Sweet Dreams: 2012

We have had a wonderful month.

We kicked off the season with the tree lighting in St. Petersburg (Florida, not Russia!).

With one of our dear friends, Juliana stared at the lights.

We also went to see lights at the botanical gardens.

We went with great friends

Juliana just loves their son. She likes to be right by his side.

Finally, we started preparing our house for Christmas.

Juliana was so excited to see a tree in the house!

This was her first sight of the tree, not yet decorated.

Just lights.

She wanted to touch it.

And see all of it.

She explained to me that I have to put water in the tree. Okay, thanks sweet girl!

When it was completely decorated, she looked at all the ornaments and found some favorites.

Every morning she would ask "Lights on pwease!"

There were parties to attend.

The first at her school. The highlight was making a gingerbread house.

Well, maybe not making the house but eating the building materials!

Her masterpiece.

A holiday hug from one of her teachers.

That night we went to a party at church,

and it snowed!

We partied at the zoo.

Every event was a party to Juliana. She would yell "Party!"

A carousel ride with Aunt Linda

We had fun with family.

Enjoyed visits with old friends.

And a visit with Bill's mom.

We had a wonderful weekend together. Juliana loved getting to spend time with her Grandma Carol.

And finally Christmas was here. All month long Juliana told us that Santa was coming to see her. And he was bringing presents. And then go bye bye.

She was confident in her plan, no need to sit on his lap.

She knew he would come through without her chatting him up. Smart girl!

On Christmas Eve she exclaimed, "Santa coming SOON!"

We attended church and then went to my parents.

Playing with a musical tree we bought in Russia.

And finally we opened presents!

A pink piano!

The next day, we saw that indeed Santa had been to our house. He left evidence.

Juliana was still saying "Santa coming soon!"

But once she saw his plate, and that he drank most of his water (she insisted we leave water instead of milk!), she looked amazed!

She was thrilled to drink from Santa's cup!

We opened presents

all day long.

She also wore her new crocs all day long!

She spent the day with her cousins, Emily

and Chaise.

aunts and uncles,

Aunt Angie

Her other "cousin" Remi

And we captured a new family photo.

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year. We rejoiced in the true reason for the season while also enjoying the joy and amazement of the season through our daughter's eyes. Although we spent our first Christmas together last year, we were still in Russia. We were thrilled to have received our greatest gift it did not matter where we were. We were happy to be our family of three.

This second Christmas felt like our first together. As we celebrated it in the comfort of our own home, we enjoyed the blessing of being surrounded by friends and family. We shared with our daughter some old family traditions, as well as created new ones for our family. New traditions we will share for many Christmases to come.

I love Thanksgiving! For us it is a day to enjoy family and food, as well as reflecting on all our many blessings. It's also the calm before the rush of Christmas begins. This year was a wonderful Thanksgiving! It was yet another first for our daughter and she enjoyed all the traditions of the day.

Actually, one tradition is the day before. The girls go shopping. Juliana loved getting to see her Aunt Angie

and her cousin, Emily.