Fourteen

Happy birthday to my oldest...my stubbornly refusing to smile boy...my Noah.

I think this look pretty much sums up how he feels about me taking his picture, lol. Course, then there was also this one:

...of Nathan trying to recreate his favorite photo from last year. ;) Last year, I took one of all three boys also...

And here's the one from this year:

Yes, Noah continues to grow. (Micah's catching up on Asher, too, as you can see, lol.) As further evidence, here's Noah and Nathan:

 And me and Noah:

Keep in mind, too, that at age 11 Noah was only up to about my ear. For those who appreciate actual numbers, on his 11th birthday, Noah was 55.5" and 72 lbs. Today he's 68" and approximately 128 lbs. That's a lot of growing in the past three years, lol. For what it's worth, though, I think he might be slowing down. :) 

I've spent much of the day trying to think of fourteen things to write about him. But I can't think of many things that haven't already been said. ;) He's pretty constant. He did start school this year (and is doing really well), but other than that, he remains himself. I think we'll keep him. ;)

Halloween

We had a fairly low key Halloween this year. Though we generally get into the spirit and decorate and all that, had a hard time this year doing anything above and beyond...just too many other things going on, lol. 

Regardless, Noah and Micah still managed to carve pumpkins:

(Asher opted not to join in.) Our porch and yard looked a little bare, but we were okay with that this year. ;)

And, this year we met up with friends...which makes everything better. :) We ate and admired costumes and finished costume prep and all that. (There were about five families altogether.) Then, Nathan took Noah and Gabe back to our place to hand out candy (as is their "we're too mature to take part in that trick-or-treating craziness" tradition) while our gang o' kiddos headed out to trick or treat. 

Micah and Asher made use of their Comic Con costumes (as was the deal we made when I agreed to make/buy those costumes back in June, lol) and made a delightful Loki and Thor again:

And then they took off with their friends for their first experience in trick or treating "on their own" (with a phone and boundaries and strict instructions about staying together, lol):

...and had a fantastic time. ;)