nevermind, doing some more searching got me the answer. found it here. http://groups.google.com/group/jquery-ui/browse_thread/thread/57944de13405077b/9a36504f1068ef83?lnk=gst&q=tab+ajax#9a36504f1068ef83
$("#tabs > ul").tabs({ load: function() { testit(); } }); just had to define a load callback. the testit() function calls the datepicker attachment function.