2014 started like most years. Brandon was attending the Von Kids preschool program three days a week and playing at Linda's house the other two. Jamie was still working in Construction for Shaw and I was forecasting as usual for the AESO. We knew we would be making a trip to New Brunswick that summer and sometime in early February my friend Jenyfer and I booked a December vacation to Hawaii.
With the option of Kindergarten looming, Jamie and I started attending open houses and asking questions like "how will I know when our son is ready?" Early in the year we registered Brandon for Kindergarten and even had him enrolled in an after-school child care program.
On the work front I was promoted to "Senior Analyst" - a title I had been pursuing for a couple of years. With confidence on my side, I headed to San Fransisco to attend the Western Load Research Association Spring conference. I gave a presentation, met some great people and reacquainted myself with the fabulous city of San Fransisco.
Upon returning home, Jamie received a request to serve as a groomsman for our old friend Luc Martin. Coincidentally or not his August wedding landed on the same weekend that was scheduled for my Afi's memorial ceremony. I looked into how I might attend both events but in the end I made the decision to travel to Naninmo with Jamie and Brandon. If anyone deserves a happy day, it's Luc so I was looking forward to being a part of the celebration.
It was also in the Spring that we received the news Russ and Deb were moving and their house was for sale. I had resigned myself to live in the Silver Spring house forever - with all of its 1970's quirks and oddities - but I couldn't put this news out of my head. Fast forward a few weeks and Jamie and I had bought the house, sold ours and were booking moving vans for late July. Suddenly our summer had gone from busy to super-busy!
Our trip to New Brunswick was a great break from all the packing. Our weather was perfect and we did some really fun stuff. It was nice to catch up with family and let the cousins spend time together.
We were home before we knew it and as we bid farewell to our Silver Springs house we also said goodbye to Kazi. I miss that cat. Her unexpected absence has left a mightily sore wound in my heart. I think of her always as the last time I saw her - resting comfortably on the deck rail, soaking in the evening sun.
Our move thankfully went off without a hitch and almost before we could unpack, we were off to Luc's wedding on the island. It was a beautiful ceremony on a perfect day and I thought of the rest of my family, taking the opportunity to remember Afi. My brother and his family actually stopped in Calgary on their way home and spent a night with us to check out the new house. Their visit marked the end of summer, the quiet few days before our crazy fall began.
With our new house being closer to the city, we put off Brandon's enrollment into Kindergarten and instead looked for a preschool placement. By sheer luck I got him into the Hillhurst Sunnyside Daycare and was pleased with my good fortune. Of course Brandon didn't quite see it that way and he struggled with all the new changes. First of all he didn't like the new house. He missed the big yard at Silver Springs and the extra room that came with having a finished basement. He also had to say goodbye to his friends at Von Kids and then, hardest of all, his long-time caregiver Linda. These adjustments were hard and came with a lot of tears. He eventually found his way and though he maintains he still does not like the new house he's doing really well at daycare.
Fall is always busy and 2014 was no exception. Mom and Dad came to our new place for Thanksgiving, Halloween was celebrated with friends and Brandon turned 5 with an awesome gymnastics party. I guess I also celebrated a birthday and my cousin Marcus stopped in a for a quick dinner sometime in late September. Did I mention we had some work done on the house? - We had most of the house painted. A gas line installed as well as a new stove and backsplash. The house was looking good but as the cold weather came so did our trip to Hawaii. I hope I remember that trip forever. It was so wonderful. It was everything I hoped it could be for my little family. Hawaii is one of my new favourite places :-)
When our trip was over we returned home to the complete chaos that is Christmas. We had Jamie's family coming in and we were looking forward to showing them the new place. Brandon enjoyed the holidays and Jamie and I enjoyed our new fridge. We wrapped 2014 up with a party at Jen and Steve's and looked forward to a much quieter year ahead (fingers crossed).
So did I accomplish any of my goals for 2014? To be honest I'd have to say "No". I certainly didn't spend less money and I didn't take much time to live in the present. But maybe what I did learn is I need to trust myself more and I reaffirmed that following my instincts is always a safe bet. Maybe I learned sometimes things are just meant to be. And at least I confirmed what I already do know and that is to spend as much time as possible with great friends and family. Healthy relationships is what makes this life worth living.
I'll keep that in mind for 2015 but this year I really will spend less money. Just watch me!
On the work front I was promoted to "Senior Analyst" - a title I had been pursuing for a couple of years. With confidence on my side, I headed to San Fransisco to attend the Western Load Research Association Spring conference. I gave a presentation, met some great people and reacquainted myself with the fabulous city of San Fransisco.
Upon returning home, Jamie received a request to serve as a groomsman for our old friend Luc Martin. Coincidentally or not his August wedding landed on the same weekend that was scheduled for my Afi's memorial ceremony. I looked into how I might attend both events but in the end I made the decision to travel to Naninmo with Jamie and Brandon. If anyone deserves a happy day, it's Luc so I was looking forward to being a part of the celebration.
It was also in the Spring that we received the news Russ and Deb were moving and their house was for sale. I had resigned myself to live in the Silver Spring house forever - with all of its 1970's quirks and oddities - but I couldn't put this news out of my head. Fast forward a few weeks and Jamie and I had bought the house, sold ours and were booking moving vans for late July. Suddenly our summer had gone from busy to super-busy!
Our trip to New Brunswick was a great break from all the packing. Our weather was perfect and we did some really fun stuff. It was nice to catch up with family and let the cousins spend time together.
We were home before we knew it and as we bid farewell to our Silver Springs house we also said goodbye to Kazi. I miss that cat. Her unexpected absence has left a mightily sore wound in my heart. I think of her always as the last time I saw her - resting comfortably on the deck rail, soaking in the evening sun.
Our move thankfully went off without a hitch and almost before we could unpack, we were off to Luc's wedding on the island. It was a beautiful ceremony on a perfect day and I thought of the rest of my family, taking the opportunity to remember Afi. My brother and his family actually stopped in Calgary on their way home and spent a night with us to check out the new house. Their visit marked the end of summer, the quiet few days before our crazy fall began.
With our new house being closer to the city, we put off Brandon's enrollment into Kindergarten and instead looked for a preschool placement. By sheer luck I got him into the Hillhurst Sunnyside Daycare and was pleased with my good fortune. Of course Brandon didn't quite see it that way and he struggled with all the new changes. First of all he didn't like the new house. He missed the big yard at Silver Springs and the extra room that came with having a finished basement. He also had to say goodbye to his friends at Von Kids and then, hardest of all, his long-time caregiver Linda. These adjustments were hard and came with a lot of tears. He eventually found his way and though he maintains he still does not like the new house he's doing really well at daycare.
Fall is always busy and 2014 was no exception. Mom and Dad came to our new place for Thanksgiving, Halloween was celebrated with friends and Brandon turned 5 with an awesome gymnastics party. I guess I also celebrated a birthday and my cousin Marcus stopped in a for a quick dinner sometime in late September. Did I mention we had some work done on the house? - We had most of the house painted. A gas line installed as well as a new stove and backsplash. The house was looking good but as the cold weather came so did our trip to Hawaii. I hope I remember that trip forever. It was so wonderful. It was everything I hoped it could be for my little family. Hawaii is one of my new favourite places :-)
When our trip was over we returned home to the complete chaos that is Christmas. We had Jamie's family coming in and we were looking forward to showing them the new place. Brandon enjoyed the holidays and Jamie and I enjoyed our new fridge. We wrapped 2014 up with a party at Jen and Steve's and looked forward to a much quieter year ahead (fingers crossed).
So did I accomplish any of my goals for 2014? To be honest I'd have to say "No". I certainly didn't spend less money and I didn't take much time to live in the present. But maybe what I did learn is I need to trust myself more and I reaffirmed that following my instincts is always a safe bet. Maybe I learned sometimes things are just meant to be. And at least I confirmed what I already do know and that is to spend as much time as possible with great friends and family. Healthy relationships is what makes this life worth living.
I'll keep that in mind for 2015 but this year I really will spend less money. Just watch me!
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