Funeral

Here are some pictures of Gris Gris' funeral, I thought I would share.

This is Josh with Bourree, his other dog who now lives with Josh' parents due to old age.

Josh gave a good quote at the funeral..."Dogs have given us their absolute all. We are the center of the their universe. We are the focus of their love and faith and trust. They serve us in return for scraps. It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made." - Roger Caras

Gris Gris defintely gave us his all and left us with many wonderful memories. Like Josh said, we are unsure if dogs go to heaven but we know that God promises us everlasting happiness and if it takes Gris Gris being there to fulfill our happiness then we know he will be there. 

Dani's Beautiful Dedication to Gris Gris

Dani created a powerpoint for Gris Gris' burial on Sunday at Dogwood Creek. I thought I would share it....such a wonderful depiction of Gris Gris and Dani's love for him!!

We will always love and remember Gris Gris.....

Our dog Gris Gris got out of our fence last night, was struck by a car and unfortunately did not survive. We have struggled all night trying to make sense of it all, which we will probably never be able to do. We hope now that he is in doggy heaven (we like to think it exists, even though we aren't sure) chasing lots of ducks and getting to eat lots of yummy food!! I even chuckled last night thinking of if he got to meet God how happy he would be just to see him (because he always loved people)!!

All day we have reminisced on the great memories we had of him as a member of our family. Gris Gris was my first dog and six years ago, before he was in my life I would have never thought I would be this emotional about losing a dog. I find myself saying "I should have loved him better and let him inside more, why didn't I pet him more, do you think he knew I loved him??" Which I know he did but I wish I could have him back for even just a minute to give him a kiss and a good ear rub to make sure he knew that.....for those of you who know me probably know that dog hair grosses me out and I am not really a huge animal person but Gris Gris was one of a kind and I didn't realize how much I really did love him until it was too late!! Some people may say he was just a dog and six years ago I might have said the same thing, but today I can tell you he was a very special part of our family. He is an irreplaceable dog and will always be a part of our family a void in out lives that will always be there.

Gris Gris was always SO happy, he never had a mean bone in his body!! He was 100 lbs of puppy every day of his life and he had such a laid back, loveable personality. Josh said tonight he was a 100 lb. lab with enough skin for a 200 lb. lab...everyone always made fun of his loose skin....I think that made him unique, special and extra cute!! He was so wonderful with the kids, he loved being outside, loved to duck hunt, chase ducks, watch ducks and he always loved being with Josh. He tried to be obedient but Gris Gris had a mind of his own and sometimes we would say he goes off in his own little imaginary world. He had the sweetest (of course it annoyed me at the time but I wish I could hear it now) little whine, he rarely barked but he had this high pitch wine that he would do when he would want something. I miss hearing it now!!

It makes me so sad that Cade and Brooks will most likely not remember him as their pet. I am thankful that Dani got to spend many years with Gris Gris as her dog and she loved him so much. She said today that he was her best friend here in Baton Rouge, that made my heart hurt so bad for her. You could wonder why things like this happen every day of your life but we have to trust that God has a bigger plan and knows what is best.

We are going to have a burial for Gris Gris tomorrow at Dogwood Creek in Lake Charles. Josh made him a beautiful box to be laid to rest in and a cross to put at his grave site. He will truly be missed by everyone that had the pleasure of getting to meet him. Please enjoy some of my favorite pictures of what is in my opinion the best dog that ever lived!!!

First picture of Gris Gris!!

One of my favorite pictures of all time....

Cutest puppy in the world!!!

I always loved it when he would turn his head like this and look at you....

Dani girl with her dog :)

Josh's most reliable hunting buddy and friend....

and fishing buddy.....

brothers Gris Gris and Bourree before Bourree retired to DD and Grandpere's house

Gris Gris playing with his cousin, Dixie....one of my funniest memories of Gris Gris is in those booties he has on in this picture. We tried to buy him some shoes so that when he walked around the house on our hardwood floor his nails wouldn't click as loud.....all he did was fall all over himself when we put them on, it was hilarious!!!

Gris Gris with one of his first ducks....carrying it proudly

Last picture of Dani with her dog....

Gris Gris on the doggy beach in Venice, FL

One of my favorite pictures with Gris Gris and Bourree

Just one of the guys....

With his cousin Bullet in Florida

Such a sweet picture of Josh with his two dogs

All of his cousins.....Lagniappe, Bourree, and Roux

Supervising the neighborhood from his house

This was the last picture Gris Gris was in....How fitting for him to be sitting on his house and watching over the kids as they play....I hate looking out the window and seeing an empty playhouse :(

Cade's first word was dog!!

Last but not least, here are a few pictures of Gris Gris doing what he loved most....hunting with his best friend, Josh.....

We will always love you Gris Gris and you will always be missed!!! You will forever be a very special part of our family. Thank you for leaving me with such special memories of your loving, devoted, kind, and joyous spirit.

Update

All is well for now in the Hebert house!! After a week long stomach virus, both babies with double ear infections and one baby with double pink eye....we have come out stronger....we hope!! Thanks for all of the prayers! We are trying to get the swelling down in Cade's ears so that he can get tubes. Other than that we are praying for a long streak of health in the Hebert family!!

Picture updates to come soon. I have been very busy at work this week so not much time to update. Here is a little teaser pic until then....

It is almost Valentines day, the boys received some cards from Memom in the mail this week!! Brooks ate his and Cade tore his apart....I guess that means they loved them!!

Also if you are in the Baton Rouge area, pick up a copy of the February edition of the 225 Magazine and turn to page 16, two very handsome little boys are featured on the LSU page.....(Don't worry I have copies for out of town family members)

22 Months

Two days ago Cade turned 22 months old....WHAT!!?? I CANNOT believe he is almost 2 years old....time sure does fly by SO much faster when you have kids!!! He is turning into a big boy and I cannot decide if I like it or not yet.....I love that he can communicate with me now and he does the funniest stuff everyday but I am not enjoying the beginning of the "terrible two's".

Some fun facts about Cade at 22 months:

-He can talk pretty well in one to two word sequences, he tries to say sentences but they usually come out as many jumbled words
-He can identify most of the alphabet and count to 5
-He loves to point to things and tell you what they are and he likes to teach "Books" (Brooks) everything he knows
-He loves to "read" and look at books (he will sometimes pretend to be reading the book, so cute!!)
-He sleeps in a big boy bed all by himself
-He still loves to dance
-He says "Bye Bye" to everything when we leave...so cute. (example: the other morning we were getting ready and I had his light on in his room and turned it off and he said "Bye Bye light"....I am not exaggerating when I say everything!!)
-His new found hobby is fishing with his new fishing pole and feeding the ducks at the pond
-His favorite food is still pizza....when he is hungry he will repeatedly say "Pizza, Pizza, Pizza, Pizza,...."etc
-He is a GREAT big brother, he loves playing with "Books" and always is worried about him if he cries or is not within sight
-LOVES playing outside, watching Mickey Mouse, playing the Ipad, riding "four wheeler", playing in daddy's truck, playing in water (rain, pools, bathtub, etc)
-He is becoming defiant and beginning the "terrible two" stage where he doesn't listen all the time or throws minor tempor tantrums or  purposely doesn't do something, yeah it is happening!!  Although he knows when daddy is home it means business, all daddy has to say is "CADE" and then he usually straightens up :)
-He weights approximately 30 lbs, wears a size 7 shoe, and is _____ inches tall (still have to measure this but wanted to post)
-He is a true momma's boy and I LOVE every second of it!!! Although he still loves to play with his daddy and do boy things with daddy like play outside and go fishing

Memories are worth the puking...right??!!

This past weekend my sister and I had planned to go to the jewelry show in New Orleans, we have both been looking forward to this over the last few months. She was going to drive down from Birmingham with the hubs and Briggs and we were going to leave the kids behind and shop our tails off at the jewelry show......which for those of you who don't know is this awesome, discounted huge shopping extravaganza where vendors with purses, jewelry, clothes, housewares, and anything in between set up booths and you are supposed to get great deals....which we aren't always sure is the case but at least you feel like you are getting a great price :) We have been going to the jewelry show together for the last 5 or so years and we always have a BLAST when we go.....it just is kind of "our thing".

Well last Thursday Briggs threw up and they ultimately decided it was best not to come at risk of getting sick on the road and spreading the virus. While we were both disappointed but of course agreed it was the best thing. Then Saturday morning rolled around and I was so sad and it just wasn't going to be the same and decided not to go b/c it was our thing to go together and I really didn't need anything it was more of a leisure trip with my big sis. So I called Iris and let her know I wasn't going and I would just hold out for the May trip. About 10 minutes later I get a call that they decided to pack up and come b/c Briggs had not gotten sick since late Thursday night and she really wanted to come to market with me so we would change our plans slightly and go a day later. I was SO excited!!!

They hopped in the car after throwing some things together and were off. Brooks went to play with Briggs while Iris and I went to market. Uncle Justin and his mom babysat for us. They had so much fun!!! Cade stayed with daddy for the day and did some man things around the house.....mowed the yard, played outside, ate Taco Bell (yes, I think only men like Taco Bell)

Iris and I had so much fun at market, as usual. We got the cutest purse (yes, we both got the same one) and some cute jewelry and a couple of other things for ourselves and somethign for the kids.....see the pic below of some of the things we got. It was just so great to have time a little QT together without the kids and talk about grown up things....of course we did talk about the kids a lot too :) I just love my big sis....her little family taking that trip for me meant a lot and I really enjoyed our time together.

We went and picked up the babies and then Iris and family came and spent the night at our house on Sunday. We did a little fishing at the lake with Cade, fed the ducks again, played at the house, Justin took some great pics of the boys, all before I fell in the lake......yes that's right I fell in the neighborhood lake. I was trying to get the kids to smile for the pictures and with no perception of where I was in reference to the lake I just slid right in....it was halarious for everyone, even the family we just met down the street that saw the whole thing....EMBARRASING!!!

We ate dinner at Sammy's complete with some cheesesticks, fried pickles, some crawfish, shrimp po-boys and hamburges.....Sammy's = YUMMY!!! And in the middle of dinner, Brooks decides to spill a WHOLE glass of water on me!!! Yep that was my completely soaked moment #2 of the day :) What can you do but laugh??!! We came home and enjoyed a couple more hours of QT. It was a great weekend!!

We were left with great memories and maybe a stomach virus :) I can't say for sure that is where Brooks got it, but there is a great chance our sweet nephew/cousin Briggs left us with more than just those sweet kisses and memories....that's okay though, it was worth it......right??!! YES!!!

some cousin love......

Sisters :)                                                                     Some of our goodies.....

The boys.....so cute :)

Going for a stroll....

Catching some fish...he is a pro already :)

Brooks showing Briggs how to drink some gatorade....(Don't worry he wasn't really drinking it)

Seriously....how cute are they???!!! Thanks uncle Justin for taking such good pics....it makes our mommy happy :)

And...then I fell in the lake.....

A little more fishing.....and yes we took the nice shirt off for this one so it didn't get dirty....

And wet pants picture #2...