This week I was able to wrap up most of my school projects due before the holiday break. The countdown is on to a two week break and spending a ton of time with my friends.
He said
After a couple of very event-filled weeks, this week was much lower key was welcome for all of us. Especially for Emelia. With the stress (and preparation) of her comp last week and the subsequent trek down to Oshawa and back last weekend, it didn’t really feel like we had a weekend. But, also there was the underlying waiting and stressing about Emelia’s university applications over the last few weeks which was relieved with her acceptance to all of the programs she applied to. So this week and weekend really became one of respite and taking it easier.
With Emelia’s university offers in the conversation about getting her basement apartment ready has jumped to the forefront again. There is a lot of things that need to happen first in order for us to start creating her space down there—most namely getting the workout out of the basement. My bike trainer set up will move to the office and we will take over her room as a guest room office. But it also means we have to sort out our store room getting rid of a lot of the bigger construction gear I no longer need or use. There is quite a domino list of things that need to happen that Emelia doesn’t understand or more aptly has the patience for to wait to see through first.
We’re starting to narrow in on Christmas as today brings us to just a little over a week away from the special day. This year we’re really focused on spending time with family as while last year we were missing Greg, this year is our first without Dad so we are really feeling it. The last year was especially tough for us and the 5 months between December 5 and April 30 we lost the biggest two people in our family. This last year has been about recovering and rationalizing what those craters in our universe have meant. When you add in that we lost David’s wife Linda 5 years from losing Dad… it. has. been. a. lot. And, the biggest thing we have landed on is making sure we make the most of every moment and spending as much time with family as we can.
So, this Christmas will still be tough for all of us, but one thing it won’t be without is making every moment count. We’re getting together with the whole family on Boxing Day, but Danielle, Emelia & I will get over to spend some time with Mom on Christmas Day. And Shawn & Matthew are planning to get over on Christmas Eve with her. This will be her first in more years than can I count that she will be alone on Christmas and I am sure she will be feeling it as much (or more) than we are. We’ll be able to see David’s family which will be great and we’re focused on finding every single moment we can to be together with anyone who matters. We’re really looking forward to making the most that we can out of this aftermath we live. Wish us luck!
She said
The week was a packed one for me at least for work. Most of my big work projects are wrapping up but I had two big events that I was the chair of that both hit last week. The big first one was our big staff holiday lunch. After having the university closed due to the storm the week before it was great to get back in the office and make sure we could spend time together outside the office. On Monday we had our huge departmental holiday lunch in the Great Hall at Western. The day went off without a hitch and everyone had an amazing time. I was able to have one day off before going into the next big holiday celebration.
About 18 months ago I became a member of the PMA engagement committee which means that I am chairing some bigger university events. The one last week was my planning for the big PMA holiday lunch. The event was huge and again went off without a hitch. It certainly put everyone in the holiday spirit. If 2 holiday lunches were not enough we also had our department dinner celebration at my bosses place on Thursday night. We had an amazing time, the food was incredible and the company was even better. It certainly put us all in the holiday mindset.
With Emelia now able to switch her focus on her last week of school and wrapping up her cheer training before the holiday break she was able to have some downtime with one of her besties. We made it a special night for the girls, we got the ingredients for some holiday drinks, some special treats and even some matching pjs for their Christmas girls night. I know the hoped it would be a bit bigger of a celebration but in the end after a long week with big projects from school I think Emelia needed the lower key night more than she wanted to admit.
It is hard to believe we are just over a week to Christmas. I am trying to get in the spirit, I really am but this year our hearts are heavy. This year feels more lost—we lost Greg so close to Christmas last year that this year feels like the first real Christmas without him and add in loosing Doug it feels empty this year. Both Greg and Doug loved their families and Christmas. We are hoping that time with the kids, some time with family it will pull us into the spirit one way or another. I know Emelia is excited for Christmas and the 2 week break from school, I am excited for my 2 week break coming up. Maybe the downtime and time to recharge we can start the season with appreciation and peace.