Merry Christmas 2013

Merry Christmas, from our family to yours!

 

Cousins

I saw that my sis had a similar post up this morning. 

This little shot must have meant a lot to both of us:

 I am so glad that Stratton boy has such great family around him. We are sure blessed in that arena! I imagine that Stratton and Sawyer will be great little playmates. The one year between them seems like a lot now, but it will be nothing in a few years. I am excited for the fun times ahead.

I also think this sweet grandma loves her new title! You are the best, mom!!

Stratton the Big Boy

I just cannot believe what a big boy Stratton has become lately. In the last few weeks he has become an independent, stubborn, talking machine. Seriously! I can't imagine where he got his sassy from?! :) He is getting too smart for his amateur momma and daddy!

I took this picture of Stratton today at 7:30 am. He just got that blanket out of the clean laundry basket. Life is good when you get a clean blanket back! Funny boy!

I love this little Stratton boy so much! He is the light of my life and {usually} my favorite part of the day. He is talking SO much at 18 months. I cannot even count how many words he says. He knows so much, and will say pretty much anything on demand. We are going to need to watch our mouths around our house.

I am looking forward to spending some extra fun time with him during the holidays! Sure love you buddy!!

 

Our Family's Fourth Year

For our first anniversary I gave Bryce a book recapping my favorite memories from the first year of our marriage. The tradition stuck. Here is Volume Four in the exciting series!

It's Been Four!

I can hardly believe that Bryce and I have been married for four years! Holy cow! Time really does fly by! I am happy to say that it was been four, wonderful years. Bryce is truly a man of great worth. He beats the odds, rises to the occasion, and serves all those that are around him. I am proud of him everyday for all he is and does. He is an excellent spouse and friend to me, and the sweetest daddy to Stratton. Thanks, Bryce, for all you do for our family! I sure love you!

Bryce and I celebrated our anniversary this year with a night to ourselves. Stratton had a sleepover at grandma and grandpa Bennington's and Bryce and I used a free night stay that I had for the USU University Inn (thank you advising conference prize raffle!). We went to dinner at HuHot and headed to the inn. 

We had both been feeling a bit under the weather for a few nights leading up to our anniversary stay, so that was kind of a bummer, but it was great to share some time along with each other. We exchanged gifts at the hotel, and of course, Bryce out did me again.

{Since we have been married, Bryce has been keeping track of all the different temples we have been able to attend. This shadow box has a picture of us in front of the Bountiful temple, where we were married, and a large mat that we can write dates/pin pictures of the temples we have attended. Such a sentimental idea!}

{He also gave me a shirt, some Christmas movies, and a treat. Yup...sure out did the U State sticker I got for him. It was so lame we did not even document it. Sorry, honey.}

It was a good night for some quality spouse time. I am not sure how I got so lucky so have found such a good husband. Thanks again, Bryce! Life is good!

 

Roholt Family Pictures

It is fun to have a photographer in the family. It means that you get to have fun photo shoots that turn out pretty pictures like these:

{Roholt Family - August 2013}

 Thanks, Shelli!

 

Family Travels

Our family had the fun opportunity to take a little trip a few weeks ago. It started when I was asked to represent the USU College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences at the National FFA Convention. It sounded like an adventure, so I said I was game. The National Convention was in Louisville, KY. It was quite a sight to behold. We are talking 55-60 THOUSAND little blue jackets running around the Louisville Expo Center. What a riot! USU had a booth at the expo. It was fun. We talked to students and tried to share the good word about Utah State. I think that part was a success. We were able to play a little bit of tourist in Louisville while we were there. We ate dinner at a few fun places, and also got to hit up the Louisville Slugger Museum, and Church Hill Downs. Obviously, these places were the highlights of the trip. 

{I am no baseball bough, but I thought seeing "Babe's" bat was pretty neat.}

{I wish I could have figured out the gambling machines. I said I would put my money on horse six: Grit and Grace. Low and behold, the horse won!! Darn the complexity of the gambling machines! This place was super cool!}

{The fact that I have this picture is a miracle! This was one of the few things I wanted to see when we were in Louisville. I had seen pictures of it, and I think it is SUCH a good idea, because who really knows how to say the name of this dang town?! Ashlee and I were driving to the Louisville Slugger Museum and we drove past this sign. Hooray!! So we made our way back to it and got our picture! Excellent!}

I was with a fun group, so the trip was a hit! Thanks, USU, for sending me on a trip that would lead to a family vacation. 

That's right. When I found out I would be going to Louisville, I figured it would be a great opportunity to go see Whit and Curtis, who live in Daphne, Alabama. It was about 8 hours away from Louisville, so I figured I'd drive down and see them for a few days. To wrap up a long story, originally Bryce and I thought it would be fun if he and Stratton joined me to go see Whit and Curtis. When we looked at the cost of rental cars and plane tickets, we decided we just did not have the money for it. I still wanted to go, so I mentioned to my mom and dad that they should come. The following day my dad called me up and said they were both coming with. I was so excited! It would be a fun little vaca. I also thought it would be great if they brought Stratton with them. I would be missing him and Whit would love to see the little man. Well you can imagine that Bryce was feeling a bit left out at this point. We decided to buckle down and go for it. We booked Bryce a flight the trip turned into a family vacation. I am SO glad it did. The time we spent with Whitney and Curtis in AL was priceless. It was fun to see what their life, so far from home, is like. I loved it!! It was beautiful and quaint. It was also awesome to see Whit and Curtis. We miss not having them around. Stratton LOVED Whitney, and I think the feeling was mutual. It was so fun to play tourist with them and see a bit of the South.

{We flew in to New Orleans, LA. We headed to the touristy part of town to see what fun things we could see. My goodness!! I was a sight to behold. Brothels, bars, and other unmentionables. Not really a place I was proud to be pushing my child through - although I will admit he loved the music. He danced and watched as we strolled through the masses. Lets just say Princes and the Frog was not filmed on Royal Street.}

{We ate some beignets at Cafe Du Monde and saw Jackson Square. These things were more up my alley.}

{Cotton fields told us we really were in the South.}

{Stratton loved sitting in Whitney/Maizee's chair. Look how proud he is! He was SUCH a good guy the whole trip!!}

{We went to the beach in Gulf Shores, AL. Beautiful day! The sand was white and the air was warm. I could get used to that kind of life!}

{All the tourists at the beach.}

{Stratton and Whit checking out the water. He loved her!}

{Bass Pro Shop. Stratton was sleeping (yay).}

{I will admit I was a little nervous!}

{There were so many boardwalks and piers to check out.}

{My dad had to try every Southern thing on the menu - for breakfast, frog legs! He said they really did taste like chicken!}

{This night was the highlight for Bryce! Fishing and crabbing at the Fair Hope Pier.}

{Fair Hope was a little town near Whitney's house. It was so cute! This was at the fire station/town museum.}

{I was nervous to not be there for Stratton's first flight. Bryce and my mom and dad said he was a champ, though. He is such a ham that I figured he would be. I loves to have attention. One of my favorite things was to watch him at the airport between our flights home. He was standing right out in the middle of the walkway waiving to the soon to be passengers as they headed to the gates. One guys asked me if he was the mayor, ha. He might as well be! I sure love my little ham!}

 Thank you, Whit and Curtis, for hosting a bunch of crazies for a few days. It was seriously such a blast! We were glad to see that you guys are in such a fun place. It was quaint, and we know you are having a grand adventure. I am glad we were able to come for a visit! Sure love you guys! Roll tide!!

 

We Have Fun!!

We have been having so much fun lately! I am not really sure what I should attribute it to. Perhaps it could be the nice fall weather; an energetic one-year old that we have to keep entertained; awesome family that we enjoy being with; or a change in seasons and holidays. 

Deep down, I truly just think it is because we are happy. We are in a good place in life right now. Bryce and I enjoy our jobs; I feel so fortunate to advise one of the coolest programs at USU, and associate with such fine people; Bryce gets to work outside with the creatures he loves most - FISH! School is going well; Bryce is ready to be done, and he will be fall 2014; I am also ready to be done, and I will be spring 2014. We appreciate the opportunities and good experiences that have come to us during our education. We are anxiously looking forward to, and trying to predict, what our future may hold. Whatever it is, we are hopeful! And last but not least, we have such a happy home. Stratton, is of course, the joy of our household. He is spunky and a little sassy sometimes (I cannot imagine where he got those traits from...) but we love him for it. He is generally a happy care-free little kiddo. I am so thankful everyday that we get to have him in our family. When people say they can't remember what life was like before kids, I easily understand why. 

So, life is good. Here are a few of the fun things we have been doing the last few nights.

{Daddy took us to Mack Park in Smithfield. This also happens to be the park Bryce and I got engaged at. It was fun!}

{Stratton LOVED going down the slides with daddy!}

{I got to go down a few times as well!}

{Tyanna planned a pumpkin carving night. I am so glad she did!}

{Cole with sweet little Sawyer!}

{Stratton got to sit by grandpa ~ they are best buds! I am so glad!}

{I think our carvings were all a success. Please don't ask what Cole is doing here. Possibly a reenactment? We are just glad he was there!!! Love you , Cole!}

{Not your typical pumpkin, but I think mine turned out great!}

 

Hogle Zoo

This weekend was fall break at USU. That means that students get a long weekend, and the employees get nothin'. I was not about to let Bryce and Stratton have a full play day without me, so I took Friday off and we had a great day together. When we all got up Bryce said it was time to go somewhere. He had a plan all worked out and surprised us. We ended up at Hogle Zoo. It was a blast. The fall day was gorgeous, and it was so fun to explore the zoo together.

{The elephants were one of the first things we saw. Stratton loved them! They were easy for him to see, and quite active. This little baby was drinking water, and eating leaves off the groun. It was a fun way to start off the zoo trip!}

{I was looking for this lion the whole time we were at the zoo! It is the zoo's most classic icon. When I think Hogle Zoo, this lion pops into mind. It is no longer a drinking fountain, but I was happy to see this lion was still at the zoo. Stratton was a little less sure about the thing.}

{We liked the huge tiger we saw!}

{The giraffes were one of my favorite things. We got to see them outside and inside the building. It was fun to see them inside because we were able to go upstairs and be more on their level. They are sure tall old animals!}

{Stratton and I rode the carrousel. It was so fun. We originally tried to buy two tickets but the lady told us we only needed one. For some reason it did not dawn on me that she said we only needed one because standing parents rode free. This meant only one of us could ride. I was sad Bryce did not come with us, but we are glad someone could take our picture.}

{There was one gorilla out to see. Of course, as we tried to move to see him better, he kept moving further away from us.}

 I love days off with my family. I sure have been feeling so grateful for them lately. Bryce is the sweetest husband out there, and I swear we have the best little guy, ever! We are blessed to be able to spend so much time together. Life is good!