Mega Man

 This year Hyrum wanted to be Mega Man for Halloween.  I had the perfect colored stretch lycra material already in my stash.  I picked up the rest of the supplies at a thrift store.  I used a basketball for the helmet.  It worked perfect because it was soft and pliable and I was able to cut the shape with scissors.  I used a football for the mega blaster.  These were both covered with the lycra and glued in place with the glue gun.  I cut a hole at one end of the football and wedged a flashlight in it.  It serves two purposes.  One, to use as a handle to hold the blaster, and two, as a cool light-up power source.  I covered the lens with transparent red tape.  The boots were made using thick plastic/foam placemats.  They were also covered with the fabric.  Hyrum LOVES it so I'd say it was a success!

 

Fifty Mile Hike

So Dad and the boys survived their second fifty mile hike this summer.  Dad wasn't able to make it for all of it (on account he was spending time camping with Hyrum and I) but, he was able to be there for the toughest day!  A seventeen mile hike on rough terrain and little water supply!  I guess it was pretty grueling.  Moroni and McKay did great and really made a fashion statement along the way.  In their words..."We've been rockin' these bad boys all week!"  See for yourselves...

I'm glad I wasn't there to witness McKay standing on this cliff with VERY steep sheer drop offs on both sides...SCARY!

...remember the 60's?

Man, our far-out friends, Warner, LeAnn, and Carol all turned 60 this summer.  To celebrate, they threw a party at the Mitchell's pad.  We thought it would be groovy to dress the part.  A trip to Value Village, and a few evenings of sewing turned a moo-moo, pillowcase, shower curtain rings, two t-shirts, and pants into these mod outfits.  RIGHT-ON!

I was lucky to find some bright green strappy sandals with chunky heels at Value Village the same day!

This was the groovy inspiration that blew my mind, baby!

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!

Jammin'!

The other day I went into the band room to find this....it was pretty sweet!

Then, they changed venues and opted for ukeleles on the stairs....

Nothing more fun than a brother's jam session!

Hyrum's Craziness Repeat

So I played around a little bit on iMovie and came up with this...enjoy!

GREASE!

The Springfield High School Kaleidoscope choir performed songs from Grease at the spring concert.  McKay chose to, and had fun, dressing as the nerd.  They had lots of fun putting the numbers together and performing them.

Summer Nights

Greased Lightning

Sandy

Hand Jive

We Go Together