Ha-Zah!!! Renaissance Feast -I Mean Faire- 2010

I helped with the Renaissance Faire last week.  I had a great time.  These are most of the other "mommy wenches" who helped--   


Lots of time and effort was put into this production especially Robyn London who is our choir Mom this year.  

The whole production included a small dinner (tarts, chicken on skewers, potatoe wedgies, ale (hot wassail) cheese, crackers and fruit. )  The noble court wandered the hall meeting everyone --and they were very funny and cute.  We had a puppet show going on, Merlin the magician doing tricks, the Jester juggling and doing funny things, we had a chapel, an armoury, an art gallery, a market where you could buy flowers wreaths for little girls hair etc etc.  After the Faire the Lords and Ladies are formally presented to the court and then Queen Elizabeth is presented (---and wow what a costume--so sad I didn't get enough pictures..I was running around fulfilling my duties)  and then the Vocal Ensemble perform Madrigals and other Renaissance type music.  Following this, the productions company put on Henry the V.  

Here's Lord Stainedglass and a steward.

It was fun to be able to share this experience with Eric and Joseph.  

All of the kids in Vocal Ensemble get to be the Lords and Ladies of the Court.  They each come up with their own names and coat of arms.  It is very cute and funny.  One of the names I remember was Lord No Pun and Lady Intended.   I will ask Eric if he can remember more of these cute names and post them later.  

The costuming is just gorgeous!  And the kids loved dressing up (and so did I!) 

Wow I think Lord Stainedglass and Lady Veen-dow have their snobby act down.  

This is Merlin the magician...of course

These two look like they are having a good time...   In reality I had to take this picture a few times because they kept laughing and wanted to come across as sober and ready to fulfill their duties.  A steward's job is to announce the Lords and Ladies when they enter the Hall... in years past they also announced each guest as they came to the feast.  They also carry around the coat of arms.  

Ahh....the jester....

What a bunch of talented kids!  

The Hard Work of Motherhood.....

All since 3 pm......

-welcomed kids home

-got kiddos snacks

-went through backpacks

-reminded kids to put backpacks etc away

-cleaned up the kitchen again...

-went through the mail

-helped Joseph get the printer to work so he could print up a homework assignment

-handled various discipline issues

-made a couple of phone calls

-negotiated atleast 5 small tussles between kids

-took away the Wii after those tussles continued

-corralled all the kids up to do their jobs

-made sure kids practiced the piano

-Eric off to his piano  lesson..glad he can drive himself

-talked through an  issue with spouse

-Eric off to basketball with his Dad

-had a long drawn out heart to heart talk with one of my boys about the importance of not being critical and instead looking for the good in everyone...building and lifting everyone..yadah yadi yadah...
-emptied dishwasher

-made dinner

-ate dinner...encouraged and coaxed healthy eating and happy talk

-did the dishes with some help

-had a few laughs with everyone over Superbowl commercials we watched on youtube...so funny

-got Scott dressed again

-pulled the family together for family home evening..gratefully  listened to my husband share the family home evening lesson...grateful for a moment to just sit....and feel gratitude for the good dad my children have...

-cuddled with Jacob after he had been sent away to the "calm couch"

-helped Joseph make a family home evening treat

-cleaned up Scott who snuck off during family home evening and was eating the treats out of a large bowl headfirst and was covered with powdered sugar and chocolate

-little talk with oldest son about something on his mind

-snuck away to the basement TV and watched part of "24" with my big boys .... ( I would rather watch it on DVD and skip the commercials--but wanted to spend a bit of time with these boys )

-cut Joseph's hair

-swept the floor

-helped Michael with his Math homework..pre algebra

-listened to everyone's "hey mom's" which I love but by 10:00 pm I am getting weary....

-and yes tucked Michael and Jacob into bed about 10:00....oiye!

-putting Scott to bed in a few moments because he napped until 5 pm oiye!!  I know-- terrible!!


Earlier today I just didn't know if I could continue to do all this...  so what did I do?  I turned to my own mother who undoubtedly had many many hard days herself as a mother....and she listened and  bouyed me up and I felt her prayers added to my own and a higher power bouyed me up as well.   So....I picked it all up and kept moving forward....

This just is hard work....sometimes it feels like a war..trying to get everyone to be nice, be responsible, be respectful, remember about a thousand things, getting everyone where they need to be when and with what they need, and it goes on and on.....

And today is just an ordinary day....and Mondays are one of the calmer days of the week.  It is all good... just hard work.  The last three days have been particularly taxing..   But,   I know in my heart and in my gut that I am doing something very  important.  And I know I need to enjoy these ordinary and full days.  Because they will not last forever..and I will miss them.

I want to say I  am thankful today for the hard work of great women in my life...especially my own wonderful Mother.. she is one amazing, strong woman who walks by faith with love in her heart.

And....today I am thankful to my Mom who comforted me and helped me find the strength and hope to keep going...

 There are just days when we need our mothers, our sisters and the examples of grandmothers and aunts to help us keep calm and carry on!!   So grateful that I have so many  great women in my life to lean on and walk beside in this great adventure..  

I heart you! I heart you! I heart you!

For Family Home Evening the other night, we had a short lesson on charity...how important it is to love each other, especially in our families, and how much power each person has in the family to lift and love and help the family life go more smoothly.    It seems we talk about this so very often.

Then we all sat down and made valentines for each other.  This was actually very fun...Everyone made a valentine for each person in the family. ( I got this idea from Shawni Eyre's blog and if I could figure out how to put a link here for her blog I would.) Anyway,  I think we will do this "heart" activity every year.  I usually have done this for each of my kiddos and put a heart on their plates on Valentine's morning before they have their heart shaped pancakes.... But, I like this idea so much better because everyone is involved.. 

I guess our lesson should have been longer or something because after family home evening was over, two of the boys promptly started to bug each other and have an argument over something really dumb.  I just threw my hands up in the air..... exasperated!!!  Did they listen at all?

I guess I will just try again tomorrow to be an influence for good...for better..... Help these boys spread the love...spread the sunshine....because all those warm fuzzies feel so much better than cold prickles..... it is something I strive for every day.....and I am determined to make it so.... 

But, anyway just so we don't forget, there are a few examples of spreading the love below..

And Scott says..."I just love everyone!"  

This Cute Little Guy and I Have Been Busy Doing This......

For the past week, It has been pretty much dead quiet around here......I haven't gone anywhere...done much of anything.  It is almost like I have been on a little vacation.  I have been just "juicing" this little boy up with anything he wants to drink and making sure he gets to the potty on time.  Potty Training Boot Camp...focused, intense and so far Successful!!!  

Congratulations Scotty!!!  Good Work!  What a big week in your life and what an accomplishment!

Oh and notice the "shiner" on his right cheek just below the eye.  That is what happens when you try to get in the middle of a wrestling match between two big brothers..... Scott wants to be in the middle of and involved in anything that is going on.....and never wants to go to bed if anyone is still up.  .....big heavy defeated sigh.....
Ahhhh..he must be a Crowley.....     

May I Have a Moment of Silence Please.......

After changing diapers over the years (about 2.5 years average per child so that would be 15 years of changing diapers ) I have changed my last diaper....

Whoa!!!

While this makes me sigh and smile a bit...there is something melancholy about it...

That means that my little baby years are behind me.... I am not sure I will ever get over that..all the way..anyway.  

I will always love little babies and little toddlers..those sweet innocent faces, eyes and hands and fingers.   I always felt so privileged to have the love of a little one so pure and innocent and so trusting.    

I will try not to get too emotional about this....

Now what am I going to do with all that extra money I won't be spending on diapers?  I am so very sure I can find something.  

One of My Favorite Movies of All Time....

Love this movie....love to watch it every year if I can...

I love it's message.  And about this time of the year it is good to be reminded.   

Happy Groundhog's Day to us!  ...and whoever might read this...