I was just going through some pictures from our trip to the Minnesota Ren Fest last fall, and got a kick out of the differences between the boys’ attitudes. Look at these pictures of William, who was 3-almost-4, with his jousting partner:

See the enthusiasm? The sweet, pure pleasure on his face?

By contrast, look at the two olders (7 and 9 at the time):

Everything about their body language and expression says “Mom, this dweeb is totally TOUCHING us.”

Look how Isaac, on the right, is leaning away, and looking to the ground as though he’s embarrassed. Jacob, on the left, is stony-faced, refusing to smile.

But once Good Sir Costumer moved away, the boys lit into each other with their swords, dueling bitterly to the last pop. I could almost see Ren Faire Employee in the cards for one of them, seven or eight years down the road.

Maybe Isaac. He was especially impressed by the pie-eating contest.