4 years

For Craig's birthday Ryan decided we needed to have something epic and thought up, along with his sister Liz, the Jedi training course. 

The final challenge required the Jedi's-in-training to lift a Bocce ball using only the "Force."  (Ryan tied fishing line to the balls and someone lifted them while the kids lifted their arms)  The result was a bunch of kids who now believe in the "Force" and their power to lift Bocce balls. 

She's lifting...

"The Force is strong with this one."

For completing their Jedi training light-saber's were awarded.

And the natives rejoiced!

Eating chocolate cake and hot dogs to their hearts content.  

Chocolate Cake Recipe (from my dear neighbor upstairs)

Cake

1 box of Devil's food cake mix

1 cup of water

3 eggs

1/3 cup corn oil

1/3 cup sour cream

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Icing

1 12-ounce bag of semisweet chocolate chips

2 cups of sugar

2/3 cup of milk

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into pieces

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350F.  Butter 3 nonstick 8-inch cake pans with 1 1/2inch sides.

Combine all ingredients except chocolate chips and beat on high for 2 minutes.  Stir in the chocolate chips.  Pour the batter in the cake pans and bake until a knife comes out clean, about 25 minutes.  Transfer pans to a wire rack and let cool for 10 to 15 minutes then pull out of pans and let cool completely.  

Put the chocolate chips in a bowl.  Combine the sugar, milk, butter, and kosher salt in a medium saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil, stirring occassionally.  Let boil vigorously for exactly 1 minute.  Pour the hot sugar mixture over the chocolate.  Add the vanilla.  Beat on high until the mixture begins to thicken to a spreadable consistency, 10 to 15 minutes.  

Assemble frosting in between each layer the frosting the outside.  Decorate how you choose.