Prom Dress Morning

 This morning we went to the Prom Dress Event hosted by Joy Closet, our very favorite thrift store EVER. They receive so many prom dress donations, they save them up and right before prom season begins, they host this day. Every girl can come and select one dress, a pair of shoes, necklace and earrings FOR FREE. 

Isn't that the coolest idea??

I found myself a chair and set them loose. 

They each for two or three to try on and waited in the long line. 

Just about every mom I know showed up that morning. It was so fun to see the girls find a dress that made them feel beautiful. We all settled in to ooooh and ahhhh and hold the ones they were considering. 

My only worry was that one of them wouldn't find something and would leave empty handed. But what do you know!! They all found something they loved! Laney and Anna found two! And they were all so different. It was fun to see what they picked and I really enjoyed seeing how confident they were in their own styles. 

This calls for a fashion show. 

It was a fun and happy morning. And Everly can't wait to grow a few inches and go in a year or two!

Nailed it!

 The inspiration:

The final look:

It's the beauty spot that really brings it home!

The Renaissance Frostival

 It amazes me that we simply CANNOT find a free weekend to go to the Renaissance Festival until the very last possible day. Why are we this busy?? Why??

This is our second year, so we have lost that wide eyed wonderment. We are prepared with sandwiches and large water bottles. We have a $10 per person for rides/souvenirs. And no, that is nowhere near enough. It will, in fact, buy very little. But there we are. We on a budget, yo. 

A few photos of the day! It was chilly...it was more money that I wanted to spend...and it was still fun! Because I just really love these kids.

Everly chose a  glow the dark dragon figurine, AJ chose a henna design, Laney found a skeleton ring...

And I found this sweet number. 

If Ethan had been in town, I fully believe he would have paid THIRTY TWO DOLLARS to have his hair braided.

Sadly, we had to leave these gems behind:

Till next year, Renaissance/Pirate/Fairy/Halloween/Videogame Festival! You don't know what you are, but you have a great time anyway. 

The Costumes - 2022

Gumball machine with a sassy red lipstick

Parisian Artiste!

Understated Donetello, so as to dress up in school without getting caught. genuis. 

The shabby pirate. Possibly the cutest in the history of the high seas. 

I'll never get sick of this!

 

Renaissance Festival

 It always surprises me that things like this can exist so close to us and we have no idea! 

Laney saved up her money for a renaissance dress. The others pulled together costumes out of items in their closets and the Halloween buckets. I didn't know it then, but sticking to the Renaissance period was not required. In fact, anything goes at the Ren Fair. Bar maids, pirates, time travelers, fairies, dragons, mermaids, magicians, video game characters....you name it. 

Camel rides!

Fairy wings

Robin Hood and Little John sword play.

Laney the Elf

Megan looking pretty steampunk

A highlight of the day: Jousting! It was truly so fun and the knights were very good riders!

Anna and Everly wanted to try out the bungee trampolines. Anna loved it! (She was glad she wore clothes under the black witches dress and coyote stole)

I was silently shocked that Everly was interested in trying this. She's not a fan of this kind of stuff. I still haven't convinced her to go down the Redneck water slide. But I stayed out of it and figured she might have some fun and break through some of that fear. 

And this is the precise moment that she was completely frozen with fear. This is a photo of trauma. As soon as she could get sound to come out of her throat, she screamed to stop. The guy tried to show her that she didn't need to go so high and it could still be fun....she was not having it. 

Out. 

Now. 

They felt so bad, they gave us a full refund. 

Archery!

My personal favorite. The Strongman Dragon Swing. 

And maybe the best part of all....people watching. 

What a cool place! I love that it is built here. It's permanent. And every year, all the adults get to dress up and come be their geeky, excited selves. They get to be as silly and creative and expressive as they want.