Jedi Cam is 5!

Cam was very excited for many months for his 5th birthday! He just couldn't stop talking about scenarios like "well, when I'm 5....". The day before his birthday though, he says "I think I'm going to miss being 4." Then March 19th arrived and it was pure excitement.

There was a lot of prep for this party. I researched on the internet about Star Wars party ideas and really tried to stay true to the theme. The theme was around Jedi training for young Padawan Cameron and we invited his friends to join in the training.

We started out with dressing each kiddo in their Jedi robe (brown felt with a V-neck and tied at the waist with rope). Thanks to my mom who cut out all the robes! Then we gave them each a blow-up lightsaber. While we waited for all the kids to arrive, they played outside.

The first game was to work on their Jedi skills and lightsaber training. It involved using their lightsabers to keep balloons off the floor. Here they are in action.

Next we played a game that involved restoring order to the galaxy. There were two teams and they each had to try to put their sticker on a ship for points.
Myles was so cute just sitting and watching and taking it all in.
Then he had to give it a whirl too!
Another game was about Jedi concentration skills. They had to drop these wooden dowels that Cam and I painted to look like lightsabers into a glass jar. (When we were little we played a similar game at parties that involved dropping a clothes pin into a milk bottle). Here's Cam giving it a try.
Caeden gives it a whirl.
Jedi Pete is at it!
Diego
Andrik was the champ at this. He must have good concentration skills! I think he got all but one of them in!
Next was the real highlight of the party. Tom contacted the 501st Legion, which is a worldwide group of Star Wars geeks basically. They have different chapters depending on where you live. Anyway, they sent out 3 stormtroopers (although Cam says one is a sandtrooper and he's probably right). This was on their own time and free of charge, however they suggest we make a donation in their name to a children's charity, which we did.

The kids were really surprised by this! One kiddo was even a bit frightened, poor guy. Initially they all just stared at them but then they wanted to talk with them and see their guns. I wasn't happy about the fake guns being in the house but it was a one time deal.

In this picture, the stormtrooper is talking with Cam about whose special day it is and they he presented him with a certificate.




Tom had to get in on the action.
Diego
Caeden
Cam
Luke
Pete


I think I'll save this for our Christmas card photo!
Here's most of the gang from L to R: Caeden, Diego, Luke, Sawyer, Andrik, Cam, Karthik, Pete (missing are Simon and Herschel)
The final game was a Jedi skills obstacle course. Tom and Cam set this up and had fun with it. It was a good way to get them all outside again and burn off some energy. It was fairly windy but fun.

Again, Myles got in on the action.





The cake! The two things Cam wanted were chocolate cake and two guys fighting on it. I ordered these cake toppers and their lightsabers actually light up (although we had to keep the button in the back depressed--thus the rubberband around Darth Vader's waist!)

This was my first attempt at using fondant. It turned out pretty good.

We also served Yoda Sodas (lime sherbet with Sprite).







When each kiddo left, they got to take home their Jedi robe and lightsaber. I also created a certificate about their Jedi training that they took home.

After everyone left it was time for Cam to open presents from family (we ask that his friends not bring gifts since he already has enough stuff!) He wanted to skype with Zach (cousin) while he opened the gift from Zach which was a larger Anakin Skywalker that talks.
Here he is opening a Starfighter, which is what he really wanted and his face says it all. Grandpa and Grandma gave him this.

Notice the lightsaber near his hand. He received a double lightsaber from cousin Anthony, another gift he was wishing for. He frequently separates this into two lightsabers so we can all play Star Wars!

Also in the picture is his reaction to the gift from Tom and I...a new bike!
It fits!
All in all it was a great day. I was exhausted and falling asleep on the couch at 7:30. It was all worth it though. So hard to believe that my baby is now 5 and will be entering kindergarten this fall. Happy Birthday Cam! We love you!

Random pictures

We go to the zoo at least once a month to make good use of our membership. Frequently the primates give us a good laugh. On this day we walked up just as the mom orangutan was wondering off with the baby so I was bummed not to get a picture of them. However, this is what we saw! This silly orangutan was hiding under this sheet. It was so funny.

Here's Myles trying to enjoy some ice cream at the zoo. He was particularly fussy about it and initially screaming when I tried to give him some. I'm sure he was tired as it was nap time and perhaps also frustrated b/c I wouldn't let him hold the cone. So, I finally slopped off most of the ice cream and gave him the cone and then he was mostly happy!
Myles enjoys peek-a-boo, especially when he is avoiding eating dinner. Perhaps he wants to be like the orangutan!

This is a shot of Myles peering down the stairs and calling for Cam which sounds like "Da". He says that both for "Cam" and "Dad". I love when he does this.
Watching Jungle Book one day after church. Myles sat for about a minute. Cam of course, was entranced and giggled a lot during the movie.
Myles has really been into trying on all of our shoes lately. Here he is in Cam's shoes. He seems to even be saying shoes sometimes which sounds like "sheez".
Not sure what this picture was about but it's cute nonetheless.
And here's Myles trying a bit of chocolate pudding and thoroughly enjoying it as you can tell! Perhaps the above pic of Cam was also during the pudding time. Myles is very particular about feeding himself and gets quite frustrated if anyone even tries to help him. However, sometimes he really enjoys Cam feeding or helping him. It's quite cute!