Last day of school... and more!

Cecilia's last day of Mother's Day Out was last week before the summer break. BIG TEAR for Ceci and Mommy!:( There were a few other summer program options, but I didn't want to throw her into a new atmosphere (and back) for just six weeks. Plus the times didn't really work for us. Ceci AND Les (whoohoo:)) will start back in the fall. Les will start after he turns one. Then I will have some real free time during the week.;) A few hours will be nice! I might actually be able to exercise! I need to get moving!

Not many updates other than Cecilia being totally hilarious these days. She says so much cute stuff, I can't keep up!! I did go on a girls' trip to San Fran, which was amazing!! I had THE best time. I also had a baby shower luncheon for Maurie, a baby shower for my cousin having twin boys and co-hosted but didn't attend a wedding shower for Molly who lives in Atlanta. Those were all in the same week! I also co-hosted a baby shower but was in San Fran so couldn't attend that one... I am co-hosting three more baby showers in the next two months! WHEW! Don't drink the water!!!:):) In fact, one of Cecilia's recent quotes was "I want a baby sister!" Say waaaaaaa?! She must be hanging out with Ella too much (Maurie's daughter who is about to be a big sister to a baby sister.) I almost dropped out when C said that. Jonathan and I would like to have more children in the future, but we plan to let Les be the baby for a little while. I don't want to rob him of "his time!"

Some Ceci funnies:

She came home from the last day of MDO, and we were at Mam-ma's. We asked her if she had fun and who she hugged (her teacher Miss Jennifer said she was giving out hugs and kisses like it was her job.) She said, "I kiss Wren. Dats dangerous!!" OH MY GOODNESS. I was crying I was laughing so hard.

She sings, and sings and sings. She finds it difficult to end her serenades. For instance, she will sing "oh Mister Sun, sun, Mister Golden Sun please shine down on... please shine down on.... please shine down on... please shine down on.... please shine down on..." and never end it. Then if I tell her, ok last song then bed time, she will keep singing songs back to back then make up her own words if she runs out of songs. She's a smarty pants!

The other morning she woke up in a particularly good mood and started shouting, "I LUB YOU JESUS, I LUB YOU, JESUS!!" from her playroom.

When I was in San Fran, C stayed at my Mom's. The first day she woke up and told my Mom, "good morning, I want biscuit Old MacDonald." Ok, ok. I admit, I do take her to McDonald's on occasion. Don't we all?!?!

One of her all time favorite tunes is "Jesus loves me"... She learned a version at school that gives a little edge to it.:) "Yes, Jesus loves me UHHHH (a quick "uh" with a two arm fist pump) Yes, Jesus loves me UHHHH, Yes, Jesus loves me UHHHH, the biiiiible tellsssss meeee soooo..... (again, she's ending her songs on a dramatic note).

When I make her laugh, she points and shakes her finger at me and says "you crack me up!!"

Tonight we were all outside playing, and I got on a riding toy with her (yes, I did) and we both sped down the hill (to my pleasant surprise it didn't shatter into pieces)... so fun Mommy, right?! Well on the way back up the driveway, she says "Mommy not nice. Daddy nice." I said, "Mommy isn't nice?" She said "no. Mommy is bad. Daddy is sweet." Oh MY goodness!!! And WHO does the heavy lifting around here?! Yours truly! Ohhhhh, Daddy's little girl!

In the car this week I told her I was going to pull over and spank her (yes, we spank), and she said "all I do is talking." Les was taking a nap and she was screaming "wake up, Les... wake up, Les... then threw a plastic toy at him." I giggled to myself at "all I do is talking." Fifteen minutes later in that car ride, Les started crying (probably because he got nailed with a toy phone) and she said "almost home, Les. Peeeease stop crying Les. Pease stop, Les." Well, Ceci! Maybe she's learning some more cause and effect. You wake him up, he cries, and we all want him to stop!

I took C on a date this week to a local ice cream shop, and she was in heaven... singing and dancing to the music, on a sugar high, etc. We even went to the mall afterward (to get Mommy some new undergear;)), and man, was she on that sugar!! Anyway, when we were at the ice cream shop, there was another little girl sitting next to us and after a few mins of staring at her, C says "I go make her fall down." I said, "what did you say?" She said, "I go make her fall down." That was, of course, followed by a talk about being nice to other people. I told her Daddy about this incident, so when he got home he asked her about it. He asked why she would say something like that, and she said "because I don't like her." WELL, my goodness. We are being mean at TWO. I already see the necessity in having serious talks with her about being nice to her "friends" and classmates!

She has officially memorized "The Foot Book" by Dr. Seuss. Daddy puts her down every night and they read "Green Eggs and Ham" and "The Foot Book." You point to the picture, and she says every word. It is pretty amazing. She either has a great memory or knows how to read.;);)

And sweet old Les... can't leave that guy out. He is ALL OVER THE PLACE. I never experienced this with Ceci. I'd put a large blanket down with toys, and she would stay on it all day. Les... the blankets were put away fairly quickly. Lately, you can find him under the coffee table, under Ceci's slide, crawling from room to room or his all time favorite... finding any and every ball in the house. He will bulldoze no less than 75 toys to get to a soccer ball or any other ball he sees. Shocking that at this age they can really be "all boy." I guess I can see that now! Oh and he weighs almost 21 lbs (8 mo old) and Ceci (2.5 yrs) is only 25-26 lbs!

Recent pics...

Barney zombies after bathtime...

My little diva on our ice cream date...

Sweet Miss Jennifer!! Last day of school:(

Sweet Miss Heidi!!

Pizza Paaaaaartaaaaay!!!

Ceci's "say cheese" face. Oh my!

Miss Heidi, Ceci, Anna, Shelby, Miss Jennifer & Ella

Her first "school" pic!! I had to buy the package at MDO.

And look how cute this turned out! She is such a little ham!

When Mommy's away, the boy will play! Our tough man posing on Aunt Diana and Uncle Tab's motorcycle!

Chunky man living it up!! 

Les thinks Papa is one cool dude!!!

Sam Fran!! Jessica, Natalie, Justice, Brittany, Chrissy

Cakebread Winery in Napa

Leaving school and ready for the afternoon showers! In style!

Ella, Shelby & Ceci

Ceci & Uncle David on our lunch date to Papitos!! She loved her cheese dip!

Mommy & Les having some fun while sister is sleeping

Putting Daddy to "work" before work! Poor Daddy! No rest for that man!! He carried these two down the stairs like that!! Since he doesn't have time to hit the gym, that will have to do.;) We have one great Daddy!!!

Just chasing kids...

I haven't posted recently. Whew! Things are busy, as usual. Isn't that the same song and dance for every Mommy?! FOR sure!! I did get out of town (SOLO) for one of my best friend's bachelorette parties in Austin. It was super fun. I came back to two sick kids which was not... but it happens! Les' first ear infection (double ear infection at that). Poor guy. We are still on antibiotics (C too for a sinus infection). Just a few days left. They started feeling better and bouncing off the walls within a day of getting their first dose. Thank goodness!!

Ceci has been THE funniest diva these days. One afternoon I was cleaning the kitchen and had the kids quarantined in their playroom - Les on the floor army crawling around. I glance over to see C swinging the skinny end of her plastic golf club at Les' head. Before she made contact (thank goodness), I yell to her. She stops, looks at me, then starts to bang the club against her chair and staring at Les... as if to say "Mom caught me this time but next time you won't be so lucky." That is seriously the vibe I got!! Heck, I even got scared... poor Les!

Then... she was eating lunch one day, and I gave her a few M&Ms for dessert. I looked over to her shaking her finger at her princess doll saying "Princess, don't eat my food!! No, princess!! These m, m, m'sss are yucky, princess. (As C gobbled them up.)" Hilarious. She is too much!

And a sweet story... at the end of last week she came home from "school" (mother's day out) and said "we read bible stories. I love Jesus." Ummm, how precious!!! That same day there was a tornado warning, and I got to carry Les (in his heavy car seat) and Ceci out to the car in the POURING rain. All the while, I was freaking out about the sirens going off. A month prior our university and city were devastated by a string of tornadoes. Thus, as I normally wouldn't be terrified, I actually was. We made it home fine, but we all got soaked. The cover on Les' car seat didn't stay over his head at one point, and I look down to him sticking his tongue out to catch the rain. This boy did not care in the least bit we were in the middle of a storm. Ceci on the other hand was crying and scared. Oh, my kiddos are different!:)

Les is demolition man. He weighs over 20 lbs now and gets into everything. His fave "toy" is the remote. Of course I try to not put it in his reach, but he always seems to spot it! I realized he could get into everything when one day he knocked over Ceci's huge bucket of crayons (which I thought were fine since they were in a covered tub!!)... Nope. He climbs up and pulls them over. Nummy licious as Ceci would say. That boy will eat ANYTHING.

A few pics...

Down at the beach in our neighborhood with BFF, Ella Hartel!!

They met us and brought a sno-cone. Yum!!

In the water at the beach!!

BFFs are both potty training!! How funny is this?!

And C is reading an American Academy of Pediatrics mag!! Like mother, like daughter.;)

And there he is with his crayons! Busted!! His two bottom teeth (only teeth) were blue!!

My sorority sister from college came through town, Katy, and my Hburg friend Julia all had lunch this weekend. Les came along. He loves the ladies.

I miss Katy!! So glad I got to see them. Even though Julia lives here, I rarely get to see her either!:(

 Yesterday we hosted a baby shower for one of my best friends Lyndsey Best. It was wonderful!! I drove to Biloxi and straight back. Long day but so worth it to see everyone and celebrate Baby Drace!!

I can't wait to meet him. 

Hostesses and Lynds

Mommy, chill out!!

We took Les to church for the first time today (at 7 months old)! Ok, ok... I know I need to relax! He isn't a preemie like Cecilia was, but sometimes it is hard to switch gears. I'm working on it. And he survived! I checked on him between the service and our bible study (30 mins), and he was sound asleep rocking with the nursery volunteer. Too sweet. I did get a text about 45 mins into the bible study saying our man was finally awake and hungry, so I nursed him briefly and took him into class. All was good!:)

Then Daddy took Ceci to meet Forrest and Ella for some fun in the neighborhood after nap time. She loves it!!

She's way too cool...

This girl loves some flowers!

While Mommy and Les chilled. Ceci could not stand the carrier, but Les doesn't seem to mind it.:) I was trying it out at home. Ignore my hair. As C would say, "Mommy's hair is crazy!"

"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!!