The Cutest Thing EVER!

Yesterday was Chris's Birthday. Happy Birthday Chris!! He had to go to San Francisco for work and was not going to be home on his birthday, so I was taking a video of Bretton for him and said "Say Happy Birthday Daddy..." and he said "Daddy... Daddy..." a few times. Then I said "Say I love you..." and the kid said "I love you!" I thought this might have been a fluke, but I asked him about 100 times after that, cause I couldn't get enough, and it was the same every time! It really is the cutest thing EVER!! And the tongue makes it about a thousand times better! (This is a different video than the one mentioned above, but it shows him saying it better)

Oh The Things He Can Say!

I know... I know... 3 posts in 1 week! Let's not get crazy here! By special request of Bretton's uncle Jack (who lives in England), I have recorded the words that B can say so far. The little man is still a ways from walking, but he can sure talk! He started learning words at about 10 months. I've been meaning to do this, just haven't gotten around to it yet. So, to save Jack some long distance money, here it is!

Monkey Birthday

Chris and Bretton combined their birthday parties this year, and since both of them make life so fun, I thought it appropriate to have a monkey themed party.

Cake

The cake was a big hit.

Thanks a million times to Darlene Kober!

Birthday Boy lovin playing in the sand.

He is definitely ALL boy!

Daddy and B blowing out the candle.

Chris didn't make it to his candles... the wind kept blowing them out.

B knew just what to do and wasted no time.

Sound advice from a very smart friend:

"You'll regret it if you're not in at least one picture!"

Chris just went for the whole ear. Forget this "piece" stuff!

The aftermath. That kid ate the entire plateful of cake I gave him.

At least he knows good cake when he tastes it!

Guests (L to R):
Sean Jones, Sabrina Kozak, Diane Epperson, Grandpa & Grandma Epperson, London Mortensen

Chris & Wendi Maroney, Clarissa Weitzell

Ashley, Brent and Nathan Ricks (Luke and Justin Maroney in the background)

Nicole, Chris and Ambrie Mortensen (Ambrie is almost exactly a month older than B)

We had so many friends come that managed to dodge the camera.

Thanks to everyone that came!

Oh, the Gifts!

Man, this kid is SPOILED!

Chris got a couple too.

Our own little party Diva!

Danny and Emry Dean. She's so stinkin cute!!

OK, story behind the glasses: We had them there because it was Nicci's birthday the next day, Sunday, and one of the things we like to remember about Nicci as a kid is that she had a pair of sunglasses, much like the ones Emry is modeling, that she took the lenses out of and swore she could see better when she wore them. I saw these at the store and they reminded me of that, so I got them for her cake that we had at the party also.

After Party

B was covered in cake so I got his clothes off to change him and he crawled away before I could get his shoes off or any clothes back on him.

I don't know why he was making this face, but it makes me laugh.

Bretton LOVES Tippi...

...almost too much!

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY BRETTON!!

Well... today is my little boy's first birthday! I can't believe that it has been a whole year since he came into our lives! He is the sweetest addition to our family.

Things I love about Bretton:
-He loves his food
-He smiles A LOT
-He always tries to make you laugh
-He aims to please (unless he's feeling particularly mischevious)
-He brightens a room where ever he is
-He brings joy to so many people: Aunts, Uncles, Grandmas, Grandpas, Mom & Dad... Everyone!
-He loves animals, just like his mom
-He is a handsome devil, just like his dad
-He loves sports and cars already
-He says "Thank You" aka "Da Do" for everything, especially food! (Thank you also means "Amen" to B)
-He is just one great kid!

The last few days I have gone back and looked at pictures of him growing up. The time goes by so fast and he has changed so much in just one year! See?

1 month

2 months

3 months

4 months

5 months

6 months

7 months

8 months

9 months

10 months

11 months

For his birthday today, Wendi and I took him down to Tucson so we could go to lunch with Grandma Weitzell, Grandma Billman and Aunt Gussie. Here are some pictures from our afternoon.

Grandma Weitzell, B, Wendi, Gussie, Grandma Billman

Grandma Weitzell wanted a "4 Generations" picture with our hands. Turned out pretty cool.
Gussie and Grandma Billman. How cute are they??
The 2 sistas. Grandma Weitzell and B with the Birthday Cheesecake the waitress brought for him. She specifically said she only brought one spoon because it was all for him! Everyone thought he was so cute (and why wouldn't they??), all the wait staff came around to see him and everyone walking out of the restaurant stopped to say "hi" and how cute he was. I don't want to brag, but...

This video is kindof long (it starts getting really good at about 6:50), so you can just skip through it and see how messy he gets if you want, but he is LOVIN this cheesecake. One of the waitresses (not ours) noticed how much he was diggin the whipped cream so she brought him a plate of just whipped cream.

Thanks for the good time girls!

Grandma and Grandpa Epperson came over after we got home and gave him his first set of sports balls. I wonder... which one will he choose...?

Turns out he was partial to the soccer ball (or football, if Jack or Laura is reading this)!

We went to Red Robin for his birthday dinner so he could get a balloon (one of his favorite toys).

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Epperson!

The birthday party is this weekend, so there's a future post to look forward to!!

Dirtbikes and Quads... So this is love...

Last Saturday, Wendi and Chris took us along as they went out to let their boys ride their dirt bikes and quad. Bretton got his first taste of motorsports, and I must say... I think the kid is in love! He just sat on the tailgate of Chris's truck and chilled while the passing dirtbikes and other various vehicles completely entertained him for about 2 hours! If you know Bretton (or any 11 month old for that matter) you know he doesn't sit still for any more than 30 seconds under any other circumstance. Once again, I see his father in him!

The Superstitions on our way out. They were gorgeous with the clouds falling on them!

Bretton knows how cool you are when you wear sunglasses now, so he takes every opportunity and basks in the glow of his "coolness"

I didn't think I would let it happen, but I ended up being the one to take B on his first quad ride. It was all downhill from there. He thought he needed to be on the quad or dirtbike whenever no one else was on them. Also in the video are Ian (whose dream is to be in the X games as soon as he is eligible, as you can tell by the gear) and Justin (for a split second anyway).

And... as a side note... I rode a dirtbike for the first time! I never thought I'd see the day where I would be on a motorized vehicle with only 2 wheels, but alas... I conquered the fear, and I have the gash on my shin to prove it! (Granted, it was only a 70, but hey, it's a start! And it was all worth it.)

This newly re-discovered passion may just very well calm the Disneyland urge that we so often feel. Justin even said "I think every weekend we should either ride dirt bikes, go shooting or go to Disneyland!" I'm with ya on that one buddy!