Boo at the Zoo

Tonight was our first annual trip to Boo at the Zoo.  I didn't really know what to expect, but it was not at all what I imagined.  It was like a miniature state fair, complete with rides, junk food out the wazoo (even the fried twinkies), and way too many people--minus most of the carnies. On second thought, maybe they were disguised behind Halloween masks, too....or maybe it was just that it was dark and we thought they were dressed in costume.  Anyway, all the kids and several adults were all decked out in their Halloween attire.  The zoo gives you "trick-or-treat" tickets when you walk through the gate, and the kids get to walk up to all the different booths and get candy in exchange for their tickets.  

I swear we came home with enough candy to keep all four of us (I'm including the bun in the oven) on a constant sugar high for a minimum of one month.  Not to mention I already have two monster bags of Halloween candy in my pantry that are somehow halfway empty...over the course of about a week, oink, oink.  Good thing that gestational diabetes test isn't for another couple of weeks!  All in all, it really was a fun night. William was decked out in his cowboy costume, and was super excited about all the goodies he brought home.  Oh, and he also got to see a real fire truck up close, and the nice firemen even let him climb in the truck.  Can you tell he was excited??

They had these "patches" of plastic pumpkins that were lit up all over the zoo, and William loved them.

William with his buddies, Hannah Montana (Lilly) and Elvis (Hill).  This pic was taken at the end of the night...they obviously didn't care too much about having their picture taken by this point.  Unquestionably a sign that it's time to go home!

A night pretending to be a cowboy wouldn't be complete without camping, right?  We had to sidestep the campfire since we got home so late, but he does have a night light that looks like a campfire...good enough.  Dad made William a good pallet on the floor with a camping pad and sleeping bag, told him a good ol' cowboy story, and finished up right about the time the sugar high was waning.  Perfect timing.  Now, I'm crossing my fingers that he gets rested up for the pumpkin patch tomorrow!

My nieces

My sister, Anne, just had Sarah Bussey take some pictures of her girls.  They turned out so stinkin' cute, so I thought I'd share!  Mary Ellis is the older one, and I think she looks just like her Mama, personality included.  Tollie is the little one and is the spitting image of her Dad/Grandad. We can't wait to meet #3!!  http://www.sarahbusseyphotography.blogspot.com/

State Fair

We had such a fun day at the state fair that I don't even know where to start!  We met up with the Tedfords while we were there, which made it all the more fun.  We took over 200 pictures, and I could only narrow it down to so many!  I wasn't really sure how William would react to all the activity because he's usually pretty timid when it comes to things that are loud, big, and new.  Boy, were we ever mistaken, that child wanted to ride every single ride....and the few rides that I thought might be a little too much for him were his absolute favorite.  I think the swirly elephant ride (pictured immediately below) was the biggest hit.  Daddy William was such a good sport to ride with him, as I wasn't sure my pregnant self could stomach all the turning.  I couldn't even attempt to take a picture in motion because they were swirling SO fast, and William was squealing with delight the whole entire time.  

 Anne, Tollie, Mary Ellis, and Alan

The race cars were also at the top of the favorites list.  The cars threw the kids so fast around the curves, I thought William might fall out...or barf since we had just eaten corn dogs and a funnel cake.  He was all smiles the whole time.
Doesn't he look like a natural on that motorcycle?  Unfortunately, this is as close as he'll get to riding a real one if Mom has anything to do with it.  :)

William and Mary Ellis both caught a fish.  William won a giant blow up "Nemo fish" and Mary Ellis got a gold (real, of course) necklace with dolphins on it.  Sweet little Tollie had fun watching and picking up some fish as they swirled around.

The one ride Mom was brave enough to get on....and it was actually kinda fun. 

Yes, Mary Ellis' tongue is hanging out of her mouth.

William was in heaven at the livestock section, with the exception of a turkey who attempted to taste one of his little fingers.  What can you expect when you stick your fingers in every animal's face?  One is bound to get you...lesson learned...maybe.  After 3 1/2 fun but exhausting hours, William cried when we had to leave.  No worries, it's here for another week, so I have a feeling we might be making another trip back...