I took the boys to the Maryland Zoo for ZooBoo. They had a carnival-like setup near the Zoo entrance where kids could trick-or-treat at each booth along with the usual food and games and such.
It was pretty chilly, but luckily I remembered jackets for all of us. We got bundled, then on went costumes for the boys. I went as mom.
We got into the Zooboo part and before we had passed the first booth, Malias had to "go." So we trekked back out (the Zooboo part was set up on the grass and with fresh laid mulch for a pathway --I had a cheap garage sale bought double stroller that is hard to push anyways :) ) to the bathroom.
Once we got done there we trekked our way back up the slight incline to the bulk of the booths. Malias wants to jump in the huge inflated jumping-thing. We need tickets. We trek some more until we find the ticket booth. CASH only. I don't have cash...but there is an ATM inside the gift shop, located near the entrance of the Zoo...you know, the one to the right of the bathrooms we were just at...
So, we trekked out once more as I remove my jacket. I feel warm now. I am also wondering if they will care if we just go home. I am a wimp. I remember how much I just paid to get into the zoo. We should at least stay an hour to make it even remotely worth the money, I think.
We get to the gift shop and Malias quickly finds the toy he can't live without, and commences non-stop asking. I get some cash and then cautiously try to talk him out of the toy. "We are going to go have lots of fun! And get candy!! We don't need that toy right now."
Not convinced it is the best decision, he puts the toy back and amazingly comes with me without any crying.
We make it back to the pluthera of booths once more. I get 12 tickets for $5. That should be enough, I think.
I see a huge inflatable pirate ship. "Wow! Malias do you want to go play on that?" He says he does.
Its a little ways a way so we trick-or-treat at a couple booths on our way. I have to gently push or pull him to each table so they can put the candy into his bucket. He won't go alone...or even a foot away from me for that matter.
We get to the pirate ship and give the man our ticket. I tell Malias what to do and once he realizes that means leaving my side he no longer wants to do it. The nice man gives our ticket back to us.
We trick-or-treat a couple more times. I think Efton might want to get out of the stroller and get his candy like Malias, so I get him out. I hand him his bucket and help him walk to the table. After about three steps he quickly starts throwing himself to the ground and thrashing his head in a tantrum. Not really sure what just happened, I struggle to get him back into the stroller and then he is just fine. Malias is walking toward the little hay maze.
That could be fun, I think.
Malias enters the maze while I quickly grab camera, bag and Efton. Leaving the stroller. There is no way it would fit in there. I put Efton down and he happily follows Malias around. They think this is great.
Yay! At least we found one thing here they seem to like.
Plus, I remember to get a few pictures.
We walk around the maze a while then seem to get stuck walking in circles in one of the corners. I lead them out of the maze where Efton begins throwing another tantrum. I carry him to the stroller, tell Malias to follow, and get him strapped back in. We go to the the next booth where we got to pick out a small free pumpkin for each of them.
Malias still wants to go on the big inflatable jumping-thing so we go there next. We pay our ticket and struggle to take off Malias' shoes with his costume on, because its required.
Then again he realizes He has to go alone and won't leave my side. I put his shoes back on and we got to get a few more candies. After that I see what we can use our non-refundable tickets on since we have them. We find a plinko game and the first thing the lady tells me is, "Your baby is missing a shoe."
Great! I say we'll be right back, and we go off looking for Efton's shoe. I am glad I am still wearing my glasses, instead of leaving them in the car like I usually do.
Luckily we find his shoe under the last table we trick-or-treated at. We go back to the plinko game. We give her our three tickets and I help Malias play. We win the "biggest" price with our first try. Its a stuffed animal the size of Malias' palm. I wonder how small the smallest prize is? It makes me laugh.
We use another ticket for a sucker game. She lets him pick until he wins a small toy. And then there isn't mush else to do. I ask Malias if he is ready to go home, or if he wants to go to the animals.
We have to ride a tram to get to the animals. He wants to do that!
We stand in the line and wait for the next tram. Malias is excited. The tram pulls up. The driver is dressed as a penguin. We sit in the seats right behind the driver and as someone helps me load the stroller on with Efton still in it, Efton starts screaming and crying. Is he afraid of the costume? Or the tram? Or did he think I was leaving him? I don't know. He wouldn't stop so I got him out and held him. Then he calmed down. We get to the zoo part and head off toward the animals. Malias wants to see the elephants. We follow the signs stopping at other animals on the way for only split seconds. He just wants to see the elephants, and Efton doesn't seem to care. We get to the elephants finally and Malias is so happy, but he wants to get closer. I want to stay where we are but we go down the crowded path anyways. As we are standing there watching for the few short minutes a guy from channel 11 news asks me if I want to answer a question about the snow coming. I tell him I don't think I have much to say and he says he sure its fine, so I say OK. So I say my little ditty and he thanks me and off we go. Malias really wants to see a lion now.
We make it to the lions and look at them for about a minute then I suggest the monkeys. We see the monkeys for about another minute and then Malias sees a small-ish aquarium with fish and turtles. He sits watching for about 10 minutes...maybe longer. I think its funny that he is most interested in that of all things.
I ask him if he is ready to go home. Its nap time and lunch time and I am still cold. He says he is ready. We go back to the tram. Efton is OK with it this time, thank heavens. As we pass by the Gift shop near the entrance Malias remembers the toy he wanted and begins crying for it. I remind him of all the toys and candy he just got and fun we just had (not to mention the unused tickets and wasted money). He follows me to the car as he cries, but doesn't throw a fit like I expected. I am so glad for that.
No comments:
Post a Comment