2021 roundup

 The intention this year was to send physical cards and letters. No, really, it was. 

But enough dwelling on the past. On to plan B, the digital Christmas Letter. 

Wait... this will be entirely about dwelling on the past. Okay, whatever. 

It's. Been. A. Year since I updated this blog. Remember all of those folks who seemed soooo excited to put 2020 behind them and ring in the new year, and how great 2021 was going to be? Oh, how quickly the universe silenced those who showed such optimism! Our world went through another tumultuous twelve months (stating the obvious, here... duh)... but among it, some definite bright spots for our household.

He's tall enough WITHOUT skates on... 

Starting with the kids: The Boy completed his elementary career and moved into the high school this September. Here in British Columbia, we've been incredibly lucky to have had our schools remain open throughout the vast majority of the pandemic. The change to a high school environment has forced Sacha to up his game in terms of time management. Not only are there multiple subjects and teachers with homework demands, but he also has the addition of playing on an ice hockey team for the first time (as well as soccer, two days a week). The hockey is a no-contact league so it's very well-natured, and keeps Sacha entertained two to four nights a week, depending on what seemingly random schedule gets dreamt up by the league on a week-to-week basis (please insert parental snark tones as needed). Other than school and sporty extracurriculars, Sacha's other noteworthy achievement for the year is that he has grown taller than his mother, and his shoe size has kept pace with his height, to boot (footwear pun intended). 

Heidi showing off one of her
sewing creations! 

The Girl is in grade six this year and is enjoying a dynamic school environment with some very strong friendships blossoming out of her time in class. The school she was in a few years back was a NIgHtMaRe and we're very glad she's doing well in her current institution. An avid reader, Heidi is often found with a book in hand which fuels her creative mind. Outside of the classroom, she's taken a shine to the art of sewing and has been taking after-school classes in a local sewing shop, crafting item after item of various descriptions from bags to dresses and pyjamas. Good fun that keeps her well entertained! Though no longer the season for it, we obtained a trampoline for our backyard this past year (you know, like every other family in a pandemic), and Heidi spent HOURS out there, either on her own, or bouncing happily with the two younger kids who live downstairs. Speaking of younger kids, Heidi also got her babysitting certification during the summer, and is ready to make some money once she turns 12. The kids in the basement suite are the perfect test market, and we look forward to H become a revenue-generating family member!

As for Kate, there's never a dull moment. As CEO of her own non-profit serving children with autism and other complex special needs, she is equal measures active therapy provider, administrator, accountant,  human resources director, development coordinator and office janitor. The latter services were occasionally required when intense rains would cause flooding in her old office, but HAPPILY, Kate has moved into a brand new space in recent weeks, custom renovated to the unique needs of clinicians and clients, with triple the space and zero the leakage. The move to the larger environs is a testament to the growth she has stewarded in Nurture Learning and Development in the past several years and is most deserved. As if that weren't enough, Kate is also the CHP here at home (Chief Homework Parent) as most of the kids' school assistance requires French or mathematics... both subjects in which I was either a literal or at least philosophical failure in my own school days. I am forever grateful--and in her debt--that she possesses the skills to help our children in these subject areas. Kate also continues to engage her adjunct professorship skills through a Fall sessional course at the University of British Columbia in the Masters of Speech Pathology program, the likes of which has just concluded for the year. Kate tends to use her bike to get her most everywhere she goes, and spent vast amounts of free time this past year keeping our gardens beautiful, and veggie patch robust. To say the least, there's no moss growing on this stone, though Kate is looking forward to closing up shop on her clinic, closing the textbooks of all descriptions, and hitting the slopes for a bit of skiing over the holiday break! 

A couple of stunners right here 😍

My life has remained essentially unchanged since the last update I put on this blog last year. I continue, very happily, to work from home for Make-A-Wish. Perhaps the significant difference there is that I have been elevated from our regional office up into the seat of the national director of brand marketing and communications for Make-A-Wish Canada. I'm incredibly satisfied with the work I get to do each day at the helm of this organization's marketing and communications efforts, and I get to do it wearing sweatpants if I so choose to do so. Halleluia. As I spend so much time in the house, I am the chief dogwalker, grocery shopper, cook and laundry patron of this household and I'm very pleased to be so.  I DID return to rowing back in the spring; what a treat it was to get back out on the water after such a hiatus, though having a rowing machine on loan and in our house for 18 months was an exceptional gift for my personal fitness as I worked from home. I look forward to continuing my development in the sport in the coming year... given all the inconsistency I've experienced in accessing boats and coaching, I'm actually still quite a crappy rower :P. 

So there you have it. The past year has had it's "moments". "Heat Domes" brought catastrophic fire damage to forests and communities in our region. "Atmospheric Rivers" brought catastrophic flooding, highway washouts, ruined homes and farms and gasoline shortages, and COVID variants bring constantly fluctuating social norms and allowances. We're exceptionally grateful for vaccines (the provincial rollout of such being tirelessly coordinated by none other than Kate's saint of a mother who has worked 10-14 hour days in the past two years relentlessly to help us all get shots in our arms), for steady incomes, a protective home environment, and a bit of family close by to keep us connected in what at times seems to be an otherwise unsure world.

We know exactly how lucky we are, and we know that it has been another tough year for so many people. The world has so many issues to sort through, socially, environmentally, medically, politically. There is NO way I am going to jinx things by suggesting that 2022 is going to be our freedom from all the circumstances plaguing our world, but I WILL go so far as to wish a happy holiday to all, and pray that some peace finds each of you during this season, and into the next calendar year. 

Please enjoy this dimly lit family photo

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year, from the Chases. As per usual, in lieu of a physical card, please enjoy our video greeting! ... Plan B, you see?