It really has been the most wonderful time of the year. Exhausting and busy, busy, busy but wonderful. Need proof? Rather than tell you about my past couple weeks, come along on our magical holiday tour.

Feeling like a little hipster during our trip to Pennsylvania. Somehow I don’t think all the other cool kids are watching Peter Pan. They don’t know what they’re missing out on.

I don’t think we’re in Florida anymore, Toto. Taking in the beautiful — but FRIGID — view from my dad and stepmom’s back porch.

Then it was time for E. to explore one of my favorite places on earth: my late grandparents’ farm.

Before leaving Pa., there was time for a quick jam session …

We arrived back in Florida on Dec. 23, just in time to make cookies for Santa and the Blue Devil (for some reason, my Duke University graduate husband decided it was a good idea to tell E. that the Blue Devil is Santa’s best friend and helps him look for good kids in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Then, on Christmas Eve, he hops in the sleigh and goes joy-riding with the Big Guy. I guess it’s slightly less creepy than that evil-looking Elf on the Shelf … but only slightly)

The carrot is for Rudolph, the green cookies are for Santa and the blue-frosted ones are for the Blue Devil. How is this my life?

Then, it was finally time for the main event. Let the unwrapping begin!

And the day after Christmas seemed like a good enough time to embark on a big kitchen makeover project. Our crack crew got things started:

The couple that paints together …

… usually ends up temporarily not speaking to each other. Let’s just say we have different theories about the best ways to tackle a project.

The ceiling turned out FABULOUS thanks to the hard, hard work of my mom’s boyfriend (E’s beloved Dee Dee, as seen above). DadJovi also logged some hard hours, even getting up at 5 a.m. to finish painting the ceiling so he’d have time to fit in a training run before he and Dee Dee hit the golf course.

It was a team project. All that’s missing now are some bold and beautiful colors on those walls because there’s a whole lot of white in there right now. So let the color wars begin!

Our busy holidays weren’t over yet! We squeezed in a quick trip up the coast to my grandmother’s to celebrate her 71st birthday! Four generations of Jovis…

Then it was time to get our New Year’s Eve on. On the menu, lobster tails and filets, of course. And a fabulous martini of my own creation — Grey Goose, cranberry, tonic and fresh-squeezed lime juice. I won’t tell you how many I had but they were DELICIOUS!

And E. discovered the joy of sparklers during Daddy’s New Year’s Fireworks Extravaganza (courtesy of some sweet fireworks my mom picked up at South of the Border on the drive to Florida). She was convinced they were magic wands. Who am I to correct a pixie?

So those are just a few of the highlights. In between, there was lots of quality time and good times with beloved parents, brothers, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, my husband’s family, friends and more. I’m blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life.

Here’s to many more memories in the coming year and to getting to know all YOU much better.

Happy New Year!