We sociable few

On Friday we went to the park and then to the airport. We went to the airport to pick up our friend Martin. Martin was a co-worker who became a friend and even when he returned to Germany after his work here, remained a friend. Martin brought Star Wars Lego's!

Kiernan and Martin had much to discuss from  this point forward. It didn't hurt that Martin speaks Kiernan's native language of computer gaming. 

It didnt hurt any of us that Martin likes the renaissance fair as much as we all do. So on Saturday morning, as early as we could manage, we got out to Crownsville for some Renaissance fun. Kiernan decided that he doesn't want to wear his kilt anymore. I was so sad. He is adorable in his kilt, but of course its up to him. I asked him what he wanted to dress up like and he said he wanted to be a squire like in Sword in the Stone.

This picture is from the Disney movie Sword in the Stone via google search.

Here is a young King (errr... about to be King) Arthur from Sword in the stone.

Here is Kiernan being a Knight. He had this face on for most of the fair. I am sure most people thought he was having a miserable time. No indeed! He is a solemn knight.

He chose his shield very quickly from a shop but I think its a very pretty one. There is a blue dragon with gold trim on it. We had some trouble with the sword selection. 

He wanted a foam sword, I think mainly due to my reference of  the (hypothetical) foam sword he could swing about with impunity. They had no foam swords, only wooden ones. He had a small meltdown about it.

He has had quite a few meltdowns this week. Mostly he melts down when there are many people around and he is feeling overwhelmed. While I completely sympathize with the overwhelmed part the behavior is unacceptable. I apologize to everyone who has had to put up with a randomly yelling 4 year old. We are working on it.

Please click to embiggen.

Megan had no costume but did get to go down the big slide with daddy.

In grand fair tradition we all ate things on a stick. Here you see ye olde mac n cheese on a stick.

Gracious that stuff is lava hot!

Megan plunked herself down between the adoring menfolk and stole food from their plates to her hearts content.

They were both granted knighthoods by the King (Henry VIII not Arthur this time). We went home as quickly as we could because the airport run and the Renn Fest really made naps late and some melting down was from plain old tiredness. 

While they napped I took this picture of our ripening persimmon. First year in the ground and it looks like we will get a good fruit from this one too! Home ownership for the win! After the kids got up we went to Uncle Chris' birthday party.

If you ever get invited to Uncle Chris' birthday party you should drop everything and go!

There were balloonacorns, popcorn and cotton candy makers, pizzas, brownies, strawberry shortcake, teenage mutant ninja turtles, cats, glow-sticks and fabulous family! It was amazing. The kids had such a great time. We did too.

Did I mention the amazing Jousting?

On Sunday we went to Gaver Farm for the corn maze. Martin had never seen one and we try to do one each year so it was good timing. Doubly good because it is less than 5 miles from our house and they had so much kids stuff to do.

My favorite part ... also the part I really wish I had some good pictures of, was the "jumping pillow" which is hard for me to describe well so please click on the word "jumping pillow" above for someones pictures.

Megan loved the little maze.

They both loved the corn tunnel.

Kiernan loved the big maze and wanted to talk about Daedalus and Icarus. Depressing story but still quite maze appropriate.

After naps we had a cook out with our friend Karlheinz and his family. We tried earlier to do this one but between naps for our kids and naps for his boy (Henry is just under Megans age) plus teething it hasn't worked out. I am happy to say that this time it worked out. 

Now we have tons of great cookout food and wont need to cook for the rest of the week.

Also The kids had a blast together!

Poor Henry did a header into the pool and was freezing and sputtery but he recovered quickly and much fun was had by all.

Here is what much of the fun looked like

Henry: Hmm Where is Kiernan?

Kiernan: Zoom I am behind you.

Henry: I have you now!

Kiernan: Zoom I am like the wind.

I would say Kiernan's size advantage may have made this match up a bit one sided but everyone seemed happy with the results. There were occasional Megan forays into the breech as well.

Good stuff. I really hope they come again.