Inauguration

Well, I can't honestly say that I'm super excited about the event that took place this morning, but it was a rather monumental day in United States History so I thought, for Bretton's sake, I would capture what he was doing when Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th, and first african american, President of the good ol' USA.

(P.S. This is his favorite "no no"- turning off the TV. In fact, he will often look at you, smile, shake his head "no" and then proceed with the crime. He loves the reaction he gets. Is he Chris's kid or what??)

How's About a Little Ketchup!

I mean... catch up!

I have been a horrible blogger this last month, so you are about to get my whole month of December in one post. Ready? Here goes!

The month started out with a fun trip up to North Scottsdale to see some good friends. Sadie (left) and Lulu (bottom right) are two of my loves. I became Sadie's nanny when she was only 16 months old, and she just turned 6! I got to spend about 3 months with Lulu after she was born before moving on to other adventures. Love you guys!

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Chris used our house as a set for a commercial shoot and renting a couple of Harley's was a "necessity." ;) I think it was just an excuse to rent a bike and have someone else pay for it!

Daddy's Dream... his boy on a bike!

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A couple of Bretton's newest "tricks"

Popcorn Popping

"UH-OH"

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Bretton got to meet Santa. Santa took time out of his busy holiday schedule and visited a neighbor's house and had cookies with some kids from the neighborhood. Bretton was the first to sit on his lap and just kindof checked him out, didn't really have much of a reaction.

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Ok, so one day I was in the kitchen and came around the corner to see this...

the mischief starts!!

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Gingerbread houses with Marc and Sammy...

and Nicci and Jack

Bretton had his eye on the prize!

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CHRISTMAS EVE

The family will understand these pictures better, but for a little explanation...

Every year with Chris's family we do a reading of "The Night Before Christmas" with added... drama... It is a tradition that stretches way beyond my time in the family, but I'm sure glad to be a part of the fun!

We then did our own rendition of "The Nutcracker"

Any of you that have seen it will slightly understand what these are. Oh I wish I could get the video on here for you. HILARIOUS!

Chinese

Russian

Mother Ginger

We were under the "skirt" of Mother Ginger as the Gingerettes

*A special "Thanks" to Jana Alexander for the use of her costumes!*

On to the opening of Christmas Jammies! They come in these boxes every year, and it just so happened that Bretton was just the right size to fit in there too!

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CHRISTMAS!!

Every year... without fail... this is the enthusiasm shown about Christmas by my husband...

How could you not love him??

And every year we have to wait in the hallway until the camera man is ready to catch our reactions as we enter the room where Santa has left all the presents.

This tradition spans beyond my years in the family as well, but I love it! I don't ever want to grow up!

Bretton's first box of Goldfish. LOVED THEM!

My beautiful peacoat from Santa. LOVE IT!

And Grandpa gave Bretton a swing. It is their new favorite thing to do together outside.

Eppersons 2008

We had some family pictures taken for Christmas cards for Chris's family, and since I am the world's worst at sending out our own Christmas cards, I will take the easy way out and just post them so you can see!

My First Baby!

My friend Rachel sent me this survey and I thought it was good for journaling purposes as well as fun! If any of you want to do it, copy it and fill in your own answers on your blog!

1. Were you married at the time? Yes

2. What were your reactions when you found out you were pregnant? Disbelief. We had been trying for a while and were actually to the point of seriously considering adoption, talking seriously about it anyway, the week we found out!

3. How old were you? 26

4. How did you find out you were pregnant? Good ol' Clear Blue Easy! Chris picked it out at Walgreens. I actually took all 3 that came in the pack because I was in denial (good denial that is)

5. Who did you tell first? Chris. He was waiting while I was in the bathroom. I came out and had a really sad look on my face and started shaking my head to fake him out. He hugged me and said "it's ok. It'll happen one way or another sometime" or something like that. I said "I know, but how would you feel about being a daddy now?" He got all excited. If you know Chris, it was like Christmas morning x3!

6. Did you want to find out the sex? Uh... YEAH!

7. Due date? February 12, 2008

8. Did you deliver early or late? Early. February 5. The Dr. discovered he was breech at the last second (just before 39 weeks. After that, it would have been a c-section!) and turned him. I think that jump started things cause he was born 4 days later.

9. Did you have morning sickness? Oh yeah... never threw up, but couldn't move much off the couch! Down for the count with nausea!

10. What did you crave? I hate to admit it... McDonald's hamburgers. Although I never let myself eat one. Is that bad?

11. Who irritated you the most? I can't remember. Chris would probably say that whoever it was, I took it out on him. I don't think I was ever rude to anyone though. Especially Chris! :)

12. What was your first child's sex? BOY! (That's weird... the Weitzells having yet another boy!)

13. How many pounds did you gain throughout the pregnancy? I think I was just shy of 35.

14. Did you have any complications during your pregnancy? Nope. Just at the end when we had to turn the little stinker around and he ended up with the cord around his neck 3 1/2 times! They had to vacuum him out because of it.

15. Where did you give birth? Banner Gateway in Gilbert, AZ

16. How many hours were you in labor? 12 hours about. I only felt about 4 of them though.

17. Who drove you to the hospital? Christopher- my knight in shining armor!
18. Who watched? Just Chris and the nurses

19. Was it natural or c-section? Well... not "natural" as there were drugs involved. Ahhhhh.... the drugs....

20. Did you take medicine to ease the pain? I think I just answered that... HECK YES I DID!!

21. How much did your child weigh? 7 lbs 8 oz, thank you very much!

22. What did you name him/her? Bretton Christopher

23. How old is your first born today? 9 months TODAY!

First Teeth, First Word and First Halloween

Here's just a good shot of Bretton's chompers:

And he has learned his first word!! He doesn't know what it means yet, but he knows it's a word!

(He got a little camera shy when I started recording, but he says it all the time!)

And on to the good stuff...

HALLOWEEN!!

My monkey boy

and his cousin the banana!

and his crazy dad!

(Believe it or not... all of Chris's "costume" came from his very own wardrobe!! Now that's scary!)

B's favorite way to travel is by daddy shoulders!
He was falling asleep most of the time we were trick-or-treating.

Oooohhh.... spoooookyyyy....

The Trick-or-Treating "gang"

(L to R) Katie Tolman, Luke Maroney, Brenden Weitzell, Ian Maroney, Justin Maroney, Jenny Tolman, Bretton and Chris Epperson & Hayden and Kimberly Stickler.

Tagged!

I've been tagged! Thanks Vicki! Here's the 4th picture in my 4th folder on the computer. Story behind the pic:

This was right after I moved to Phoenix and Nicci and I had just gotten our apartment together. For some reason, I don't remember why, I put this t-shirt on Tippi. I think I was just being dumb. Anyway, then Nicci grabbed our grandpa's old hat and put it on her (grandpa would be so proud!) We tortured her further by taking pictures of her new "doggie fashion." Tippi is so tolerant! Oh the things she would say to me if she could talk...

I tag: Rachel Moultrie, Jami Fergie, Linda Goodman and Laura Elder! (ok, I know I'm going over 4, but Nicci too)

Pumpkins!

Who doesn't love a good batch of pumpkin patch pictures?? Here are a few from when we went on Friday with my sister Wendi, her husband Chris and their boys Justin, Luke and Ian along with Wendi's Chris's nephew Roy and his wife Kerry (got all that?:) ). Marc and Sammy "super sleuthed" (Ok, I've been watching too many Disney cartoons, for those of you that are familiar with "My Friends Tigger and Pooh") and found us on their way to pick up Brenden, so they got to get in on the fun too!

There were baby chicks for sale... I begged Chris, but to no avail. He said "They get ugly real fast."

I had to agree and changed my mind. The boys loved watching them though! This was the 2 seconds where we got them to peel their eyes away for a picture.

And off into Pumpkin Paradise!

(Left to Right) Ian, Justin, Brenden, Bretton, Luke

Each of their faces is so fitting in this picture... words can't describe! (Bretton was eating grass and finding out it's not so much fun... he's just making faces, not crying. He did this a lot throughout our pumkining adventure).

Brenden thought he was so strong picking up these HEAVY pumpkins!!

Woops! There it goes!

"Just gotta get a better grip... Those things are slippery!!"

Brenden kept going for the white ones....???

Once again... tasting, but not enjoying...

A great picture to show off the 4 teeth he has popping through!

How could I EVER say "no" to this face??
My handsome boys!
...and someone's all wore out from the loads and loads of fun!

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Earlier in the day, Nicci and I found Bretton doing this... I don't even have an explanation..

What do you think is going through his head??