Hyrum is #9!

He often gets mistaken for 11 or 12 or even 13 because he is so tall BUT it's true, Hyrum Zachary Largey is 9 years old!

This is what he looks like... but not always.  Sometimes THIS:

is what he looks like.   Good morning Hyrum!  

 He was lucky enough to have Lexi and Bryson sleep over to participate in the day's festivities...starting at 6:00 am!  The night before, Lexi helped me set up a treasure hunt so that the last present he opened was the clue to the hunt which led to ...

A new bike!

He didn't even wait to get dressed before he was outside riding it around- so speedy!

After a breakfast of sugared waffles we packed up and headed off to Seven Peaks.  We've actually been swimming there at least once a week all summer but I never take the camera in...this time I did:

Bryson and Lexi were even brave enough to go down the Jagged Edge!  After swimming, we went home to eat Mac and Cheese- Hyrum's request, play Pocket Tanks (one of his presents) and make the cupcakes for the party.

These are the silver oak leaf cupcakes- edible molding chocolate and edible silver spray paint? Perfect.

I set up the Ranger's Apprentice party(based off Hyrum's favorite series of books at the moment)  at Westmore park with a cape and a weapon for each cousin- we made the capes and arrows and most of the bows, too. 

When everyone arrived, we had one awesome looking crew!  Then began the training:

Afton is showing off her Agility and Speed

Jordan practiced his bow shooting skills in Archery training

And Grace had Stealthiness down

At the end of the Stealthiness test, they found a treasure box holding gold coins and a note saying that Princess Alexa had been kidnapped by Skandians.  They must bring the ransom to free her. So they set out on the quest with Grace acting as Alice the Courier and the boys as her protectors.  Along the way they had to shoot at targets (cardboard boxes with viking hats drawn on them).

In the end, they saved Princess Alexa and Grace and Lexi presented them with their very own Ranger's pin- a silver oak leaf- under the lone oak tree in the park.

Our valiant rangers!

Then... we broke for pizza, presents and cake!

We love having cousins around to party with, that's for sure!

We also love our Hyrum!