The Spooktacular

On Thursday, we threw caution to the wind and took Turtle to the Zoo Spooktacular.

While this sounds like a fun family activity, it filled us with dread. After all, the Spooktacular opened at 6:30. Turtle's bedtime is a pretty consistent 5:20. Yeah. This could go either way.

We worked hard, keeping him up, then getting him in the car, and driving the 40 minutes. He did fine. So far, so good.

It was warm. DH convinced me that putting him in his costume would be a BAD IDEA. I tried to argue with him, but I also didn't want to create any issues that might lead to a meltdown. I dressed him in an orange striped polo. I mean, what kind of mommy am I? I didn't even have a cute pumpkin t-shirt for him. Of course, I felt awful when we arrived and saw all the little kids all dressed up. DH took one glance at me as we were trying to park and said "He would have been miserable."

My feelings of incompetence were quickly obliterated when the woman in the car next to us in the lot lit a new cigarette from the butt of her old one. She was 6-7 months pregnant. Yes, I judge that.

At the entrance.



Ooooh. Spooky.



Waiting to go in. I had gone to the loo and DH told me that he had heard people around him complaining that their kids were too hot in their costumes. Yeah. Still didn't feel better about it.



With his little friend, H. Both completely preoccupied and underwhelmed with the whole thing.



The jackolantern lights. So pretty.



The Mayor of PumpkinVille, welcoming us to his city. Or his 'ville. Whatever.



Turtle is still unsure of this. He has a bag, a glo-necklace and there are weird pumpkins staring at him. Oh, and it's late. Hmmm.



He has no idea that he is sitting in front of a ...



....GIANT PUMPKIN!!!!



A display of carved pumpkins. Super cool.



Yes, I'm still working on my night settings.



H, dressed as Minnie. In line for the carousel.



Turtle is checking it out.



Good photo opp gone bad. Unfortunately, DH sat on the inside of the carousel, so it was near impossible to get a photo. Boo, DH. Boo.



Posing with one of the fairies in the Enchanted Forest.




All in all, it was a super cute night. It took about two hours to walk through and it was hot and crowded. Now that we know exactly what it is about (a one-way walking path that keeps moving), we can plan better for next year. We had one little meltdown while DH was getting him something to eat. He was out of his stroller, and when I went to put him back in, he flipped out. Shoes were flung, the whole nine. It was awful and humiliating. However, we got him to snap out of it and were able to finish the rest of the event. Whew.