It’s hard to believe that 2024 is on the cusp of being over.
For someone with one speed, which is go, it’s sometimes difficult to realize how much time is going by and how quickly it’s doing so.
At the risk of waxing too nostalgically, it is both awesome to see my kids growing up into kind and happy little humans and sad that they’re no longer little squishy and snuggly babies.,
The last time I wrote a year-in-review, it took a few hours and was a twenty-minute read, so I’m going to try to do this one as a highlight reel instead of a deep dive.
January 2024:
In January 2024, my little guy turned seven and had a great birthday party with his friends at Boys and Girls Club. For a ridiculously reasonable price, you can pick two activities plus a swim, and use a party room. Highly recommend!
I got my results back that I waxed the CASPAR test, a timed written and verbal behavioural analysis test that was my last step to applying to Teachers College at Western. Life experience was a massive asset for succeeding in this.
Jordan joined the London Orion basketball program, as one of only two girls working in their skills and drills for ten year olds group. Super proud of her for getting out of her comfort zone. it was an extra bonus that her coach was my good friend Kevin Daye, one of the nicest and most positive people on the planet.
Jameson and Jenna thrived in the Forest City Volleyball Little Acorns program. The coaching was amazing, and it did a great job of keeping the four to eight year olds engaged, learning, and having fun.
We also took our first-ever airplane family vacation, flying down to Florida for a week with Joy's godparents in a gated community on a golf course. It was a perfect way to break up the doldrums of Winter, and I look forward to doing it again. Everything else we needed was within three blocks besides a day trip to Universal Studios
February
February was a pretty quiet month.
Kids activities continued, with Jordan playing on a house league volleyball team for the first time through London Volleyball Club. Jameson enjoyed being a Beaver Scout, while Jenna was an Ember and Jordan was a girl guide.
Jameson and Jenna joined Ramblers house league basketball, where I had the pleasure of teaching skills to boys and girls in grade 1 to 3.
Our girls started seeing a pediatric Social Worker, Kathy Roberts, for support in dealing with bullying and other age-related issues. She has been great, and I have nothing but good things to say about Greenshield offering unlimited mental health benefits for LHSC staff and their families this past year.
I co-hosted a movie night at Mountsfield PS as part of community building for students and their families.
I also made my first of what turned out to be many appearances as a Guest Panelist on the Friday Round Table on the Craig Needles Podcast, the best local issues podcast in the London Area. A link to all of my appearances can be found on my media page.
On February 29th, I got to see Anthony Jeselnik in person at Centennial Hall along with a friend, one of the comedians who were on my must-see in-person list.
March:
March was another quieter month. We got stuck at home for March break, and I led the planning for a job fair at Cherryhill Mall, which was a massive success. The Mall had to call four extra security guards to help manage the crowd. Over 1,200 people attended.
We made it out for another date night; two in back-to-back months was almost living like those Dual Income No Kids folks! This time, we hit up The Keg for dinner with our awesome friends, Ryan and Nicole.
We were invited to Blue Spruce Resort near Algonquin Park along with three other families at our kid's school for Easter Weekend. We hiked, did Polar Bear Dips, and made a huge dinner for 25 people. We had a great time. I would highly recommend checking it out.
. Jordan had to change schools after March Break, going from Mountsfield to Tecumseh PS after multiple years of ongoing bullying that the school wasn't able to address. She has had a great time at her new school, which is a whole other blog post we will skip over for now.
April
In April, I saw my first in-person Raptors game since before COVID. It was against the Wizards, one of the few teams that my beloved Raps were able to beat these days. We ended up sitting RIGHT beside Four Corners, the in-house DJ, and I made myself a friend.
:
I had my first professional headshots done at https://anitawatkins.comhttps://anitawatkins.com, an amazing photographer and fellow member of the BNI Forest City networking group.
Jenna celebrated turning nine with a great birthday party at The Factory.
We had a nice night out for the third month in a row. This time, Craft Farmacy for dinner with our friends Braden and Sarah.
May:
My buddy Justin built Jameson "Frankenbike," a custom BMX built from parts from three different BMXes we found abandoned on the side of the road and a few parts ordered from Amazon. Jameson then mastered bike riding on a bike that was exactly tall enough for my gigantic seven-year-old.
I got to see Ice Cube in concert in London, and man, does that guy have a lot of energy for someone in their mid-50s.
We attended a cool STEM night hosted at Tecumseh PS.
Jordan and Jenna made their first foray into London Basketball Club, which runs an EXCELLENT all-girls skills and drills spring basketball program twice a week.
I also began my first-ever foray into coaching soccer. I am the ultimate "sure, I'll help" dad, and when signing Jameson up for Byron Optimist Soccer with his buddies, I was the only parent to offer to help coach. I ended up recruiting another dad, John, who had soccer-playing and coaching experience, and we had a ton of fun coaching the Byron Optimist U7 Eagles.
June:
June 1st brought our annual Blue Jays Game road trip. The Jays played the Pirates, and like every other Jays trip I take, they lost. I am a bad luck charm, for sure.
A coach named Kari Borland started a new basketball program for girls in Old South and even used our half court in our street to train the girls. Jenna has been loving it and has made some really good friends while also learning a ton. Community building is a beautiful thing.
We discovered our new favourite ice cream place in London, District Ice Cream. Here's our crew getting ice cream with a bunch of school friends.
Our gang finished off the school year on a high note:
And we celebrated with our first-ever backyard camping experience:
July:
We spent Canada Day downtown on Dundas Place and then went to the Highland Country Club for Fireworks.
Joy and I went back to Craft Farmacy, and we got Oysters and my first-ever Wagyu Steak.
We did lots of beaching in Grand Bend and The Pinery.
We also took our first-ever family trip to Muskoka, spending a week in cottages on Lake Rousseau with another family. The accommodations were stellar, and the kids had a blast.
I attended a poker night in the most toy-filled basement I've ever seen. A tad jealous.
August:
We kicked off the August Long Weekend with a day-long BBQ, water balloon fight, and pickleball Tournament with two of my best friends and their wives and kids.
Jordan had an absolute blast at a two-week Original Kids Theatre camp.
We took a road trip to Kitchener to the farmers market in St Jacobs and dinner at https://upperthamesbrewing.cahttps://upperthamesbrewing.ca in Woodstock on the way back.
In light of ongoing budget cuts, I organized and hosted a successful business networking fundraising BBQ for work along with London Bicycle Cafe. I also took multiple whipped cream pies in the face for a good cause.
We ended the summer on a high note, first with a day trip to East Park.
September:
We then went to Windsor and Detroit for the ultimate two-day trip, first going to a Detroit Tigers game, then staying in a hotel with a pool and going to Target and Olive Garden in Port Huron the next day, two places that they had heard so much about in Youtube videos.
I turned 41. It was low-key, just the way I like it.
Back to School started off well until bed bugs reached our kid's class. In my fifteen years with my wife, she has been afraid of two things. Something happening to our kids, and getting bed bugs in our house. After a month of meticulous checking and spraying, only one made it to our house and it was dead from the spray in our kids backpack. Phew.
If there was one thing to take away as a positive, it might be that through my advocacy, the TVDSB might actually develop a Bed Bug Policy, which they currently do not have.
In happier news, we hit up Forest CIty Comic-Con for the first time and had a blast.
My Mens League Team, Lash Envy, were summer champions of the 35+ Elite Stars Elgin League.
We shopped for Halloween Costumes.
We also recognized Orange Shirt Day in the office. After serving as interim program coordinator for the spring, I had the honour of being named program coordinator on a permanent basis. I love the work we do and am lucky to do it.
October:
Joy and I started the month off with some much-needed alone time. On a perfect fall day, we got a full day with no kids to go on a tour of Southwestern Ontario breweries.
We got to see the northern lights! They're so cool. Just north of London on Twelve Mile Road was a perfect spot.
We added to our Halloween decor collection.
Jordan tried out for, made, and started for her Grade eight girls' basketball team as a sixth grader, something her previous school wouldn't even entertain the idea of. Seeing her confidence blossom, along with her skills and sense of place, was a beautiful thing.
The kids had a blast for Halloween with their friends.
November:
November was a busy month, but busy in the existence of being. Being a dad, a husband, a leader, and a supporter.
I was able to rely upon my professional network to help offer the best workshops possible for our clients. Below is Chris McAuley, a professional speaking and sales coach who is teaching our youth how to show up as their best selves. I highly recommend hiring Chris if you could benefit from his services.
Through the London Falcons, we went to our first Western Women's Basketball Game as a family. Jenna Button is a hooper. She has a lot of Caitlin Clark in her game. I would highly recommend my reader(s) take their families.
My wife checked off a button list item and saw Bruce with her brother.
Jameson signed up for indoor soccer with his buddy Hux. Seeing him with kids his own age will never not make me laugh.
We took advantage of our two youngest being at a playdate to hit the new Plaza Sushi Omakase near us. Bomb.
Duncan had yet another of many playdates with his golden friends.
We had some fall fun in our front yard. This tree was a new baby when we moved in ten years ago.
Duncan LOVES leaves.
Jenna got glasses!
My peers voted me Chapter MVP for our networking group. It is such an unexpected honour to be viewed this way by a group of successful local owners and managers.
December:
December is one of the best times when you have a family.
We started off the month by hosting my family for family Christmas. Even though my mom's side is in New Zealand, and my dad and his brother are no longer with us, my kids love spending time with the family I do have.
Our crazy elf, Charlie, made a comeback for year 2. Here's an example of his shenanigans. The kids were PUMPED to have him back.
Instead of spending our reserve fund on a party for us, BNI Forest City used it to buy Christmas presents and hand out soup, cookies, and coffee to people sleeping rough in Old East Village. It was a rewarding experience.
I joined London City Hall Toastmasters in November to improve my public speaking. Not one to shy away from a challenge, I entered my first contest in December and finished second. I'm off to a great start.
On Christmas Eve, we went skating at Victoria Park. When we got home, we started getting ready for Church, just to have the CO alarm go off. When my buddy Camilo from GoLo HVAC told us a year ago that we had a year left in our furnace, he was right. It just happened to be Christmas Eve.
Due to our gas fireplace, we spent a warm and safe Christmas day together, and on the 27th, we got a new furnace.
Our friends Jessie and Josh invited us to go skating at Budweiser Gardens on the 29th. Jenna is a savant hooked after two trips, and Jordan and Jameson are like baby deer on skates.
I am currently spending a quiet New Year's Eve with the kids while Joy works. Hopefully, she catches the New Year's baby! I am and always will be grateful for her expertise and selflessness in helping babies and their parents from across the region.
Reflections on 2024:
Creating this post is always fun because it reminds me that we accomplish a lot and make many fantastic memories as average middle-class suburban folks.
I'm blessed to have a safe and happy home with a wife and children who are safe, loved, and love me back.
I'm lucky to have a job that I enjoy, caters to my strengths, and allows me to make an impact while collaborating with some spectacular folks. It also emphasizes work-life balance, not missing a single kids' activity or school pick up or drop off that I needed due to Joy's schedule.
I'm lucky to have many supportive, kind, positive and helpful friends. You are the sum of the people you spend the most time with, and that shows.
I am grateful for things many of us take for granted, like choice, options, and self-awareness. I realized a few months ago that I was struggling mentally and was able to return to therapy. My first attempt went poorly, but I've now had five sessions that have been very productive with a psychotherapist that I trust.
If you want to be physically strong, join a gym. If you want to be mentally strong, read, journal, reflect, and talk to a therapist for help working through your past or present issues and struggles.
I personally used the psychologytoday.com London therapist listing filters, contacting six and meeting with two before finding one I liked and clicked with.
I'm also grateful for creative outlets, having been invited numerous times to appear on The Pulse on AM980 with Devon Peacock and The Craig Needles Show. I've also been writing a Mom and Caregiver magazine monthly column for fathers and look forward to more creative opportunities in 2025.
I'm grateful for the positive people we know and how they treat us and our kids. Whether it's our across-the-street neighbours, parents at our kids' schools, family members, long-time friends, colleagues, you name it, it takes a village to thrive, and we are lucky for ours.
Special thanks to:
My wife's friends and their partners (Katie, Lawrence, Michelle, Greg)
My friends and their wives (Scott, Laura, Braden, Sarah, Ryan, Nicole, Shaneen, Andrew)
My and Joy's families, including Aunty Sue and Uncle Len
Positive parents at my kids schools - The Hammonds, The Antones, Josh and Jessie, The Campbells, Katie Carr, Ayden, Cheryl, and many others
Coaches and leaders that make kids activities available and awesome. BMO Soccer Academy, Forest City Volleyball, London Orion, London Ramblers, London Basketball Club, London Falcons, Byron Optimist Soccer, Mrs. Bushell and Ms. Anger of Tecumseh PS Basketball, the staffs of Museum London, Sport Western, Original Kids Theatre, and the leaders of 92nd troop Girl Guides, Embers, and Scouts running out of Calvary Church especially come to mind.
Our neighbours, especially Jodie and Pete, Al and Lorenda, and Andy and Lucy for looking out for us and Brian and Loretta for letting us use their pool.
The awesome people I collaborate with every day. Whether it from BNI Forest City, the London Executive Association, Toastmasters, the London Public Library Board of Directors, the Old South Business Association, my employer, OHRMA, Mountsfield Home and School, Dad Club London, Christmas in the Village planning committee, Halloween in the Village, or anywhere else that I get. to collaborate with people, I am grateful for the opportunity.
Looking ahead to 2025:
2025 is shaping up to be a heck of a year.
I will finish my Certificate in Leadership in March and look forward to another academic challenge as a straight-A student for the last five semesters at Fanshawe. I didn't get off the wait list for Western for Fall 2024 Teachers College, but I still have more greatness to be found in me academically. What that is, I hope to know by April.
Physical health-wise, I look forward to maintaining my recent progress towards dropping the pesky extra 30 pounds I've picked up from stress eating and poor nutritional choices. I'm as strong as ever but too heavy and slow, and my joints will thank me.
Mentally, I will continue my work with my therapist and my personal daily task list, which involves journalling and breathwork, among other things. It's helping, and I will continue to grow and be the best me possible.
Socially, I will continue to organize and lead the monthly #LdnOnt meetup and be there for and connect with my incredible circle of friends as much as I can.
Creatively, I will maintain my monthly column and podcast appearances while also expanding my blog and hopefully diving into either video or podcasting. There are a lot of stories to be told and knowledge to share, and I would love to be a more significant part of that. I know how this blog can be weekly and valuable in a manageable fashion, and I am excited to roll it out by the end of the week.
This is all good stuff Jeremy! Wishing you and your family a very happy, healthy New Year! 😊