Noodle Lightsabers

When Collin asked for a lightsaber (about $20 for the extendable one at a toy store), I was less than excited. Star Wars is great and all, but I don't like to outfit my kids with weaponry. Not that they don't make their own from sticks or whatever they happen to be near, but at least it doesn't come from me, right?

So here's my compromise: a lightsaber made from a pool noodle. Or rather, four pool noodles, sliced in half, so we end up with eight lightsabers. That should be enough for five children and some friends. Here's the cost breakdown (all costs are rounded up):

• 4 pool noodles: $8
• Duct tape: $6

Total: $14 for eight. Much better than one for $20.

Besides, they are soft. Those toy lightsabers are hard, and I know that someday I will be smacked by anything that is brought into the house (accidentally, of course).

Jack and Sophia really enjoyed the pool noodles just as they were...

But I had to go and use a bread knife to slice them in half...

I wrapped the end with duct tape. And then we played with them until we were so tired.

What's even better: all the kids in the neighborhood were having a lightsaber fight last night. It was great to see probably 10 kids playing with these (2 had their own lightsabers).

So where did I get this idea? I definitely didn't come up with it on my own. The city had a fair last year, and they did this for the kids - they even had "Jedi training" using bubbles. And the kids could have their Jedi name inscribed on their lightsaber, meaning their own name spelled backwards written with a sharpie.

I'm truly starting to learn that marketing is really the name of the game when it comes to motherhood.