Hayden turns 5!

We celebrated Hayden's birthday last week with a Jedi party. All the kids were instructed to bring their lights sabers to help them fight the dark side. As they each arrived, they chose a mask to decorate and that was the character they would be for the day. We have Yoda, Anakin, C3PO, Darth Vader, A storm trooper, and Darth Sidious.
This was a Jedi Training camp, so the first thing they had to do was to prove their abilities. They had an obstacle course where they had to stomp the storm troopers on the stairs, jump over lava, hit an apple out of the tree with their light saber, jump through some ladder rungs, fight the master Jedi (Eric), and do their best trick on the trampoline. Every boy did this at least twice. They loved it!
Then we divided them up into two teams and gave them water balloons to blow up the other team's Death Star, which was drawn on the driveway with sidewalk chalk. This was hilarious!

Here they are trying to keep the balloons in the air with their light sabers.

Then they had to rescue Padme and Princess Leia from the dark side. They each were hidden in balloons that they had to try and pop in order to save them! (I just had pictures of them rolled up in the balloon) The boy that found the princess acted like he had won the lottery. He was screaming and jumping up and down. It was so funny.
Here's my attempt at Hayden's cake. Can you tell which scene this is? It's the lava scene with Obi Wan and Anakin before Anakin goes to the dark side. I tried...At least it tasted good!

Happy Birthday to my favorite boy!

I have to mention that he got a pogo stick from my Dad for his birthday. It is the coolest present! It's a smaller one that only holds up to 80 lbs, so it's just right for him! He is now pogo-ing with the best of them. I'll get a video of him doing that.

This is Hayden demonstrating the Training Course.

Family Fun is my Hero!

Anyone out there get the October edition of Family Fun magazine? Every time that magazine gets here in the mail, I devour it in about an hour. It's how I stay creative and sane. It is always full of activities and ideas for me to do with my children. I love it! October's edition is fabulous! I can't wait to do it all.

One of the ideas was these little nature pals. First, you go on a "fall" walk with your children and gather pine cones and acorns and other items that could be used to make a nature creature. Afterwards, you get creative and glue everything together to make your guys. My kids had fun putting them together, but I think they enjoyed the walk more. It's always more fun when you're looking for the signs of fall! I totally loved that part, too!

Oops, it broke!

Go make some nature creatures!