Jedi Knight Training...Happy 5th Birthday, Joshua!

It's been two weeks since my four-year-old little boy became a five-year-old big boy! Since this was such a special birthday...turning 5 and all...Josh agreed that it would be fun to have some of his friends invited to his party.

First step...choose the theme.
I took Josh to the party store with me several weeks before his birthday to get an idea of how he would like to celebrate.
He chose Star Wars.
What? He has never ever shown an interest in Star Wars...but, well...O.K.

Second step...borrow Episodes 4, 5, and 6 from Uncle Scott and Episodes 1, 2, and 3 from our friend Kevin.
We had quite a bit of brushing up to do. Our Star Wars knowledge was extremely limited. You can't throw a proper Star Wars party if you don't know the difference between Padme and a padawan.

Third step...start talking like a Star Wars character.
Just choose one...any one! Yoda is a whole lot of fun, but Chewbacca is quite a bit easier.
Help the ideas to flow, this will.

Fourth step..."Do, or do not. There is no try." --Yoda
Jump right in, feet first, and get going!
Invite, shop, create!

Fifth step...LET THE FESTIVITIES BEGIN!


Josh got to open our presents on Thursday evening...two days before his birthday. We knew that the next few days would get pretty busy, so this gave us a quiet family time before the excitement began!






The traditional curtain of birthday streamers!




And...what appears to be Josh doing a not-so-traditional birthday streamer dance.



This time, he is wrapped in one of the extra Star Wars table covers I bought. It was his official Darth Vaderish-style robe.




The "cake" was actually a brownie.
Lately, my kids are more about brownie sundaes than cake and ice cream.
I have to admit, I do enjoy a good brownie more than I enjoy a piece of cake!
This brownie cake was inspired by the desert of Tatooine. Carrie did most of the decorating. Thank you, Carrie!




Ah...the extremes of good and evil...at least in the world of Star Wars.




This was an idea I found online...naming and labeling the 2-liters of soda after Star Wars characters...Count Dooku Drink...Jabba Juice...Vader Cola...Greedo Grape...Padme Pop.




Each padawan was given a pouch that was tied at their waste. This was to collect the tokens that they received after each Jedi training exercise. It also came in handy when they collected the candy that fell after the destruction of the Death Star (pinata).





Then each padawan was presented with a light saber that would be used during Jedi Knight Training (half a pool noodle wrapped with duct tape on the end...thanks again to the internet for this idea and to Carrie for all of the wrapping she did!).




Jedi Knight Training Exercise Number One...
Agility Training (keep the black balloon up in the air with your light saber)






Ah...two younglings discussing the way to truly get the most from their quasi-telekinetic power, known as the Force.




A very handsome young padawan overseeing the events of the day...




Jedi Knight Training Exercise Number Two...
Spaceship Landing (throw a frisbee through a hula hoop)




The following picture makes me laugh!

Look at the intense expression on William's face while everyone around him is smiling and watching.

I know what they're all thinking (an old Jedi mind trick).

William is thinking, "Man! I really hope that I don't hit Mom in the face with my frisbee! That could really mess up the day!"
Everyone around him is thinking, "Hmmmm...this could end up being pretty funny!"




Of course, in between training exercises, the young padawans had to get in some light saber practice.

I love this picture!




And check out the older padawans...




Then there's this one.

Carrie did her hair as Padme Amidala...but it seems to me that this is more of a squabble between Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia.

Star Wars: The Sibling Wars




It appears that these padawans really know what they're doing!
Check out their "moves!"





Jedi Knight Training Exercise Number Three...
Target Practice (try to hit the Darth Vader bucket with the black water balloon)




And, yes.
More than Darth Vader was hit during this training exercise.




Jedi Knight Training Exercise Number Four...
Destroy the Death Star (pinata!)

There are no pictures of the pinata.
My photographer was holding the end of the rope instead of the camera. :)
(Thanks Sweetheart!)

We also didn't get pictures of the Jedi Knight Ceremony.
The padawans each received a Jedi robe (an over-sized brown t-shirt) for completing their Jedi Knight Traning.

Then we came back inside for some refreshments!
It was hot outside! But I am so thankful that on this day, we didn't get the predicted thunderstorms and rain.


This is a Yoda Soda...lime sherbet and 7-Up!




Some snacking...




Some present opening...




And of course, the cake!
You can hardly see it, but Darth Vader is on there holding his red light saber (a red candle). Josh found that at the party store too. :)




The day came to a close with Josh and William trying out the new Star Wars plug and play game.




The best part of my day came that night when I was saying prayers with Josh, and he said, "This was the best birthday party ever!"

What I've learned through the years is that you don't have to spend a ton of money or have the most elaborate games and prizes. As with so many other things in life, it's the "being there" that matters.


Enjoying the Journey,