Once Upon a Holiday

christmas tree

Hey, it’s February! What better time than now for a December holiday post?!

This past holiday season will forever be remembered, by me, as “The Holiday Season That Got Away.”  At the risk of sounding completely spoiled, going to Paris and London (for a wonderful chance to see friends and celebrate) completely threw me off schedule.

Take a look at the calendar.  We’re well into 2013 and I am just now sharing holiday related pictures!

Enough whining….

because we honestly had a very nice holiday spent with our family in warm, sunny Florida. I always think I’m fine with moving away from Florida to somewhere with actual seasons, and then Florida goes and does this:

Florida Sunset CrowndVic

I told my parents I will always come visit them so long as they always live in Florida!

Spending time with family warmed my heart.  These two little girls sure do make my heart dance!  Just look at them…

CrowndVic with nieces

My nieces loves their Aunt Vicki Cool Dude (especially since I brought all that yummy puppy chow to sneak eat)!  My eldest niece always makes me laugh.

sneaking treats

 We had a nice time with my family in warmer weather.

CrowndVic and Hubz

Right now I find myself wishing for snow and simultaneously wishing for Florida’s “winter’!

Our Holiday Card

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Whatever it is you celebrate, however you celebrate, we’re wishing you everything that is cozy and wonderful!

Merry Everything

from Crowning Victoria!!

Daddy’s Girl

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Last year around this time my dad walked me down the aisle.

The day prior my parents celebrated 45 years together.  I’m so lucky to have an amazing example of love to follow.

 

For our Father/Daughter Dance he twirled me around the floor. It was a beautiful Father’s Day moment!

I’m so lucky to have a wonderful dad!  {Love you, Dad!!}

 

all photographs by Studio Juno

Very Merry

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The wonder of twinkling lights…

The excitement of opening  gifts…

The adventure in taking a perfect family photo…

Almost…

 

…there’s nothing like being with family for the holidays!

(Wedding Recap) The Dollar Dance!

Immediately after the Hora we moved into another fun family tradition: the dollar dance (older post on the Polish history of the dollar dance).  It was completely exhausting going from the 25 minute hora to a 15 minute polka, and simultaneously fun. 

See, you pay a dollar to dance with the bride.
And then we use that money for the honeymoon (or to start the couple’s life — same diff).

My mom and sister collected the money for me while the dancers lined up and waited their turns.

My brother-in-law actually knows how to polka and totally whisked me around the dance floor!
My cousin is also amazing.
(so is my whooshing dress in this pic!)
My girl friends, in on the fun!
My dad, rocking the accordion again, with my aunt & uncle.
Because he’s also amah-zing.
And of course my niece enjoyed the fun dancing too!

This great tradition really captured my Polish side & allowed me some individual time with friends and relatives.  (I especially loved when cousin Steve brought me a glass of water!)