Saturday, August 20, 2011

A Week of Firsts!

Is there anything this kid can't do?  First off, he learned to operate the excavator....


Then we went camping at Diamond Lake and he caught his first Rainbow trout on Uncle Rick's fishing boat.  He pulled in three on the first day. Then, on the second day, he pulled in two—including one that measured 17 1/2"!!


What a whopper!!


(Of course, he was hoping to catch a Barred Knifejaw because they sell on Animal Crossing for 5000 bells!)


And while he was at it, he learned to be captain of the fishing boat!  Thanks Uncle Rick for taking us out in your boat!


Posing with Dad to show off the haul from the first day...


Next on the list was to become a Junior Ranger for Crater Lake National Park. 


He studied hard...


Had all the right answers...


And earned his patch from Ranger Brian....


Pretty cool, don't you think?


Notice the "Master Sword" tucked into the back of his t-shirt?  No self respecting ranger goes anywhere without one!  (He would bring his sword on our walk to the restroom to "protect" me.  One time a car came along.  He said, "Watch out, Mom!  I've got to stay alert for those!"  What kind of a seven year-old uses the term "stay alert!?")


And last, but not least, on his week of firsts...the crowning event...drum roll please....
He learned how to ride his bike!!  His dad worked with him a lot before he had to leave and meet up with the boys on their fifty-miler.  He pretty much had it, and could go about 50 feet without his dad holding on, but wasn't completely confident.    It took a lot of convincing to get him to practice.  One conversation went something like this...

Hyrum:  Mom, who's the boss, you or Dad?  Because Dad says I can't play video games until I ride my bike...and I don't think Dad should boss me around like that?  (He was hoping that I was the boss and could boss Dad around!)

Mom:  Dad's not bossing you around, he just knows you'll have fun once you learn to ride your bike.  Its fun to ride a bike.  Once you learn how, you'll love it.


Hyrum:  How do you know I'll love it?  I don't think it will be fun.  I'm okay with not riding a bike.

Mom:  You know, to be a missionary, you'll have to learn to ride a bike.

Hyrum:  No I won't.  I can be a walking missionary.

Anyway, this went on and on.  But, finally....









SUCCESS!!
And, BTW, as soon as he learned to ride his bike he said, "Okay, I was wrong, it is fun to ride a bike!"  And from that moment on, he announced to EVERYONE that went by our campsite that he could ride his bike!  All in all, I'd say it was a pretty eventful week!