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Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Renaissance and Fantasy

For my birthday, I dragged Jeremy to the Washington Renaissance Fantasy Faire. He escaped this fate last year due to it being canceled. This year, the Faire coordinators got all their duckies lined up and it was go! So, I spent a week and a half sewing up outfits for us, by hand. I was without a sewing machine at the time. Miraculously, I finished in time.

There were some really fabulous costumes there. Knights in armor, Fairies and Nymphs, Walking dead soldiers, and some very naughty Pirates with whips that made me blush a little with envy. But this costume truly wins best and most fabulous costume.
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We saw a Bawdy Juggler, making dirty (bawdy) jokes while he juggled various items. We saw the same juggler sweetly hand his little boy, two on Halloween, one of the juggling pins when the boy was upset. He also balanced the standing child in just one hand.
We saw two men play various roles in a short stage comedy.
We saw a woman working a loom, with her homemade goat hair yarn, from her own goats.
We saw stilt walkers, musical bards, leather shops, armories, beautiful greyhounds for adoption, and a fragrant variety of food.
After seeing all this, we began making our way toward the jousting arena to view The Queen's Tournament. Jeremy left me to hold our seating, and rest my poor aching ankle, while he went in search of the infamous turkey legs. He came back unable to find the booth advertising their sale. A few moments later, a gal sat near us with *BA DA DA DUM* A Turkey Leg! So I asked her where she had gotten it, and then sent Jeremy after his much coveted meat fix. He returned triumphantly this time.
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Shortly thereafter, Mary Queen of Scots arrived with her entourage.
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Her right hand man returned to our section after seating his Queen. We were informed that we were seated in the Scots seating, and should cheer accordingly. Yay! This suits my heritage just fine. Other seating sections were for the German (don't hate me cause I'm beautiful), the Italian (the villian), and the Spaniard. The Spaniard was there to represent all Spaniards, and every woman's right to a life outside the home! WhooHoo!
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The Jester and the Scottish warrior announced the Jousting Tournament, and each contestant. The also heckled each other.
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First, the contestants went around the ring, impaling small rings with their swords. Then there was the cabbage chop. Finally the joust. The Spaniard did not compete in the joust. She just wasn't dressed for the occasion.
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The Italian won the joust, but did not win the Queen's favor. That, of course, was awarded to the Scotsman. After the joust, Jeremy and I walked around a bit more looking at various booths we had not checked out yet. One sweet vendor was kind enough to take our photo for us. I worked hard on that skirt and his vest. It needed documentation, even if it's not a very good photo.
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Monday, August 24, 2009

School Days

This week, I am officially the mother of a 4th grader, 1st grader, pre-schooler, and toddler. My oldest, known here as MonkeyBug, will be going back to her father's tomorrow night. School begins on Thursday for here. I know she's excited.
My PixyChick will be starting school next Tuesday. She's definetly excited. She's spent all summer working on her letter sounds, spelling, reading, sounding things out, and of course drawing. Drawing is her favorite thing to do, and she loves illustrating the stories she comes up with.
Bear, well, his speech is not the best. So he will hopefully be attending some preschool this year to help develop his speech to where it should be. Just need to have that screening appointment with the therapist or whatever completed.
I'm excited at the prospect of having 3 out of 4 kids in school. It feels strange to think next year my little man should be in Kindergarten. It definetly has me seriously thinking it's time to go back to school myself. Of course, since I want to be a teacher, this means school for the rest of my life. Summers off? Winter breaks. Spring break. Sounds good to me. That, and it's the one thing I've wanted to do since I was 7 and in second grade. I want to teach High School English. I'm going to use the School House Rock stuff in my curriculum. How many of us can still remember those catchy tunes, like "conjunction junction, what's your function..." Senior year I moved to a new school, where 600 students being the school size suddenly became my class size. Culture shock. The most depressing part was senior english. Those kids STILL didn't know the difference between verbs, adverbs, adjectives... and none of them knew what the heck I was talking about when I tried to help by using School House Rock lyrics to study. I'd decided a few years before that about becoming an english teacher, but that right there sealed the deal. Somewhere, at some time, somebody failed those kids very badly. So, I guess with my own babies getting into school, it's time to go back myself. Study and homework time can become a family event.
Please excuse me, I need to see where I put that last shred of sanity.....

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Boats, Floats, and Zooooooom!

On Monday, Jeremy's buddy Brent invited us out to go riding on the boat. The timing was great, as we had just picked up Bug, Pix, and Bear from their father the night before. So after Jeremy got off we work, we drove out to Alder Lake past Eatonville.
Potato loved the breeze in her face.
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After Brent went out on his new board, Bug wanted a try on the innertube.
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She loved it!!
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Jeremy had fun driving the boat. He and Brent bicker like an old married couple.
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Next was Bear's turn. I got into the innertube first. Of course, I was doing this without my glasses, so I couldn't see too well. Almost into the silly thing... I capsize it and dunk myself. Jeremy said the look of fear he usually sees on peoples faces when this happens was absent from my face. He said I looked pissed off. lol I really wasn't. It was more of a "dammit, I knew that was gonna happen!"
This didn't deter or worry Bear at all. I'm so glad he is finally past the phase of being terrified of things like this. He is coming into his boyness quite well, and with enthusiasm. I'm so proud. Should I be worried, or even a little scared though? lol
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He did very well, and remembered what I told him about keeping his head down.
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Pix loved watching, but was too scared to try herself.
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My little Sweet Potato decided she must stand the whole time. So she posted herself near the wheel and held on to two posts.
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This is water happens when a mother loves her children. While out on the water, I could tell my legs were going to bruise. So, along with several quarter sized bruises, I ended up with two large bruises. The one above my knee is from ramming my fraggin knee right into the drop down ladder while getting into the boat. Moment of smooth.
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PixyChick's 6th Birthday

On August 4th, my little Pixy turned 6. She wanted to go to the lake for swimming, and a party at Ammie's. My brother brought out his lady friend. My parents even showed up.
Pixy, MonkeyBug, my mom, and my dad.
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Potato had fun being pushed about as she floated around.
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After MonkeyBug got buried in the sand, Pixy begged her Uncle "Petri" to bury her, too.
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Getting out seemed to pose a problem.
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Once she was free, she made a run for the water.
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Potato loved playing in the water, but I had to take her out when her little lips started turning blue.
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My brother and ex-husband took turns doing running dives into the water. My brother did pretty well.
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Then it was present time! The guitar was most certainly the best present. Her Ammie and Ampie have great taste.
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Of course, there was cake. Ammie found this little doggy shaped cake and placed it on top of pink cake.
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She wanted cupcakes as well as cake. Very specific, she wanted pink poodles. I was up til after midnight in 80some degree heat trying to make these Poodles not turn into Puddles.
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Bear's Bday & Beach Kites

On July 13th, my one and only little boy turned 4 years off. His love of Spider-Man was very prevalent. He wore one his Spider-Man shirt.
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He also requested a Spider-Man cake. Ok, I got lazy with it. But it was really hot.
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As he opened his first gift, he shouted, "It's All I Ever Wanted!!" lol It was great.
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Needless to say, he thought it was a very good birthday. He's the sweetest little boy. Whenever his baby sister wakes up, his first thought is to do something to make her laugh. He's going to be a very fierce brother.

On the 18th, we drove out to the ocean to visit Jeremy's brother for his birthday. Jeremy put together his kites and let them set flight. The winds were so good, his lines snapped. Thankfully, they were his old lines, and he was able to attach his newer ones.
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The wind coupled with the size of the kites, nearly brought him to his bum in the sand. It was fun to watch him get pulled around.
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After helping Jeremy get the kites up, I went and played in the water. One substantial wave brought the water up to the first line of vehicles, where my van was. I had to rush through the waves to get to my van and move it back before the sand got too soft. It was pretty funny. Then I went back to waves, until Jeremy called me back in. Jeremy doesn't like going into the water unless it involves a boat and rope. So it was fun to make him chase me into the water to get me to come out. :D
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