Less than a week to go for my first cheer comp of the season!

He said

This week was really about closing in on a very significant (cycling) milestone for me. At the start of the year, I had haphazardly set a goal of trying to get to 10,000 kms this year. It wasn’t that far fetched as last year I managed to get 9,294kms in—so it was only going to take another 706 kms to get there. But, that was enough of a tack-on, to what was already a pretty great year last year, that I wasn’t sure if I could manage it, but there really was only one way to find out. And that was to try. And, as of tonight’s ride, I am 9,827.6 kms down, and only 172.4 kms to go! What I am most proud of is that I still have in essence two months left to get this done! Something I should have crossed off by this time next week!!

For Emelia this week the focus has really been on getting ready for her first Cheer Comp of the season. Next Saturday we’re off to Mississauga for the Fall Classic. It’s a one-day comp so were down and back on Saturday, but with their team being older their time blocking puts her in the later afternoon meaning we will be back later in the evening Saturday. It’s an exciting time of year but also very nerve-racking as our experience in the past is this comp can always set the tone for Emelia in terms of how she feels the season may go. Their teams have looked more ready than they ever have in any of her past 4 seasons so we are optimistic. Especially when you consider this for all intents and purposes will be her last season. Here’s to hoping next week, we are reporting great results!

Over and above that this week was also about Emelia starting to really dial in on her university application process. This weekend for the second year in a row, Emelia was off to Kings University College for their Fall Open House to make sure she was on the right path for the program she wants to apply for and making sure she is making the right choices in her last year of high school. This year her friends Bri and Belle were in tow as they also have a lot of interest in going to Kings alongside Emelia. The girls had a lot of fun with Moms in tow and Emelia was able to fine-tooth her application process a little more this year. Applications are open now and she is dead set on going there so it is just about making sure her application assures her the program she wants!

The other big for all of us this week is that we have rejoined the world of having a gym membership. A significant discount came up at work for Good Life and after Danielle missing having access to more equipment and classes, as well as Emelia telling us she wanted to have a membership again, we pulled the trigger on a family membership through Good Life. Danielle had her first workout this evening which was good to get out of the way. The thought though is she’d like to get back to going before work so that routine starts tomorrow morning. We’re hoping that Emelia will also find a routine there with Danielle and her besties. And well for me, I am excited to get some strength training to help build up my core for next year’s race schedule. So, here’s to hoping that we all find our routine rhythm in the next year of our life!

She said

This week was another busy one. Emelia is in the thick of cheer competition prep and all the training at the gym is focusing on getting the teams ready for the first competition next weekend. We are in our 5th season in cheer and the weeks leading into the first competition are always stressful because honestly the routines are still not hitting and it is still looking not ready to show it off to a crowd and the judges. Well this year things are so different. The girls routine is strong, creative and they are looking very clean. They have even had some hit zero full outs at practice. The is the strongest routine Emelia has ever had and in the best shape of any one she has had in 5 seasons. So the girls are nervous and excited to get this first comp out of the way and fine polish their routine for the rest of the season. Things are getting tight, the big stress for the kids is hitting the competition floor for the first time but also the new uniforms have not arrived for the girls to try them on. We got great news today that they will be picked up tomorrow by one of the owners to avoid more delays in shipping and they should all be getting their uniforms at their next practice. Just in time.

Emelia’s next focus this week is University applications. The crunch time is starting. She has her first choice by far in Kings but she can apply to two other programs so she is trying to figure out what her second and third choice are. She honestly only wants to go to Kings but she is worried about putting all her eggs in the King’s basket. So now she and I are looking at other schools who offer her specialized program so she knows she has at least applied to 3 schools. To do a bit more research and to support her two best friends Emelia and I went with Bri and Belle with Bri’s mom down to Kings to check out more programs. The girls all loved the programs and the school. They even banged into one of their best friends there, they are pretty excited how many of their friends want to stay home and go to King’s. We are so excited for the next stage of Emelia’s life but sad it is going by so fast.

At school Emelia is focusing on her classes and ensuring her grades are as high as possible to better her chances to getting into her top choices. But it is not all studying for her, she still has a crazy busy social life and she is taking in everything in her last year in high school. With a ton of her friends including two of her close friends on the Senior Football team this year Emelia, she and her group of friends all went to watch the boys play Friday. The boys fought hard and after an incredible season they lost in the playoffs and are done for the season. In spite of the results it was a great way for the kids to start the weekend. This weekend was the second weekend of Halloween parties for Emelia and her friends. They had so much fun and once again had a great time listening to the girls talk my ear off when I picked them up after party number 2. All in all it was a super fun weekend for her and her friends.

The last update is a bit about me, I have been missing the gym since we had to cancel our membership when Covid hit. For years I went 5-7 days a week, it was a healthy part of my life and I was the healthiest I had ever been. When Covid hit we tried our best to adjust to making a home gym. And even with the bikes and going to on rides together as much as we can it wasn’t the same for me. The gym was my stress reliever, it was my mental health break and it got me in the best physical shape of my life. Well add 5 years away from a physical gym and menopause I need to get back. I am not in the shape I was 5 years ago and I know that I physically and mentally need this. Today was my first night back and I am already excited to get back tomorrow. It will take a bit to get back into a routine but once it is part of my day to day I will be back in the groove soon.