Well, thanks to the Canada Post strike, we’re skipping Christmas cards this year—so here’s our digital version! Think of it as our yearly recap, but with a little more personality and a lot less glitter stuck to your carpet.
2024 has been a year for the Aldersons—big changes, lots of travel, and a whole lot of juggling. So, grab a coffee (or something stronger), and let me fill you in on the chaos.
Big Moves (Literally)
In June, we said goodbye to Manitoba and hello to Regina.
The move was a mix of excitement and mild panic (because moving with three kids is no joke). Jason and I have never lived in a city together before, so it’s been fun figuring out city life. We’re loving the convenience—quick trips to the store are a game-changer—but the traffic? Hard pass.
The best part? Our kids finally have cousins nearby! Growing up, both Jason and I spent so much time with our cousins, so it feels really special to give our kids the same experience.
Our new house needed a bit of love—a whole basement development, to be exact. Thankfully, we got it done just before winter hit, so now we’re all cozy and settled in.
The Year of "How Much Can We Fit In?"
March was a whirlwind in the best way. We took the kids to Orlando and basically lived every kid's dream: Legoland, Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure, and an Orlando Magic game. It was non-stop, and I may have needed a vacation from that vacation, but seeing the kids light up made it all worth it.
Jason and I squeezed in some grown-up adventures too. In July, we headed to Seattle for a business trip (and yes, we made time for great coffee and even better views).
Then in October, we hit up Las Vegas to celebrate 11 years of marriage. Let’s just say we’re still in sync—well, as much as two people trying to juggle businesses, kids, and life can be!
Life with the Littles (Who Aren't So Little Anymore)
September brought a lot of firsts for the kiddos. Whitter turned 9, started school, and basically became a social butterfly overnight. He’s been going to so many birthday parties that I’m pretty sure he has a better social calendar than me.
Harlow’s loving school too and might finally be figuring out how to control those big emotions that come from having to listen more than she talks, learn french, and do things that she doesn't think are necessary. And Cannon has been hanging out with Dad alone during the day, which has been sweet and chaotic all at once. They make a lot of trips to the library, the indoor play centres and our local family resource centre for all kinds of fun activities.
Oh, and they all started swimming lessons (again) this year. Watching them learn something new and grow more confident has been a highlight for me... even if it meant hauling everyone to the pool super early on Saturday mornings and managing the post-swim snack rush.
What We’ve Learned (Hint: It’s All in the Calendar)
If this year had a theme, it would be “How much can we pack into 365 days?” Between work, school, trips, moving interprovincially AGIAN... and that basement reno, our calendar has been our saving grace. Here’s what we’ve figured out:
Pick Your Priorities: We call them the BIG ROCKS! Things that absolutely have to go into the calendar, and everything else will be scheduled around them. For us... it's family, travel, and a little bit of self-care. Everything else can wait (seriously, it can).
Plan for Fun: Of course work has to get done, but we've learned that we also need to plan for fun. We’ve blocked time for library visits, movie nights, and just hanging out as a family. Those moments have kept us sane.
Go with the Flow: Life doesn’t always stick to the plan (which is the hardest for me... shocker), but sometimes the best memories come from the unexpected.
What’s Next for 2025?
We’ve got big plans for 2025! We are going to continue expanding our business across Canada, get in more travel to new places (stay tuned), and fingers crossed, buying another property. But we’re also trying to slow down a little and soak up the moments in between all the busyness.
So, that’s our year in a nutshell: a little chaotic, a lot of love, and just enough XS to keep us going. From our family to yours, we hope your 2024 was just as full of growth and joy (and maybe fewer renos). What was your highlight this year? I’d love to hear!
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