I am getting my first semester marks for High School and I am really proud of them! So is Mummy & Daddy!!
He said
Sadly, we’re going on a week without the stationary bike. Danielle & I have had to adjust our daily routine. Thankfully during the pandemic Danielle slowly chipped away at our pain cave adding in equipment. All of the working out started over two years ago around Halloween (prior to the pandemic) when we got the rower. That started the fitness journey. But fast forward to spring in a worldwide pandemic and the need to do (safe) things outside for my mental health, and that rekindled my connection with biking. Back then I got a reasonably priced Swift Gravel bike to see if it would stick, and boy did it ever! Within a year I was upgrading bikes to my Vanterra Pilot and wearing a lot more lycra!
While I was riding every chance and place I could, Danielle was slowly adding equipment to the workout room in the basement. Since she didn’t have the daycare to worry about anymore that gave us this room back and for something she’d long wanted: a home gym. First we added the band strength trainer, then the weight bench and some free weights. And, the biggest was a treadmill that Danielle found through Facebook which was the biggest machine that Emelia was looking for. The last item was the upgrade to the bike trainers that we had last winter in the stationary bike. The setup down there is nearly complete from a few here and there things.
So when the stationary had the crankshaft break, there wasn’t any panic for my OCD need to Close My Rings on the daily because there was lots of options for me. The surprise has been that I’ve somewhat taken to running over rowing. Where I thought the meat of my workouts would be defaulting back to the rower, I have actually found that I like it less than running and do the largest part of my daily on the treadmill. And – much to my absolute shock – aside from the warmup and cooldown, I am actually running for the entire 30 minute workout! And I actually manage to fairly consistently get to 5km in that time. Now, don’t go making any assumptions I’m becoming a runner—the second that stationary bike is back into commission It will be me and the bike again! And hopefully that will be this week as the part is in transit.
The final news this week came in the form of an announcement from the province that this wave of COVID variant was starting to steady which meant that restrictions could slowly be lifted and a plan was being put in place to a return to opening all restrictions. Gyms and sporting activities were returning at the end of the month which means in-person training would return for Emelia and Cheer, and I would be able to play my much-beloved Friday morning hockey! Both Emelia and I were delighted to hear this. It also means Danielle’s work life will likely get a lot busier at the University. We’re hoping this is the last big clampdown and that things will head towards what we remember of normal.
She said
This week we adjusted to the stress of Emelia starting back to in person school. She was excited and nervous about being back in person. She was so excited to be back in-person for school as well seeing her friends. But she has been nervous about the whole being in the real world more. The return to some sort of normal has been amazing for her. Even with the risks of covid exposure she is where she needs to be, with her peers and not always in the same 4 walls every day.
Emelia’s grades for her first semester of grade 9 have started to come in and we cannot say enough how blown away we are. Not only are her grades are incredible but the confidence that she has taken on this year is blowing us away. In science Emelia wasn’t happy with one of her year-end project marks, she went with confidence to her teacher asking for some feedback to know what she could differently in the future. Her teacher took the time to map it all out and since this was a pairs project she was given a chance to resubmit the part of the project with some clarity and have her final grade reflect it. A year ago she would have been crippled at the idea of this conversation, but she went in and took in all the information for better results. This weekend she dug in and has made the changes and provided clarity the teacher asked. So proud of this kid!
For me, this week was more about taking in as much knowledge as I can at my new job, I am still loving it and everyone who I am working with. The whole experience has been incredible and I could not be happier. Life is good!
Next week we can shift our focus to celebration mode, our baby girl turns 15! So we want to make sure that we make her feel as special as we know she is.