What a busy week, I will be happy when I get my big pay cheque from all the hours I did this week.
He said
This week, I finally got my first experience with Emelia as a driver. With my work schedule it has been Danielle who has been taking Emelia out to practice driving. But this weekend, I was off and Saturday Emelia had to work so when we knew that we’d be picking up Emelia from work, I messaged her and asked if she wanted us to bring the car so she could drive home and she was game. The only hitch was this would be her first time driving down Richmond St – one of our busiest streets. But, she was up for it! All being weird that our baby girl is now driving aside, she is doing very well considering that she literally got her license just over two week’s ago. She got us home safe and sound, and I am really proud of how she is doing.
Last week being March Break, Emelia got her first experience with a healthy work load at… well, work. She was scheduled for 6 shifts in 7 days for 30 hours of work. By the end of the week, we could tell she was feeling it, as she was pretty tired and wanting to take it easy. By Friday when I was offered a pair of Knights tickets for the game from a friend that couldn’t use them, and normally Emelia would jump at them, she opted not to go so that she could rest and take it easy after working the full day. (Mind you she was up pretty late the night before and had a sleepover at her friend’s for St. Patrick’s Day). And then add in that she had to work 2-8pm yesterday after having a private lesson for Cheer with Coach Jenna. Against her worries of having nothing to do this March Break she managed to have a crap-ton of stuff she did.
For me and the bike, with the clocks moving ahead an hour meaning more sunlight in the evening, as well as the temps going up, I have been able to do a lot more outdoor bike riding than indoors. In fact, today’s ride took me to 13 this month, which ties what I did last month. I fully expect to beat that given this is February, but the real treat has been having enough sunlight to start and finish rides before sunset which is now around 7:30pm each night. It means on the days I have earlier shifts there is less jockeying in the basement with Danielle as she can go on the trainer then, and I can ride outside after work. While biking has done so much for my wellbeing, getting all the fresh air and sunlight has been really welcome since getting at it outside more than inside lately.
Tomorrow is a big day for Emelia as she starts tryouts for rugby—another sport that blows me away how she puts herself out there to try and do new things. She passed on tryouts last year in lieu of doing wrestling, but this year she has her sights on trying to make the rugby team with the twins. Grace played last year and had a blast, so now Emelia and Anna are going to try out as well. Add that she has again signed up for softball for this summer, and we’re hard pressed to try and convince anyone that Emelia does not have an active lifestyle. We’re so happy she puts her shyness aside and doesn’t let the what-if’s get it the way of her finding out. She has a part time job, she has her learner’s license, she’s trying out for school teams, she has Cheer, and she has baseball—we’re so proud of the way she puts herself out there to see what she enjoys!
She said
All Emelia’s concerns that she would be bored over March Break certainly was not true! Emelia was convinced everyone would be away for the break but it turns out lots of her friends were around. Add in an insanely busy work schedule, extra cheer training and her social life Emelia was go-go-go all week. Emelia and her girlfriends all got lots of time to get together between her work shifts. This kid has way bigger social life vs her parents. Thursday a big group of her girls all got together to go our for dinner downtown. Once they were done dinner and hanging out they all went back to her friend Sienna’s place for the night. The girls got little sleep but lots of laughs, they have all plotted out lots of plans for the summer bouncing between each others hours, cottages and trailers – Emelia is so excited for time with her besties! We love seeing how many friends she is making and how much she is thriving in high school. This is everything we ever wanted for her.
With Cheer being on hiatus for the March Break Emelia updated her availability for work and man did they ever take advantage of it! In the last 7 days she has worked 6 of the days, and her shifts are not short by student standards. There were days when she really wanted a break but she has such a strong work ethic that she pushed through and did all her shifts and even picked up some time at the end of one of them. We are beyond proud of this kid, when she commits to anything she never puts in half an effort, she will not let anyone down.
Another thing that Emelia won’t just dial-it-in is her training. With Cheer having a the week off I was able to nab a couple private lessons with her old gymnastics coach Jenna. Emelia has been working hard on the height in her back tuck. She is always wanting to push herself and work hard. She was able to spend the entire lesson doing tuck after tuck and they look incredible. Between the private lessons and her training at home she stayed in competition ready shape to make sure she was ready to get at it when her team returned to training today.
Next week is going to be just as busy with Emelia’s return to school. Not only do we return to school but she has work, Cheer training and now 4 rugby tryout sessions. Emelia regretted so much last year that she opted to not try rugby that she has been laser focused making the team this season. She knows she is in very tough competition with how athletic Lucas is as a school and so many returning girls from last year. But we are so proud that once again she is taking on another new sport and always pushing herself out of her comfort zone.