Renaissance.
...and it seems that I can NOT escape this R's of Summer thing as we went to the Renaissance Faire today! It was a blast! We used to go every summer in our pre-kid years, then went in 1998 when Devin was a baby, and in 2000, I believe, with Kathy and Barry, when Ben was a baby, but that was our most recent time until now.

We've wanted to go for the last several years, knowing Devin in particular would love it, but for whatever reason...other plans, laziness, bad weather...it just hasn't happened. Today, going in, Dev was doing the normal 12 year old banter, along the lines of things being dumb and boring and all, but going out, he was all smiles and making plans for going back next year, in costume! Funny how things happen like that again and again. After all, this was the kid that, in third grade, just really wasn't interested in going to DisneyWorld. I did say to him tonight, do you think you MIGHT be able to get on board with mom and dad when we suggest things we think you might enjoy? I got a grunt and a half smile.

After sending the kids up to bed to read, Tim and I toasted to our bad parenting with our 18th Sterling Renaissance Festival mugs. We got them on our first anniversary, which we spent at the Faire. Today's festival was the 34th. I know it is cliche, but whew, time really does fly!