Here are the kids giving Rob his birthday cards.
Now that Rob and the kids have been fed we were off on our adventure. We had decided to spend the day at the Texas Renaissance Festival. It's located in a town called Plantersville, about 45 minutes from us. The festival itself is on about a 500 acre piece of land. We were a little hesitant to go there with the kids because we had heard that some of the people that go there dress VERY provocatively. We shouldn't have worried. The place was so kid friendly. We got there about 9:30 and stayed until around 4:30. We all had such a good time. I hope you enjoy all the pictures and videos from our super fun day.
When we first walked in the festival the street was lined with people selling their wares. Jordan went right over to the hat booth. I thought this one was so cute.
The first thing that we did with the kids at the festival was face painting. They got to choose what they wanted from a sandwich board full of different designs. Jordan zeroed in right away on a pink and purple unicorn. She thought it was beautiful. This painter girl is making a killing! Both kids were so patient waiting in line for their turns.
Time for the sparkles. After all what's a unicorn with out sparkles?
What a gorgeous unicorn. Jordan couldn't stop looking at herself in the mirror.
As you can see, Jacob chose a snake. This is so he can be scary. He sat still so well. I thought he would be very fidgety.
Close your eyes Jacob, time for the glitter.
Now that is a good looking snake. 
These swings were so much fun. There are 2 ropes that each of us got to hold. The harder you pull the ropes the higher you go. Jacob told Daddy that they were going to high and Jordan kept saying, higher, higher!
What festival would be complete with out a pony ride?
We just had to do this one. Both kids rang the bell, with a little help from Mom and Dad.
This was a big cage maze. The lady working it was saying "Put your kids in the cage where they belong!" All this for only $2. We tried to convince her to keep them for the day but she wasn't going for it. Jordan found a golden coin in there. She was really excited.
Next we were onto the arena to watch the Jousting match. The arena was huge. So we settled in with some meat on a stick and a huge dill pickle to watch the fun. No proper Jousting event can go on with out the Queen. So, here is her Lady in Waiting, in front, and the Queen!! It was pretty warm that day. Those women must have been roasting in those dresses.
Jacob was mesmerized.
The people working the Jousting event really did a great job getting the crowd into the spirit of things. Our section was rooting for England and Sir Thomas. The wench in the picture taught us cheers and interacted with us before the horse riders came out into the arena. When Jacob and Jordan found out that our guy was Sir Thomas they both said, "just like our Uncle Tommy!" So from then on he was Sir Uncle Thomas! There was another jouster that looked just like Sting. I told that to the kids and then he became Sir Sting. The twins really got into it. They were both cheering for our guy and booing the other riders. 
This is the first round of jousting. Our guy has to knock him off to move on. He does.
Here's Sir Uncle Thomas getting ready to knock Sir Sting right on his kiester! Sir Uncle Thomas wins the Jousting!
Games, games everywhere. The festival had so many games for the kids to play. There were some that we decided not to let them play, knife and sword throwing and shooting bows and arrows were just a couple that we thought might be a little to dangerous. These were right up their alley. 
We were in Sherwood Forest and saw that they had llama rides. I thought the kids would be to scared to ride one. Nope! Pay the man that had not combed his hair in years and we were good to go. Both kids thought it was fun to ride a llama. Rob and I just kept hoping we wouldn't get spit on.
I never in a million years thought that I would get to ride an elephant. This was so much fun! Did you know that elephant ears are very hard and bumpy. Jacob and Jordan were knocking on them and it sounded just like a piece of wood. They were not the least bit nervous. Just went right up the steps and got right on. On the other hand, I was a little nervous.
This castle was part of a great maze. The kids and I would have spent hours in there trying to find our way out. Lucky for us a 7 year old girl dressed as fairy helped us find our way out much quicker. Jacob and Jordan thought it was great that a fairy helped us out. She ranks right up there with the Passy Fairy and the Pom Pom Fairy.
There were tons of rides for the kids. Here they are riding the carousel. I guess it's to boring to just sit on the horses now.
This brought back memories of the Tea Cup ride at Disney World. Jordan was not thrilled with going Super Sonic fast spinning. She said we just needed to go medium Super Sonic!
Imagine that, Jerry Garcia alive and well at the Texas Renaissance Festival!!
Some of the characters we met at the festival.
This Jester had Jacob cracking up. They both really went our of their way to entertain the kids.
Yes, that's a half man half horse with his leather wearing slave girl!! (who happens to be pushing a wheel chair, did they have wheel chairs back then?)
These fairy wings were everywhere! I can't believe we managed to get through the entire festival with out Jordan having to have a pair of her own.
I'll leave you now with a bit of Celtic music from a band called the Taranics. There's even a dancing girl. I can tell you first hand that those boys don't wear anything under those kilts!!
