved being there.


Noah really wasn't sure about the Captain America mask. In all fairness, it didn't really fit well and stay in place, so he was constantly trying to see when it was down. Here we are getting out of the van.

Five seconds later, the mask comes up. You can even see our mini-van in the background, that's how far we got.

Crossing the street to the shops. He's getting excited now.

He spots his first candy giveaway. You can tell he's getting excited, because he's getting much more serious looking.

Candy from the Brooksider. If he were only ten years older, he could probably buy a beer here too.

This is the scary-ass clown that almost made both of us cry. Noah seemed cool with the whole costume thing this year, until we saw this clown. I didn't realize I had a picture of him, but right after he got the candy, Noah turned around, saw him and started freaking. He calmed down eventually, but kept looking over his shoulder. Looks a little old to be trick-or-treating at a kids event.

Reminds me of that Jack Handy quote: "To me, clowns aren't funny. In fact, they're kind of scary. I've wondered where this started, and I think it goes back to the time I went to the circus, and a clown killed my dad."

Waiting in line for candy. Noah kept looking at this boy like, "What are you supposed to be?" He was "Cat in the Hat".

Captain "Cheese"

Only long enough to get the photo.

Noah saying cheese, and Elliot being busy doing whatever Elliot does these days. Which is primarily being busy.

I think I found Captain America's kryptonite. Skittles. He let me pull his mask down, and even walked a few yards with it down for pictures. I can see why he didn't like it.

Holding his Halloween bucket, I was like the pied piper. He followed me all the way back to the car without a peep.

Not fooled

I was playing with Noah at the park, and chasing him around the playground (which he loves) and pretending I was a Halloween monster.

He stopped and looked at me like I was an idiot and said, "You not a monster, Daddy, you Daddy!"

So I ate the rest of his candy.