Gabriel and I agreed on a small party– just five or six friends gathered in the basement.
But Gabe just kept printing out more invitations and even ventured out in his snowboots(with Mary in tow) to make sure they were delivered. And this makes me smile, because I too have never succeeded at small parties– my invite list just grows and grows.
We also decided on a spectacular cake– and R2D2 does look fantastic as long as you don’t see what he’s supposed to look like on my fabulous friend smartmama’s blog(but really you should go take a peek). Leslie breezily told me it’s a simple cake and she made it with 3 wild boys circling her feet and while chatting on the phone with long-distance friends. Perhaps I should have remembered that Leslie is a world-renowned artist who eats Kandinsky for breakfast and paints masterpieces with her toes. A word of warning: marshmallow fondant= glue.
Still, he’s adorable isn’t he? And we thought the heart was a nice tin-woodsmanish touch.
When the crowd gathered we commenced with Jedi Training. Our most important decorations? The fog machine and Star Wars music.
And then! Vader entered the room!
Thanks to a hot tip from my friend Brooke we are now the proud owners of a 1/2 price Darth Vader disguise. Call me if you want to borrow it. Seriously. With your collective efforts we can get our money’s worth out of that baby.
Erik said that training a bunch of 6 and 7 year old as Jedis and then walking into a room dressed as the Dark Lord was akin to a death wish. The beat and trampled him and ripped his Kevlar armor. Still he subdued them enough for a rousing game of “jedi, jedi, sith” (thanks for the idea Karyn).
What?! Doesn’t that look like the Death Star to you?
The scramble. Only four kids cried.
Presents!
and a loving last gaze on sweet R2D2. He was devoured!
As he was leaving, our adorable friend Zach mused, “I feel sorry for any Gabe’s friends who didn’t get to come to this party.” And I laughed. Because no one missed it. They were all here.
And that’s a success.
Sweet Miss Mary has strep today and her Pinkalicious party has been postponed. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be blogging but simply melting into a puddle of party exhaustion.
Annie
Absolutely awesome, every last bit of it. Erik makes an outstanding vader. You might have to roll up your hair into braid buns next Halloween and go as Leia.
p.s. I can’t help but notice in the top picture that all of the blue shirt wearers are seated on the couch, while all the U/red shirt wearers are hovering in the outskirts behind the couch! You are such loyal Cougars (I’m a blend since I attended both. Greg is a diehard Ute/anti-BYU guy. Guess where our kids want to go to university? I suppose if their brand of rebellion is to go to a church school, so be it.)
Get well soon, Miss Mary!
jennie w.
So amazing!
dalene
You rock. Utterly and completely. And as always, the pictures are great. But that last one says it all.
martha corinna
You have to be the best parents I know, seriously.
Truly, your son is a very good looking boy.
I would love to borrow the Vader costume but every single one of my children would cry, perhaps someday.
I read on Annie’s blog that you were thinking about quitting. Don’t quit unless you really need to, I have really come to love your blog. I’m not just trying to flatter you, yours is my favorite. Your writing is so evocative and vivid and true. You really inspire me to be a better person(I know it’s been a very short time since I’ve been reading, but in this short time your stories have had quite an impact on me). So anyway, just thought I would let you know.
millertimeab
OOOOOHHHH! you are the best party planner ever! looks like tons of fun! I love R2!
sarah
looks like a total success and one that my boys would have just died and gone to heaven if they were there. You have such a knack for things like this. What a fun day you all had= oh, r2 is a hit.
smart mama
what a fun time- I love how you can capture feelings so eloquently in pictures! and hey I love that R2- you rock!
Glazier5
Oh are my boys are jealous! Can Darth come to our next party?
Melissa
I’m certain I’ve mentioned a time or two or twelve how I just love Gabriel! Happy birthday to that sweet boy!
It looks like one heck of a party! Ethan would have been gabbing about that for days, weeks. You are a FUN MOM!
Jennk
Looks great. B would love to go to a party like that. Good work!
www.lifetrekkingcoach.com
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!