This Party Will Go Down in Galactic History!

I can't believe my "little baby" has turned 5 years old!  With a loose tooth to boot!  After getting squeamish over the loose tooth, I got all choked up over the milestone that I thought would still be a year or so down the road....  

We celebrated last weekend by busting out with the Star Wars theme that we'd been reserving, which meant decorations were already covered by Colby's collectibles, Reid's toys, a borrowed life-size Yoda and Colby's life-size, limited edition Han Solo in Carbonite, which many of you may remember as part of our everyday decor in our old home.  I have a feeling Han won't be making it back into storage, since he's been resurrected...  (Notice the tags still on the plush characters, of which I got dirty looks for asking if I could take off.)

After a night at Grammy's, Reid's grand entrance into his own party was accompanied by the Star Wars theme music.  He was super pumped!  You can't see his face here, but you can tell he's smiling ear-to-ear!

Instead of party favors, I sewed Jedi robes for all the young Padawans in attendance...  a project I didn't realize I was crazy for taking on until I was half-way through it, trying to bend over a nearly full-term belly, chalking, pinning and cutting fabric...  Once I saw the kids in them though, it was worth it!  Here they are instinctively practicing using the force on each other as soon as they got their robes on.

Great Grandpa Joe.  :)

Jedi Training Course -Session 1:
The Padawans were to practice using the force to guide them as they restored order to the galaxy (sticking stickers on a poster to "blow up" ships after being spun around blindfolded).

Jedi Training Course -Session 2:
Colby Obi-Wan led the Padawans in light saber training, where each young Jedi received their very own light saber (made of water noodles).

Check Ronin out!  That little dude got SO into it.  He had us all in stitches!

They were then trained in creating force lightening:

And then were paired up with sparring partners to practice their new skills:

Jedi Training Course -Session 3: 

Using only the force to guide them, each young Jedi took turns attacking the Darth Vader piñata:

After much hard work, all were rewarded with another one of Colby's tasty creations, this time in the form of the Star Destroyer.  The Jedi of honor was greatly pleased with his surprise, to say the least:

While enjoying their cake, I checked in with each of the young Jedis to be sure they received adequate training and felt fully prepared in case they had a run-in with Darth Vader.  Shortly after, the Cantina music was interrupted by the blaring sounds of the Imperial March and all attention was drawn to the booming voice coming down the stairs, requesting Reid Waltenburg.  Their Jedi instincts quickly kicked in as they charged him with their water noodles.  Colby would have been proud, if only he could have been there to see it.

I was concerned for Ronin, being such a young Padawan, that it all might be a bit too intense for him, but as you can see from the series of shots below, he was more than prepared!

Needless to say, Darth Vader was defeated indubitably and order was restored throughout the galaxy.  (Video footage from the defeat of Darth Vader is soon to come.)

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Aaaaand, here's Reid testing out his latest set of wheels.  Happy birthday, Bud!