Boo at the Zoo with the Hoffmans

We met up with Erica's twin-brother, Chris, and his family for the Cleveland Metroparks Boo at the Zoo this past weekend.

Here are the dizygotic twins outside the Zoo. Who said you don't learn stuff by reading our blog?

And of course, the kids. Left to right - Cleopatra (Autumn); Raphael the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (Henry); Incredible Hulk (Tyler); Tinkerbell (Caroline); and the Happy Pumpkin (Josie)

I wasn't kidding about the Happy Pumpkin.

Each year at Boo at the Zoo, this spooky-looking group wearing black shrouds and junior high art class masks hang out with little fanfare. They make no sounds and just amble around the entrance to the kid-friendly Haunted Hay Maze. I don't know whether to wet myself in fear or feel sorry for these poor schleps. In any event, they've freaked me out since I first crossed paths with them in 2004. This year I got the courage to go have my photo taken with them. Chris and I walked up and asked if we could have a family photo. True to form, they said nothing.

I'm still scared.