The Force was Strong with this Party

To quote Shrek, "I don't mean to brag...."  well, maybe I do.  You see, I am a bit of a Jedi Master with Star Wars parties.  Kids parties to be exact as my party tricks wouldn't work so well with the older set.  I can't see too many grown ups taking a whack at a pinata.  But then again, you never know.  Maybe I will have to think about a grown up party.  However for now, I will stick with kids.  This past Saturday we had Connor's birthday party with the Star Wars theme and all bragging aside it kicked major ass.  You know you have a winner when 2 kid leave saying, "This was the best party ever!"  And a few more pissed off when they heard it was over.

We began with this:

 Padme Amidala and Ashoka Tano in the house Ladies and Gentlemen!  Teddy was there also but starting his duties as Cabana Boy.

Of course one of the coolest parts about a party like this is naming the food.  Hoth Dogs, Sith Sushi, Qui Gon Chips, Vader Tators and Wookie Cookies.  The Wookies Cookies were the biggest hit and almost didn't happen as I was running out of time.  Tim Tams and Writing Gel go a LONG way.

The first part of our party was a welcoming in session and to entertain the kids in small groups as they arrived I put on the Xbox Kinect Star Wars game.  If you have an Xbox, Kinect and even the tiniest interest in Star Wars leave the computer now and go buy this game.  It is stunningly awesome.  Seriously.  If you are a serious gamer, in fact if you have desecrated the English language and actually turned the word game into a verb, ie, "Yes, I game on the weekends and every moment in between"  No, this game isn't for you.  But then again, neither is this blog so leave now.  But for the rest of us mere mortals, yes, this game is full of sheer brilliance.  See below.

  When the baddest man in the galaxy, Lando Calrissian is leading the troops in a Galactic dance Off - you have a winner.

We also played Star Wars Bingo.  A classic game with an extra flair.  Since not all of our guests were die-hard Star Wars lovers (I know, I thought that was weird too) I had to describe the pictures as I drew the cards out of the box.  When I called out Y-Wing on Yavin, of course my son, Head Cabana Boy Teddy, had to correct me and shout out, "She means Yavin 4!"  Thank you Pumpkin, I see where that might have been confusing to some.

Next up the traditional "Make Your Own Lightsaber and become a Jedi" section.  A hit with all ages.  This is my FAVORITE party trick because it's insanely easy.  You don't need too much fuss.  Cut a pool noodle in half, hand them a strip of duct tape to make the handle and hand them a colored circle sticker to put on to make the on/off switch.  That's it.  You really need nothing else.  Keep your eye on things though as the swinging starts immediately.  We headed across the street to get some Jedi Training - ie, Beat the Hell out of the Cabana Boys.  My older boys who were too cool for the party but not old enough to drive off on their own.

Of course, being from Texas, you aren't allowed to have a home birthday party without a pinata.  Of course, we couldn't just have a regular pinata so here is Connor and me with the Death Star Pinata.  Yes, I'm aware it looks more like the egg shaped thing from Jimmy Neutron, SILENCE!  I've decided that glitter fixes everything and the more glitter there is the more gets fixed.  Be quiet.

Then the party shifted to your more traditional fare.  Eating cake and opening presents.  Where we shifted back to our odd little universe was after the presents opened.

Another war was declared on the Cabana Boys and they were forced to flee into the rocky backyard.  As you can see Connor decided the Force wasn't enough to vanquish her enemies so she and her friends brought out the Nerf guns as back up.  Run Cabana Boys, RUN.

A great evening was had by all.  My beautiful Connor had her Star Wars party and hopefully learned that girls are allowed to be Scifi geeks too. If nothing else, thanks to this blog if someone else Googles "Star Wars Girls" there will be one normal listing amongst all the geek fan boy weirdness.

I know Teddy learned a powerful lesson as he went to bed early lamenting the speed and strength of Connor's friends and their lightsaber fighting skills.

Let that be a lesson to all:  Never underestimate a chick's ability to whack the Hell out of you with a pool noodle lightsaber.

Happy Birthday Connor.  You were the prettiest Padme I ever saw.

Some Day I Must Get a Life

Not much of one, I'm not sure I could handle it.  But today I stooped to a new low or high depending on how you look at things in how I spend my day.  Connor is having a Star Wars themed birthday party and I spent HOURS crafting an awesome party invitation and I've posted it all over FB pimping it trying to get praise.  It has this picture in it. 

I was just so jazzed about finding Star Wars girl pictures that quite frankly, weren't porn, that I couldn't resist shouting to the masses.  Seriously, I know Geeks have been downtrodden for a long time and the Internet is their home court so to speak but DAMN!  I feel traumatized seeing a picture labeled Star Wars, Leia and Perky.  Honestly, I threw up a little in my mouth when I saw that.  Not what I intended when I was looking for some sort of feminine presence in the Star Wars Universe.  Really?!  Apparently silicone defies the laws of gravity in space too.  Impressive.

So I found positive girl Star Wars images!  Here's another one:

Not sure how I'm going to use it yet but I may throw it onto the cupcake wrappers.  We're having a very pro-female party but we will have 2 boys too.  So I will have to make sure they are included.  If nothing else I'll throw food at them and let them beat the Hell out of each other with the light sabers they make.  That's what I did for Teddy's Star Wars party when he was 6.  Some things are just timeless, like the little black dress.

I'm not including Teddy who is horror stuck to learn that he is expected to attend the festivities.  I told him I'm planning on him being the Cabana Boy.  Then Connor suggested he dress up as R2D2 in Episode VI when he was the drink server on Jabba's barge.  I laughed so much I swerved the car and snorted my spleen up into my nose.  As Teddy started wailing that his family sucked, Connor piped up again, "Um Mommy, who do you have to say thank you to?"  When the broad is right, she's right.  Thank you Connor for the best spit take I've had in a very long time!

Here's another image I found:

I am seriously digging this one.  I think though that I need to put the first one on a t shirt.  Connor wants one and I sure as Hell do too.  Cafepress.com here we come!

But the reason I need a life is because I am taking this all WAYYYYY TOOOO SERIOUSLY.  I almost got unhinged today at Discount Party Supply Warehouse when I saw they had Hannah Montana, High School Musical and that crappy last Indiana Jones movie theme and only 1 banner and some cups and napkins for Star Wars. 

WHAT THE HELL IS THAT CRAP?!

Discount Party Supply Warehouse, you suck.  More than a little. Well forget you.  I am no Youngling at Star Wars parties and I promise this one will be talked about in hushed awed voices for years...even without your stinkin' $9 a pack napkins.  Hannah Montana?  Really?  Is that show even still on?

So I'm pestering people for helping finding pool noodles and spending way too much time in Microsoft Word creating invitations, hunting down SW napkins, cups, and wristbands and began the Death Star Pinata building process.  What I did not do was call the realtor about them cancelling our inspection without telling me, pick up my script for blood pressure meds which I've been out of for 4 days, do the laundry or wash the dishes.  Ok.  Tomorrow I will be better.  Unless I hear back from the Etsy seller about the Hello Kitty Star Wars charm bracelet.  NERDVANA!!!! Here's a picture!

Oh Thinkgeek, Thy Geekness Comes Through Again

When you are married to a geek, raising a geeks and have some geek tendencies yourself you have to find different ways of expressing love and affection than most people choose to employ. Unfortunately that can require a lot more creativity than most geeks are able to handle.  Fortunately there is a website that picks up the slack.  Of course you know that I am referring to ThinkGeek.com - the holy land of bizarre things than only very bizarre people can appreciate.

What I like most about ThinkGeek is that it appeals to all kinds of unusual.  IT geeks, Gamer Geeks, Science Geeks, Pop Culture Geeks, even some Historical Geeks.  Basically if you've ever looked at the t-shirt that someone was wearing, saw a poster or a tv show replica item in someone's house or a toy at a work place and said, "Dear God, where the HELL did you get that?"  It was from ThinkGeek.  I've been a proud customer of theirs for years.  1/2 of Ted's shirts come from ThinkGeek, the other 1/2 from his work, Atlassian.  A t-shirt company thinly disguised as a software design company.  I myself am a prideful wearer of the "Han Shot First" shirt from ThinkGeek - if you have to ask then you don't truly appreciate Star Wars and if you don't, well maybe you shouldn't be reading this anyway.  I bought Teddy a fine selection of Portal 2 fun stuff and of course Tessi's "Soft Kitty" shirt and stuffed animal all come from there.  That's just how we roll in our Geek house.

I write this today because FINALLY after almost 3 weeks my shipment from ThinkGeek arrived.  I tried their new economy shipping to Australia and DAMN!  I was really scared it wouldn't make it.  With 2 mailing days left it came!!!!!   I bought some things for Connor's birthday in May and the rest for Easter.  I have outdone myself this year.  Not 1 but TWO chocolate zombie bunnies.  One for Ted and one for Teddy.  A Han Solo frozen in carbonite chocolate bar for Connor - our star wars groupie, she is worse than I am...I love it. and for our princess chef... magic wand spice dispensers.  Here's a picture I just posted on Facebook.

It's ok a to be a little jealous.  It is amazing.

 I am riding a high that I just can't describe right now.  It won't last.  My kids will squeal with joy for about 30 seconds on Sunday and move straight onto the "What have you done for me lately?" but right now I don't care.  I have provided them with a coolness that is hard to come by.  I'm going to take a few minutes and just revel in this.  I don't get too many moments like this.  Usually my life life is broken down into moments between snarls, screams, whines and death threats.  Well they aren't threatening me but I hear them turning on each other.  My point is that if it weren't for my ear buds I would seldom hear anything nice.  But now I know that I have coming to me my due.  A FULL 10 seconds of kid war cry screaming my praises.  Maybe to you that's not much but in my world that's a God Damn Lifetime Achievement Academy Award and I'm not even close to being dead yet.  HA!!!


By the way, I TOTALLY NEED THIS COAT.  I'm serious. I'm serious.  See the secret compartment for the ear buds?  This is a MUST have to survive the school's Education Week Concert.

  But I'm not selfish, this coat is pricey, I can do with this one -

No, not as many pockets but it does but the ear buds close and keeps the iPhone handy.  ThinkGeek, I love you.  Seriously, I have a major crush on you.  Thank you for making Easter AWESOME!!! 


So Women's Weekly , Martha Stewart Living, whatever damn thing Rachel Ray has come up with for Easter that is so damn clever and only requires 48 hours of prep time, 3 yards of tulle, a staff of 12 of glitter in places that are just wrong - HA!  I'm AWESOME MOM and I only had to click a few buttons on the keyboard.