5/52

We were standing in the shade on a cloudy day and the girls thought it was too bright to take a picture.


This week:
Aubrey is starting to work on her routine for her ballet recital this June. She's so thrilled because it's "Do you Want to Build a Snowman", thank goodness it's Let it Go.

We celebrated our 100th day of school on Wednesday. More on that next week.

We went to look at a homeschool group yesterday. Since it was just Aubrey and I, we stopped for some hot chocolate and coffee before it started. Aubrey had a blast and I am hoping to talk it over with Conrad and join next school year!

Tesla had surgery on her foot and is recovering. The kids have all been so eager to help her with whatever she needs.  My sister also turns 18 today! Wahoo!!!

Also, the SUPER BOWL tomorrow! GO PATRIOTS!!!

4/52

We found some puzzles for the kids in the Dollar Spot at Target. They have enjoyed playing with them for hours each day, it's been nice for me. They just sit there quietly working on their puzzle. Aubrey does 100 piece puzzles. Allyson works on 63 or 48 piece puzzles. Austin has quite a few 24 pieces and has graduated to 48 piece puzzles now. That's crazy right, forty eight pieces. He just patiently sits and tries each piece and sure enough he gets it done.

3/52

2/52

It's so crazy how quickly time is going by. I just tell the kids it's time to get ready for bed and they know the drill. Brush hair, teeth and go potty.  They start brushing teeth at the same time, I'll take over and brush and then hand the tooth brush back and move to the next kiddo. Yeah, I still do Aubrey's... when do you brushing their teeth? Probably awhile ago huh? Austin is standing on a stool, so he's not really almost as tall as Aubrey. But, really, where did my babies go? Austin will be 3 in a few months. THREE. I have no more babies at home. It's a wonderful and sad thing.

Here's what we were up to this week:

Aubrey and Allyson had a friend sleepover and oh boy were they up late. Miss Allyson said up till 2am! She wouldn't sleep and one time told me, Mom, I'm hungry. I just need to eat all the food we have.

School started back up on Wednesday and oh, that was hard to get back into the swing of things. We had ballet and church again this week too. We ordered Aubrey's costume for her Frozen recital. I can't wait!

Both girls got haircuts and love them. Hopefully the hair brushing battle with Allyson will end.



What was your favorite moment this week?

1/52

It's a new year and I'm ready for you, 2015!


Getting their energy out at the park

Word of the Year

I have been rather excited about choosing a new word for the year. You know it's a new year, new start. Something fresh!  So, I had my word choice down to two words and I really couldn't decide which one to focus on this year. Colossians 3:17 has came up a few times in the last couple days in my newsfeed and bible study. It's really kind of stuck with me and I've pondered over it.  It came up again yesterday, and when I saw it again, grateful came to me and I just knew that was my word.

Have you picked a word for this year? 

         

Paulsen's 2014

Goodbye 2014 and hello 2015! It's going to be a great year, I can just feel it.

I enjoy looking back at post and as hard as the year can feel, I look back and all of the good and great things that have happened and they far outweigh the bad times. So here's our 2014


January
2014 started out on the wrong foot, kids that didn't sleep on NYE and then a sick husband. I started a weekly photo challenge, and I'm so happy I actually finished.

Homeschooling was something that had been put on my heart.

February

Miss Aubrey lost tooth #2 .  After praying and talking we decided that we would give homeschooling a try starting in August.


March
Austin turned TWO!


April
Oh, what a month that was. I turned thirty on the 27th and then Conrad went to the ER that next day because the numbness in his leg was getting worse. He was admitted and scheduled for back surgery on the 29th.

May

Aubrey finished first grade and we enjoyed lots of time in the backyard playing.


June
This girl turned 7 and had her very first "friend only" party. An almost sleepover.


July

We celebrated fourth of July with family.



August

We started our first year homeschooling! Aubrey is in 2nd grade, Allyson is doing Pre-K and Austin is little brother along for the ride.




Aubrey also started ballet class.




September

We were still getting into our groove with school and daily life.

October 
We visited the pumpkin patch


celebrated a very wet and much needed rainy Halloween.



November
This little girl celebrated her golden birthday, FOUR on the fourth. We celebrated with a Frozen party of course!


December was a whirlwind month. I feel like I blinked and it's gone. We decorated gingerbread houses, the Christmas parade, went on a field trip to see the Nutcracker, our Elf Ellie came to visit, decorated cookies for Santa and of course Christmas!


The only picture I snapped at our NYE celebration, 4 out of the 5 kids eating cupcakes, and only Aubrey cheesing it up for me. :)

I picked the word Joy for 2014 and while I didn't blog much about it, I feel like I really learned more about being joyful in all situations, good and bad. It has really changed me, changed my attitude and the way I think and it's changed my heart.

I'm still thinking and praying about a word for 2015.

Did you pick a word or make a resolution this year? Did you do a year in review post, I would love to read it. Be sure to post your link in the comments!

Happy New Year!