May the 4th Be With You

I JUST read this on Facebook, thanks to my friends and other Star Wars junkies for letting me know! I’m still new to this obsession of Star Wars. And well a national holiday is a must for a post about how this franchise has taken over part of my world…

My good friend Paco’s son is older now and growing out of his kid toys. So they gave Buzz this awesome Darth Vader helmet. I mean it’s SO cool. An adjustable mask with a back helmet that attaches on, so you get the WHOLE helmet feel, and the voice box that really works.

At first it was a novelty to have around the house. Funny to play with. But he didn’t have a clue to who this was. Or what it would mean to him someday.

I took this picture this winter. Blue decided that Buzz  needed to learn ALL about Star Wars. It’s amazing what you learn about your spouse even 13 years later. The entire Star Wars DVD collection has been sitting collecting dust on a high shelf. It’s a cool set to have, but I didn’t think we were that into it.

Having a son has made me see the little boy in Blue. Out comes a BIG blue travel bag from the 80’s. He unzips it for Buzz. There was close to 100 different action figures. 98% of them were Star Wars. Some I’ve never seen before. Blue knows them all.

He puts in a DVD, starting with #4. Just like we did as kids. We thought Buzz was a little young, some parts are scary. Damn those Sand Creatures!

Blue was right on the money with this one. He was absorbed into the world faster then we could have imagined. Buzz would hold Blue’s finger, because daddy get’s scared, and Buzz tells him it’s ok. Since this one movie viewing day. EVERY week when Blue is off, Buzz and him watch or re-watch Star Wars movies. When I say I hear and think Star Wars ALL the time, it’s because it’s like we are cramming for some Star Wars test.

Even when the DVD is over they leave the room to the main menu of Star Wars music filtered through out the house.

What do I think?

I’m a toy junkie. I love my kids to dive into imaginary worlds, to take these franchises and embrace them. To become a Jedi Master, to become Darth Vader, to fight off Storm Troupers. Just like I want my Tink to be a fairy or a princess, a rock star or a ballerina.

Imagination is often lost too early in kids. I was taught by my mom something simple. “Don’t grow up too fast. Take your time” well mom. I still am growing up. I enjoy creativity, imagination, and playing even still as an adult. And I can only hope to instill this in my kids like she did with my sister Frances and I.

So this Star Wars obsession couldn’t have come at a better time. Blue started to get Buzz into it, and we had a trip to Disney World coming up. Hello Hollywood Studios!

Fast forward to March 22nd 2012. We were up and headed to Hollywood Studios for the day. And after talking to the concierge at the hotel he suggested that I  RUN to the sign up for Jedi Training for Buzz, AS soon as we get to the park.

I don’t mess around when people suggest these things. We arrived when the park opened at 9 am but with security lines hundreds deep I was saddened to think we wouldn’t get him signed up.

I gave Blue my bag to take through security and he stayed with my parents, sister and Tink. I took JUST Buzz and myself one stroller and went through the super short security for people with NO bags to search.

We JOGGED through the grounds of Hollywood Studios and arrived at the Star Wars area to find out that Jedi Training sign up is back at the ABC building, I passed it.

I had to take my Star Wars obsessed son AWAY from the GIANT life like Star Wars area, I explained we’d be right back. I arrived at the ABC building to a long line, we waited. At 9:35 am it was our turn to sign up. We arrived 35 minutes after the park opened and with Jedi Training shows every 45 minutes, they only had available a spot for the 5:30 pm show or the later 6:15 pm show. ALL the earlier shows were already full.

I took the 5:30 pm show and got this golden ticket

We enjoyed our day of Buzz and Woody, Toy Story Mania, Beauty and the Beast musical, Disney Jr. and a lunch with Jake, June, Oso and Hanny Manny, watched the Pixar Parade, and finally headed to our Jedi Training, hoping it’d be as cool as it sounds… I had no idea it’d be THIS cool.

Buzz is the ‘Wild Child’ it’s a Chewbacca t-shirt (from Target).

We started back at the ABC building for Star Wars Trivia, this was more of a learning experience, and enjoying the Star Wars freak fan parents whispering ALL the answers to their kids.

Our little Padawan’s were all suited up in the one size fits all Jedi Training robes. They had to tie up the ends of Buzz’s so he didn’t trip.

Every detail was there. The Jedi Master came out hood up, and the POOF off with his robe, and his assistant, who was very serious and Jedi like herself was right in character.

I’m not sure how they choose to place the children where. Maybe it’s by size? And since Buzz is tiny he was on that front spot. He’s front and center with his back to us.

This spot must be the ONE spot the Jedi Master messes with. And lucky us it was Buzz’s spot. And right on cue this kid hammed it up for the audience. I didn’t know how he’d do on stage… well he did us proud.

No Oath from you

The Jedi Master had us ROLLING, and these looks that Buzz was giving made it even funnier…

Ewok height

They trained the little Padawan’s with some basic moves…

Jedi Training skills

AND then there is the EPIC fail on my part. And I have to say my Nikon did it’s best to keep up with me all day. BUT the battery died RIGHT when I went to take the video of Buzz’s turn to fight Darth Vader (he was the LAST kid to go) I DID however get all the pictures, from the Walt Disney Photo Pass guy. However I wasted some of my battery on this really cool entrance of the one and only Darth Vader…

Darth Vader enters

So each kid one at a time went up and fought Darth Vader with the moves they were taught in their class.

After the fight with each of the Padawan’s, Darth Vader retreated.

Leaving the Storm Troopers to a comedic exit themselves.

Needing the Jedi Master to use his force to open the doors so the big bad Storm Troopers could exit. And before the doors closed one of them  said “Uh… thanks. Have a nice day!” to the Jedi Master, then the other elbows him and we all laugh.

We end this show with all the kids cheering around their Jedi Master for fighting off Darth Vader. And we hear a voice… Yoda speaks to them all saying how proud he is of the new Jedi Trained younglings. Diploma’s are handed out and our little Padawan’s, now Jedi Trained, return to their families.

I couldn’t have asked for a better experience for Buzz. He talks about it every day, still. Queen Gigi had bought them light saber’s from the Electric Parade in Magic Kingdom, and with the helmet from Paco and the new awesome Mickey Mouse Jedi Robe from Aunt Frances, Buzz is a serious Jedi around this house.

His official 4th birthday, was ALL Star Wars themed. He had Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Halloween and Star Wars for options but after this experience all he wants is Star Wars everything.

We had more then one party, and so of coarse more then one Star Wars cake.

And as soon as he opened his Star Wars toys he’d run them to Blue to show him his cool new toys. He went nuts over his Star Wars ‘Squinkies’ if you haven’t had the pleasure of these toys, they are TINY. BUT they are soft. So stepping on them isn’t painful. FINDING them is painful.

From us, and Queen Gigi and Papa Carrots he got his big boy bed. the IKEA Kura bunk bed. It’s got a lower area… I seriously need to update these pictures though. he DID get car blankets with it, he picked it out. (I use it as a spare) We were waiting for him to get his VERY awesome Star Wars sheets, and comforter in the mail from Grandma and Grandpa Mc. By the way the SHEET GLOW IN THE DARK with out the need of all day sunlight. Too damn cool.

Birthday cake mask was worn by all of us for some funny shots…

Papa Carrots and Buzz

Queen Gigi and Tink (in her Belle Dress of coarse)

Aunt J and Daddy Blue

Aunt Frances and myself.

So to ALL of you, I hope you enjoyed more of our Disney memories, and our Star Wars tribute to today.

“May the Force Be With You”

JCat McGack

I want to sell me.

I read.

I read lots and lots of fantastic books, and magazines, and pretty $15 magazines, Where Women Create is my favorite.

I like to get idea’s, I like to live in other people’s worlds. To know that a world of being something BIG, even if it’s small town, and a small business, it’s BIG to their world.

I want that. I want to be something BIG to me.

Sure I talk of my dream job. The Zoo. Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo to be exact. I mean it WAS my job for a day. 

And it’s not a imaginary job, but it takes SO much time and dedication, SO much schooling and where I am in life with my kids and my family… well those are my excuses. My new path in animal love is to volunteer when I can. To read my books and watch my shows to learn as much as I can about them.

And like everyone else I have other dreams. Big ideas. And I read these magazines, see websites, blogs, and books about women who have taken what they love SO much and created a store, a website store, even if it’s just to make enough money to buy more product to make more of what they love.

I’ve always had this knack for making things. I claim to be pretty damn artsy fartsy and I love to create… BUT I don’t seem to really settle on ONE thing.

Let’s go back to my dream idea before I start rattling off my long list of creative loves… the dream is to have a store. Well it WAS a dream. But realizing a physical store requires you away from your family and loved ones. And in the economy, I’m not really sure I could even afford to rent space in order to do this.

But then something like Etsy came along, and all of it’s online wonderfulness. Or the town nearby has stores, that would let you sort of ‘rent’ a space in their store and sell what you make…right now I’ve got a booth with my mom. It’s in an antique mall. And 99% of the stuff is vintage or antique. Great place, great to clean out my house, just not great for my dream.

What would I sell? Hmmm….

I’ve sold my Ugly Sock Monsters before…

We can put these guys under sewing… well here’s a list of everything I can and love to do creatively.

I sew.

For the love of sewing it’s all due to my mom. She’s been sewing since, well forever. She bought me a sewing machine when I was in my 20’s and I’m pretty sure it sat in a box for 5 years before I even looked at it. I do enjoy it. And I’ve been hoarding ALL the fabric that I like from clothes that are on their way out the door to ‘create’ with.

I paint.

High School art class taught me that. Watercolor is fun, acrylic is random, and it’s a good stress relief.

I draw.

Cartoons to be exact. I love Disney characters. Bad guys and animals are the easy one’s for me. I’d love to take the time to sketch more, to practice, to remember the basics again.

I do clay.

It’s easy stuff. Stays soft till you bake it. Good because I’ve got a 5 month project STILL half finished on my counter!

I scrapbook.

THIS is a hobby I stayed away from. I KNEW once I got in, it’d be trouble. Well trouble it is. But I love to capture life, stories, every day events, and all about me. In pictures, papers and my art. I traditional scrapbook in the big ol’ 12x12 size. I’ve done 6x6, 8 1/2 x11, 8x8, in a journal, in a mini book. I love to try them all.

I rubber stamp.

When I was a kid we took a family vacation to St. Augustine Florida, my Aunt and Uncle live there. My mom and I came across a Rubber Stamp Store, we fell in love with the idea. 15 years later we learned of Stampin’ Up! rubber stamp company, within 2 years I was selling it as a demonstrator. Did that for 6 years.

And out of all of those my basement is where they call home. I have 1/2 as my beloved art room. YES I have a HUGE purple room dedicated to my love for art. I share it with family and friends, and most of all my children when they are creating as well.

What the problem is?

Problem is my personality. There is this amazing book that I found out about from my good friend Tiff. WAY back in 2003.

Personality Plus

It’s a book with a personality test. Then it breaks it down. Your positives, your negatives, and how to work with what you’ve got. I love it. I had my family take the tests and it’s amazing how ON point this book was. I suggest EVERYONE read it. And it’s amazing for people who work together as well.

So before I go into a 10 paragraph book review. I’ll get back to my point.

This book said it. And it’s true.

No Follow-Through. But good intention too.

I start projects, BRILLIANT ideas… again, not a good finisher.

THIS was on point with me. I call it procrastination at it’s best, they call it my personality.

SO with all that in mind. HOW do I follow through with this? With any idea of selling art, of making my creativity actually work in this world I’ve made. I’m a SAHM with my free time numbered. When Buzz goes to school full time in the fall of 2013, it’s a good time for me to get a J.O.B.

And believe me I want more money around this house, so we can enjoy things OUTSIDE of this house again.

Do you think it’s possible. With my no follow through personality, with my procrastination at it’s best, but with my willing to WANT to create, and to make it out there in the world… could I?

I’m not saying have a billion dollar idea, and a rocking chain of art stores. I’m just saying that I’m inspired everyday to create, to share my creation, to teach to others the basics of creating… and to possibly make money doing this…

Now where do I begin?

JCat McGack

A Very Merry UnBirthday

Almost 6. Well school is celebrating your birthday today Wednesday May 2nd since your real birthday is June 2nd, and we want to make all the kids have a school year birthday.

We started the night before out with sponge rollers in your hair (and one Velcro roller for your bangs)

It’s only Wednesday and this is the second time this week you’ve had me wash and roll your hair for fun curls.

I love that your willing to try out new looks with me. Even if you looked like orphan Annie right after I took them out Monday morning.

Today’s hair was awesome. JUST curly enough (no tight sponges, or rubber space ship Tie Fighters (from Star Wars) we just did these spongy ones. LOVE.

Oh, lookie what I got up early to make for Tink… by the magic of Disney World I had this great pin (this year when we went, they would celebrate ANYTHING. So each kid had birthday pins on)

I used my beloved Cricut cutting machine, cut out Belle on skin colored paper, colored her, and added a cute pearl. Some foam dimension adhesive behind. And WALA. 15 minutes and I had a PERFECT birthday pin for her to wear ALL day at school.

We are SO modest. I know.

Buzz WAS my assistant while MAKING the cupcakes, then when we started the process of decorating. He WAS my assistant only as long as the first one was decorated. He was just in it to get his share!

Drove the cupcakes to school. Ready with the pink princess cupcakes ordered by the princess loving birthday girl herself. I about had to bribe the front desk lady to let ME take them to the classroom. She was telling me she would just run them back and drop them off.

Gah! No. My daughter wanted ME to do it. I wanted to take pictures while they ate. SO glad I insisted that the teacher Mrs. M KNEW I was coming down (jeez I should have just said I was helping in the class room. They NEVER ask then)

SO onto the cuteness. And I’m SO super happy I was there to catch all this!

Tink was allowed to pick one friend to help her. She picked Azz. Who is her bestest friend.

FIRST they had to hand out napkins to each of the kids.

Then, ONE cupcake at a time, Tink and Azz passed them out. Funny watching. They were totally all over the room. I think it was in order of their friends first.

After cupcake fun we took some fun pictures. They all YELLED '”BIRTHDAYYY” and we did all GIRLS first, with Mrs. M…

Then Tink with the boys (we were short about 3 boys. But they are still SUPER outnumbered in this class!)

ALL together now…

AND for your viewing pleasure here is Tink while her class SCREAMS Happy Birthday and some award winning High 5’s at the end.

I ended her day by surprising her by telling her she could be a ‘Car rider’ home. (BIG deal for the bus rider kids. They LOVE when parents pick them up early!)

Took her to Culvers to get some ice cream. And home to enjoy the rest of her Very Merry UnBirthday!

JCat McGack

Oh AND I got a heads up from her teacher, that myself AND my friend (who’s son is in Mia’s class) we BOTH were chosen from the ‘lottery system’ to attend the Brookfield Zoo field trip coming up. YOU KNOW I’m excited.