Makeup to mud in 3 seconds flat: Looking back at 2014-warning LONG & lot's of photos!

New Year's was low key with our family. We watched movies all night! Couldn't be any better. I do like a fantastic night of partying, but I tell you this I am getting over calling the cabs and waiting for hours to get into events and cabs. Yep, sounding old aren't I? That's ok, I've partied enough to last me FOREVER. ;)

Well let's walk you through my crazy year of going nuts, taking a gazillion selfies in all kinds of places, trying to fit in as much fun with my family and just other usings that might enter my mind as I type this.

Ok, so what was epic about this year?

I decided to go back to University. I graduated from the U of S in 1999 with a Bachelor's in Education. However, I never did take a teaching job in schools. Nope, instead I travelled for 5 years with Jim all over North America. Only stopping because I was over 8months pregnant, couldn't get into the semi anymore, and really, a responsible mom wouldn't risk delivering on the side of the road in the U.S. I enjoyed staying home till my kids were in school full time. I always knew that would be the plan I would follow. It is my most favourite memories having my mom a part of everything we did in life. I was lucky that for almost 17 years I spent a good chunk of time teaching art classes-all kinds. scrapbooking, painting, mixed media, card making, canvases, etc. I was even more luckier to have been on some of the most awesome design teams and have met amazing people. You never know where life will take you, but it has taken me on a great ride!

Now, Ireland (aka pips) is in grade 1. full time school. My goal was to start substitute teaching right away. Didn't quite go as planned. :( So instead literally a discussion with my parents regarding furthering my education, registering for Univ.in Regina, and then waiting for Jim to come home and tell him the "good news". lol

So what did University life mean?10 classes in 8months. Don't recommend it. It's intense. Well May, June & July I lived in a dorm. Yep, hopefully the words out of your mouth was - WTF? At the time it seemed like a good idea, but it was awful. I really did not enjoy it. But the stories I have for that would take up another blog post itself. And I really don't feel like yapping about that right now.

Sept-Dec. I commuted between Saskatoon & Regina. I was in Regina wed, fri & sat. Thank God for my parents. My mom completely ran our household, thank heavens for her efficiency! I did more singing in the car than I have ever done. From door to door it was a 3hr drive. yep. boring. not gonna lie.

Schooling proved harder than I remembered, not as easy to write essays and be a mom. wowsa, new appreciation for single moms. Just in the last 3 months I had 28 essays due, 5 journals, 3 exams, 2 presentations. That meant I was doing assignments for 12-14 hrs a day. I barely was sleeping. I hit a super low when I failed a Justice midterm. not just failed. FAILED! 37%.

Umm, ya. So that was the beginning of my breakdowns. I realized I had no idea how to handle failure. I stress out for the rest of Oct, Nov and Dec. But it all ended ok. I ended up killing my final exam only getting 1 mark off. 98.3% was my final mark and finished that horrendous class with an 88%. Yes I will smile for a long time. All in all, I ended my Inclusive Education Degree with marks that made the Dean's List Great Distinction. Small success/goal I set for myself.

During this year, our kids kept at Tae Kwon Do and each gathered a few more stripes to their belts. We can see them getting stronger every time. Super proud of them!

pips cracks me up. She is determined to be fantastic! or at least as good as the boys!

our family plays board games like crazy. Game on- to the death. lol We tend to playthe following games all the time:

Monopoly
Mille Bourne
Poker
Risk
Yahtzee
Uno

We got some new games from Santa this year, can't wait to try them. Skip Bo, Phase 10

by fluke, caught a few pics I just love of the kids. This is one of my faves!!! at the dentist office too if you can imagine.

Offroading is our favourite family sport!

yep we got stuck. like epic stuck-need the tractor to pull us out!

This was definitely Jager's year for love notes. I received so many I could make a book. In fact one of my profs thinks I should bind them all and call them 365 days of Jager notes. Or something like that. I am the luckiest, because 99% of the notes are for me. That boy just has love for me, and I adore his notes too!

anfd then he got his first rejection letter-my heart broke. Rain is the apple of his eye. He wrote her a note and drew 2 lines for her to answer. When she wrote "not even close", my heart hurt for him. :(

Sports, sports and more sports. Our kids are athletic! I am more than happy being the official "soccer mom", "baseball mom", "football mom", "ball hockey mom", etc. I wear a lot of hats.

yep- had a few of these bad boys. Can you say bawl like a baby? That would be me! My motto- if I am not drooling, I am not ready to drill in my mouth. seriously. I cannot take pain at all in my mouth.

Kids became really, I mean really, into skateboarding!

Daddy was the hero making pom pom dogs with Pipsqueak! I failed miserably!

I made pips 13 dresses. It was so much fun!!! I forgot I liked to sew.

The boys don't pose for nearly as much photos anymore, so have to take as many as I can! while I still can!

Offroading all day with friends- best day ever!

RIDES! CANNOT ride enough rollercoasters. They are a family fave. In Jim's case- a spectator sport. :(

Typical night. Make one little mistake of tolling my eyes at them- imitation, a form of flattery? lol

Redneck games- story of our lives. Nothing like 3 greased up kids sliding down the front lawn with neighbour kids!

well, dread looking at the calendar. It's always full.Usually a couple of days off-need more!

Well this event sucked!

Our family pet- meet "Bob" JAger raised and created his own Chia pet. It was fun to watch. Until Jager gave him a haircut- then things were never the same. :(