Soccer Stud

Happy Howl-o-ween!!

From the Staub's

Trip to Utah

We had a great visit to Utah. We got to see a lot of family we don't normally get to see. I got some pictures, feeling bad I didn't take pictures with everyone I saw.

Highlights:

Grandma Jean/Ryan & his water gun

Logan Temple

Grandma & Grandpa Olson

Antelope Island, buffalo, coyote

Logan Canyon

Willard Bay Camping

Perry fall weather and walks

Payless Shoe Source & GPS

Chalyse & Elle

Aunts, Counsins, and children

Awesome Primary

Luke, Casey, cutie Cam

and most especially mom and dad!

Sulpher, OK

Last weekend Logan had two days off school to go to the fair. We decided to take the boys camping instead. We went to the Arbuckle Mountains of Oklahoma. We camped in Sulpher where there are several natural cold springs. We invited Vern and Sheriee to come with us, we had a great time!

Cody Ody Bun Bun Toots

On Wednesday July 14 we celebrated birthdays! My good friend Christi, one of our favorite babysitters Micheal, my sister-in-law Karen, and well, me all share this awesome day. It was probably my most favorite birthday of all time. You see, I was nearing my due date(July 21st or 26th no one really knows), and feeling pretty miserable. My doctor had been telling me she would consider inducing me as early as the 14th. As soon as I heard that I cried, with excitement. Not because it was my birthday but because it was not the 21st or the 26th it was a few weeks earlier. I am not what you would call a patient pregnant women.

On Monday night I started having contractions and boy were they strong. I have been induced with all my pregnancies so I didn't know what labor was like, but I think I was beginning the road toward it. All day Tuesday I had these intense contractions that would take me down. They never were regular and didn't break my water, but I got close to calling my doctor and heading to the hospital. Wednesday morning finally arrived, and not a moment sooner. When we got to the hospital I was dilated to a 3 and making good progress. My nurse was sure I'd deliver quickly. They hooked me up to the pitocin to help things along and got right on the to the epidural. Not long after the epidural was placed things really started to happen quick.

Cody Rex Staub was born at 2:24pm. It was a great delivery and the epidural did it's job quite nicely. He was 8 lbs 2 oz, 20 3/4 inches long and beautiful. He had a head full of light brown hair. Yes, you did read correctly, BROWN hair. Still today I am surprised at that head with all that brown on it.

We stayed in the hospital for the next couple of days. Wes's mom came up from Houston to take care of Logan and Ben. She did an outstanding job of entertaining. The boys shopped, went to lunch, saw a movie, and made several visits to the hospital to see us.

They love their little brother. I have never before seen two little boys more interested in their little sibling like these too. They can't keep their mitts off of him. Sometimes it's a bit scary, but mostly it's adorable. I would love that kind of welcome to this world for sure!

When I was looking at our the pictures we took at the hospital and saw this one above I though, "Wow, we really look like a family, a big family." Wes and I still can't believe that we have three little boys, when did that all happen?

Today while Wes and the boys were at church I snapped a couple more of the sleeping babe. When they came home Logan and Ben laughed and laughed that Cody had a Mohawk, Logan said, "Mom, did you spike his hair?" But of course!

Cody is such a sweet little guy and such a fun addition to our family. We can't wait for him to grow a little so he can wrastle with dad and the boys. We love him and are so very grateful to have a healthy little boy at our house. Thanks to everyone for the phone calls and prayers and food and goodies we have received the last few days! It's been fun!

Our Trip to Disneyland

Several months ago we decided that we wanted to take the boys on vacation. They are a great age for doing something fun without all the extra paraponilia that comes along with babies and small kids. However there was only one problem, there was a baby due in July. We wouldn't be able to travel at all this summer. So, we booked a cruise early May. We love cruises and thought we could be the most bang for out buck by vacationing this way. Once we paid for the cruise we decided to invite any and all to come with us. My parents we in, Wes' parents were in, Wes' brother's and their wives were in. Then the bad news came, I wasn't allowed to cruise. I was too far along and the cruise lines policies wouldn't allow me to go. So now we were out. After a lot of though and consideration we decided to do the next best thing, DISNEYLAND!!!

Have to admit, I got a little teary eyed when I saw this guy, but let's blame it on pregnancy hormones.
At disneyland they have Jedi training. They pick out kids from the audience to come up and learn to use a light saber. Then they face off with Darth Vadar and Darth Maul. Logan got picked and loved his battle with the bad guys. Here he is with his hood getting ready to receive his light saber.

Ben loves Darth Vader, that's who he was for Halloween. This is at the lego store in down town Disney.

One day we took the boys shopping. Logan had been saving his money for months to take to Disneyland and buy something great. He picked out two lego sets from the disney store (suprise, suprise). We saw millions of toys but Ben wanted only one things, Mickey ears.

Swimming in the pool at our Hotel, Logan showing off his sweet bod.

Posing with the boy cousins. So glad that we had them come with us, they were all so cute. Not one of these kids made a fuss when we didn't have time to stop and say hello to the princesses.

Outside of "It's a small world" ride, which I thought was a little creepy, but fun.

Ben and I on the rocket, while the big kids were on Space Mountain.

The whole crew in the front of Disneyland. Believe it or not, it was actually pretty chilly that day. We were glad we brought some pants and jackets.

It was such a fun vacation. Our camera battery died before we had a chance to take pictures of the rest of our trip. We also visited the San Diego Zoo, which was beautfiul but hilly and steep. Not fun when you are nearly 8 months pregnant or hauling a stroller full of boys. We also took the boys horse back riding which they absolutely loved. Logan said, "Mom, I want to be a cowboy when I grow up." Everyone should go to disneyland it was a blast and we hope that someday we can go again. I enjoyed it every bit as much as the little boys. We had a great time!

Kindergarten Program

Logan had a kindergarten program at school last week. I can hardly believe that he is 5 weeks away from being a first grader. He is such a smart little thing and is doing very well in reading, math, science, and everything else. He is such a social thing and has worked really hard to be a good student and follow all the rules.

A little pre-show entertainment by Bun the Mun.

Oh Brothers, these guys kinda like each other. Ben has actually started calling Logan brother. I don't know what has spawned this phase, but it cracks me up.

Logan and his good friend Maizy. I love this girl. She loves Logan. She really wants to hold his hand.

Monster Jam

Don't know that I have ever been to a Tea Party, I never play fairies, and for sure we have never been to the Ballet. So we decided we better take the boys. We surprised the boys two weekends ago with tickets to a ballet. Unfortunately, they were not excited. In fact they cried on the way to the performance. I couldn't believe how much they didn't want to do this. They kept saying, "But that is for girls." To which I replied, "yeah, and I am a girl."

It was really exciting, we got to go to the Dallas Cowboy Stadium for the first time. It was huge and awesome! Here are a few pictures of the boys before the performance.

The real surprise came when we walked into the stadium and saw this

and this

The boys were shocked and amazed! They loved every second of the noise, destruction, and chaos! It was "so much better than the ballet." says Logan.

I guess I'll have a wait a little longer till I can go to the ballet, someday it will happen. But for now, we loved our little "monster" experience!

Snow!!

Can you believe that it snowed all day today in Dallas? I can hardly believe it.

Growing up with snow several months out of the year makes no snow a totally new thing. However, living here now for almost 6 years I too, have gotten used to brown winters. So when the weather man said last night to expect snow all day I have to admit, I got excited. Sure enough when I woke up this morning there was a fresh layer of white beautifulness on the ground.

Logan and Ben were dying to get out and experience the accumulation of snow, but they had school. While they were at school, I enjoyed being in my warm(clean, the boys were at school) house and gazing at the snow softly drifting to the ground.

Unfortunately with little experience with snow comes the "freak out" Texans face when it actually does snow. Nobody knows how to drive in it, so everything closes. It's kinda hilarious. I was talking to Wes, who was quite frustrated that Bank of America closed it doors due to the weather. Mind you, it was barely below freezing and the roads were just wet, not icey.

The school let me pick up Logan early, so we went straight home and bundled up. They loved every minute of playing in the snow. I got a few pictures. We even had enough snow to build a snowman.

Don't know if this will ever happen again, at least it probably won't for a few years. So until then we've loved you snow, thanks for visiting!!