The things we do for our kids...

This is how I spent my Friday night...

Helping Jonathan assemble the Tie fighter he bought with his assortment of birthday money and gift cards. This is the ship Jonathan got from his aunt Kerri for his birthday. I also assisted (basically did it myself) in the assembly of this one.

Jonathan got this one from Grandma and Grandpa Denzine for Christmas. Aunt Kerri assembled this one in Tucson, but I did have to reassemble a little bit tonight.
This is our kitchen table. This is a happy boy.

Jonathan's birthday celebrations

A week long celebration

Jonathan turned 7 last Wednesday. Tuesday night we celebrated as a family by going out to eat at Applebees. Jonathan specifically chose Applebees because he remembered the servers singing to someone last time he was there. That same day, Jonathan got a present in the mail from Grandma & Grandpa Ashdown. They sent him a puzzle map of the US and Canada. Each US state is it's own puzzle piece in the shape of the state. Jonathan put this puzzle together all by himself without any help from me or Russ.

On his actualy birthday, we let Jonathan open his presents from mom and dad. We got him Wii Fit, Mario Bros. Monopoly and the second Diary of a Wimpy Kid book.

Episode VII - A Jedi birthday.
Saturday was the big day, the Jedi Training birthday party. This party was a lot of work, but it turned out so fun for the kids. I got all my ideas from various online resources, all people who had thrown similar parties for their own kids. As the kids arrived, we dressed them in Jedi tunics, issued lightsabers and gave them each a name tag, which would also serve as a sort of score card.

The lightsabers were made of pvc pipe and Fun Noodles (you know, the kind you take swimming). Finding those noodles in the middle of winter was not easy! I think I went to Walmart every day for a month. I knew they were getting close because they had out just about every other swim toy you could think of. I had two noodles at home that I cut up, but it wasn't enough for everyone. I had planned to make the remaining lightsabers out of pipe insulation, but it wasn't as cute and brightly colored. Then, the day of the party I went to get soda and decided to take one last spin around the toy department and there they were. Yay! No fighting over who has to take the ugly black lightsabers. Since I hadn't made them yet, I could return the insulation to Home Depot.

We led the kids through games to test their Jedi skills; such as lightsaber skills, balance, mind control, blaster shooting (nerf dart guns) and teamwork. The final exam was Star Wars bingo, which I put together from images I found online. Their last test was defeating the Darth Vader pinata. The pinata was a plain round one and we glued a picture of Darth Vader to it.

To celebrate Vader's defeat we ate cake and ice cream.

Poor Luke is sinking into the cake.

As the friends left for home we handed out treat boxes (I forgot to get a picture of these) and Jedi training certificates. And now, I am birthday partied out for at least a year.

I have to thank Christina, Kathleen and Colleen for coming down to help with the party. If they hadn't been there I think the kids might have taken over. Having help makes a huge difference in the outcome of the party. For Jonathan's 5th bday it was just Russ and me and we were very overwhelmed.

Pay it forward

I saw this on my friend Kellie's blog. I won on hers so now it is my turn. Here are the rules:

1. Be one of the first THREE bloggers to leave a comment on this post, which then entitles you to a handmade item from me - something crafty or yummy, who knows?!
I need to amend this one to promise you that I will not bake or cook anything for you. Otherwise you'd run screaming from this blog and no one would play.

2. Winners must post this challenge on your blog, meaning that you will Pay It Forward, creating a handmade gift -anything!- for the first THREE bloggers who leave a comment on YOUR post about this giveaway!

3. The gift that you send to your 3 friends can be from any price range and you have 365 days to make/ship your item. This means you should be willing to maintain your blog at least until you receive your gift and have shipped your gifts. And, remember: It’s the spirit and the thought that count!

4. When you receive your gift, please feel free to blog about it, sharing appropriate Linky Love! If you are not one of the Top Three Commenters on this post, you can still play along. Go ahead and start your own Pay It Forward chain, and encourage your blogging friends to do the same!

RAD Kids

Jonathan's class has spent the last month or so in PE learning self defense. It's a program called RAD Kids and last night they demonstrated what they learned for their parents.

Here are a couple pictures of the kids demonstrating what they learned.
At the end they had to go through a sort of obstacle course of strangers and use their skills to get away.

Survey says...

Five names you go by: If I told you all my aliases I'd have to kill you. Seriously, who has 5 names? I go by Kim and sometimes Kimberly from relatives or telemarketers.

Three things you are wearing right now: green sweater, blue jeans, brown boots

Two things you want very badly at the moment: Is it bad if I don't want anything very badly at the moment? Or maybe that's good. I would like a maid, but that's not going to happen.

Two people who will probably fill this out: Rachel, Nancy

Two things you did last night: finished Jonathan's party invites and watched TV with Russ and Jonathan.

Two things you ate today: chips and salsa

Two people you last talked to on the phone: My sister in law, Lori. She's the only one I talked to today and I don't remember yesterday. Probably Russ.

Two things you are going to do tomorrow: Laundry and vacuum

Two longest car rides: Growing up it would have been one of our trips to NC. As an adult, it is the 16 hour drive to Tucson twice a year.

Two of your favorite things to drink: Diet Coke and water

Three favorite shows on TV: American Idol and the Tonight Show. I can't think of a third. I don't even watch those regularly.

Saturday Night Fun

My cousin Christina is getting married in July and she's asked Jonathan to wear a kilt in the wedding. The groom and groomsmen are also wearing kilts. So, last night we took Jonathan to try on the kilt he will wear in the wedding.

They are renting the kilts from Edinburgh Castle in Salt Lake. The lady at the store cinched the waistband a little too tight, which is why Jonathan is holding his stomach.
Just imagine this picture with a white shirt and no jeans poking out. I think he will look so cute. I can't gush too much or he'll get self conscious. And nobody (Kerri) better make fun of him. Getting this boy to wear a kilt took some serious bribery on Christina's part.

After the kilt, we went to see our cousin Ben at the Off Broadway Theater. He's been taking an Improv class and last night was their performance.

In this video only Ben knows that they are supposed to be train robbers. The other guy has to play along and try to figure out what they are doing.


I have more video, but it takes forever to upload. I've put a few more of them on Facebook though.