To our family and dear friends,
December is here and with it comes our wrap up of the magical year that was 2024.
A local January getaway took us to the outskirts of Algonquin Park for a snowy celebration of Andrea’s 35th birthday. We mostly stayed cozied up indoors with Vera suffering from her first high fever, but we did manage to get out for a short local hike and some tobogganing. A few days later, we welcomed our niece, Emily, into the world.
World-traveller-in-the-making, Vera got her first international passport stamp on our February vacation to Costa Rica. A beachside villa in tropical paradise with a crew of best friends set us up for the trip of a lifetime. We swam, we boated, we sunbathed, we partied, and on most nights we even went to bed before 10PM. Pura Vida, this was one for the books!
Though our return to Toronto was a bit of a comedown, it was sweetened by a visit from Henrika. She got in some quality auntie-niece time with Vera including taking her to get her very first library card.
In April, we jetted off to Vancouver to celebrate Grant and Megan’s wedding, catch up with west coast friends, stuff ourselves with sushi, and stroll through Stanley Park. We survived our first few nights away from Vera and so did her grandparent babysitters – thank you Nonna & Nonno!
Ever the live-music lovers, Jeff and Andrea attended a roster of impressive shows over spring and summer including Kamasi Washington, Khruangbin, Hiatus Kaiyote, Santigold…and IllScarlett deep in the woods north of Toronto.
The mega milestone of Vera’s first birthday on June 30th was marked on multiple occasions over the course of the month. Watching a little one devour cake never gets old; and my has she grown!
Lake life was the theme this summer with cottage visits dotted across the province. Kawagama Lake, Lake Muskoka, Hurds Lake – our budding little swimmer took a dip in each one.
In August, we spent a week housesitting in Montréal, enjoying quality time with Grand-maman, and touring the parks and splash-pads of Saint-Henri. Another lovely visit this month saw Vera meet her great-Aunt Teresa and great-Uncle Dale for the first time.
September marks the start of a new school year, making it a fitting time for Vera to begin daycare – a transition she approached with bravery and excitement. Every morning she’s eager to hop into her special seat on the back of Jeff’s bike to go see her friends at school.
Autumn flew by with work travel (hello New York and Austin!), a jaunt to Niagara for Jeff’s birthday and an unseasonably warm first Halloween in our festive neighbourhood. Vera dressed up as a rainbow bumblebee (“buzzzzzzz”). And as we steel ourselves ahead of winter, we’re looking forward to hosting family from Montréal and building new Christmas traditions together.
Though many of our standout moments of the year were tied to milestones and getaways, it was in equal measure the quiet moments of everyday life that made the year so special. Saturday morning cuddles in bed, tentative first steps that became courageous sprints across the playground, and monosyllabic sounds that morphed into proper words – witnessing Vera’s development, and ours as parents alongside her, has been our year’s greatest blessing.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and fantastic New Year!
With love,
Jeff, Andrea & Vera
Additional Photos by: Megan Campagnolo, Matt Stasoff
