The ren fair was way cool as usual this year. Patrick and I took the kids along with my friend Lisa J. and her two kids. We drove up on Sunday and took the kids to the rain forest cafe... Dayanera loved it... LOL... all the animals in that place had her wanting to run around the restaurant and look at everything rather than eat. If you've never been to it, you really should go. It's in Oak Park mall in Overland Park Kansas city kansas (I give up on capitol letters.. the shift key just isn't working right). they have a website if you want to check it out but it doesn't show you much.. www.rainforestcafe.com  anyway, it's an awesome place and the kids just loved it. the food is really really really good except its a bit expensive.. will cost at least 10$ a plate and that's for the cheapest thing (a burger and fries)... kids menu average price is 6$ a meal or so... They have the coolest thing we have yet to try called a volcano... it's this icecream and brownie concoction that's huge and 11 bucks.. LOL... we always get so much food that we never have room or money for one by the time it's time for dessert. It looks like a volcano.. hence the name.. LOL.. it has a sparkler in the top of it and the waiters yell volcano when they bring it out. Dayanera got a huge kick out of watching other people get them.

we stayed at the belton in at the last belton exit, like we usually do. It's only 45$ a night there.. It's most definitely not the ritz but it's cheap and fairly clean. All the carpets need to be replaced, the tv is older than dirt, but they have great water pressure, a pool (though it was too cold for that), and half way decent matresses.

before we went back to the hotel on sunday I drove up to northern kc to pick up some books that this lady has been giving away on wom. I'm so glad I did. I ended up with a couple hundred dollars worth of books on all kinds of things from chakras to native american studies... They are pretty cool. My library is too big. Patrick is complaining. I need to get a new cabinet for my books and magickal supplies. I've outgrown the one I've got.

after that we went back to the hotel and proceeded to crash. It's a good thing we did too... sigh... my son had us up at 5 a.m. He was an unhappy camper and missed his bedroom. Even being up that early I still managed to miss the opening parade like I have every dadgum year since I started going to the festival. LOL. It was because we had to mess around with getting ice, loading up kids, and generally piddling around.

It was buy one get one free weekend at the festival if you had five cans of food for the food harvest so it only cost me and patrick 17 bucks to get in. Dayanera and Maverick are free. We weren't there 5 minutes before Lisa was spending money. LOL. She had never been so it took her a while to realize that you need to pace yourself or you'll be broke before lunch. the first thing we saw when we went in were this group playing the bagpipes and drums... OMG! Dayanera was absolutely glued... she did not want to leave watching those guys. I took her to the drum store later cause Mommy was drooling over this drum that had a moon engraved on it for 250$ and she had to play all the drums in the place... the funny thing is it wasn't just banging, she actually had a rythm. I guess I'm going to have to get her a drum for xmas.

I spent the entire day hunting for the woman selling the fairy wings... sigh... a few years back they were actually affordable... this year the pair I wanted were 60 bucks... needless to say I didn't buy them.. however, I have figured out how they are made so I'm going to give it a shot. I plan to have an awesome fairy costume for the samhain party... *Grin*...

I got myself an awesome necklace while I was there. It's the triple moon goddess symbol. I have actually never run acrossed one before like this one, so I just had to buy it. It's pretty heavy and it's on a real chain. I think I got a good deal on it for 21$ with tax.  I also bought dayanera one of those ribbon head wreaths... LOL.. she just loved it... had to look at herself in the mirror for like five minutes before I could drag her away from the costume shop. she's really into looking at herself in the mirror these days and dressing up. I dressed her like a fairy for the festival... her outfit was all pearly pink and green. She was crazy about it.

we watched the juggler show over near the queen's tea room. dayanera and maverick thought it was a riot. LOL. they laughed thier butts off at the acrobatics of the jugglers and the slapstick comedy... I swear I think my daughter would really dig the three stooges.

After that Lisa and I took her kids and dayanera to the queen's tea... which I have to tell you, you really should buy a ticket and go. It costs 9 bucks but it's worth it. they have the band of gypsies seat you court style and they compliment the hell out of you (that alone makes it worth it, girls! LOL). You sit at these long tables with high backs that are carved to look like they belong at a queen's picnic table. the jugglers entertain, the actors entertain with bits of story,and then you are invaded by pirates. LOL. the pirates go around stealing kisses and bumming food.. Oh jeez, I forgot about the food... that was awesome too... they bring your table a plate of chocolate dipped cream puffs, sconces in various flavors, different cheeses, cucumber sandwiches, grapes, and other stuff, but the coolest thing is the tart. they bring this huge bowl filled with cake, layers of berries/whip cream on the cake, and topped with fresh strawberries. I ate so much this weekend its going to be a wonder if I didn't gain 20 pounds. LOL. anyway, dayanera and lisa's kids had a great time at the tea party.

well, patrick's class got out so it's time to go. I'd post about the rest of the ren fair but don't have time. I hope some of you get to go... If student loans come in time we are going back up over columbus day weekend. *rubs hands together* I just might get my drum... *grin*.... Hope everyone had a great labor day weekend.

Blessings,

Natalie/Em