Deck the Tree

Here are a couple pics of the boys the day we decorated the Christmas tree. Carter was so careful with the ornaments. He did a really good job spacing them out and stuff. And yes, in this picture is featured one of those crocheted snowflakes. Also displayed on our tree are the plastic-covered styrafoam hearts, the cloth lolipops (which Carter destroyed, thinking it was a real sucker), the beaded candy canes, and my personal favorite, the ever-inventive clothes pin reindeer. If I can direct your attention to the bottom right-hand corner you will notice the ugliest ornament on our tree- Grinchy Claus. That's right, Grinchy Claus. I got him at an ornament exchange last year where you play that game where you can either steal someone else's. I picked this lovely one and no one stole him.....the ENTIRE game. I had to sit back and watch everyone else steal each other's really cute ornaments, including mine which I loved. But Grinchy Claus has made his place on our tree. Carter keeps asking what he is. Poor kid is probably pretty confused.

Well log on and write about your best and worst ornaments, a Christmas tree decorating memory, or about how your decorating went this year.

*Hay

6 Things About Me

Here is Sheriee's response to Kate's "tag". Hayley is the scribe for this post because grandma is rocking the baby. Because mom is mom, she gets to put 7 things, even though it's only supposed to be 6. And that's final.

A. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning.

B. Each player lists 6 facts/habits about themselves.

C. At the end of the post, the player then tags 6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

1. One of my favorite things to do is bake and cook. I love to give treats to my family and friends. I like to try new recipes and bake things from scratch and make rich deserts. I love to make Christmas candy. I learned to bake from my mom, Vern's mom, Aunt Agda and just from experience.

2. I like to be well-groomed and shop for new clothes, shoes, earrings....especially shoes. I have been known as a shoe freak since junior high. I like to smell nice. Love Spell from Victoria's Secret is my favorite smell.

3. I like teenagers. I love working with them in church. I seem to connect really well with them and I feel like I'm a big grown-up teenager and a teenager at heart.

4. How can I say this one...I KNOW that I have 4 great-looking children and in-law children and the most beautiful 8 grandkids. A lot of people think they have awesome families but I really know that my family is especially exceptional.

5. I am in love with my husband. This shouldn't be a surprise but I honestly enjoy him and we have so much fun together. I love traveling with him and going out and doing things with him and going to the lake with the family. I feel like we are a great combination and have great chemistry. It's hard to put into words.

6. I love serving others. I have found it to be one of the most rewarding experiences in my life, really.

7. Here are some of my ideas that make life Heavenly: See's candies (butterscotch squares), a good romance movie, a dip in the swimming pool, going to the temple with myhusband and children, pedicures/manicures/massages, Grandma times, rocking newborns (which I'm doing right now!), watching my children interact with each other (kindly), watching the men give their wives and hug and a kiss, receiving a hug and a kiss from my hubby, Vern tickling my arm and rubbing my hands, spending time with friends, and finally, sweet, sweet treats.

Now that I'm done, I tag everyone who hasn't been tagged, yet. This includes all Staub boys and Velvet and Amber (and Vern, when I get home).

Dallas Cowboys

Here they are, for more pics check out our blog!

Halloween 2007

Chloe and Chany had a great time at the Halloween Boo Bash at the church. Birthdays are always great for me because we get to dress our cuties up and hit the town. Papa was there, and he helped Channing with the archary range and the pistol shoot. Before that we all went trick or treatin' around the hallways, which Chloe especially loved, though she was scared (it was dark). She really liked that all you did was walk up to someone, and they told you how cute you are and topped it off with a piece of candy. Wouldn't life be great if it was always like Halloween? Everywhere you went people just complimented you and handed you free candy? It's kind of like the ideal world.

Rye

Samantha and baby Annabelle

Velvet's sister Autumn got us matching dresses for the girls. The dresses are from some exclusive European company. (See Samanthas puffed sleaves) Anyways, we thought this picture was too cute. Samantha sure loves her sister and is always helping mommy with changing her clothes and diapers.

Sammy is in Pocatello today with her Gran and Grandad and playing with her cousins. We miss her for she is truly a joy to have around. Velvet and I feel so blessed to have 2 angels in our family!

Annabelle Joy Staub 1 Week Old

We had some photos done the other day and they turned out great! Annabelle was a good sport as we moved her tiny baby body around to get the photo we wanted.

Annabelle is such a sweet and good natured baby. She already sleeps 4-6 hour stretches so Velvet and I can get our sleep in. She only cries when she is hungry and if she is full and wrapped tightly in her blanket life is good for her.

We surely love our new addition to the family!

Conference in HD !

Doing great multi-tasking right now as a upload more pics to this blog while listening to General Conference. I will do my part to keep it alive! To all of you who don't get to watch Conference in HD that's a shame. I thought UFC fights in HD were cool but it's nothing compared to all of the exciting, heart pounding and adrenaline packed action of Conference!

We are getting anxious to have baby Anabelle here but I think we are a few weeks out. She is still breech but we are going to see if she turns at the last minute when labor starts. Velvet doesn't think labor will ever start. At Thursday's Dr. appointment there were no signs of dilation or efacement.

It's been a snowy, rainy, cold weekend but the leaves are beautiful and the fall feel is in the air. I love this time of year.

Just Kidding, here it is....

I finally made on entry!

I guess I finally may have figured out how to make and entry! Hope everyone is doing well. Congrats Hay and a possible new modeling career. It's a good feeling to know I won't have to work anymore because you'll have plenty of money to spare for your bro!

Everything is going well here in Utah. Summer is almost over but FALL is a great time of the year.

This was a photo Velvet had taken the other day. Samantha is almost 4 years old. These kids a sure cute and fun and a total joy!

Log Man

Well, we are home at last. It was a pretty traumatic couple of days for our little family. Logan is doing surprisingly well for all which he has been through. The next couple of weeks should be very interesting. We are trying to round up a wagon and a bean bag to make life a little less stressful. All in all things are well. Thanks so much for ya’lls thoughts and prayers in our behalf; they have been very well received. We love you!

Hot chick wins fishing tournament!

We had a great time at the lakehouse. Many large fish were caught, the largest by winner Amber Staub, who caught a true 'mantle fish' (a fish worthy of a picture on the mantle). Channing also caught her first large mouth bass, by herself no less, and when you see the pic you won't believe it is a large mouth bass, but it is! It was really funny. Finally, Logan and Channing went on their first fishing boat trip. They packed back-packs with snacks and they and their Dads had a great time together. Logan fished with his Finding Nemo pole and Channing with her Barbie pole, and alas, nothing was caught, but it was fun!

Happy freakin' b-day

Chloe was not happy about being the only one in bed when we called to say happy b-day...

Happy Birthday, Justin!

Yes, if you didn't know, now you do- today is our oldest sibling's birthday. From what I could tell from our quick conversation, it was going to consist of a day at the pool and then Costco on the way home, followed by dinner and ice cream and popcorn. Sounds good to me!

Speaking of popcorn, I can't seem to get enough air-popped popcorn. Spencer's not really into it, but me and Carter share a small batch every other day or so, made with mom's old popper. I don't know how that thing has survived going from wherever it's been with mom and dad, to Rexburg, to Hemet, California. It still works, though, and I love it. To me, there's nothing that says, "This is a family night" more than hearing that thing roar and smelling the hot air it puts out. Every time I plug it in, I think of watching family slides. Oh, the olden days! We'll have to plan a slides night during Christmas when we are all together. ~Hay

The Boys...

Here are a couple of pix of the boys. One morning Ben and Logan were playing hard for a while, TV blaring, Logan jumping around and going crazy, and Ben felt tired so he wormed over to the blanket laying on the floor and just went to sleep. We have a video of it too, it was pretty cute. Ben has to go to the doctor for his eye, he still has one that gets all nasty from having the clogged tear duct. Logan is doing well. Just a happy, healthy, energetic kid. The first thing he askes just about every morning is, "so, what fun thing are we going to do today?" Since just about everyday Kate has him either going to preschool, swimming, library time, mall, playing at the park, or playing with friends. The other day we over heard him drawing a picture and writing a letter...this is basically how it went..."Dear Voldemort, (mumbling, mumbling), cast a magic spell, (mumbling, mumbling). Kate is very and doing well and having fun with the kids. We are currently fixing up the house in Rowlett and hopefully selling it. Anyways, all else is good. Book 7 comes out this weekend so don't try to get a hold of me for about a month, until I am done reading.

The girls.

This is officially the first time I have 'blogged'. We are doing well. Mom, sorry about the tattoos, but that's the price you pay for being a biker chick.

Chloe is doing great. She is talking more and more, and loves her new big girl bed. We may have Channing and her in the same room before long. She also still has major attitude. As Dad says, you never know which Chloe you're going to get.

Channing is well, aside from the nightmares that plague her. Oh, and she was VERY upset yesterday to learn that she can't marry me when she gets big. I told her daughters can't marry dads and that I already have a wife, but that didn't go over too well. Tears, trying to convince me otherwise, the whole 9 yards. Finally I calmed her by telling her she didn't have to marry anyone and that she could just always live with us. I have a feeling she may change her mind about this someday. - Rye

I guess I'll give an update on the belly...So far, I'm not very big but I feel like I'm getting a lot bigger recently. My due date is still October 31 and everything seems to be going very well and as far as I know, the baby is very healthy. He is also very active. We still don't have a name picked out- probably won't until they make us sign the birth certificate at the hospital, but I'm pretty sure the middle name is going to be Mack. So, that's pretty much the update. I've been staying really active with Carter and we do exercises together and he helps me get my weights out of the closet and everything. Then when we do my video, he goes, "Seengo, seengo, dubbo" (single, single, dubble) and breathes real loudly. It's pretty funny. At least he's learning early how to stay in shape! ~Hay~