What to Do?

What do you do when you have to limit physical activity? If you are EK, you watch the Game 5 of the NBA Finals while you play alongside with a Lego version! Get well soon, EK!

How the Guys Spent the Morning

EK has seen Lego videos on YouTube for a long time.  Many of them recreate the movie using Legos.  Many of them even use all the same audio and sound effects.  For some time now, EK has wanted to make his own video.

This morning while mrs. mil10 was out, the mil10 boys played.  The video shown above is actually our second attempt.  We wanted to also incorporate the Star Wars theme song by John Williams, but we were limited to selecting the theme music or the lightsaber sounds.  EK opted for the sound effects. 

Please pardon the poor photography.  mr. mil10 was the one taking the pictures while EK posed the minifigures.  For some reason Legos are always difficult to photograph for the mil10s.  This time was no exception as you can see by the poor focusing.

Enjoy the Lego Star Wars production of Obi-Wan Kenobi vs. Darth Vader.

Happy Birthday

EK decided he needed to make something for mrs. mil10's birthday, but he felt like he needed a little help. Together he and mr. mil10 built a Lego Mickey Mouse.

You know we love Legos and all things Disney at our house, so this seemed like a perfect fit for mrs. mil10.

Happy birthday, mrs. mil10!

On the Hunt

It is almost like treasure hunting.  A quest to find a desired item.  The subject of our hunt is a piece of molded plastic that is only worth a couple of dollars. 

A Lego Spartan warrior. 

This past Friday night the mil10s made a run to Target.  If Target is good for something, it is having something that you really didn't intend to buy, but once you see it on the shelf, you just can't think of leaving it there. It must come home with you.  That is what happened to us.  Unbeknownst to us, Lego is now selling mystery minifigures.  We found the small packages almost by mistake.  The thought of buying one of these mystery figures appealed to us, so we thought we would give it a try.

When EK opened the bag, he found an explorer complete with a magnifying glass and binoculars.  There was also a check off list that pictured each of the sixteen figures in the series.  Each of the pictured figures was very interesting and not one that you would typically find in a normal boxed Lego set.  You could see the gears in EK's head start to turn, but in fact we had all caught the fever.  We knew we would be doing this again.  But when?

The next day we found ourselves at hometown's Walmart.   Low and behold, they also had the mystery minifigures.  This time we were not content with simply picking a random package off the rack.  Instead we carefully held the packages and would try to feel the peices inside in order to hopefully identify a unique piece.  EK was hoping for the Spartan pictured above.  We handled each and every package to hopefully make out a spear or shield.  No such luck.  EK left that morning with a man with a serape, sombrero and maracas.  mrs. mil10 found the witch.  After all, it looks too much like Wicked's Elphaba to pass up.

"Are people born wicked, or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?"

It was later that mr. mil10 read online that the minifigure packages actually have a bar code unique to each figure.  Also, by using the cell phone's bar code scanner app, one could easily tell the contents of the package without having to guess or try to blindly feel the contents.  Oh, this was interesting!  What was a mil10 to do?  Go right back to Walmart!  The only difference is that this time we would know ahead of time exactly what we would be buying.  On our second trip of the day we left with a vampire and a karate kid, but no Spartan.

That same night mr. and mrs. mil10 had the pleasure of seeing Matt Maher, Addison Road, and Tenth Avenue North in concert.  Since we arrived early and had time to kill, we found ourselves at Target once more.  Thanks to the bar code scanner app, we were able to use the few minutes we had to scan several packaged figures, but once again we came up empty handed in our quest for a Spartan.

Sunday found a cool front blowing in.  We thought it was perfect weather for Taco Stew, but we didn't have all of the ingredients.  A quick run to the store was needed.  Sure, we could have quickly gone into hometown's grocery stores.  But since we had already been to Walmart twice the day before, we decided to go to another Walmart.  A fifteen minute drive south and we were in a new Walmart.  Unfortunately, they didn't carry the mystery minifigures.  Bust!  At least we had Taco Stew to look forward to when we returned home.

So if you need the mil10s anytime soon, we might just be making trips to random stores so we can pop in and use a cell phone bar code scanner to find out the item inside the mystery package.  We may have found a way to work around Lego's intended mystery, but for us there is still plenty of fun in the hunt!  We will find you, Spartan.  We will find you.

NOW: Lego Time

Tonight EK and mrs. mil10 spent two hours watching Expedition Great White on the National Geographic channel.  

EK thought he needed a Lego ship so he could hunt for sharks (or a Lego shark man).  He worked with mr. mil10 to build the ship above.  Just like the ship on the show, his has a moving platform.

It must have passed the test since he wanted to play with it all night!

BIG: Finding BIG At Walt Disney World

When it comes to vacations, there is not doubt that Walt Disney World is a home away from home for the mil10s.  If you are looking for something BIG, you will find it there.

You can shop at BIG Al's in Frontierland, or stop and see a performance by BIG Al at the Country Bear Jamboree.  If you are looking to appease your appetite, you could stop by BIG River Grille & Brewing Works at Disney's BoardWalk Inn.  If you are looking for more thrilling adventures take a ride on BIG Thunder Mountain Railroad (shown above).

But more than all of that, Walt Disney World is known for its BIG fun.  Below are pictures from 2009 that feature something BIG.

A BIG display: The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights includes 5 million lights, 32 miles of extension cables, 66 snow machines, 100 gallons of snow fluid a night, and 43 hidden Mickeys.

EK prepares to open wide to eat the BIG lollipop.

 

Our newest favorite ride - Toy Story Mania!  Look at those BIG toys in the background.

EK is standing amidst a BIG family sculpture made of Legos.

Look how BIG Goofy looks next to us!

Baking Cakes

EK's birthday party is early this year. We went with a pirate theme (again!), but with a Lego twist.  Lots of little cakes. Lots of icing.

Fall Break Fun

What are the guys to do when mr. mil10 is out of school for Fall Break and EK has the day out of school?

1. Sleep late.

2. Run errands.

3. Eat pizza at Schlotzskys.

4. Spend the afternoon playing with Legos.

We tried using all of the gray and black bricks. We ended up with a castle (more of a tower really) with a working drawbridge and secret window.

Apparently, the black pieces do not photograph well, but I should not be surprised.  Yes, that is a Lego man wearing a cowboy hat.  I didn't know cowboys moonlight as castle guards.  Go figure!  Just a couple of guys spending the day together!

Mimiman Mini me

You know our fascination with Legos.  EK and jmm are both Lego builders.  Here is a video you too can customize at http://www.gominimango.com/.  Upload a photo and you can also be a Lego miniman living in a Lego world.

Watch this video and see if you can find two Lego fans.  http://www.gominimango.com/miniyou/?4ycp2sx5dkjuypnw4bno1184  You have to follow the link, because it would not show here.

Did you see EK as a referee, spaceship pilot, and a spectator in the subway.  jmm was a disco dancer and a spaceman twice.

Go, miniman, go!

BrickMaster at Work

Brick Indy and EK

Here, EK stands beside Lego Indiana Jones at the recent opening of the Lego store.

As a longtime fan of the building blocks, it is fun to see them become so popular again. EK has really enjoyed them lately. His Aunt K even broght over a few of the Legos that we used to play with when we were younger.

Wow. Those brought back memories! Here's to creativity and imagination!

The BrickMasters

We celebrated the opening of a new Lego store today. We were surprised by the number of people that had the same idea. We helped build a Yoda figure that will be eight feet tall. After we turned in our 'brick' we posed with the smaller Lego Yoda model. Our jumbo brick will be used with all of the others that were made to build a Yoda that will stand eight feet tall.

What fun!

Lego Donald

EK built Donald Duck out of Legos this evening. The ribbon on his hat did not show up very well in the picture.

Lego Batman: The Videogame

As time has allowed we have been enjoying this game. Legos. Comic books – specifically Batman. What is not to love?

Since two players can play together, the guys in the mil10 home often play together. You would be surprised by the amount of teamwork involved. And yes, as of lately we have been enjoying the option of playing as villains.