Computer Crash

So, what happens when you accidentally drop your computer off the side of the couch?  Well, apparently whatever is behind the screen can shatter and your whole screen display can look like broken glass.  (No, it won't go away if you turn the computer off and hope everything fixes itself when you turn it back on.)  That is the status of my computer and, therefore, the major lack of blogging.  Add on top of that two cars that need fixing, an accountant that needs to be paid, and a trip to the vet and you don't have a whole lot of extra money to fix a computer.  I have finally resorted to trying to update the blog on our dinosaur computer that got some water damage when we had our house fire a few years back.  It still works (so I have been keeping up on everyones' blogs), but most of the time it moves extra slow.  This morning Tory woke me up at 6:00 (it is always fun when she decides to get up before the kids), and since it was already bright and sunny outside I had a hard time going back to bed.  So, I am actually attempting to update the blog with everyone still sleeping and the house peacefully quiet.  (I will regret this later when I am tired, but for now I am enjoying myself.)

Where to begin... well, I guess I will let my pictures be my guide... looks like I need to begin with Easter! 

This felt like Vance's first Easter, but he was actually a month old last Easter.  However, I don't really like to remember that Easter because that was prior to his acid reflux diagnosis, and all that sticks in my mind about  about that Easter was being EXHAUSTED!  This year was much more enjoyable and we even changed things up as far as celebrating goes.  This year we tried to celebrate the Lenten season fully and, therefore, held off celebrating Easter until it actually came.  In fact, we are still celebrating Easter because in the Catholic Church it lasts 50 days:)  We think Jesus conquering sin and death is a pretty big deal! We also decided to not do the whole two family holiday split and just stayed here in La Crosse.  We definitely missed celebrating with the LaVoy side, but we also liked not having to run around because it brings added stress with little ones.  The flip side is when Thanksgiving rolls around, then we will just celebrate that holiday with the LaVoy side:)

Weston definitely remembered that he was going to have to find an Easter basket and eggs on Easter this year.  He was excited for the Easter Bunny to come, but also around that time he decided for a few nights prior that he didn't want to go to bed when it was time for bed.  We told him that if he didn't listen to his mom and dad when it was time to go to bed that the Easter Bunny couldn't bring him a basket.  Well, he threw a huge fit Saturday night and we decided we had to stick to our word.  So, Easter morning Vance's basket was sitting on the kitchen table, but a letter from the Easter Bunny was waiting for Weston instead.  In the letter the Easter Bunny explained that he really wanted to bring Weston a basket to help celebrate that Jesus rose from the dead, but he couldn't because Weston didn't honor his father and mother like Jesus commands him to.  The Bunny went on to explain how, luckily, Jesus died for our sins and made it possible for us to fix our mistakes.  He asked Weston if he could tell Jesus and his mommy and daddy that he was sorry and promise to try his best to listen.  If he could do that then the Easter Bunny told him that he had actually hidden his basket and he could try to find it;)  In the end, once Weston got his basket he seemed to totally forget the letter.  I was skeptical anything sunk in, but when we went over to my Grandma's he told my mom about it and I am happy to report (over a month later) that we haven't had any problems since!

Not sure why the boys were both in their diapers when they got their baskets, but we did dress them up, and after mass we spent the afternoon at my Grandma Luebke's.  It was a wonderful day for an outdoor egg and basket hunt:) 

This was Ella and my cousin Trevon's first Easter:)

In other news, shortly following Easter Weston decided one morning that he wanted to wear big boy underwear.  This request seemed to come out of nowhere, and I really wasn't ready to try the whole potty training thing again, but I also didn't want to dismiss his initiative.  So, I clenched my teeth and went for it.  WHAT A DIFFERENCE WHEN A CHILD CARES AND INITIATES IT ON THEIR OWN!!   He definitely still had accidents, but nothing like before and they were just that- accidents.  It took about a day and a half before I could breath a little when he was wearing underwear, and then about another week until I felt confident in him wearing underwear.  Now, it actually feels normal and I am really, really glad that adventure is behind us.  Although, it doesn't feel totally behind us because Weston still requires quite a bit of attention when he has to use the bathroom... just ask Michael about his Olive Garden Experience.  Let's just say it involved poop on the floor;)

Going to Olive Garden was part of celebrating Mother's Day up in Chippewa.  We had headed up there to celebrate Ella's baptism the day before:) 

When we got home, Michael and the boys continued the Mother's Day celebration and I woke up that Wednesday to a nostalgic breakfast, McDonald's pancakes, and fresh picked flowers.  I loved Van's flowers- they were a handful of violets floating in a cup:)  We spent the rest of the day hanging out as a family, enjoying each other's company and the outdoors.  It was a GREAT mother's day!  Michael even took us to explore a little cave he discovered, which was a fun little adventure.

I will leave you on that note.  I still have some catching up to do, but it will have to wait for another post!