One Of A Kind Show
I went a few years ago with my mom, sister, and grandmother, but didn't have time to go last year. So we cut it a little close, but Phil and I were able to make it on the late shopping night this year (where the show is open until 11 instead of 9, because we both worked until 6 that night). We tasted a bunch of yummy food and saw all the beautiful handmade items. I've never been to the spring show, but I had so much fun I think I'll make it a point to go this year.
Every year Phil goes to the Christmas Parade in the town where he grew up (around New Market), and this year he invited me to come with him. He'd shown me his old town before, but I never get tired of visiting there with him, walking around the town, and seeing his old house. We also found a hiking trail in the summer that we walked along when we went for the parade, since it wasn't too cold or snowy. We ate lunch there, walked around the town some more, and then spent the rest of the day in New Market. It was perfect.
I posted some pictures last year of when Elana and I went down to the Distillery District (click here to read the post), but we didn't realize that the actual Christmas Market was over by the time we went, so all the booths were closed down, even though all the decorations were up, which was enough for us to see the District decorated beautifully for the Holidays. Luckily, Phil and I made it this year while the Market was still going on, so we got to experience the true Market, and see all the artisan goods and food.
My family usually goes away somewhere warm for the Holidays, but this year only my dad and brother went, so it was just my mom, my sister, and myself in the house for about two weeks. The three of us at home is pretty much my favourite dynamic of our house, because it's a lot quieter, calmer, and more fun! We had a few girls' nights watching movies at home, and roasting marshmallows in front of the cozy fire, and we went to the VIP cinemas one night to see Sisters (my mom had never been to VIP and she had a blast). I had to go to Unionville one day so I could pick up part of my Secret Santa gift for work from the confectionary there (photo of what I picked up on my Instagram), so they decided to come along and we had a really nice day walking around, going into shops, and getting coffee and snacks.
One of the easiest and only things I know how to make it Rice Krispie squares, and Elana and I love making the red and green ones during December. It's nothing big, but we just love spending sister time melting the marshmallows and making the Rice Krispies together, and then of course devouring them right after. Phil and I were also really excited to make a gingerbread house together this year. We did it while watching Christmas Vacation, which he was so excited to show me, since I've never seen it and it's his favourite Christmas movie, so that's probably the most Christmassy thing we could have done! We also baked gingerbread cookies in fun shapes on Christmas morning. (And yes I know making a gingerbread house really does not require any baking, nor does making Rice Krispie squares for that matter, but I couldn't find a better caption for this section!)
I already made a post about Phil and I spending our one year anniversary in Niagara a few weeks ago, but I had to add it in here too, since it was definitely a huge highlight for me. It gets very crazy, expensive, and busy when our anniversary is a week before Christmas Eve, but to be able to get away and spend time just the two of us was perfect. I just don't know how we'll top it for our two year anniversary.
I'm Jewish and have never celebrated Christmas before, and Phil being Catholic has never celebrated Hannukah, so it was great to be able to share our own Holidays with each other. He came to my family's Hannukah party where he got to eat latkes and light the Hannukah candles, and I had the best December 25th yet, spending the day with his whole family and eating so much turkey and stuffing.
Again, I already posted about how I spent my New Year's Eve in my first post of the year, but since it was really the last highlight of the year I had to add it in here as well. So here's just some cute pictures of Phil and I spending a quiet New Year's at home.