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This has been a relatively boring beginning to our week. Going to school, coming home, sleeping, going back to school... the excitement never ends!

Since there is really nothing new to report, we thought it would be appropriate to take this opportunity to reminisce about the Christmases that we have spent together.

Our first Christmas together as a couple came in 1998, we had been dating for about 3 months, everything was new and exciting. And what could be more exciting that getting all dressed up in your finest duds and going to the Rockway Christmas Banquet. The most exciting social event of the Christmas season, the banquet was a great chance for students and teachers to enjoy a good meal, and the fun parties that often followed. So it was on this evening that a young Steingart drove up to 319 Edenbridge place to pick up the beautiful Miss Burkhardt. We had a wonderful time and the rest, as they say was history.

Chris and Jill ca. 1998 ready for the Christmas Banquet. Notice a couple things, Jill's afro-esque hair, Chris' blondissimaed strawberry blond hair, and of course his braces, how could we miss those! He did purchase the tie for the occasion.

Being welcomed into the Burkhardt and Steingart families always made this time of year fun for each of us. Even before both of us were married, we were both included in the family gift exchanges. This meant several years worth of pajamas for Jillian and several Christmas of 'twin gifts' for Chris. Since Chris and Phil are both boys, and they must have the same taste in everything, it would obviously be appropriate for Carolyn to by them identical gifts each year. The gifts were always things that he actually made use of, so it wasn't like they were very bad or anything, (we would never write that about any gifts - or those would be the last gifts we would ever get) but it was always fun witnessing another picture each year of the twins.

Chris and Phil display their matching gifts: 2 sweaters,
calendars, and some identical snacks.

For the past 2 Christmases, we have been married, which means that for the last two years the comforts of the Brubacher House Museum became our home base for Christmas operations. Each year we brought in a live (or dying) Christmas tree, set it up with all the trimmings. The natural surroundings of the U of W north campus, made the perfect winter wonderland for us and our visitors.

Last year, Chris decided to get even more into the Christmas theme and make a semi-edible replica of the Brubacher house out of Gingerbread. Unfortunately by Christmas the Gingerbread was so hard that nobody could eat it, but it served as an excellent centre piece for our family gatherings, and it kept him busy for a couple days.

 

 

Christmas memories at the Brubacher House.

 

Our tree, decked out in its usual place (left).

 

Last year Chris made a Gingerbread replica of the House (below).

As you have no doubt figured out by now, each of our blogs thus far have take the lyrics from a Christmas song of some kind, some well known, some not so well known. Just like today's title, we definitely have enjoyed being together with family and friends through the years, and look forward to many more opportunities to do so soon.

So if you haven't put up your decorations or begun baking those Christmas cookies, you had better get going! Christmas is right around the corner.

 

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart be light
From now on,
our troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Make the Yule-tide gay,
From now on, 
our troubles will be miles away.

Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more.

Through the years 
We all will be together,
If the Fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.
And have yourself A merry little Christmas now.

 

 

 

 

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Lyrics and Music by Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin 1943