Buggy Bouncy Birthday Boy

It's a good thing Noble is in the high-maintenance toddler stage right now, or I'd be totally distraught at the fact that my "Original Baby" is a whole seven years old already!

Ahh, yes...when Micah doubled as Nicholas from Eight is Enough.

Look at those clothes! Micah's now wearing Taylor's clothes and Noble wears that yellow jacket!

Yeah, I know, it happens. My job requires that I get sentimental about it.

But he's the same-ole Micah in most ways. Less teeth, maybe.

And now.....one...two...three...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU....

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR MICAHHH.....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOOOO YOUUUUUU!!!

 Okay, okay...I know this looks like something out of CakeWrecks,

but it's exactly what Micah asked for and even I couldn't believe the approval I got from the kids on this one.

 I am horrible at frosting cakes anyway (I was awesome at Baskin Robbins back in the day, but non-frozen cake decorating eludes me entirely), and the rest of it is seriously just a pile of candy rocks and gummy worms. But dirt and bugs, that's what he wanted. Seems about right for my rough-and-tumble boy!

 SO stoked to get some video game action, since Noble chewed up all our other games.

Even though it doesn't follow my "it has to make you exercise" rule for Wii games, I'm pretty stoked, too. Let's just say chores are getting done much quicker thanks to the "Mario Motivator".

 Micah loves to play/watch video games with his big brother, but most of the time he's making up imaginary stories and games with Morgen and they love these dolls. Morgen was so excited to give this one to Micah. Even Noble has a "dolly" like this and sometimes they all play together...it's the cutest thing. It's funny to me because the older two weren't really into dolls.
(Please ignore any and all reality in the background.)

Often the different dynamics of our family get lost in the crowd, so to speak. Sometimes I capture a picture or notice a moment that isolates one of these dynamics, and I realize that we have three boys --boy howdy!-- and that they have each other for brothers. This is crazy and wonderful all at the same time.

THEN...I was so glad I bought a Groupon for J.J.Jump last summer. This was the perfect place to take Micah and a friend for a birthday treat. Afterwards we went to Baskin Robbins for a realy special treat!

Micah invited one of his best school friends to come jump with us!

Micah was so brave to try this bungee thingy. They hook you up....

....then you get pulled up to a high point....

...you pull the chord and ZOOOOOOMMMM!

"Look ma, no hands!"

 Then Micah got all Project Bandaloop on us.

 Taylor tried this thing where you strap in, run as fast as you can to put a beanbag through the hoop. You have to jump up and forward to do it, then the bungee snaps you back. It's pretty hilarious.

What you can't tell from those bungee photos is that this room is totally lit with blacklight and neon grafitti. Morgen liked being all glow-y.

Noble had a little...accident...as soon as we got there (of course) and the only thing I had in the car was a cloth diaper cover and some socks. In this black-lit room, it was easy to keep track of him going up and down a big blow-up slide, socks and undies glowing bright!

Fun times!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY MICAH!

Dance of the Dead!

 That's what they were calling it: The Dance of the Dead.

Tonight Korah had her first middle school dance and the kids all had a blast! The key to getting kids to dance, I've decided: strobe lights. Goofing off in a strobe light is endless fun, and makes super-cool shadows on the wall.

I didn't get any pictures of my Little Miss Independent in her awesome costume on Halloween (she was running around haunted houses with friends), so I had to snap a few photos at the end of the dance tonight. She didn't have her full wig and zombie make-up on, but what luck to capture such a great action shot with my silly little camera! Look at her cutting a rug there-- she's such a fun girl.

And so pretty! What the day-of-the-dead is going on? Yes, despite the white face paint, a light and life shines through her expression. I am excited for and proud of the young woman she is becoming.

Now, because it's not a half-bad picture of me (note to self: left arm takes better self-portraits), I have to brag a little on Korah's awesome teacher who allowed these social butterflies to pull off a really fun evening. She's really giving them "wings", and I'm glad she's ours! :) I have to admit, I kind of adore her.

Is the spookiness over yet? Because I have some birthdays to share about!

Halloween 2011

Nope, no live bodies here. I think that's what the candy is for, because they definitely come alive later. 

Noble caught on fast, "trick-or-treat"ing like a champ.  And I know it's obvious, but...
SO. FREAKIN. CUTE! Oh my goodness...

We traveled to a friend's neighborhood because 1) They were making donuts from scratch (!!) and 2) Morgen's classmate Iva, and Noble's best friend Ada Gene live there. Noble is in L-O-V-E with Ada Gene and whaddya know, she was a cowgirl to his cowboy. So sweet!

See, Vampires aren't that scary. Just give 'em a sucker and a book about Halloween, that calms 'em right down.

Oh. No.

Caramel Apples & Catan

Riddle: What do you get when you combine 6 little boys, two girls in potential halloween costumes, a dozen apples, chocolate chips, a bag of caramels and chopsticks?

Riddle-culous answer: Loud noises, top-bunk highdives, half-eaten-carpet-fuzzed caramel apples, tickles, sword fights, laughing, crying, and a WHOLE LOTTA FUN!! Not to mention adult Vonderahes getting smoked in Settlers. Only the suspense of caramel-apple creating provided room for photography, but the rest of it stuck to our memories, as good times do.

We heart Vondermonahizzle nights!