Toy Story Mania ... or Zach and Allie Turn 6!

Jessie and Buzz

Amid all the prerequisite trips to Walmart to buy school supplies, getting haircuts and dragging the kids to the dentist as we prepared for the first day of school, Zach and Allie had their 6th birthday party.

Early on they both wanted their party at Peter Piper Pizza. But then we saw Toy Story 3 ... and they were both smitten. Allie spent much of her playtime pretending to be the red-headed Jessie, shouting "Giddy-up Bullseye" as she ran throughout the house or sped through the cul-de-sac on her scooter. Zach alternated between the down-to-earth Woody and the boisterous Buzz Lightyear.

Zach and Allie and their friends.

That's when it hit me that we should have a Toy Story party ... and they both squealed with delight when I presented my idea.

Cousin Hailey and Zach play Hot Mr. Potato Head

It was a fun day with a few close friends. We played Hot Mr. Potato Head, Pin the Tail on Bullseye, searched for hidden army men, and swung at the Buzz Lightyear pinata, had a Toy Story-decorated cake that looked like there were Bullseye droppings across it (still not quite sure what those were supposed to be). And then the kids went swimming on what was a beautiful, atypical August day in Phoenix. Pleasant -- like it might have even been as low as the 80s -- and just a little breeze.

... and just like that, they're six!

Allie gets ready to blow out her candles.

Zach's turn.

"You've Got a Friend In Me."