![\"image\"](\"http:\/\/familyblog.datdec.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/wpid-20150523_125232_hdr.jpg\" "\\"20150523_125232_HDR.jpg\\"")
<\/a>Happy Birthday Lex!!<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>The cake. Lex wanted a yellow belt on the cake because he has a yellow belt, and the purple patch is similar to the patch on their uniforms.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>The kids started by finding their ninja names (using the letters from their actual names or initials). Some kids had more fun with this than others. Some, I think, thought it was too much work for a birthday party! :)<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Like my birthday banner?<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>The dojo also had a birthday banner!<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Goody “bags” (wrapped books, with a cookie attached), cake, and presents in the back row. Fortune cookies, strawberries, gi cookies, Goldfish mix, and carrots in the front row.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>The party favors this year were books. My friend suggested it and I thought it was very appropriate considering the birthday boy and our family. I found two different easy-reader chapter books, both with karate themes, and bought six of each. I taped on a karate gi sugar cookie and wrapped it all up with a “black belt” ribbon. I hope the kids like them. In my opinion it’s better than cheap junk they just throw away anyway.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Some “human bowling” aka Rolling Bombs.<\/p><\/div>\n
Once the kids all arrived they went into the main dojo for lots of high energy games led by the sempis.<\/p>\n
<\/a>The kids all love this game. If you get hit you have to go to the side and do push-ups or jumping jacks.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Then some actual karate! They started with punches.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Power punches!<\/p><\/div>\n
Then kicks.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Then flying side kicks! For this they have to run down the blue mat then jump up and kick the pad that the sempi is holding. They were encourage to make loud kung-fu Hollywood style noise while running and jumping. Everyone loved this one!<\/p><\/div>\n
After awhile of karate and games, the kids came into the small dojo for snacks, presents, and cake.<\/p>\n
<\/a>The dojo provided free floating balloons and Alan provided the snack time entertainment.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>He is quite entertaining.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>It was a very fun atmosphere. :)<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Present time. Lots of Legos and books! :)<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Right here he’s opening karate nunchuck pens. Super fun! His classmates will have to watch out now!<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>One of the kids gave him stick-on mustaches and everyone had fun with them! One kid said the mustache on Alan made him look more manly. :)<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>The whole crowd, some with stick-on mustaches, others with balloon mustaches, and everyone full of silliness!<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>One happy boy!! (The karate gi cookies with black belts left everyone with black tinted lips and teeth. Not the most attractive look!)<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>In a throwback to the sawzal party<\/a>, Alan decided to cut the cake today with a samari sword! Everyone had a good laugh. Then boring mommy kicked him out and used just a plain old knife to do the job.<\/p><\/div>\n I cut very large pieces. One kid asked what kind it was, referring to brand name, I believe, and commented that the cake is much more dense than usual. I had to explain the whole “made from scratch” thing. :)<\/p><\/div>\n When they were done with cake they went right back to the big dojo for more fun! Time to burn off the cake energy!<\/p>\n Time for some dodge ball, dojo style!<\/p><\/div>\n They finished with an “everyone throw the ball at the birthday boy” game. Like the dojo version of birthday spankings. Lex laughed and laughed.<\/p><\/div>\n After two hours everyone was hot and sweaty, and full of sugar and fun! It was a great day! We sent each kid home with a little present and a handful of fortune cookies.<\/p>\n Happy almost birthday Lex!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We held Lex’s friend party this year at their karate dojo. The sempis (teachers) did a wonderful job and the kids had a blast!! The karate studio provides the space, and the table set-up, and I brought the rest. Once … Continue reading <\/a><\/a><\/a>