Hallzooween

While Phillip was in Iowa City a couple of weekends ago, Archie and I decided to check out HallZooween at the zoo. Unfortunately, they only did the trick or treat costume thing on the weekends. My least favourite time to go to the zoo is on the weekends and during the summer. Homeschooling is great cause we get the zoo, museums, etc. to ourselves during the week and let all the other folks have at it on the weekends! There was an insane amount of people at the zoo for the Halloween event. The kids go in costume and trick or treat at different stations in the zoo. They also had events with the animals involved. Just parking for this event was quite an ordeal. The zoo had all four parking lots filled to the brim with cars.

Archie dressed up as a pirate (a generic one, not necessarily Cap'n Jack Sparrow!) and Lawrence dressed up as a kangaroo. Here is Lawrence all ready to head out:

When we arrived at the zoo, Big Boy was there to greet us. Archie just loves Big Boy. He asks to eat there often. I suppose it's the Big Boy character he loves so much. Their food leaves much to be desired. Their best dish is the salad bar. And that's because you make it yourself. But the Big Boy character...top notch!

Lawrence and I got a taste of what the zoo animals feel like...people kept pointing at us and telling their companions to look at us. Lawrence did look pretty cute in his little kangaroo costume, but I think it's because of the sling. I guess there aren't as many baby wearers out there as I thought.

Fortunately, we have a budding photographer in the family...perhaps I won't be left out of all the family pictures anymore. Archie loves to take pictures! He took a picture of Lawrence and me at the Botanical Garden section.

Here is Archie while we were waiting for the magic show to begin. The smudges around his mouth is not dirt, but ash. In order to make pirate 'five o'clock shadow' I burned the end of a cork and dotted his face with the ash. We were pretty far into the day at this point, so most of his 'pirate whiskers' rubbed off with all the candy eating!

And here is Lawrence. I asked him to stop fussing long enough to smile and look at Archie who was taking his picture. He didn't listen.

Archie really loved the magic show. The magician asked for volunteers at one point and Archie was waiving his hands like a mad man. The guy picked an adult out of the crowd who had his head 'removed' from his body while in a box. Similar to the sawing in half of a person. Archie found that trick fascinating, but a little scary. He quickly decided that perhaps he would be better served if he found out exactly what he was volunteering for before he just up and volunteered. Another good life lesson there. Always know what you're getting into...you could possibly lose your head!

On our way out, we arrived at the elephants' area just in time for the Elephant's Pumpkin Smash event. Which is exactly how it sounds...an elephant smashes a pumpkin. We stopped in for a looksee. Fortunately for Archie, he is small, so he maneuvered his way right to the front. I couldn't see anything. From what Archie told me, the zoo staff hollows out a pumpkin, fills it with honey, peanut butter, and some nuts. The elephant then steps on the pumpkin to crack the shell into smaller pieces, then grabs the pieces with his trunk and eats them. Archie said it was really fun to watch.

The zoo's Halloween event was fantastic...despite the massive amount of people enjoying the day. I am looking forward to having the zoo to ourselves again next time we go. Which *will* be on a week day!