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We spend the last couple weeks preparing for Halloween and celebrating Zoe's half birthday. We don't routinely celebrate our children's half birthdays - but for some reason Zoe was really excited about this one. She decided that since she was turning four-and-a-half before Halloween, there was no way she'd be scared of ANYTHING!
To mark the occasion, we headed to the Pet Emporium in Ann Arbor. They display a bunch of cool animals on their grounds. They had everything from a sloth living in the vet hospital (though we couldn't see him well since he decided to hang out in a high window) to peacocks roaming the sidewalks (watch your step). Zoe thought all the animals were great, but Mitchell and Alyse were a little freaked out by the curious animals that were all too used to people. When the turkeys rushed the gate as we approached, they wailed like I stuck 'em with hot pokers. I guess from the stroller huge, unattractive birds rushing at your face is not an appealing sight.
Duly noted.
Here's a couple of the more benign inhabitants of the Pet Emporium.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtm_H82wntPYKloJqq56qirS6Rd8X6y3XXqYxsMab0cuj0x762qGggRIUH_XrITkQay_eR78YLJSW4NO5kezAj0qllCkC4GqMDzI7nSBGfjHm_jGAxUh-HJcKiaCgSRxHfqKS/s400/2z_horse.jpg)
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Ummmmm. Of course not!
This led to a trip to the store for a little cake, candles and a red recorder (which has since disappeared since the sound of a recorder is rather grating after a few hours). And presto - we had ourselves a party and a happy four-an-a-half year old.
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Zoe was full of theories in October. Not only would she NOT be scared this year because she was four-and-a-half, she also wouldn't be scared because SHE was going to be SCARY! She chose to be a witch for just that reason. Isn't she just frightening?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZViX489udC0CGrdtSm_-Bdb-vrvYJ-0zOK0J143cb_bmNeVMG11-jiZLiRROxPfmAo46ZYnHEIctNrk70JH2ho1jWfDKIlwozw6P2sSRmAdVmjXcBSZ6jSYEt1yLZIIbowS9c/s400/7z_witch.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_z4MJWRIuazdoRWWvFj3C7IliclPyqBndgp3co64KETdtLJDrraqvArbFpHZ4uaefJTTv7L4M2t6mS0TnVzSoBrHzuYaYQj7gJF6mXwH-VEYvqLglYHq1KS1XwwXi9qUKZBh/s400/8m_lion.jpg)
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1mBegtzhlbjVSbnYNSKaIceY1yBT3J3wyBlEneGJL2pfAR3naC9G9hHRbNdeKRHpoMIiUUl1xYECeUhn7d_xx8En30b9sEOAvNpT5I7b8fERQPc4Wd-evaPCiLdCqd2goObEo/s400/11a_sucker.jpg)
I should mention my family make the long trip from Newaygo to celebrate Halloween with us. Thank you for that! Sorry to the Adams family for sending you home with a parting gift. Oink!
2 comments:
loved Halloween this year. I keep thinking about Mitchell's face when he realized people were giving out candy and he was just sitting there.
The kids made our day thanks for having us. love you all
Love the half candle for the 4 1/2 year birthday cake. What a great mom you are. :) Love reading your blog posts - brings back lots of memories of when Katie was that age.
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