Ren Fest 09!

So, we go the Renaissance Festival every year. This is Ella's 3rd time and Chris and I have been a ton of times. We even went together once before we were dating so that goes back over 10 years. We don't dress up, we don't eat Turkey legs, or carry the swords but we do love the spectacle of it all. For me, being in the lush wooded area surrounded by games and food and shows all means "it's fall" to me. I Love it! I'm also a huge fan of the Johnny Fox sword swallowing show. It's the exact same show every single year, pretty much word for word and it's still hilarious and amazing. Totally recommend it. Ok, now for some pics. This year we went with our friends E and A and their adorable kids :-)

Thanks to E and A's suggestion we told Ella she could wear a princess dress which she loved!

Ella actually went to the Ren Fest earlier this season with Chris' mom and the cousins so she had specific requests to go on the pony ride again.

Even though she's running away in this shot, this is evidence that Ella went up and hugged these mimes. This. Is. Unheard of!!!! She would never have gone up to, let alone touched, a stranger about a month ago. I was shocked. She really is coming out of this "cling to mommy, scared of unfamiliar places and people" stage. It did last about 6 months though!

Sharing some PB&J with Hanna and Halle (who apparently never eat PB&J...ahhh the allure of other people's food!)

Apparently something off to the right was much more exciting that the camera for the girls (I don't blame them, it was probably an elephant or a fire eater or a woman with a ton of cleavage spilling out of her medieval corset).

Chris tried his hand at ax-throwing :-)

My favorite silly people

Chris carried both girls on the LONG walk to the car and they giggled hysterically at his antics the whole way. I love my husband.

Meanwhile, Halle did this :-)
Good day.

County Fair!

We've become annual fair-goers. And we're particular: we don't like the state fair, only the county one so this Saturday was the day! As usual, lots of fun complete with friends, piglet races, stinky cows, and deep-fried oreos. Great day.

Not that you can tell, but that's me holding Ella, and Esther holding Hanna on our way down!

Ella and Hanna were "Yee-hawing" all the way around the carousel

Tall enough to go on the Train ride by themselves!!

Chris and Andy, thankfully, did not lose their lunch on this one. I almost did just watching it.

Halle milking a goat!

Me and my fascination with non-domestic animals, I had to jump in and try too :-)

I'm sure there's some reason for this but I just took a picture because it was odd.

My favorite fair folks :-)

Shades of Peanut Butter

If I haven't mentioned it before, we go to a very diverse church. 17 years ago our pastor felt called to plant a multi-cultural church and was told by "experts" all over the country that it was impossible. Well he pursued it, believing God desires racial reconcilation, not division, and God has done it! Our church has over 2000 people and is definitely a mixture of colors and cultures. Not only are many races/ethnic groups represented but there are a lot of mixed-race couples like us. Our pastor is African-American and his wife is Korean so their kids represent one of the many "shades of peanut butter" you see a lot around our church :-) It's awesome to have to look hard to find Ella in her Sunday school class because she's not the only brown kid. In my own experience being biracial, you're always a minority, wherever you go. So to have a place where you can see other kids "like" you is a rarity. There's something about being with people like you that frees you up to not have to try to be something you're not. I'm excited to have a place to give that gift to Ella.

Ironically, the same place that helps give Ella a feeling of being "like" other kids is where she gets to learn all kinds of things about what makes cultures different! She's learned all kinds of fun (sometimes funny) cultural lessons. That said, we've been developing deeper friendships with friends from church and our playgroup is really starting to gel as a group and hang out more and more! So, of course, here are some recent pics :-)


make-up time with Hanna

A few of the girls hanging out on a hammock after swimming

Chik-fil-a!

A bunch of the group!

My Brave Day

Last week a friend needed a little help after some surgery so I offered to take her daughter out for the afternoon. I was excited to do it and Ella was thrilled to get to spend some time with Hanna. We had a good time but I'll admit having two 3 year olds in the mall was kind of stressful. I'm just not used to keeping track of two kids at once in an open space. Thankfully it went pretty well (my kid was the one who had fits and made it difficult, Hanna was easy). Anyway, my hat is off to those of you with two kids or three kids or four kids...Wow. As I sat and watched them play I kept reminding myself that when I have two kids, they won't both be three at the same time-that'll make a difference right? If not, don't tell me. I need the delusion if Ella's ever going to get a sibling.

A lady who worked at this store noticed the price tag where the girls were standing and asked me if I was advertising that they were for sale for free :-)

Enjoying a little MickeyD's

Chillin in the play area tunnel

Play Doh once we got home :-) Having two kids at my house is no problem at all, that I'm more used to. I was so excited that we made it home without losing or hurting anyone that I made them an entire play doh zoo and cracked them up by letting them name the animals and then singing a song about each one. Relieved mommies are fun mommies.

Fun Day with the girls!