Jonathan's 5th Star Wars Birthday!

Jonathan enjoyed an epic birthday party yesterday!  

An aside about epic parties; sometimes I'll hear moms talk about how those crazy (other) moms who throw over the top children's parties (guilty) and are ruining it for everyone else who do more normal scale parties.  

In my defense;  I plan for children's parties months in advance because I love it.  It's one my favorite ways to delight in who they are and who they are becoming. 

We don't spend a lot, but I do spend a lot of time planning.  Planning a fun event is half the fun for me (maybe more), and I try to pull my kids in to that planning process so they can enjoy and anticipate the fun too.  So that they know I am celebrating them.  

Every parent has unique and over the top ways they love their child; things they say, or ways they teach them, or are silly with their kids.  I don't want to measure how those ways might be "better" or "worse" than mine.  

It's not possible or profitable to use these kinds of rulers to measure amazing things like how to parent. It is though inspirational for me to see the millions of incredible ways parents find to love their children.  

Rulers aside;  

Jonathan's dad introduced him to the older Star Wars Movie this year and Jonathan loved them as much as his dad did.  

So for his birthday this year I put together a Jedi-training party for he and all his young jedi friends.

I found a free Star Wars font to make lots of fun signs for the party.

 My current cake decorating philosophy is; just stick a bunch of plastic toys on it.

Jabba the Hummus was a big hit.  This is on way I use my Fine Art degree :)

The "Build a Droid" station with the kids of r2d2 shapes Jonathan and I made.

They all did a great job!

And now it's time to practice with the lightsabers!

 Ted led the Jedi training.  This is the obstacle course and eager kids ready to crawl in and bop balloons.

There they go!  This went on for a long time with no injuries or tears.  The kids with lightsaber balloons hitting balloons Ted decorated to look like storm troopers.

And trying to pop bubbles from the bubble machine.

 Time for cake!  Mommy forgot candles, so Daddy suggested blowing out the light sabers.  Great idea.

 And now presents!  Our wonderful guests gave Jonathan lots of cool and thoughtful gifts.  Here are some of the vintage star wars toys that were Ted's that he gave his very happy son.

The kids all had fun playing with the all the toys!

Thank you family and friends for helping make Jonathan's day special.  Jonthan and Dorathea had a sleep over in J's room last night so they could play with all the toys together.  

 May the force be with you!