Party Time!

Mission: Celebrate Collin's 5th Birthday was a HUGE success! The astronauts came Saturday night and spent the daylight hours training for their launch into space after dark with Disney's "Space Dogs," which we projected on a big screen in the backyard under the stars!

Task 1: Building Emotional/Character Stability (Charades)

Can you guess what Collin is imitating? (A. Monkey!)

Can you guess what Grandpa Bob is imitating? (Aunt Janae, Uncle Jared, and the boys couldn't at first either ...[see pic below]) (A. Antlers!)

Grandma and Grandpa J brought their pup Rocky! He was a BIG hit, especially with Kate!

Can you guess what Collin is imitating? (A. Riding a Horse!)Grandpa J, Pam, Aunt Janae and Grandma J

It was fun to watch the adults trying to "hold back" their guesses. First, we wanted to make sure all the kids got to guess and play, so we asked the adults to hold back. But then as the kids got into it, the adults started shouting out answers too ~ sometimes by accident ~ an "unwelcome" reaction of excitement! You see, if you guessed - and got it right - you had to take a turn! Everyone had had a turn by the end of the game! Such a great way to open up a party ~ with laughter for all!

Task 2: Fine Tuning Ship Maintenance (Flying Saucer Art Project)

The kids worked to create flying saucers of many shapes and colors!

Task 3: Mastering Strength and Hand/Eye Coordination (Pinata)

Rikki looks like she's on the attack!

Jared perhaps IS on the attack! Kevin, LOOK OUT!!

Each of the kids had multiple opportunities at busting open the space shuttle pinata. Then as many adults as wanted a turn had a turn. Darn thing didn't want to open! Untimately (finally!), it gave way (with a "little" assistance), and astronauts (bath tub squirter astronauts), asteroids (bounce balls), milky way candybars, and starburts flew out of the ship!

Task 3: Applying Ingenuity to Costume Design
Naomi and Uncle Jared wrapped Collin in a Space Suit.
Rikki, Lily, Marley, Uncle Tracey and Aunt Chrissy prepped Taylor for Take Off!
Kevin turned Kate into a Space Girl (and she quickly tore off the outfit!)
Brannon and Owen created a suit for a Space Jedi!
Once Collin's suit was complete, Naomi and Collin started on Jared, turning him into a Space Mummy!

Marley, Owen, Rikki, Uncle Jared, Collin, Naomi, Taylor

Task 5: Preparing for Lift Off (Last Meal and Send Off Gifts)

Collin chose (same as last year) Make-Your-Own Brownie Sundaes! Kids LOVE to add their own toppings!
True to form, Kate ate her own dessert then happenned upon an unattended bowl and quickly ate every last bite of the chocolate syrup-covered brownie left in it!

Task 6: Launch

We lined up blankets and had a round of Commander Says while the sun went down. Then all the kids laid down and looked up at the stars while I called out Lift Off: 5, 4, 3, 2,1! Together we soared into space, and I led them through a dictated tour of space, bending and twisting as we (in our imaginations) raced towards the moon, dodging planets, meteor showers, and discovering stars. At long last the kids landed safely on the moon, snuggled into their sleeping backs, and the movie began. It was super awesome!

After eating three bags of popcorn and about halfway into the movie, I heard Collin, as he leaned over towards Marley, "Marley, look up! Look at all the stars. It's like we're really in space!" Aha. Mission Accomplished.

The astronauts were also going to test their lung capacity Saturday night, but I totally "spaced" it! So Sunday morning we brought out 500 wrapped straws and the kids practiced shooting the wrappers as far as they could send them! I caught this shot after Collin had shot off four at a time!