Karate party

Henry was invited to a birthday party. His friend, Joshua, attended Children's Workshop preschool with Henry before I started working and switched the boys to a daycare. We didn't stay in touch with Joshua, but Joshua made sure to invite Henry to his party Friday night. Sam attended the party, too.

Joshua, who turned 5, does karate, so he had his party at his karate studio. It was fabulous. The boys learned some basic karate moves, played some games and ate cake. Henry was so excited to see Joshua. Although Henry had a tough time keeping up with all of the karate moves, he got to sit next to Joshua as he opened the present we brought. And now I've made a connection with Joshua's mom, so there will be playdates in the future.

The preschool they both attended together was mixed age, so that's how the two became friends. Joshua is a very energetic, talkative boy. Henry, however, didn't talk at all at preschool - except to Joshua. After talking to Josh's mom and through my own observations, it seems Joshua has a great deal of compassion for shy kids. He seeks them out and makes them feel included. Photos: Karate party

Jonah's 1st birthday

Spaghetti man, Jonah!

Well, it happened. Jonah turned 1. How on earth can he be a year already? Soooooo much has changed since little Jonah arrived early that Monday morning....

We celebrated Jonah's birthday  twice. First, we had a birthday brunch for him on Sunday, partying with Papa, Grandma Debbie, Grandma Barb and Cousin McKenzie. Jonah enjoyed a carrot cake cupcake with cream cheese frosting. He seemed to enjoy it. (Jonah also enjoyed some spaghetti the night before. I think he ate more than his brothers!)

On his birthday - Tuesday - Jonah visited his doctor for his 1-year check up. He had lunch on Culvers and another cupcake after dinner. He played with his brothers, daddy, Grandma Barb and McKenzie. Mommy had to work but joined everyone for dinner.

Jonah is a fast crawler and is constantly pulling himself up into a standing position, but he is not yet walking. Thank god! He loves to explore and get in to things he shouldn't - like the cat food. He's no different then his brothers.

Photos: Jonah's birthday

Soccer Fun

For Christmas, Sam and Henry received a soccer ball and admission to a winter soccer camp for 3- and 4-year-olds from Aunt Anne, Aunt Sue and Uncle David. Our first Saturday practice was Feb. 15, and the boys had a blast, learning to softly control the ball - they used different ball sizes. The camp, which is run through the city recreation department, is just 45 minutes on four Saturdays and is the perfect introduction for them to soccer. Sam is focused during practice, always following the instructions of the coaches. Henry is more free form, shall we say. It's great for him because we think it will help with the development of his gross motor skills. Thanks Aunt Anne, Aunt Sue and Uncle David! Photos: Soccer fun

Anyone out there?

Oh, my! It's been almost a month since we've lasted posted anything. It's been a very busy month of work for me. Things continue to go well. The boys have adjusted to daycare, for the most part. When I leave Jonah, he no longer cries. (It makes me cry, though.) Sam is still doing well, and we feel Henry is getting there. He's been taking naps at daycare, which is huge. He's soooooo much more pleasant to be around after he naps.

Anyway, on Saturday, which we call "family day," (it's the only whole day of the week all five of us can spend together), we checked out the Milwaukee Public Market. We ate hummus and pita, sushi and the boys enjoyed some dinosaur-shaped chocolate pops. Photos: Milwaukee Public Market

Also, to go back in time a bit, I spent the first weekend of February in the Twin Cities with friends. Dave stayed home with the boys, with help from Grandma Debbie and Papa on that Sunday. My friend, Joy, whose birthday is Feb. 5, and I celebrated at Pycho Suzi's, as featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Here are some photos of the wonderful drinks I consumed and some Minnesota "sushi" (ham, cream cheese and pickle rollups!) : Liz is OLD!

Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho....

I started working as the online producer for Milwaukee's Metroparent Magazine yesterday. It was a whirlwind day, from dropping the boys off at daycare to actually going to work. Needless to say, my head has been spinning. I did get to see Dave a few times. We are working in the same building on State Street in Milwaukee - the main Journal Sentinel building. He's on the 4th floor and I'm on the 3rd. 

The boys are attending a daycare here in Wauwatosa. They all go to the same place, which has classrooms for each age group. Jonah is in the infant room for a month or so before they transition him to the 1-year-old room. He did really well yesterday. He took his regular naps, followed his normal schedule, etc. He loved playing with the other kids his age, which is something new for him, as he has only really played with his older brothers. The teacher in his room gave me a rose when I dropped Jonah off. She is so sweet!

Sam and Henry also did well on their first day. The daycare takes Sam to and from his afternoon, 4K program. His school is only two blocks from the daycare. Henry, who I've been worried about in regards to this transition, said he had a fun day. We will see how the week goes.

I'm very excited about this job. I'm basically in charge of the online production of metroparentmagazine.com. Besides some editing and writing, I'll be working with audience development and engagement in hopes of getting more people to visit the site. (So, visit often!) My boss, who also is a member of the church we attend, is fabulous. 

A Year in Review

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!