2017 Holiday Edition : Oh What a Year!

The fact that we have a Xmas card this year (as opposed to last year where we completely missed Xmas) is a good sign that just maybe... we are finally catching up with life and such... maybe...

2017 has been a whirlwind of changes and challenges that started at the end of 2016. We have had our share of events reminiscent of HGTV horror episodes, workplace drama, a forced mid-life career change, several mishap trips to the ER, food allergies, home flooding and destruction of half our home, and growing pains of transitions to new environments - new school (for Liam) and a new work (for me). However through it all, we have managed to keep up the climbing, incorporating short trips here and there, and kids manage to find ways to have fun regardless of the situations. At the end of the year, we've grown a little more resilient and adaptive. So.. all in all... it's been a good, challenging year, though, I must say, I'm looking forward to 2017 ending, and for the 2018 new year to begin.

Some highlights this year were :
* Emilia became a backup drummer for a band one day night
* Connie completed her 2017 New Years Resolution of 365+ miles in a year and completed a legit, outdoor roof-style V3.
* Kids are becoming more independent and better at climbing. Emilia participated on a climbing team for a short stint. She became belay certified, and technically, the kids can climb on their own.
* Ryan continues to consistently train and build his climbing skill level. We're optimistic a legit, outdoor V8 is within his reach. And he's got our home gym underway...

* Connie managed to transition to a new industry and job.
* Our most memorable trip this year was to Bishop. Climbing at the Happies.. produced some great, memorable moments for all of us.

* And the kids continue to be the best of friends, and worst of enemies...

With this holiday season, we are happy to have a breather and catch up, at least a little. Wishing our friends and family good health and cherished moments of happiness.

(Miss you cousin Luke and great-grandma)

365+

New Years Resolution 2017 achieved!!! Back in Jan this year, I committed to 365 logged running miles for 2017. It didn't matter the frequency.. whether it was 1 mile/day or 365 miles in one day.. I just needed to run 365 miles by the end of 2017. I opted to keep accountable by focusing on 1 mile/day and to keep a log of the miles monthly.

Certain days and months, I went over the 1 mile/day.. Jan, Feb, and March. If I felt like I had extra time or energy, I would run extra miles to "cash" it for rainy days. Other times when life was overwhelming, such as August/Sept/October when I put 110% of my effort into job hunting, those months lapsed in running miles. However, now towards the end of the year, I'm happy to have achieved 365 miles for 2017 on the day after Thanksgiving.. Nov 24th.

In fact, an ex co-worker took on this challenge as well... but he's a runner, and he achieved the mileage in June/July time frame. A way that I connect with my ex-coworkers are through Fitbit Challenges, and it's nice to know that there are other OCD crazies like me. I'm definitely missing my old work environment, my former co-workers as I am still adjusting to my "new life" as I call it. But we still get together on occasion for Happy hour, Fitbit challenges, or messaging.

This week we had a work-week hustle. I've retained 1st place, logging in 163,309 steps in a 5-day period. It required running about 10 miles a day which I would do in the wee hours (4-6am) of the morning before work, and late into the night after work (9-11pm).

Here's a photo I took to show evidence of such endeavors. Me and my slow-man companion late one evening after putting the kids to bed.