LIFESTYLES

FORGET BALLOONS. Critters visiting your birthday party are more fun, just ask 7-year-old Aiden Allen whose parents, Dustin and Jilian Allen, invited not only his friends but Dan Breeding of Wild Animal Encounters of Raleigh and his friends! The youngsters got to visit with Little Joe the alligator, a couple of large python snakes, a Eurasian owl, a kookaburra (bird) and Mikey the vervet monkey.

Phillip Holden, center, helps, from left, his grandson, Paidon Anderson, and his son, Zarius Holden, catch fish

Ryden Clark has a great seat to take in all the fishing action