The amount of influence over your child’s decisions starts dropping from the moment they are born. The remembrance of that day is also the one where their opinion holds the highest sway. Mira is a girl that likes pink, and dresses, and make-up, and all the other girly things. Sonali and I realized that a sea of princess themed birthday parties awaited us and, in what might be our last victory, convinced her that this year we should have a Darth Vader themed birthday party.

Darth Vader cake for princess Mira

Another personal goal for this birthday was extracting ourselves from the cycle of birthday party venues. Buck’s Sports Barn hit all the marks: nearby, new, and had a Star Wars themed party. The owner said that we would have a unique experience. The venue was a gym and he worked with local actors. The kids would both get to experience play time and get a show.

Table set up with Kylo Ren (Mira’s not old enough to know how disappointing he is)

We were all in for a huge treat. For starters, the venue had ample room to play, which is the single most important feature for any young kids party. Ultimately that’s all that’s needed for kids to have a great time.

Mira in her Darth Vader princess outfit

Buck’s had not setup a gym for kids to play. They had set it up to train Jedis, with a real life Jedi leading the charge (more on that later).

The young padawans started on the zip line.

Then it continued across a beam, up some blocks, across the rocks, and all the way to a rock wall. The padawans would have to use all of their strength to master the training and help each other conquer the course.

The training was complete none to soon. Princess Leia had been pursued by a Sith lord and required the new Jedis’ help in overpowering her foe.

Princess Leia and Sith locked in a lightsaber battle

The battle was long and tiring but the power of the light-side of the Force overwhelmed the dark and all became friends.

The cast with the kids who were willing to stop playing with lightsabers

The epic battle had worn everybody out. Mira and all her friends really enjoyed being able to play out a story and act silly. Everyone had to refuel with pizza and cake.

Mira blowing out the candles on her cake

This is the standard kid’s birthday progression: arrive, do a few activities, eat cake, leave. The team at Buck’s had a few surprises for us. First was the visit by Chewbacca that had the kids either super excited or super scared.

A real life Chewbacca at full height

Then came the final show. It started innocently enough. The kids were lined up on the wall and our hosts asked Mira to come out to the mat. She was given only one instruction: “Stay still” (no small order for our child). She did, but our host was not satisfied; he asked 2 of her friends to join her.

Mira getting her special instructions

Normally at a kid’s party, if someone asks you to be brave, there is often nothing to really be brave about. This was just a little different. He were going to jump the kids.

Ready to launch

Mid flight

About to nail the landing in front of the awestruck audience

The birthday girl was not the only one to get this special treat. The birthday mom did too.

Ready to launch

Mid flight. Sonali is a little more scared than the kids.

About to nail the landing. Sonali missed it all with her eyes closed.

Despite the fear on Sonali’s face, the Jedi leader, quite understandably, did not consider that to be much of a challenge.

For the final act of his performance he was going to jump every kid willing to stand on the mat.

The last batch getting instructions. Only 6 dared.

An astonishing leap

And well clear. He could have jumped a lot more.

Sure, every one of your child’s birthdays is memorable, but this is one that we will never forget. Jedi training, lightsaber duels, pizza and cake, and stunts, this party had it all. There are simply not many times in life when a grown human being jumps over you or where the adults at the birthday party have as much fun as the kids. Yet we weren’t done. For the final, final act of this 4th birthday, it was time for the balloon party.

Out come the balloons

Mira and her 2 best friends.