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!

Noble Turns FREE!

It's kinda funny to me how parenting has changed over the years. I really could care less about having the most crafty kid's party to blog about anymore (although I enjoy the eye candy in a good Martha Stewart magazine once in a while). I just love this jibber-jabbering little squirt and think he should have whatever he wants for a couple of hours, one day of the year (more than that would kill him, I'm sure). So a bunch of colorful cupcakes, all the friends he talks about, a fun game starring "Woody", and his favorite movie... simply made this happy little guy's day.

I can't believe it's been three whole years since his speedy arrival! It feels like he just jumped into this family and started running with the crowd, like he was just meant to be. We still kinda look at him like the "new guy" but he doesn't know any different. He's obsessed with Star Wars along with his brothers, he knows all the rules and the daily schedule. He's pretty flexible, but won't stand for not being communicated with: "Where we going, mama? Who is dat [on the phone]? Is dis guten-free, mama? Is it?" He's full of inquiries and pleases and thank-yous. And if all that high-pitched verbosity isn't enough, his soft, pudgy little body is still killin' us with cuteness.

THREE. Three is always more challenging for the Vondermom than Two ever was. But I know that Three is also So. Dang. Precious. And not to be missed...as it's zooming by so quickly...to disappear into the schoolyears. We shout it from the rooftops, over the Vonder-din:

"I LOVE YOU, NOBLE!"

He's not asking if he can have one, he's just reiterating what and who they are for.

One, two, THREE!

Noble LOVES Woody from Toy Story.

Korah drew this picture and created a "Pin-the-Hat on Woody" game!

Noble proudly displays her artwork above his bed now.

NO PEEKING!!

Look at all this help from his sisters and brothers.

This is the luckiest kid to be loved so much, I'd say.

Way to go, Micah! Right on target!

All of Noble's little friends: he loves them, he prays for them, he remembers them often.

It's so sweet that friendships are important to such a young person, whose life is already so full of people.

I am also so glad that Noble has such awesome big buddies in his life.

He really loves his sibling's friends, too!

If I'm going to get materialistic and consumeristic at all it's going to be about this: I wish I could've gotten him a "real" Woody, with a pull-string and everything, but this squeezy version will have to do for now. Noble loves repeating Woody's little sayings, like, "You've got a date with justice, one-eyed Bart!"

Noble's favorite gift of the day was given to him by his siblings, who pooled their allowance money to get him this Toy Story birthday card that sings, "You've Got a Friend in Me!"

He walked around dancing and singing along with those two lines until that card was in shreds.

Open-close-open-close....

(The inevitable crowd of "helpers)

I just think this is funny: all these zombie-kids staring at the boob-tube, eating cupcakes and pizza like a bunch of teenagers, when we're supposed to be media-deprived, organics-only Portlandians. (Yeah, right.) Well, all Noble ever wants is to watch a movie, and it was so fun to let him sit down with all his friends, his special gluten-free birthday foods and watch the much-asked-for Toy Story 3.
What a treat!

Thank you to all of Noble's friends and their parents for loving him and helping us celebrate such a fun and wonderful little guy.

Gnocchi at Sunset

A Poem for Febe

I close my eyes and try
to make the traffic sound
like waves. The games of kids
pretending is the same,

Without the element
of magic that comes from
friends
and salty air

And gnocchi-making to
a rainbow sunset.
The gift of respite, on
the job, was burned into

My senses with the smell
of bubbles in the bath,
the ocean rolling in,
the blue and orange and gold.

Inspiring me to try
a poem with my hands,
to keep on making art
with my whole life.

Your laugh is balm to my
encumbered spirit and
so glad am I that you
are my friend, mi amiga.

Remarkability

It is a remarkable woman who sets her table for 10 sloppy little come-and-go pancake eaters who rotate a jar of honey non-stop for the better part of an hour.

It is a remarkable man who shows no fear and even says "bring the dog".

It's a remarkable couple who have room in their hospitable hearts to double their household for a weekend and breathe life into another family of seven.

It is a remarkable thing to have friends who are so remarkable, and we are appropriately humbled and grateful. Nous vous sommes extrêmement reconnaissants, Dennis family!

YzSyViLeCe

These were a couple of pictures from Micah's birthday party that didn't fit into the storyline (what? there was a storyline?) but they made my heart ache, 'cause we miss these guys so much. We'll visit soon, I promise!

Elizabeth

When I am alone, and it's quiet,
My heart is heavy--again--with Elizabeth.

I met her once;
She probably never remembered me
But I thought of her
Every time I'd hear about Elisabeth Elliot
Or Quito, or being a woman
Who brought glory to God with her obedience, her life.

Elizabeth introduced me to Elisabeth
And she was that kind of woman herself.
I knew this because of how deeply
She was loved
And esteemed
By my friend, who would be her husband.

We've lost touch
And I've never known them together, but
I'd want him to know that of the handful of women
Who have made the biggest impact on my life
His wife was one of those women.
And we only met once.

It is so sad to think of knowing
a reason to understand the Psalms:

How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and every day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?

It seems absurd, almost laughable
To think of Liz--truly knowing now--the rest:

I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
for he has been good to me!*

My tears are such an odd mix
Flavored with pity, sorrow, praise,
gratefulness, sadness, hope
and love

For a Savior
Who has a new friend by his side
Who still loves us and watches us
Who still knows and cares for us
Who has promised salvation and singing!

And again
She shows me our Savior, our Daddy
And I see Him a little bit clearer.

The emptiness she leaves behind is gaping
But because of her obedience, her life
HE is able to fill it.

And to think
I only met her once.


*Taken from Psalm 13, NIV