Chillin' at the Ren Faire

We had a busy weekend with a trip last Saturday to the Scarborough Renaissance Faire. We were excited to take Rachel there this year, though we realized that she'll probably enjoy it a lot more next year when she can actually ride some rides and participate a little more. Here's some pictures of our day.

Some general pictures of the Faire, a pretty area they named Sherwood Forest.

They have artisans that create their crafts at the faire (unfortunately this year we didn't get any photos of the glass blower, my favorite) and musicians.

These are some kind of metal sculptures and fountains that looked way cool. These might be a little hard to see on the blog...a dragon on the right and a fish to the left...

Pretty mermaid

Here's Rachel checking out the Faire guide telling us where she wants to go next!

She said she wanted to see the bird show; a very cool rescue group, they do tricks with trained owls, hawks, falcons, and other birds found injured in the wild.

Rachel watching the bird show

We missed the main parade this year, but they had a kind of mini-parade for the wedding that was taking place that day.

There's actually a story going on every weekend at the Faire that revolves around the reign of Henry VIII and they enact little skits every so often; here he is with one of his wives.

Even though she got to travel in style, much more comfortably than the rest of us...

...this is how she ended her day :)

This one was taken the next day, and I just had to include it. She looks so funny enjoying her Wendy's lunch in the minivan!

Rachel's Recent Antics

Here's some pictures of some of Rachel's recent antics.

Much to my displeasure (because I worry she'll fall or get a hold of something she shouldn't) Rachel has started dragging chairs to the kitchen island to get up and see what Mom's doing! I was prepping her lunch the other day and because it was a late lunch I just let her eat it there.

My cell phone is her favorite toy

The other day our electricity went out; when that happens our battery backup units make these periodic beeping noises that freak Max out. He gets really clingy, enough so that he stayed next to Rachel for quite a while and let her love on him while I gotsome good pics.

"He just told me the funniest joke!"
I got this one with my cell phone the other day...too funny

Can anyone explain this one to me? Several years ago we planted two rose bushes in our front yard. One is pale yellow with pink edges with HUGE blooms...

...the other is a bright coral...

...and somehow this year, we now have small burgundy roses that look much more like a shrub rose than a tea rose. They look like they're coming from the yellow rose bush. How the heck does this happen? Are the bees cross pollinating them or something? Can they do that?

Getting Jiggy at the Computer

I took this video right before we left for our Easter trip. She cracks me up how she relates so much to music. And she obviously feels something for "Island in the Sun" by Weezer :) She reminds me of a DJ holding my ipod and playing with the trackball mouse like she's scratching records!

Happy Easter!

We had a great Easter, traveling again to Arkansas for the holiday. Lots of photos, so here's the rundown.

We started out visiting Joshua's grandparents in Hot Springs. The dogwood blooming in their front yard was gorgeous.

Rachel got in some good outdoor playtime there.

Pvt. Rachel reporting for duty!

She liked this decorative windmill

This is why I love Arkansas...you can't find backyards that look like this in north Texas!

Having some silly time and cuddle time with Mama!

When it came time to leave on Saturday, she was in a very kissy mood! She gets that way sometimes :)

Stealing more kisses for Nana!

She's such a happy little girl!My mom and dad have a HUGE azalea bush (my grandmother planted it when they first moved to that house, about 45 years ago, or more maybe) up against the front of their house, and since this Easter it was in full bloom I wanted to get some pictures of Rachel in front of it.

Not sure why I like this picture so much, but I do!
Her aunt Lydia catching her after trying to run down to the road
Making sure the frosting for her grandmom's coconut cake tastes ok...tough job, but someon's gotta do it! I think we all tried it too, just to make extra super duper sure it was ok!

This was the Easter basket Rachel got upon waking Sunday morning. She liked the bunny, but of the candy.... ...I think she liked the jelly rabbits best. I think she thought they were toys that you could eat!

She's getting awfully good at posing for pictures. She didn't seem to mind at all having her own little photo shoot on my mom's coffee table in the middle of everyone watching her. I LOVE my mom's front porch (remodeled entirely by my dad). It makes such a nice place for big family dinners, and this year's was great! :)

I snagged these photos from my cousin Stephanie's facebook album. She got much better pictures of the gathering than I did. It was SO good to see everybody! :)

My aunt Tena and Stephanie's son Phillip...I can't believe I was in college when he was born!

Our Grandmama

Grandaddy and my dad