We had the best Christmas ever!  Having a three year old makes Christmas magical!  It's as if I am a kid again (and I want her to get ALL the Barbies possible!).  

This year we spent a good solid month being festive.  Juliette helped my decorate the trees (Juliette's tree & Mommy's tree...no tree for Daddy). We saw Santa at the Jacksonville Zoo.  We made cranberry cookies from the recipe on the back of the book called "Cranberry Christmas".  We made salt ornaments for the tree.  We listened to LOTS of Christmas music.  Juliette sang "Jingle Bells" a gazillion of times.

Juliette wouldn't nap on Christmas Eve due to all of her excitment for the next day.  I spent the day painting the kitchen and prepping for Aunt Jenny to tile our new back splash.  Juliette spent the day running around the house like a lunatic and watching Christmas movies.  We did put out some homemade chocolate chip walnut cookies, chocolate milk (cause Santa likes CHOCOLATE milk Mommy) and some carrots for the reindeer that night.

On Christmas Day, Josh & I patiently waited for Juliette to wake up.  And of course she slept until later than normal!  She woke up and walked out to see her goodies...and all we heard was "MOM! DAD! MOMMY! DADDY!"  So we got up from bed to see a super excited little girl.  Santa was good to her and brought her everything that was on her list.  She got her Paw Patrol Airplane, her new Dory Watch, Princess Ariel, inside trampoline, American Girl Bitty Baby, and more!  I made some homemade cinnamon rolls (for the first AND last time ever) for breakfast.  They took me a solid FOUR hours to make.  Later in the day, we went to see the movie "Sing" since Juliette has been talking about it for a while now.  Afterwards, we drove around and saw some Christmas lights and grabbed some takeout sushi/Thai food.  A great day was had by all!  

And the next day, Juliette said to me..."I do that again!" 

Juliette has been asking about seeing Santa for a few weeks now.  She is definitely in the Christmas spirit!  She helped decorate the tree (and redecorates on a daily basis).  She helped bake cookies.  She loves finding her Elf, Elfette, each morning.  She sings "Jingle Bells".  She is feeling it.

So I told her earlier in the day that we were going to see Santa.  When it came time to leave, we pilled into the car and I asked her "Juliette, where are we going?"  "To the North Pole to see Santa" she replied.  Duh, of course we were going to see Santa at the North Pole.  I guess the North Pole is just a short drive away from St. Augustine, FL!  In this case, the North Pole was the Jacksonville Zoo and their annual Zoolights. She was super excited to see Santa.  She ran right on up to him and started chatting away.  She asked him for the Paw Patrol airplace, Princess Ariel and a watch,  I have a feeling the big guy will be coming through on those wishes!

Merry Christmas!  Today was a great day!  Juliette woke up to find all her goodies delivered by Santa.  She was so excited this year!  She got pretty much every Paw Patrol item out there along with a bunch of other fun things.  Her favorite gifts this year are her Paw Patrol semi-truck (thanks Aunt Karen & Aunt Maggie!), her new Thomas train set and her mail box.  It took a while to open everything since she was so in to the first things she opened.  It is so fun to have Christmas with a little person!  

After breakfast, Juliette played with all her new toys.  Since it was 80+ degrees outside today, Juliette & I went for a run/walk around the neighborhood.  So far a fun day has been had by all!  Juliette is still napping as I type this at 5:30 p.m.  So much fun for one day!  And we haven't even had dinner yet! Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from The Jones'!

Auntie Em was able to capture the last picture...with both of them looking at the camera! Thanks for joining us Auntie Em!!!

Happy New Year!  We had a really lovely and peaceful Christmas at home.  Juliette was not really interested in the actual opening on the gifts...she just wanted to play with them afterwards.  It is so much harder to get pictures of her this year now that she is mobile and on the move non-stop.  Santa brought her lots of toys and goodies.  Christmas is so awesome when there are little people around.  

Oh how I love Christmastime!  It is such a magical season...especially when Meghan Lewis of Meghan Vail Photography can get awesome pictures of a crazy toddler!  Meghan is a true miracle worker!  I have not been able to get Juliette to sit for pictures (for more than a second) for a while now, but Meghan was able to do it!  She captured the real Juliette!

If you are ever in Orlando and need a photographer...hire Meghan!  You will not be disappointed.  Meghan also took our wedding pictures (click here for a few), engagement pictures, Juliette's newborn pictures (click here), and Juliette's one-year pictures (and click here).

Juliette hung out with Santa for a little while today.  She didn't seem too impressed by him.  She even let him hang onto Chuck.  I wonder what she was telling him...hmmm.  They had a nice chat and that was that,  As she walked away, she did turn back and look him over a few times.  Not so sure about that fella.  

Santa stopped by and left some goodies for Juliette!  She wasn't into opening the gifts at all.  And we were WAY too fast for her.  If she could talk, I'm sure she would have told us to slow down so she could play with each gift for at least 10 minutes before the next one was opened.  Juliette got a water table, some new clothes, her first pair of Minnetonka's, her first Blabla doll and LOTS of new toys!

 After opening gifts, we had breakfast and enjoyed a peaceful day at home.  We missed our families, but it was nice to be home and not have to be on the road.  I'm sure next year we will head north.  The holidays have a whole new meaning when you have your own child!  It is soooo much fun!  It's almost like being a kid again ourselves!  And I know it'll just keep getting better!  Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from The Jones'!