'Tis the season of hustle and bustle, Christmas music playing in the background, twinkling stars, wrapping paper and food of all varieties. Also, it is about time I start writing this Christmas Letter. If I leave it any longer, it will be 2021 before it gets published.

Looking back at 2019, I can say we made it, but it was full of ups and downs, a bit of a rollercoaster ride for our family.

2019 started out quietly for us. We rang in the New Year with friends, albeit by 12:15 we walked the 30 steps home from our neighbours and friend's house, tucked the kids in and cuddled on the couch until we fell asleep. January and February were mostly quiet months for us. I was trying my best not to vomit while simultaneously stuffing my face to beat the nausea I was feeling. In early January we found out that we were expecting Baby #3. Little peanut made mama feel a bit queasy with the occasional side of raging heartburn. Around the 3 month mark, I began to feel better, and we decided to share our exciting news with friends and family.

Around that time, we also got a call from Sun Shadows Campground at Good Spirit Lake with news that after 6 years of waiting, we had finally made it to the top of the list. If we wanted it, a seasonal campsite would be available to us. We had 7 days to make our decision. At first, we didn't think it was something we wanted to do. We are tent people. However, with a third baby on the way and me going to be very pregnant over the summer, we decided that maybe having a trailer in one place wouldn't be so bad. So we said yes. The catch? We didn't own an RV nor a truck to pull said RV. Thus began a month-long search to find an RV that we liked, suited our needs, and was within our budget. (Who knew we were such picky people...haha). In the end we went with a camper that was already out at Sun Shadows. The owners had bought a lot at the golf course and were considering selling if they could find a buyer. It was perfect for us. We didn't have to move or haul anything, and we literally bought everything on their site (shed, deck, etc.). This camper and site became our summer oasis, and I can say that I am quite happy with our decision. As our year played out, it ended up being the place that we all needed. The camping season started the last weekend of April and closed up the first weekend of October. Brett went out opening weekend to learn how everything worked and then we spent the May long weekend getting it all set up and enjoying the space as a family.

From opening weekend through May and June, we spent the majority of our weekends at the lake. July and August more days than not were spent at the lake, which was fine by us, because our friends and family joined us, either camping in the provincial park or staying with us. Did I mention our trailer is HUGE. Like 39 ft HUGE. For people who camp primarily in a tent, and pack it all in a little tiny Hyundai Elantra Touring, this was a bit of a change from what we were used to. A more glamorous lifestyle. But still fun nonetheless.

Zaeya is now 6 (end of November) and is currently in Kindergarten. In June, she completed her 2nd year of iDiscover Preschool and was finally ready to head to Kindergarten. She loves school, is very interested in reading and drawing, and all things Frozen (re: Elsa & Anna). Her mind is always working, questioning everything around her. She talks a lot, loves reading books, and spent most of her summer outside playing with her friends and brother. She is a very doting big sister who loves to help out around the house. Zaeya ran in two races this year, 1 km Run for Women in June, and 2km Mini- Marathon in September. Her activities this year have been: gymnastics, soccer, community dance class, and Girls in the Game sport (martial arts & soccer)

Logan is now 3 (end of August) and is currently chilling at home with mama while she is off on maternity leave. Logan is our silly guy. He loves to make everyone laugh and smile and does so with a grin on his face. He is pretty shy, but once he knows you, he warms up to you quickly. Logan loves all things cows (well, he is actually scared of the live animal, he tells us all the time I don't like those big cows mom, just the baby ones). But his most loved toy at home is his cows, tractor, and bales. That boy makes round and rounds with his cows. Feeding them bales, rounding them up and hauling them to another pasture. Logan even got to attend his calf sale in Moose Jaw this fall with Papa Brian. At the end of the sale he asked Papa where his cows were to take home. He didn't quite understand what was actually happening, but he was quick to point out ALL the COWS PAPA as they ran through the ring. Logan's other favourite thing, the word WHY? The boys questions everything. That word is pretty much in every sentence he says, or follows up after every response you have given him. Haha. Logan ran in his first two races this year: 1 km Run for Women - (he was the last kid in, but he did it), 1 km Mini-Marathon in September. His activities for this year have been: gymnastics and a community dance class.

Our newest addition to the family is Nash Brian Park. Nash joined our family on Tuesday, September 17, 2019. He weighed in at 8 lbs 9 oz and 21 inches long. Nash is a chubby little guy, who is generally pretty pleasant and easy-going. We even managed to introduce Nash to the camper right at the end of the season when he was just over a week old. He travels really well in the car (we made the long drive out to Calgary when he was a month old) and is a trooper for mama. Unfortunately for him, he is the third baby. That means mom is continually waking him up from naps to take sister to school, to pick sister up, to run errands, to do all the things. Thankfully so far, he just rolls with it. Nash's current activities include: playing on his playmat batting at the toys and looking at the Octopus, and jumping in the Jolly Jumper.

From January to June, I continued teaching at Campbell Collegiate, running the Supportive Environment Program. My May and June were pretty busy, getting everything sorted and planned and organized for the person taking over my position in the fall. I did not return back to work at the end of August. With Nash's due date in the middle of September, I wasn't sure if I would even make it back to work (Logan was born two weeks early). So with my doctor's blessing at the end of August, I stayed home instead of waddling around a massive school with 1500 students to bump into my big old baby belly. In that time, I also continued doing strength workouts with Michelle. Michelle, Jarret, and their family have relocated to Calgary (J got a chance at a dream job), so Michelle is continuing to coach me but from a distance. Right now, I am at home enjoying my maternity leave with the 3 kids.

Brett is still his own boss at Shiverware. He continues to work in the world of IoT and building apps for other businesses. Last year Brett took up the sport of Biathlon (cross country skate skiing and marksman shooting). He spent the entire winter hoping for mild weather so that he could go out skiing, but instead, we had extended, frigid temperatures with little snow. Nonetheless, he was able to participate in his first Master's race on his home course in March. It was pretty neat to watch, and as a family, we have taken up watching the sport of Biathlon. Brett tells me that in 5 years, he is going to be representing Canada at Biathlon Masters International Championships. Brett did sign up to compete in a race in early December at Blue Mountain, unfortunately, due to lack of snow, the race was postponed. Instead, he got to work with a provincial coach and got some tips on different things to try out. Brett has also taken up learning everything he can about Jeeps, particularly his 2002 Yellow Jeep TJ (or as Zaeya calls it, the newborn Jeep). While spending our summer at the lake, Brett would often go out fishing on the NuCanoe in the mornings. But that meant he needed the car. Whomever stayed back was then stuck at the camper until he returned (we could walk to the lake, but a 3 year old takes tiny steps, and my pregnant ass was not going to be able to haul all our crap to the beach for that long walk). Thus began his search for a Jeep. After months and months of looking and searching and researching, Brett brought home our used Jeep. It is currently parked in the garage while he works on in. The kids love it (it is bright yellow), and I think they would ride in it every day if possible. One of the only downsides is the Jeep only holds 4 people. We are now a family of 5. Ha! But it will be our second lake vehicle, and we really can't wait for the camping season to begin again.

Brett also had some health issues we learned about this year. This spring, we learned that Brett had the form of cancer called Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Our family found ourselves learning about the medical system in yet another way, and we learned about treatment plans, and CT scans and PET/CT scans, and chemotherapy, and so on. Brett started treatment in early July and finished his last treatment on Halloween. Overall he tolerated his treatment quite well, and earlier scans were showing that treatment was working. We are in a holding pattern right now. More scans and blood work will be done in the months to come. I am currently quite happy that he is not doing treatment as we are in the thick of cold and flu season. Having to avoid people, and sanitize your house, and just be extra aware is hard. I would love to send a warm thank you to the countless people, friends, family, and co-workers who reached out to check in on us, made us food, sent us gift cards, text messages, emails, phone calls, or stopped by to visit us at the house or the camper. Thank you. It's all really quite overwhelming but so very appreciated.

Well, it's time to go and see what 2020, a whole new decade has in store for us. We are wishing you and your family all the best next year.

Love,
The Parks
Brett, Danielle, Zaeya, Logan & Nash