Daycare Christmas Party

We had the Christmas party at Juliana's daycare on Friday. Juliana was more interested in sitting with us than the rest of the toddlers, but she did manage to sit with Santa. She had fun with her friends and enjoyed her pizza at lunch.

Gingerbread House

Juliana and I built a Gingerbread house from a kit. Juliana was much more interested in eating the candy than decorating the house, but it turned out pretty good.

Christmas Card Pictures

Here is the official Christmas card picture and a few others from that photo shoot. She started out by yelling "No Camera Mommy!" and it didn't get much better. I recommended that she dance at one point hoping for a smile in the process but only got some silly pictures. I gave her fruit snacks which prompted her to sit down and eat. I even let her play the piano for a little while...

Learning to Talk - Amusing phrases

Here are some of my current favorites from Juliana.

Shut it on - instead of turn it on

glubs - instead of gloves, although she is learning the corrent pronunciation now...

I pick-up my Mommy - instead of Mommy, pick me up

When she has something that she want to share (a few extra raisins, etc.), she tips her head to the side and says, "want some" in this adorable high-pitched voice.

Alligator instead of elevator

Disney #7

Friday morning we did some park hopping to go back to our favorite attractions. First stop - Animal Kingdom. Juliana went to the Festival of the Lion King show with Nonni and G, while Scott and I rode Everest 4 times (makes 10 for the week - great coaster - excellent addition Disney). Juliana had a final turn on the Triceratops spin and then we got on the bus to MGM.

First we had lunch at MGM and then Juliana went to the Beauty and the Beast show with Nonni. During the show when Beast is stabbed and falls to the ground and it is very quiet - Juliana said "Beast fall down" loud enough to produce giggles from their section. Scott and I went on Tower of Terror and the Rock-N-Roller Coaster. Then we went across the park to the Muppet 3-D show, Juliana was not so amused by this one and wouldn't wear the glasses. We left the park to go back to the hotel for naps.

After nap time, Juliana went swimming with Scott and G. She has had so much fun swimming this week - no fear of the water; face under, no problem. Then Juliana went out to dinner with Nonni and G.

Scott and I went to Epcot for dinner, we had 8:15 reservations at Bistro de Paris. We were there early and seated at 8:00. The food was delicious!! But it was a long meal - my main course arrived at 9:30 just as the fireworks were starting outside. The restaurant is in the second floor and we were seated near a window so we watched the fireworks from our table. Desert - so awesome - warm, Grand Marnier souffle - yum!

We took some pictures around the hotel Saturday morning. We stayed at the Pop Century resort which has areas for each decade from the 1950s to the 1990s - we were in the 1960s. The stair towers at the end of each building are inside an iconic item from that decade - our stairs were inside giant yo-yos - the stairs that we used were in the green yo-yo or as Juliana called it - the big green circle.

Saturday morning we packed up the van and headed to the airport for our 12:25 flight. The flight was on time and baggage was quick in Pittsburgh (I may be a Southwest convert after this - on time flights, leg room, snacks on the plane, fast baggage claim), we were in the Jeep at 3:00 and Juliana was sound asleep within minutes. She was very good on the flight home.

Disney #6

Wednesday night we went to Animal Kingdom for "extra magic hours". First we had some dinner and then went to the Festival of the Lion King - such an awesome show! Juliana is constantly in motion all day, but every time a show starts, she sits quietly and watches. Then we took a turn on Everest - highly recomend riding this coaster at night. Juliana was very sad that she couldn't ride - she kept asking to go on the roller coaster. We stopped in DinoLand for a quick spin and then home to bed.

Thursday morning we went to MGM. We started with the Beauty and the Beast stage show - Juliana loved it of course. Then Dad, Scott and I went on Tower of Terror. We walked over to the Animation courtyard and Juliana stopped to see Annie again - both in pigtails and jumpers, so cute! We went to the Little Mermaid show and then Quincy and June were there so we stopped for more pictures and the final Little Einsteins signature for her book.







After lunch at Mama Melrose, mom and I brought Juliana back to the hotel and we all napped. We headed to the Magic Kingdom after naps to see the fireworks. Juliana rode the horses right away, then we sat and watched the fireworks, then the Winnie the Pooh ride and finally the tea cups before leaving the park.

One more day of Disney fun before going back to the cold. We have been blessed with beautiful sunny blue sky days almost the entire week.

Dancing with Pooh

The Winnie the Pooh ride has been one of Juliana's favorite rides. Today we found Pooh and Tigger. The Winnie the Pooh song was playing in the background and when it was our turn, she ran over to Pooh and started dancing and jumping.

Disney #5

Wednesday morning we were up bright and early for our breakfast reservation (7:30 am) at Chef Mickey in the Contemporary hotel. Each of the characters (Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Pluto and Goofy) come to the table to say hello and take pictures.

Juliana had a yummy brownie and licked all of the sprinkles off the top - it's ok to eat a brownie with sprinkles for breakfast when you are on vacation, right? She did eat some real food first :)

Then we took the monorail over to the Magic Kingdom. We stopped in front of the castle for some pictures and then went back to Fantasyland - first stop the merry-go-round, then we visited Princess Ariel (aka Little Mermaid), on to the Winnie the Pooh ride and Dumbo - she went running down the line queue to ride the elephants - and fortunately she was able to to get a purple one. Then pictures with Pooh and Tigger.

We went to the Country Bear Jamboree and then walked down Main Street. On our way past the castle we passed the Fairy Tale garden and it was only 10 minutes until Story Time with Belle. Juliana patiently waited and loved Story Time.

Then we went to Toontown for a ride on the Barnstormer (little roller coaster - but lots of fun). On the way out of the park we spotted Buzz Lightyear and stopped for a picture. Then it was back to the hotel for a 2:00 nap.

Disney #4

We started the day at Epcot. Juliana went on Nemo with mom and Scott, Dad and I headed to Soarin. Then Mom and I switched and she went on Soarin and I took Juliana to meet characters. We waited about 30 minutes and then she was very happy to see Mickey! She was almost as excited to see Minnie - she was very interested in their noses and tried to pinch their cheeks. But would not go near Goofy or Pluto and had to be coaxed for a brief visit with Chip and Dale.

Unfortunately Juliana was not having a good day - she was very cranky and tired. So we came back to the hotel at noon. Everyone took an afternoon nap, then we went to Downtown Disney for some shopping and dinner.