"The days are long, but the years are short."

Isn't that the truth!!? Staying at home does make some days looooong, but I wouldn't change it for anything. I love being there for the sweet and silly moments. Ceci seriously makes me laugh constantly. Before I forget some of the funny things she says, I wrote down some of my recent fave quotes. She turned two in December. From the mouths of babes!! I love these kids!

Today I took my hair down from the pony tail, and she comes and grabs a handful and says "Mommy's hair is crazy." She is honest. When do I ever brush my hair these days?! Ummm, never.

She used to love The Wiggles. Well, now today --- "I don't like The Wiggles. Nasty Wiggles."

She tells me all the time, "you are cracking me up." SHE is cracking ME up actually!

"Good job, Mommy." She says this ALL the time, and it is so sweet. Anything I do... "good job, Mommy."

"Where'd Mimi go??" An absolute favorite. If Jonathan's Mom leaves for even a second, she starts in with this until she finds her!!

"Papa Dave guitar." My stepdad plays the guitar with her when she goes to visit the Coast. And he lets her play. She LOVES it.

"I play the guitar." She says this WHILE dancing. Hilarious. Already a master at the air guitar.

"It's ok, Les. I coming, Les. Stop crying, Les." Now this is so funny. I put Les in his crib to take naps, and he started fussing. Ceci and I were eating lunch, and she started yelling this to him. So then I said, "should we go check on Les?" Her response --- "No. Les is fine."

"I did [that] at school!!" We have her projects posted all over her playroom, and she loves to show them off!!

"I like JoJo's new car." My Mom got a new SUV, and Ceci loves cruising around the Coast in it.

EVERYTHING is "No do dat. My do dat." She doesn't want me doing anything - from helping her (she even tries to tie her shoes) to dance or be silly. Mommy isn't allowed to do anything but watch her.;)

"No, don't eat my food." A recent favorite. Jonathan and I took her to eat Mexican Sunday after church, and I was trying to help her with the cheese dip... so we wouldn't have it everywhere. Well, she slapped my hand and said "don't eat my food!!!" Well, then!! Priss pot!

She will hand a toy or book to Les and say "don't eat that, Les."

"I have fun. Hooray!!!" She says this as she jumps with both feet off ground. She does this randomly!

"Daddy at work. Poor Daddy. Daddy work hard." Ha! Well, isn't that the truth?!

A few other fun facts: She loves to dance to Gangham Style, Huey Lewis and The Lumineers. She sings along too.

She's a pro at singing her ABC's and Jesus Loves Me. Her faves. She also sings No More Monkeys Jumping on the Bed, Humpty Dumpty, I am H-A-P-P-Y, Bingo was his Name-O!, etc!

Every night Daddy lets her pick out two books to read before bed. Lately it is always hands down Dr. Seuss' "Green Eggs and Ham" and "The Foot Book."

Counts from 1-14 then jumps to 18. We are working on 1-15.;)

A few pics that I wanted to post!

My stud!!

Daddy teaching Ceci & Les

This boy loves to eat!!

Afternoon play date with fun friends Shelby, Ella and Anna!! 

Shelby & Ceci 

 Ella & Ceci

Ceci & Shelby 

 Who... me?!

This man definitely gets his good luck and good looks from the O'Keefe side.;) Heehee!

Look at that one-handed grip!!! I see a mean spiral in the future.

Saturday date with Mommy! Shopping and ice cream!!

Our friends, the Hartels, live in walking distance in the neighborhood, so Ceci and Daddy met Forrest and Ella "at the tunnel" and went to Ella's house. Ceci pulled Ella in her wagon. BFFs! 

Our kiddos are growing up. So sad!!

Well, hey there cutie!!

This is a pic from Daddy duty! Daddy watched Les while Ceci and I had a date. Les LOVES Daddy. When he gets home from work and Les hears his voice, it's over!

Ella's 3rd birthday party was last Saturday. Paint party!! So fun, and Maurie did AMAZING on the decor. Not surprised! She's beyond talented!

Shelby, Ella & Ceci being silly.

Les being super sweet and looking JUST like Daddy. Wow.

A Day at the Zoo!!

Saturday we took the kids to the zoo followed by pizza downtown. Boy, they were tired when we got home!! They both took almost 3 hr naps (longer than usual for Ceci!!). This was the second time Cecilia has been to our local zoo. The first time she was under one. Pic below.:) Our girl is growing up TOO fast!:(

Look how small!! This was actually 2011. Ignore the date.;)

And.... NOW! Our little diva!

 Scoping things out...

She was very focused.

 Our little man hangin' while Daddy and sissy ran around!!

Watching the monkeys... She started singing "No more monkeys jumping on the bed..." It was too cute.

Ummm, please keep that big cat behind the glass. It was licking and pawing where the kids were.

Fun... NOT.

Too busy to take a pic.

Mommy, that's one big ant!!! 

She wanted to ride it.

Alligator!

Always playing with Daddy's hair...

Yo Mom, when do I get to eat again??

Choo, choo! Her favorite part, of course!!

He was so good. As usual!!

Whew!!!

I'll say it again - whew. Haven't posted in a bit... LOTS going on.

I had planned to blog only about our recent trip to Scottsdale, AZ, but this thought has morphed into a much longer post. Where do I start? The trip to Scottsdale was fun! Jonathan has an annual convention that rotates among 3 places, Scottsdale being one. We've been going to this convention for six years (maybe seven, can't remember). Breakfast in bed, nice dinners, an early bed time (with late night hot chocolate) and laying out in perfect weather... pretty much sums it up. Jonathan had to work a little - if you call golfing and spa over male networking/bonding as work.

Mam-ma took Ceci to the doctor while we were gone, and she had an ear infection (first one ever!!). Then the day before we got home Les popped up with a fever, so they took him on Saturday (the day we got back). All was fine but he got worse in days ahead. I took him back on Monday; all was "fine" and we were given two Rxs. Come Tuesday morning, he was wheezing and breathing 90+ breaths per minute, so I took him back. After an assessment and breathing treatment, little man was admitted to the hospital with a case of RSV and bronchiolitis. It was basically a nasty cold. And the hosp stay was only 24 hrs. Not bad!! After all, I was at this hospital on bed rest 6 weeks and Ceci was in the NICU weeks after. I think they had my name badge on file.;) I got this.

While all of this was happening, Jonathan's grandmother passed away Sunday at noon. Then...18 hours later his grandfather passed away. True love story!! Jonathan is the oldest grandchild, so it goes without saying that he was extremely close to them, especially his "Papa." Jonathan gave the eulogy. The visitation was Wednesday (the day we left the hospital), so Jonathan and his sister Sarah took Ceci to Lafayette where the rest of the family was. Les and I came home, and he was doing really well. I told myself that if he had a good night and sounded fine the next morning, I was going to the funeral. I picked up his Rxs, got home, got him situated, showered, then proceeded to call my friend at the hosp who contacted risk management to ensure I could have my sitters bring Les in case of an emergency. I also called my doctor at the pediatric clinic...then had our friend bring over his car, so I could install the car seat and have it in our driveway. My sitters (who always keep him) were available and rotated during the day. I also had another friend stop by and call throughout the day. She was around our neighborhood (and is an ex-nurse with 5 kids...experienced!!). He had a great night, so I woke up at 4:30 am, showered and headed to Lafayette and was back by 8:30 pm. What a day!! Considering I didn't get a wink of sleep the night before in the hospital, I had to snap into "go mode" and just get it done. I couldn't miss being there for Jonathan. And what do ya know - Les was fine all day...Sitters sent pictures of a smiling face!! Prayers were answered. Jonathan did an absolutely amazing job with the eulogy. I was very proud of his delivery, composure and story... He truly gave us all a glimpse into the lives of his grandparents. I was thankful to have known them for the 9+ years Jonathan and I have been together. They were amazing, Christian people who were married over 65 years. I hope we can all learn a thing or two from them. Their love for our Lord was deep, meaningful and real.

Obituary for JEWEL DUHON

Joint funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 21, 2013 at 11:00 am at the Ebenezer Church of the Nazarene for Jewel Lester Duhon, 90, who passed away February 18, 2013 at 4:45 am and Winona Faye Sarver Duhon, 84, who passed away on February 17, 2013 at 10:50 am

Reverend Dale Hoffpauir, Pastor of Nouvelle Church of the Nazarene and Reverend Joe Talhelm, pastor of the Ebenezer Church of the Nazarene will conduct the funeral services.

Burial will take place in Ebenezer Methodist Church Cemetery.

Mr. Duhon, a resident of Lafayette , was the son of the late Joseph Eric Duhon and the former Anna Thibodeaux. Lester was born in Orangefield, TX and was raised in South Louisiana. He graduated from Hackberry High School in 1938 then attended McNeese and SLI(UL Lafayette) until the start of WWII. He joined the United States Navy and after boot camp in San Diego, he went to Pharmacist Mate School in Memphis, TN. He then was assigned to a convoy going to England preparing for the Normandy Invasion. He participated in the D Day invasion as a Pharmacist Mate and then served on a PT boat in the Mediterranean Sea. After the war, he returned to Lafayette to attend SLI(UL Lafayette) where he met Winona and married her in 1946. After several years working in the oilfield, he joined the United States Postal Service in 1950's and gave 34 years of service. He was an avid sportsman, outdoorsman and a colorful storyteller. He also loved gardening and eating Cajun food. He was a wonderful, loving father and husband. He dearly loved Winona and they had recently celebrated their 65th anniversary. Lester held Winona's hand as she took her last breath and then eighteen hours later, during his sleep, followed her to their heavenly home.

He is survived by three daughters, Deborah Duhon Nobles and husband John of Woodstock, GA, Denise Duhon and husband Mario Smith of Yorktown, VA and Dianna Duhon Faulk and husband Tab of Mermentau, LA; one son, David Lester Duhon and wife Roxanne of Hattiesburg, MS; twelve grandchildren, Jonathan Duhon, Leah Duhon Ladner, Sarah Duhon, Jessica Nobles, Rebecca Nobles, Rachel Nobles, Kirk Smith, Julia Smith, Stephen Smith, Lauren Green, Daniel Green and Brittany Green; two great grandchildren, Cecilia and Les Duhon; four sisters, Anne Moore of Lafayette, LA, Bobbie Culter and husband Ray of Lafayette, LA, Tessie Culter of Leawood, KS and Judy LeBlanc and husband Terry of Baton Rouge, LA; one brother, Jimmy Duhon and wife Janel of Kaplan, LA; and one sister in law, Evelyn Duhon of Lafayette, LA.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Winona Sarver Duhon, his parents, and two brothers, Joseph Arson "Sam" Duhon and Truby Duhon

The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Delhomme Funeral Home of Lafayette, Wednesday, February 20, 2013 from 4:00 pm until 9:00 pm. Visiting hours will continue at the Ebenezer Church of the Nazarene on Thursday, February 21, 2013 from 9:00 am until the time of service.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons and nephews.

Winona Faye Sarver Duhon

LAFAYETTE - Joint funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 21, 2013 at 11:00 am at the Ebenezer Church of the Nazarene for Winona Faye Sarver Duhon, 84, who passed away on February 17, 2013 at 10:50 am, and her husband, Jewel Lester Duhon, 90, who passed away February 18, 2013 at 4:45 am.

Reverend Dale Hoffpauir, Pastor of Nouvelle Church of the Nazarene and Reverend Joe Talhelm, pastor of the Ebenezer Church of the Nazarene will conduct the funeral services.Burial will take place in Ebenezer Methodist Church Cemetery. 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This brings us to today. I realized, as I'm doing piles of laundry, that I'm just getting to clothes from our trip to Scottsdale. I'll say it again - WHEW. Long few weeks. Mam-ma kept Ceci on Tues and Thurs this week for me. THANK YOU!! I can't even begin to put into words how thankful I am for having superstar in-laws who live 10 minutes away. My Mother-in-law and I text/talk 5-10 times a day, seriously.

Les had his 6 month check-up today, in fact. REALLY?! 6 months.:( TEAR. In a blink, he will be walking and won't want me to rock him anymore. Say it isn't so!! I can already tell these kiddos are mucho different. Sensitive/not-sensitive, diva/laid back, high maintenance/mr. whatever... Even the way they like to be rocked/patted, etc. is different. Is it a Ceci vs. Les deal... or girl vs. boy as a universal concept? Either way, Les is such a good baby that I'm scared about the next one!! I hope he/she will be just as good! (And no, I'm not currently expecting!!). Are you kidding??!

And for the blog, so I can go back and read this one day/the kids can read this one day. Jonathan and I are teaching a bible study, Growing Kids God's Way, and it is phenomenal. We are going on session/week 5 and have already began implementing concepts into our parenting. If you ever get a chance to enroll in this study, do it!!

Now onto a pile of pictures from the past few weeks of activities, in no specific order.

Boiling Ceci with the crawfish!!! The day after the funeral, the family had a crawfish boil at Papa and Granny's. I missed it.:( She sure did have a blast! She's such a ham!

One of her fave sayings these days... "Hey Guys" or "I see you guys..."

Did I mention how big he's gotten?! I thought he was ready for this until... see below.;)

Oopsie! Mean, ole Mama taking pictures instead of getting me outta this thing!;)

Another from the crawfish boil. Not scared a bit of that mud bug!

(Too tired to copy and paste these pics in order:)).

Vehicle on stand-by in case of emergency!

I had to take a quick pic the next day of Les actually in the car. Our friend doesn't have kids yet, so I'm letting him know the car seat fits just fine.;)

So, I told Les to stop all that smiling or else the doctor will think Mommy is crazy!! I mean, really! He flirts with anyone who walks in the door! He certainly wasn't acting sick!! Playing hooky already!!

Sweet baby. I pretty much rocked my man the entire time we were there. And I didn't mind a bit!

What's this on my face?? Time to eat???

Mommy, what ARE they doing to me?!?!

Aunt Sarah is staying in Hattiesburg for the month on a family medicine rotation. She's in med school and came in for a visit after work. Les was happy to see her!!

Mommy, I didn't say you could put me down to use the bathroom. Hey!

Revert back to Scottsdale...ahhh. Before the craziness began.

Jonathan & Jonathan... Looking good, fellas!!

Love these babies!!

My man LOVES bath time. You should see the latest video of this wild child kicking the water.

He can really "make some waves.";) Ok, I'm a nerd.

Sitting up!! Post hospital stay. Feeling better!! Handsome little devil!

And the beat goes on. Did I mention above that prayer is the only way I make it through my days? Yeppers. God is probably tired of hearing from me. I do like to talk. A LOT.