Renaissance Festival

Our family came up to visit and we went to the Texas Renaissance Festival last weekend, so much fun!! Grandma stayed with baby Jaina, thankfully!! It was a bit too cold for the little one :) This was our 5th time going, and I have to say it gets more and more interesting each time we go. The people who really get into character are definitely a different breed. But it makes it all the more entertaining!! There is so much to do there, no way to see and do everything all in one day. This year our goal was to eat good food...not hard to do because there is great food in practically every area, german, english, spanish, french cuisine...you name it, they have it!! There are also tons of shops, everything from crafts, to jewelery, to weapons, to toys, and clothing. Musical and other various forms of entertainment are all over the place as well. Something not to be missed is the real live joust, although we missed it this year because we've seen it many times. There are also a lot of fun games and rides for the kiddos. None of us were brave enough to try the elephant rides though, maybe next year!! It took Ryan a little while to get used to the "festive" people walking around, but he was having the time of hos life when we were ready to leave...why does that always seem to happen??

Her royal highness, Princess Jaden :)

Walking around the festival makes you feel like you're in a different time!!

The costumes people wear are truly amazing.

Knights from the joust marching in the parade.

I knight thee Sir Ryan :)

The family enjoying a little down time playing Wii Sports Resort

Playgroup--Children's Museum

Our first trip out of the house without Daddy....besides the occasional trip to Target was to the Houston Children's Museum for our church playgroup. There is this awesome area of the museum called the Tot Spot, Ryan loves it....so much fun and everything is just his size!! Some of his favorite things to do there are: building tall tall towers with the blocks (not sure how he gets them so tall, it still amazes me), setting the table and having a tea party in the little playhouse, and playing with the ball ramp. Thanks to Ashlie for holding the baby so that I could have some time to play with Ryan, I love Jaina more than words can say....but I sure do miss that one on one time!! It will be really great when they can actually play together, and I can play with both of them. It was a nice day out so we decided to be brave and try the Water Works station outside. So glad that I always pack him extra clothes, because he was soaked, but he had so much fun niether of us really cared!! And of course we could leave without taking a few turns down the playground slide. Ryan has really started being brave about trying new things...I'm so glad because he usually loves what I'm showing him to do!!

Ryan loves playing house...don't tell Daddy :)

Amazed at the marble maze!

Ryan loves his cars and trucks

Sending boats down the river....

Loving the playground...notice the change of clothes!!

Camp Stratton!!

So we went on our first family camp out this month. Luckily all of the campsites in the state parks around here were booked, so we opted to try backyard camping. It was a good idea to have a trial run with the kiddos anyways!!! It was so much fun. We had tin foil dinners and hot apple cider that were delicious thanks to the handy work of our good friend Clarissa :) The kids ran around chasing each other for pretty much the whole night. We brought these really cool glow sticks that kept them amazed and happy, a definite must have for future camp outs!! We were able to have a real camp fire thanks to the fire bowl that we brought, so we roasted marshmallows and everything!! The kids had a blast playing ring around the rosey in the tent, I think that was probably their favorite part of the night, it cracked me up watching them laugh hysterically when "they all fall down"!! Ryan didn't want any part of sleeping in the tent by himself, so needless to say he got to stay up WAY past his bedtime, but he loved it, and we loved that he crashed as soon as his head hit the pillow!! I am so glad that we were in the backyard because halfway through the night I had to go inside the house and scavenge for more blankets, I was FREEZING....lots of blankets another must have!! Jaina surprised us too....she slept through the entire night!! Maybe we need to but her crib out on the patio....hmmmm, maybe not!! We woke up in the morning and ate breakfast, they had to have been the BEST eggs and bacon that I have ever had, thanks Rod and Angel :) All in all I would count our first camp out as a success...good times, good friends, can't wait to do it again!!

The kids eating their roasted hot dogs!

Jaina's first campout, she was a trooper :)

Enjoying the awesome tin foil dinner, and company :)

Daddy setting up the latern!

Our first family campfire :)

Ring around the rosey, tent edition!!

The dads made the best breakfast...way to go guys!!

Oh so cold, but oh so worth it!!!!

Fire Fest 2009

We had a great weekend!! Ryan has been really into fire trucks lately, so we took him to Houston Fire Fest 2009. He was able to get up close and personal with the fire trucks....crawling around inside and taking the wheel. He was really excited to be so close!! Although he didn't care too much for the LOUD horns and sirens!! We were able to watch a staged bus fire rescue, I don't think Ryan realized that it was just pretend....he was VERY concerned!! Ever since he started playing Wii sports resort with daddy he's been obssessed with swords, but we haven't been able to find a "safe" one for him to play with. Problem solved...he was able to get a balloon sword, he loves it...and we love that there's no chance of it going through the tv, or Jaina's head!! The last thing we did before leaving was Ryan's first pony ride. So glad he wanted to do it, we were expecting him to admire the ponies from afar, but he decided he wanted to be Cowboy Ryan!! Every kid needs a picture on a pony right?!?!?

Captain Ryan to the rescue!!!

Loving the Fire Trucks!!!

Check out my cool sword :)

Giddyup horsey!!!