We're Moving

So, recently I got an offer from Andrea to make a free memory photobook on Shutterfly and decided to jump on the offer since that is my main goal for creating these blogs.  Well, during that process I discovered that Shutterfly has share sites that you can create and I thought, why don't I just use one of those to share family updates, photos, and videos!?!  It sure makes sense for me to only upload photos into one place and not have to do double the work!  I think Shutterfly's share sites fit my purposes much better and it seems to be much easier for me to upload things to my site.  So, it is still under construction, but here is the site http://www.thelavoys.shutterfly.com/!  Enjoy the test photo post A Day in the Life of the LaVoy Boys:)

4th of July and LaVoy Family Get Together

About two weeks ago many of Michael's siblings came into town for a little family get together.  We started out the week by celebrating the fourth at Tamie and Jacob's with a grill out and the Tomah fireworks.  I was very disappointed in myself that I forgot the camera, especially since this was Van's first fireworks show!  (Last year we were in Texas for the fourth and didn't go to fireworks.)  Vance loved the fireworks and was even imitating us doing "Ooohh" and "Aaahh."  Weston liked the fireworks too, and I am sure he doesn't remember seeing them when he was one, so this felt like his first time too.  Michael and I were impressed with the Tomah fireworks, but then when we went to the LaCrosse fireworks on Monday with my parents we realized that Tomah's fireworks seemed impressive because we still had the San Angelo fireworks show stuck in our head!  We hadn't been to the LaCrosse fireworks since before we moved to Texas and we had forgotten just how great of a show the Skyrockers put on!  Now, you would think since I had forgotten my camera the day before I would remember it Monday, but I didn't :(  So, we have no pictures from the fourth, but we had a great time celebrating with both sides of the family.

Then Wednesday, we headed up to Warrens to spend the remaining part of the week at the Three Bears Lodge with the LaVoy family.  We stayed at a 3 story cabin that, as Mike's mom put it, slept 20 people legally but add a few air matresses and you can sleep 30 :)  The boys both LOVED the waterpark at the resort.  However, Vance was a little disappointed because he wanted to do all the big kid stuff, but maybe next year.  We loved the waterpark because it wasn't crowded at all- no lines for the slides and lots of room to play in the water :)

 

Weston had a fun time reconnecting with his cousin Tyler, who was so sweet to him.

 Van, doing what he does best, quietly taking it all in.

Thursday we went and played laser tag, and Weston even got to join in on the action!  His vest was pretty much the size of him, but he held his own :)

Van wanted to join in on the action, and definitely now knows when he is missing out on something, but at least Daddy let him try out the laser gun.  Van and I sat in the viewer area and he kept wanting to go down the stairs and straight into the action.

And there ends my pictures, no group shots, no pictures of Mike with his siblings, no pictures of Wes and Van with more of their cousins- disappointing, I know.  I need to get better at remembering and taking more pictures!!  Our original plan was to stay until Friday, but we ended up deciding to head out Thursday evening instead.  This was mostly because Mike had work to do the next day and we weren't up to another night of sharing the bed with both the boys, but the fact that people were also coming down with a stomach bug helped make the decision to miss out on more fun easier.  Throwing up is NOT my thing.  I pretty much feel like I am going to faint when someone else does and I, of course, hate to myself.  So, we went home waiting to get sick, but ended up being just about the only ones who stayed at the cabin who didn't get sick! 

Hellos and A Big Goodbye

Last weekend we spent our time saying lots of hellos and one big goodbye.  On Saturday we headed out the the Onalaska park for a Tauscher family (my Grandma Thompson's side of the family) reunion.  The weather was suppose to be beautiful, but it ended up being cloudy and a little drizzly.  However, the weather couldn't ruin a nice afternoon hanging out and catching up with family:)  (I am a little disappointed that I failed to get a picture of all of us with my Grandma!)

Then Sunday we said goodbye to a very special person in Michael and my life, our long time pastor at St. James, Father Scheckel.  The time has come for Father to lead another parish, who we know is getting a very special gift.  They are getting a pastor who is truly devoted to putting Christ first and teaching the truths of our faith, especially when it comes to the dignity of human life and the beautiful plan our Lord has for marriage and family.  Father Scheckel played a key role in shaping many aspects of my life and Michael's.  Because of his openness to the Holy Spirit, he was even part of God's plan that lead Michael and I to meet!  Nine years ago Father made an offer that forever changed the course of Michael and my life, he offered to pay for me to go to World Youth Day in Toronto.  That experience in and of itself was life changing, but it was even more special because that is where Michael and I met!  I feel privileged to have grown up under the guidance of Father Scheckel and I found myself tearing up during his final goodbye mass.  When Father concluded his homily with the words, "I love you," that just about did me in.  However, as Father reminded us our true High Priest, Jesus Christ, never leaves us and will remain constant and he is always present to guide us in truth.

We Love You too Father!

The Beavers Come to Town

Three weeks ago we enjoyed a nice week visit from our great friends the Beavers!  We visted them last year in Texas and this year it was their turn to travel here.  Mary and I talk regularly on the phone so we stay caught up with eachother's lives, but getting to hangout in person is always so special.  We admire the Beavers as parents and as a family and they have been a great source of support for us.  Mike and I know that part of God's plan for us moving to Texas was to meet them!

Before their arrival we prepared a space for them in our basement and this included doing a very low budget remodel of our existing bathroom to make it usable.  Not bad for only spending $25 bucks!

While they were here, most of our time was spent just hanging out and relaxing:)

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Because loading up to go somewhere was quite the production with four kids!

We had some hot weather (although, I am pretty sure it would classify as just warm to them) which made it great to go to the pool.  Then we had some cooler weather that make some trips to the park nice.  During one park visit Mary caught this seqence of events on her camera and I just love it.

Judah: "See Vance, this is how it is done."

Vance: "Wow!  That is awesome!"

Judah: "Now you try, slow and steady.  Don't worry I'll catch you if you fall."

Vance: "Look, I'm doing it!"

Mary and I made sure to get in some kidless time and because we both love finding great deals we had a great time hitting up some rummage sales:)  The guys spent their kidless (and wifeless- because we like our sleep) time playing monopoly.

The Sunday they were here also happened to be Gianna's 3rd birthday!!  So, we took a little road trip to Chippewa Falls to help celebrate:)



Then all too quickly it was Monday and our time together was coming to an end:(  So, what better way to soften that reality than to treat ourselves to ice cream.

Judah didn't quite get the whole ice cream cone thing- poor guy just couldn't stand his hand getting cold!

That was our week in a nutshell.  Sure makes us miss living by the Beavers!

June Dairy Days

West Salem celebrated June Dairy Days the first weekend in June.  We didn't attend any of the festivities in the village park, but we did go to the parade that Saturday and had a great time!  I love parades and this one was seemed perfect for us for many reasons:

  1. We could walk to the parade from our house and get a curbside side seat fifteen minutes before it started.

2 They threw out TONS of candy and goodies- I think the boys got more candy from the parade than they did from Halloween!

3. The weather was nice- a little hot, but not too hot.

4. The parade was just the right length- not too long, but not too short.

Sarah and Aaron

(The first of many posts to catch up.)  At the end of May we traveled to Sheboygan, WI for my cousin Sarah's wedding.  The trip marked Van's longest car trip and I think Weston's too.  We purposely left later in the evening so that the boys would sleep for a majority of the drive, but they both stayed awake the entire four hour drive there!  Towards the end I had to do some entertaining, but overall they both did really well.  We stayed at my cousin Kendra and  her husband Aubrey's house for the weekend and Weston still talks about getting to sleep at Kendra's house almost a month later.  He thought it was pretty special:)

The wedding of Sarah and Aaron was beautiful!  The whole Luebke clan was able to attend and when we were posing for our Luebke family photo, my grandma said something like,  "Look at what Roger and I started!"  What a wonderful reminder of the beauty of marriage.

The whole day was full of details that Sarah didn't miss- right down to the coloring books and crayons for each child while we waited for our food!

After dinner we had fun dancing the evening away. I think it is safe to say that Weston was in his element and he rocked the dance floor:) We got the biggest kick out of him showing off his dance moves and trying to keep up with all the other dancers. I think he could have gone all night if we didn't make him leave to go to bed:) Vance was also a cutie on the dance floor with his head bob and his attempt at the chicken dance that he and Weston practiced for months before the wedding.

The next day we headed over to my Uncle Karl and Aunt Judy's house for lunch before we headed home. This time Weston was so tired from his long day before that he slept the entire ride home:)

My Grandma with all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren