Know where my FAVORITE place in the world is, Mommy? I'm OUTTA HERE!!! Dude OUT!

[carrieannie]

OK I just re-read that.. it took you almost 2 and half hours to go a 60 minute drive!!
Steve would`ve turned around!! You do not want an Italian in traffic!!

 

[camelotcats]

So halfway through updating my post, it got eaten again, so I will update here.. Hold on.......

Ok, we didn't do a whole lot at the renfest. It is kind of an art-show slash entertainment venue in a faux historical-reinactment situation...

Oh, and we met my mother and sister there. They were there to make fun of the people. Thanks. The kids love their aunt, though, so it helped to have another set of hands with them.

I forget everything I just wrote and don't really want to repeat it right now. I'm writing an outline, and will flesh it out later:

1. shopping.

I love the shopping at the renfest. Ther is great fantasy jewelry, pottery, etc. A lot of stuff you just don't find other places. Since I am also very into dragons, I always love the renfest. WE wandered around with the kiddos. We always window shop, then decide what we want and go back.

Well, I broke my own rule, and bought a necklace pretty much as soon as I saw it. It's awesome. I'll post pics after I get home.

B wanted everything...S was enjoying ruunning around the shops, but really didn't see anything he was very interested in.

2. Lunch (oops!)

The kids were whining that they were hungry,, and HHBG and I wanteed chili in a bread bowl, so my mother and I walked all the way back to the entrance to the the chilis and some pizza for the kids. We walked back, dropped off the food, and I went to go get drinks. When I returned, everyone was mostly done eating....why is it the mom never gets hot food??

I set the drinks down in front of everyone and went to sit. My butt wasn't evven IN THE SEAT before S spilled his drink all over. That kid cannot make it through a meal without an accident. He spilled at dinner, too.

The chili was pretty good, and everyone was happy with their food. Then we wandered off to catch....

3. Show

WE made our way to the stage where my favorite act of the Ren Fest was going to perform. We caught the end of an act where this guy was playing a bell-organ (basically it was like an organ but it rang bells). It was amazing. I have no idea what it was called, but it was great.

The act I wanted to see is not on the east coast. I used to watch them when I was in college at the Michigan renfest. The act is Don Juan and Miguel, a comedy whips/sword-fighting show. They are GREAT! Sooo funny. Bad jokes, great audience interplay. THey have been performing at the AZ renfest for 20 years.

Unfortunately, while I was enjoyign the show, S was having a MAJOR melt-down. He was absolutely wigging out. He'd been having problems all day, even before we left, but her really freaked out. I don't know everything he was doing, but HHBG basically had to physically restrain him. I'm starting to worry about that boy....

It was determined that S couldn't handle another show ...I LOVE the shows at the AZ renfest, so this was a sacrifice, but S was losing it.

3. purchasing

We decided to let the kids pick their "gifts". B wanted a magic princess wand and grandma bought her a necklace. S wandered all over the faire and wanted nothing. He finally announced he wanted to buy nothing and get more disney dollars when we go home. I was OK with this.

HHBG and I tried shopping, but were unable to because the kids started to whine that their legs hurt and they needed to be carried. this was a sign that it was time to leave. We picked up some bottles of water for the road and headed out to the cars. I went with my mother, and my sister went with HHBG and the kids. We were all headed to Sister's house for....

5. Christmas in February.

My mother and I beat the poters (Ok, I just re-read my post...WTH is a poter? I meant OTHERS) to sister's house. How, you ask? well, they tooka wrong turn. Yes, my sister missed the turn to HER HOUSE.

I'm still trying to figure out how/if to write most of this without sounding like a materialistic whiny-baby.

We had hot dogs and chicken that my dad barbequed, and quickly exchanged gifts before my sister had to run to soccer practice (she plays on a team, and coaches another). The kids played for a while, then we drove back to the resort.

Tomorrow: We finally see my brother, and are we going to the Zoo or to the restaurant my folks want to drag us to??

 

[carrieannie]

So halfway through updating my post, it geot eaten again, so I will update here.. Hold on.......

Ok, we didn't do a whole lot at the renfest. It is kind of an art-show slash entertainment venue in a faux historical-reinactment situation...

I forget everything I just wrote and don't really want to repeat it right now. I'm writing an outline,a dn will flesh itout later:

1. shopping.

I love the shopping at the renfest. Ther is great fantasy jewelry, pottery, etc. A lot of stuff you just don't find other places. Since I am also very into dragons, I always love the renfest. WE wandered around with the kiddos. We always window shop, then decide what we want and go back.

Well, I broke my own rule, and bought a necklace pretty much as soon as I saw it. It's awesome. I'll post pics after I get home.

B wanted everything...S was enjoying ruunning around the shops, but really didn't see anything he was very interested in.

2. Show


3. purchasing
4. leaving
5. Christmas in February.

PERFECT!! Thats it in a nutshell!!
I gotta check out the one in Mass thats held every October. One of these years.

 

[carrieannie]

My half sister is REALLY into this! They have a camp or somthing like it in NH (i THINK) where they spend the weekend in character. ALL weekend, Dress and everything. They all have there own roles. they get really into it..Her wedding 3 years ago was a medival wedding. Everyone dressed in Medeval garb, even the guests. (I didnt oops) they got married by candlight and a high priestess married them, My som loved the real swords,,he still talks about them!

 

[DisDancerina]

it sounds like a fun time at the western place. I forgot the name. I am.

Rawhide

I know!! I`m waiting too! I got nosy and checked out the website, looks like fun.

It is! You don't know what you were missing until you go.

We left for the ren fest, which is approximately 60-70 minutes away at 9, thinking we had left plenty ofr time.....which it owuld have been if the REST of Phoenix hadn't also decided to go to the ren fest today.

Finally, at 11:15 we arrived at the Ren Fest.

Now, for those of you who have never been to a renfest, you just don't know what you're missing. HHBG and I like to say that there are four types of people who go to renfests (yes, there are some exceptions):

1. Families. The ren fest is a great place to take kids for a while.
2. Theater geeks. (usually visiting friends who are working)
3. Intellectuals/regular geeks....we love this kind of thing. Great fantasy purchases available.
4. uh....how do I put this....."fringe" society members. Goths, overly "into it" people, historical reinactors, etc.

Also prevalent at RenFests are people who FULLY dress in costume....usually not anything historically accurate. Among these people are the great people watching people....the guy dressed exactly like Jack Sparrow....the lady who was a spitting image of Elizabeth I (the later years).....they guy in full leather studded armor...etc.

AND....

The women who are kind of in costume, but more interested in showing as much skin and cleavage as humanly possible. Usually these women are....large. Either chested or overall. We actually saw one woman get told to cover up, as she was THIS CLOSE to spilling out of her top.

Classic Renfest for ya!

So halfway through updating my post, it geot eaten again, so I will update here.. Hold on.......

Ok, we didn't do a whole lot at the renfest. It is kind of an art-show slash entertainment venue in a faux historical-reinactment situation...

I forget everything I just wrote and don't really want to repeat it right now. I'm writing an outline,a dn will flesh it out later:

1. shopping.

I love the shopping at the renfest. Ther is great fantasy jewelry, pottery, etc. A lot of stuff you just don't find other places. Since I am also very into dragons, I always love the renfest. WE wandered around with the kiddos. We always window shop, then decide what we want and go back.

Well, I broke my own rule, and bought a necklace pretty much as soon as I saw it. It's awesome. I'll post pics after I get home.

B wanted everything...S was enjoying ruunning around the shops, but really didn't see anything he was very interested in.

2. Lunch (oops!)

The kids were whining that they were hungry,, and HHBG and I wanteed chili in a bread bowl, so my mother and I walked all the way back to the entrance to the the chilis and some pizza for the kids. We walked back, dropped off the food, and I wen tot go get drinks. When I returned, everyone was mostly done eating....why is it the mom never gets hot food??

I set the drinks down in front of everyone and went to sit. My butt wasn't evven IN THE SEAT before S spilled his drink all over. That kid cannot make it through a meal without an accident. He spilled at dinner, too.

The chili was pretty good, and everyone was happy with their food. Then we wandered off to catch....

3. Show

WE made our way to the stage where my favorite act of the Ren Fest was going to perform. We caught the end of an act where this guy was playing a bell-organ (basically it was like an organ but it rang bells). It was amazing. I have no idea what it was called, but it was great.

The act I wanted to see is not on the east coast. I used to watch them when I was in college at the Michigan renfest. The act is Don Juan and Miguel, a comedy whips/sword-fighting show. They are GREAT! Sooo funny. Bad jokes, great audience interplay. THey have been performing at the AZ renfest for 20 years.

Unfortunately, while I was enjoyign the show, S was having a MAJOR melt-down. He was absolutely wigging out. He'd been having problems all day, even before we left, but her really freaked out. I don't know everything he was doing, but HHBG basically had to physically restrain him. I'm starting to worry about that boy....

It was determined that S couldn't handle another show ...I LOVE the shows at the AZ renfest, so this was a sacrifice, but S was losing it.

3. purchasing

We decided to let the kids pick their "gifts". B wanted a magic princess wand and grandma bought her a necklace. S wandered all over the faire and wanted nothing. He finally announced he wanted to buy nothing and get more disney dollars when we go home. I was OK with this.

HHBG and I tried shopping, but were unable to because the kids started to whine that their legs hurt and they needed to be carried. this was a sig n that it was time to leave. We picked up some bottles of water for the road and headedout to the cars. I went with my mother, and my sister went with HHBG and the kids. We were all headed to Sister's house for....

5. Christmas in February.

What else did cha buy?

 

[carrieannie]

Rawhide

What else did cha buy?

SHHH...Shes not done..She keeps editing the origanal post. which is kinda cool BTW,,Its fun to keep checking back for an "add on"
Christmas in Feb. at sisters house?

 

[camelotcats]

OK I just re-read that.. it took you almost 2 and half hours to go a 60 minute drive!!
Steve would`ve turned around!! You do not want an Italian in traffic!!

We were tempted, but this was our only chance to go this year, and we were meeting people. There ended up being a fender bender which was hurting traffic flow.

PERFECT!! Thats it in a nutshell!!
I gotta check out the one in Mass thats held every October. One of these years.

I recommend the renfest. PRIME people watching. It's a good time. The crafts are pricey, though.

What else did cha buy?

Nothing. We learned the hard way we need to limit ourselves to one purchase each per renfest. HHBG didn't really have a chance to look around. He saw some pottery he liked, but bringing it home would have been a pain. We bought a bunch of stuff this year at the NYRF, so we had to watch it at the AZ one.

 

[camelotcats]

Ok... only on page 23.... Loved your Rant on the prev page about the superbowl party shopping and the beer run... just had to say that!!! Back to the catching up!!!

Thank you. that commercial ticed me off.

Ok... all caught up.... Renfest... I hear that's fun .... I am waiting for my DD to ask for a new Cinderella dress for our trip lol....

My DD wants me to make her everything. It's cute and a pain at the same time. She asts liek I jsut have to snap my fingers, adn it's done. The REn Fest WAS fun, though we didn't get as much done as we wanted to.

I just looked up what Rocky Mountain Oysters were You're a brave girl Can't wait to see the photos

Yeah, HHBG ordered them, and I ordered the rattlesnake. The waitress made sure he knew what he was ordering, lol. Every tie he tried to take too much of y rattlesnake, I just yelled at him to "Eat your balls!".

You`ve got to be kidding!! Aunt Flo wasnt invited!!

NO! She's a week early, and if I go back onto schedule, there goes WDW, too. How's THAT for TMI??

 

[Phibbles]

How's THAT for TMI??

I am covering my eyes! Can't read anymore...

 

[camelotcats]

I am covering my eyes! Can't read anymore...

This ain't no MAN report, Baby!!

 

[carrieannie]

This ain't no MAN report, Baby!!

 

[DisDancerina]

This ain't no MAN report, Baby!!

 

[emmiesmom]

This is the first TR I've subscribed to being a newbie and all but I'm hooked!
Ok, I'm only on the 1st page but I can't wait to hear how the trip goes! I better get to reading!!!

 

[irene_dsc]

We left for the ren fest, which is approximately 60-70 minutes away at 9, thinking we had left plenty ofr time.....which it owuld have been if the REST of Phoenix hadn't also decided to go to the ren fest today.

Finally, at 11:15 we arrived at the Ren Fest.

Now, for those of you who have never been to a renfest, you just don't know what you're missing. HHBG and I like to say that there are four types of people who go to renfests (yes, there are some exceptions):

1. Families. The ren fest is a great place to take kids for a while.
2. Theater geeks. (usually visiting friends who are working)
3. Intellectuals/regular geeks....we love this kind of thing. Great fantasy purchases available.
4. uh....how do I put this....."fringe" society members. Goths, overly "into it" people, historical reinactors, etc.

Also prevalent at RenFests are people who FULLY dress in costume....usually not anything historically accurate. Among these people are the great people watching people....the guy dressed exactly like Jack Sparrow....the lady who was a spitting image of Elizabeth I (the later years).....they guy in full leather studded armor...etc.

AND....

The women who are kind of in costume, but more interested in showing as much skin and cleavage as humanly possible. Usually these women are....large. Either chested or overall. We actually saw one woman get told to cover up, as she was THIS CLOSE to spilling out of her top.

I love your description! I'm actually not very far from a Renfair (Bristol, WI), but have never gone. I've been told the kids probably wouldn't appreciate it until they are older, besides it being relatively pricey for a local outing. But, I do have friends (not real close ones) who work the MI Renfair every year! One is in a musical group, and the other has a booth where he sells stuff, tho I've never gone to see them.

I'd fit into the intellectual type category - and I also love dragons. My sister wore her Ren outfit for Hallowe'en this year - basically a pirate wench type of outfit. Amusing since she is such a complete pacifist!

 

[emmiesmom]

I read this whole pre-TR this morning and love your writing style - here's hoping a newbie can join in now! The clothes you make for your children are gorgeous! So great!!

 

[camelotcats]

I love your description! I'm actually not very far from a Renfair (Bristol, WI), but have never gone. I've been told the kids probably wouldn't appreciate it until they are older, besides it being relatively pricey for a local outing. But, I do have friends (not real close ones) who work the MI Renfair every year! One is in a musical group, and the other has a booth where he sells stuff, tho I've never gone to see them.

I'd fit into the intellectual type category - and I also love dragons. My sister wore her Ren outfit for Hallowe'en this year - basically a pirate wench type of outfit. Amusing since she is such a complete pacifist!

You should go! Yeah, it's a little pricey, but it's a good time. Very child friendly. We are relatively close to the NYRF (30 minute drive), so our kids are Ok at it. they have certainly figurede otu the "art show" part of it, lol. I like the shows. if your kids can sit for some live shows, they should be OK.

I read this whole pre-TR this morning and love your writing style - here's hoping a newbie can join in now! The clothes you make for your children are gorgeous! So great!!

Thanks!! Enjoy! I talk a LOT! I am in the middle of a live mini-TR in Phoenix, so you can get an idea of my writing style. I'll probably do light live TRs from WDW and then flesh out when we get home.

 

[camelotcats]

OK, outline then fill in, as usual:

1.Wake up.

The kids crashed in the car last night, and got carried into bed. They have both been having a lot of coughing, we htink because of them not being used to the dryness of the air here. I am also having some sort of reaction to our sheets, and haven't been breathing well at night, so it might be that, too.

So, AGAIN, at 4:45 this morning I wake to much coughing coming from the kids' room. I go upstairs, give them some cough medicine, and go back to sleep. At 5:30am, I get woken up by RANK little girl breath in my face and the words "mommy, I throwed up"

I am IMMEDIATELY awake.

"WHERE!?!?!"
"in the potty".
"did you get it anywhere else??"
"No. Just the potty" (I practically faint with relief)
"ok, sweetie. good job. Just go brush your teeth and go back to sleep."

I then roll over and go back to sleep. (Now before anyone thinks I am a lousy mom, both of my kids will gag when they cough a lot. the Doctor says it's normal and something they will grow out of. B is better about getting to the toilet with it than her older brother.)

10 minutes later.

"mommy, I can't sleep, can I have a show?"
"sure sweetie" (they need a zombie sleepy smiley)

I go upstairs, and they are both awake. I set up the Ipod player with Finding Nemo, shuffle back downstairs, and flop back into the VERY UNCOMFORTABLE bed.

90 minutes later.

S comes in yelling that the movie is over, and they're hungry. I hear them, but I am so tired, I am still in astate of sleep paralysis. You know, where you are aware of what's going on, but unable to speak, move, or even open your eyes? That was me. HHBG got up and go the kids breakfast. He gets up with them every morning when we vacation and lets me sleep a little later

At about 8:30, I get up, shower, and get the kids ready to go to.....

2. Uncle Tom's Condo

Small house of Uncle Thomas! Small House of Uncle thomas! (anyone guess the movie?)

My brother has a nice condo in Scottsdale. we went there for breakfast and christmas in February II. I got a HUGE tacky belt buckle. I love my little brother (when he lives 3000 miles away). HHBG got a B&N gift certificate. I am a bad sister and haven't gotten him or my sister their presents yet. The kids got Mr and Mrs Potato Head. WooHoo! Plan for DTD! We had bagels and english muffins and just hung out for a while.

After a little while, S was whining a lot that he was hot, and tired, and his tummy hurt. At first we were just htinking he wanted attention, but I gave him a snuggle and noticed he was VERY WARM to the touch. Did he have a...

Fever!?!

GREAT. we were supposed to meet my folks for lunch....

cue bad mommy moment:

I called them, explained he had a fever, adn we would meet them after I swung by Walmart and got some children's ibuprofen.

I did exactly what I said I would, drugged my kid up, and took him to the restaurant for....

Lunch.

Lunch was at this tiny hole-in-the wall mexican seafood joint called Marisco's Playa Hermosa. Great seafood. I got a spicy shrimp, cucumber, and avocado salad. HHBG got somehting the call a volcano, which was a bunch of meat in a steaming pot with an avocado cheese sauce inside. Yummy. My brother got garlic octupus and shrimp,and my mom got filet of fish (she's allergic to shellfish). S got fried shrimp, and was feeling better after the ibuprofen, so he ate, and his fever broke (yay!!), B got chicken fingers. It was a good time and good food. WE hung out for a while until the kids got antsy, and shocker of shockers, my DAD picked up the tab!

After Lunch, we headed to the...

Zoo.

I like the Phoenix Zoo. It's small enough to spend an afternoon. Today, a lot of the animals were not out, for some reason, so it was a little disappointing. We went to the elephants first, not there. Uh....I forget the order.

Whatever.

We saw Cheetahs, a bunch of birds, orangutangs, mandarins, a scarlet Macaw, a giant anteater, antelopes, giraffes, lions, tigers, and bears (oh my!). And some other things, I'm sure.

Oh yeah, and we made sure to see the infamous tortoises....

Why infamous, you ask??

Well.....

Last year we came to the Phoenix Zoo. While we were there, the tortoises were...uh...

Ok....so, we told the kids they were playing leap frog, and because they were so big and slow, they were really bad at it, and the big one on top was grunting NOISILY every time he raised himself up, because he couldn't jump over the otehr one....:

It was a very popular exhibit that day. No pictures then, either, sorry...we are the worst people int he world about remembering the camera, and even when we remember it, we constantly forget to take pictures.

So we finished seeing the animals, left the zoo,a nd came back tothe timeshare, where we did a little striaghtening up, while the kids pulled out ALL of their new toys (of course)

Now we are just.....

Waiting for dinner.

We are waiting on my brother and his GF, who are bringing pizza. Whenever they get here, I will be turning off the computer, to be continued after they leave....arrival is imminent....

Tomorrow: we have no frickin' clue what we're doing....will I finally get to Cabela's???

 

[winkers]

Turtles playing leap frog!

 

[scottny]

i enjoy zoos.

throwing up not so much.

 

[DisDancerina]

I love the Phx Zoo! Was the restraunt good? Maybe I'll have to try it!