The last six weeks...

The last six weeks since Stratton was born have been very eventful. We have had a lot of fun with this new little addition to our family. We have also had a lot of fun celebrating this fun time of year.

We went to the pumpkin patch and Carson got to pick out his own pumpkin which he loved.

The weather was perfect!

He must have picked up every pumpkin he could lift. He thought he was so big.

Ari's parents came to visit us shortly after the baby was born. Carson loved having them here, he was the center of attention.

Of course there was a lot of basketball playing as usual.

We went to the annual balloon fiesta in October and it was a really fun thing to experience. It is amazing how many balloons are there. Pretty incredible but you could never get me in one of those things.

The balloon right behind us was just getting inflated and about to take off.

My parents came next which was also a blast! They definitely spoiled us and of course Carson loved all the attention he got.

He got to show Grandpa Arnie the planes on base. He was pretty excited about that.

We loved our visitors. Thanks for coming everyone!

We have also been pretty sleep deprived thanks to our little one, so we try and get naps in when we can. We loving having our little guy here so it is all worth it!

Our Halloween pictures are not on the computer yet so more to come later...

He's Here!

On September 25, 2009 we welcomed our new little boy into the world. He weighed 5 lbs 8 oz and was 19 inches long. He decided to begin his little journey in the middle of the night and was born at 7:59am Friday morning. We are so happy to have this new little addition to our family!

Introducing... Stratton Horace Fershtut

Here is the ever glamorous hospital photo shortly after he was born.

Stratton and his daddy

We have no idea who he looks like at this point.

Because of the swine flu scare right now they were not allowing anyone under 14 years old to come to visit. So Carson was not able to meet his new brother until the next day. We had some awesome friends who watched him for two days and many others who offered to help out. So thank you so much! You guys rock! This was the first time Carson got to see and hold Stratton.

Carson picked out this football playing monkey and made it for Stratton before he was born. He was really excited to give it to him when we got home. The monkey is bigger than he is!

Carson is already such a great big brother.

Ari reading his boys a bed time story.

These two are going to be the best of friends. We are so blessed to have them both in our family.

Stratton was born on his Aunt Rivkah's birthday which we think is very special. Happy Birthday Aunt Rivkah, we hope you don't mind sharing your day with your new nephew!

Sports Injuries, basketball shorts and cowboy boots

Carson has been really active lately (more so than usual), and he has been wearing me out! It must be the big boy underpants that he has been sporting, because now he is a "big boy". No matter the reason, he has been keeping me very busy. The majority of his day consists of basketball, flying helicopters, basketball, and more basketball. Today was no different, and as he was playing in his "basketball game" complete with his own commentary he got so worked up that his basketball got away from him and started rolling down the hall. He ran after it and as he got closer somehow it turned into the living room at the last second. Carson was not able to react quick enough and ran full speed straight into the wall. Our walls are textured which left what looked like holes in his little forehead. He now has a giant goose egg and is milking it for all it is worth. It was so sad but sports injuries are not unfamiliar at our house so he bounced back quickly.

This was the best picture I could get of his bump. It has now turned purple!

I just thought I would post a few recent pics of our boy playing outside and loving life!

Nothing better than cowboy boots and basketball shorts. He lives in basketball shorts and he makes Ari wear basketball shorts any chance he can. Carson even puts them on over his PJs and sleeps in them. (He dresses himself most days).

I can't wait to meet our new little boy. I am sure he will be as awesome as Carson. I am so excited to be having another boy. They will be such good friends. And there will be a lot of man training going on at our house for a long time!

Potty Success

Carson is finally potty trained (for the most part). We have been working on it for a little while and it did not seem to be sinking in until last week. He finally did it for a whole day. Well that day quickly turned into two and then three and now I am proud to say that he has been in underpants for a whole week (with the exception of bedtime and nap time) and he has only had 1 accident. We are so proud of him! I am just so glad he did it by 2 1/2 because it is only 6 weeks until baby time. I am so glad that I won't be changing two sets of diapers.

His reward/bribe for learning to use the potty was a Batman helicopter. Batman and Helicopters are two of his very favorite things so he was pretty excited to earn this awesome toy.

Good Job Carson! We are so proud of you!

Trip to Utah July 2009

We took a trip to Utah this last week and had so much fun! We hung out with family and friends and Carson was completely spoiled the whole time. Here is a small recap of our trip.

You may be asking yourself is that Utah? Well no, it is in the middle of nowhere New Mexico. We had a slight mishap on the drive up which left us stranded on the side of the road for two hours at the hottest time of the day! This is a picture I took from the car while Ari was trying to keep Carson occupied until help came. This is one drive we won't be forgetting very soon.

Carson and his cousin Finn wearing matching shirts. Cute boys!

Carson wanted to ride my brothers skate boards the whole time. He couldn't do it on his own but he was so determined to ride that it won't be long before he is a pro.

Carson and Emily getting ready for our backyard camp out. We camped out in the backyard which was nice because it is very difficult to pee in the wilderness while pregnant.

Hannah diving into the s'mores around the fire pit.

A.J. and Canoe

Levi and Marissa at the camp out. Levi provided the music which was fun. We tried to do a little singing but if anyone has ever heard the Richins family rendition of "Happy Birthday" then you can probably guess how the singing went.

Ian and Emily roasting marshmallows.

Carson loved holding his stick over the fire. He digs camping.

The next morning we got up and went to the lake for a day of canoeing and relaxation. Here is the fam enjoying the sun.

Finn was trying to beat the heat in Levi's hat.

Grandma and Grandpa took Carson for his first canoe ride. He loved it once he found a comfortable place to sit.

This picture is very misleading because it looks like I am helping Ari paddle. I helped a little but once I got tired I just pulled my paddle in and enjoyed the ride. Thanks Ari!

Carson had a lot of fun just playing in the rocks and dirt.

The second half of our trip was spent with the Fershtut side of the family. Ari's parents returned home from their mission in the Philippines. We were so happy to see them and had a lot of fun spending time with them after 18 months. I did not get very many good pictures at the airport which I was bummed about but I liked this one a lot.

Carson and some of his cousins wearing their new shirts from Grandma and Grandpa


We went to a baseball game and watched the fireworks after which was a blast!

They let the kids run the bases after the fireworks which is such a fun thing for them to do.

Carson with his cousins Tsadakah and Moriella at Elder and Sister Fershtut's homecoming party. We also went to a temple open house with Ari's famliy which was so nice. It was fun to take Carson to that.

We had so much fun with our families and our friends. Thanks for a good time guys!

Oh Beautiful...

For heroes proved, in liberating strife, who more than self their country loved and mercy more than life!

Happy Independence Day! We had a great holiday this year and we hope everyone else did too. We went to a parade in the morning with our friends and Carson loved it! We also had a picnic at the park, a BBQ with homemade Hires rootbeer, and some awesome fireworks later that night. Here are a few pictures of the day.

At the parade with his dad and his flag.

This is still one of my favorite holidays!

The fam

Carson and his friend Natalie watching the fireworks

Carson's favorite part of the fireworks were the snaps that he got to throw all over the ground.

America! America! May God thy gold refine, till all success be nobleness and every gain divine!

Busy Summer

We have been having a very busy and fun summer so far this year. We spend our days at the park and the pool and hanging out with our awesome friends. I have also been crafting like crazy. I have a new project every few days it seems like so I spend Carson's nap time in my craft room on most days. I don't take as many pictures as I would like of everything we have been doing but here is an update of our busy summer with the pictures I do have.

For Father's Day Ari got a bike trailer which is something he has wanted for a long time. He has loved biking with Carson ever since he got it.

He was so excited about it he had to try it out immediately after he put it together. Church clothes and all.

Carson LOVES to ride in the "bicycle stroller" as he calls it.

We also went camping this weekend with our friends. We had a blast! We decided that the summer was going to be over before we knew it so we decided to do a quick camping trip.

Ari and Chance set up our camp and Carson helped out as much as he could.

Hanging out in the tent. Just a side note, Carson woke up at 2 am screaming and the only thing that would calm him down was a bottle of Gatorade that Chance had in the tent. We will be lucky if they invite us again after that.

Beth and Bailey

Chance, Ari and Carson making S'mores by the fire. Pretty sure one of the best things about camping is the food!

We had so much fun camping and we hope to do it again before summer is over. Thanks for a good time guys!