In staying true to our whirlwind style, 2013 kept us all on our toes. As we reflect on this year, we're simply amazed by all of the change we've endured and, in turn, proud of how we've all grown from it.
Our little Jonah B. arrived on Feb. 18, meeting his big brothers for the first time a few days later. With help from Grandma Barb and good friend, Cristina, we started our family-of-five life without too much fanfare.
However, Dave's work had been draining him for sometime. In hopes of finding something better, he had been applying to multiple jobs both in and outside of New York for countless months. And finally, in March, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel job appeared. After phone interviews and an in-person interview in April, Dave was offered the job of breaking news editor. He started at his new job in mid-May.
It was bittersweet to say goodbye to New York, leaving behind such good friends, a wonderful church community and a somewhat close proximity to Grandma Barb and Great-Grandpa Monico. It also was hard to say goodbye to a city that we all had fallen in love with - despite its challenges. But the promise of a home with a yard and our very own washer and dryer - not to mention a return to Liz's home state where family and longtime friends would be nearby - beckoned after years of city life without these things.
With help from a great Realtor, we found a home rather quickly in Wauwatosa - a western suburb of Milwaukee. We chose the community for its somewhat urban feel, top-notch schools and affordable home prices.
Liz and the boys stayed in Platteville with Papa and Grandma Debbie for seven weeks, however, before closing on our new home and moving in at the beginning of July. Dave stayed in a hotel in Milwaukee, traveling back and forth on the weekends.
Sam started 4-year-old kindergarten in the fall. He loves learning his letters and numbers, drawing and coloring and our frequent playroom dance parties. He also has told us that he'd like to learn how to play the violin.
Henry, whose German name means 'ruler of the home,' has been doing just that. He has challenged us with his 2-year-old ways this year, but his sweet and loving demeanor always prevails. He started a half-day preschool program three days a week. His teachers describe him and a "quiet, mild-mannered" boy - the opposite of his behavior at home.
Little Jonah has been nothing but a joy, enduring all of this change with a smile. He loves watching his brothers play and recently started getting into their toys, tearing apart train track and laughing when Sam and Henry get mad.
Now, nearly six months into our relocation, we've started to really settle in here in Wauwatosa. Dave's job is challenging and fulfilling. We've been attending Trinity Episcopal Church, where we've found a welcoming community with great outreach and education programs. And we've seen Papa and Grandma Debbie more in the past six months than we had the entire time in New York. We've also enjoyed many more visits with Aunt Anne, Uncle David and Aunt Sue.
But in keeping with the Paulsen style, 2014 will likely prove to be full of more adventure. After more than 4 years of being a stay-at-home mom, Liz is returning to the workforce in January as an online producer for metroparentmagazine.com - a niche publication of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Obviously, this means much change for the boys, who will start attending a daycare part time.
A huge thank you to all those who have helped us through this year!
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