Birthday party season has arrived at our house.  We've got one in January, March and May, and I think I need to do a party for each kid this year.  Last year I didn't have one for the baby, but she's asking already for this year.  Last year I began only inviting kids from their classes because the parties were getting too big, but once they are a little older smaller parties are better because you can do more creative things. 

Anyway, this year for my son's birthday I decided to do something creative.  I got inspired by some great Jedi training academy parties on pinterest.  Although I've seen Star Wars (a long, long time ago . . .), I  don't really know the movie, so I copied everything I did from stuff I found online in other people's blogs.  Here's what I did:

I made the invitation in MS Word, and downloaded a Star Wars font for free here.  I printed the wording on cardstock, cut them out and glued them on to a piece of black cardstock.  Super easy.  Despite asking people to RSVP early, I only had 3 RSVPs by the date I said (despite basically begging on the invite for people to RSVP), so I had to send out an e-mail and I even called one person.  RSVP's trickled in and I even got 2 the day before the party, which was frustrating since I made stuff for each kid.  Oh well.  People these days don't RSVP for some reason, even given plenty of options where they wouldn't have to actually call and talk to someone. 

Next up was the jedi robes.  I made each kid a jedi robe from this super easy tutorial.  They were pretty easy, but still took time - I spent one whole day (school day) sewing them and then I had to make 2 more on Friday night for the late RSVPers.  Those last 2 took me one hour from just a pile of fabric to finish.  If I could do it over again, I would probably make them a little wider and get extra fabric for the hoods, but I was trying to make the whole thing from 2 yards.  They were a little tight on the bigger kids.  I just got some rope at Hobby Lobby in the fabric section.  I could have also gone to a hardware store just the same.  Upon arriving, each kid was given their robe and sent outside to play a bit until everyone arrived.
Here are the robes hanging by the front door:

We made pool noodle light sabers for each kid, and they were a HUGE hit, and I think impossible to hurt someone.  Since it's January, I had to order them online, but all you need is duct tape, electrical tape and 1/2 noodle.  There are some really fancy ones online, but we didn't have time, and I don't think they would have noticed anyway!

I had some games planned, but definitely underestimated the power of the group of 11 7 year olds.  They were wild and there wasn't much listening, but they were having a blast.  At the end of the day we thought we should have just given them some time to play with the sabers at the beginning to get out their energy.  Oh well.  Here's what we did:

Light saber instruction by my husband who was a fencer in college.  I don't know how much listening was going on, but they were having a blast!

Target practice with dart guns.  We had a life sized Darth Vader, but the darts weren't sticking to it, so we used a left over piece of granite from when we had our kitchen re-done.  It worked pretty well.  We didn't have enough guns for each kid, so it was a bit chaotic. 

We own the property next to us and it's just a lot with a bunch of trees, so I set up an obstacle course in it.  They had to run through some garden stakes, go through a box, run through some lava (red tablecloth) by stepping on just the rocks, hit some bad guys with their light sabers (printed out faces pinned to trees), run around a tree, shoot Darth Vader with a dart gun and then run to the garage and do a low-five with their light saber to a poster of Yoda.  They seemed to like it - they cheered on each kid and some even took their Moms through it when they picked them up.  It ended up being 80 degrees (it's January, so it was a bit ridiculous), so they were very thirsty and they each got some water upon finishing the course.

After that we had cake, and then we had a little more down time than I expected, but they ran round with their light sabers and dart guns and just played. 

The Yoda Soda was  HUGE hit!  We just mixed green sherbet and Sprite.  They really loved it. 

We opened gifts towards the end and then each Jedi got this certificate as their Moms or Dads came to get them. 

Overall, the response was great!  Some of the Moms said their sons had been so excited all week and couldn't wait.  Some of them had to take their robes off because it was so hot, but they all seemed to love them.  They took home the robe, light saber and certificate, which I thought were great favors that they may actually play with.  I usually don't do favors because I think most people go home and throw them away and I don't really like to give out candy, but this really worked. 

Even though it was a bit chaotic for me, I don't think the kids noticed and they seemed to have a really good time.  If I were ever to do this again, I would have more games just as time fillers and maybe prizes to go with them.  But, you live and learn I guess! And a HUGE thank you to pinterest and all the mommy bloggers who gave me great ideas (just google 'jedi training academy party' or 'Star Wars party' or some combination of those for great ideas.  Here's a few more pics:

My last post was 2 days prior to the Newtown shooting.  As I watched the news unfold on TV that day, I was stunned, horrified, filled with disbelief, but most of all sad.  I could be any one of those Moms at that school.  I have a kindergartener and a first grader who  (despite a good amount of standard sibling arguing) are each other's best playmates.  My Mom is a first grade teacher.  I am a teacher (currently taking some time off), and I have tons of teacher friends.  And so it hit close to home.  And my heart was (still is) filled with heavy saddness for every single person involved, but especially the ones who lost their loved ones, including the family of Nancy Lanza and the shooter as they certainly hold a unique kind of grief knowing that their own loved one did something so unthinkable, and they should not be left out of people's prayers. 

The Monday following the shooting I was home putting together a dollhouse for my daughter, and all I could think about was how families were planning funerals.  Planning funerals a week before Christmas.  I just can't imagine what that must be like.  If they are like me, they probably had most, if not all, of their Christmas gifts hidden away in their homes and couldn't wait for their kids to open them.  They may have had an elf showing up every morning and links of paper counting down to Santa's big arrival.  They had parties planned, gifts for their teachers, special Christmas outfits and that special giddy excitement kids have when the magic of Christmas nears.  I sat in my living room with the dollhouse watching Anderson Cooper barely able to say the name of each victim as he too was overcome with grief.  They were just sweet, innocent babies, and I couldn't help but stop and remind myself how lucky I am to have every single day that I do with my kids.  It can end at any moment for any reason. 

Later that week I attended the class parties of both kids.  Walking through the halls of the school filled with happy, smiling kids wearing their best Christmas Party clothes nearly brought me to tears.  Any shooting is beyond terrible, but to come into a place filled with such innocence, happiness and hope and create such carnage is simply beyond words.

Like most everyone else as well, I felt helpless.  What can I, way over here in Texas,  possibly do for those poor people.  I sent prayers, we donated some money, and hugged our kids a little closer.  But, what I really loved was how there was a movement to pay kindness forward.  People were starting pay-it-forward lines at Starbucks (pay for the person behind you in line), opening doors for others, paying people compliments, or doing what felt right to them.  Kindness goes farther than we can imagine - perhaps you make someone's day with just a smile or kind gesture.  You'll never know it, but I'd like to think it will create a domino effect of good vibes throughout the community.  We should make it habit rather than something we do for a few days after a tragedy.

It's been almost a month since Newtown.  It's not on the forefront of the news any more, although people are rearing their ugly heads in the gun control debate.  As Newtown moves out of the country's main focus, the families of those victims are just beginning the journey of how to figure out how to live without their loved ones.  We owe it to them to continue to spread kindness and love rather than anger and hatred.  The spirit of 6 and 7 year olds is one of love, happiness and hope.  Let us all continue to pay it forward however we can and honor their spirits.  Hug your kids, open doors for strangers, smile at someone, let someone in front of you when driving without worrying about the extra 15 second it may cost you.  The positive energy will make a difference.