Ain't No Razzle Dazzle

I won't be wearing a sparkly cocktail dress
with sequined pumps or perfect make-up.
I won't be rockin' the disco ball, wavin' the sparklers
or packing in to Times Square.

Instead, I'll be cozied up on my parents couch,
eating tasty appetizers and sipping champagne in my pajamas,
ringing in the new year with a couple folks I just adore.

Perfection.

Where will you be when the ball drops?

source

McLeod Family Chistmas

This year, we got to spend Christmas

with much of the McLeod clan.

These pretty people came down from IdahoThese cuties made the drive from Grass Valleyand our family headed up to Camarillo to crash with Grandma and Grandpa
It was a full house.
Full of love, laughter
and enough food to feed an army.

We stuffed our faces, played games well into the night,
went to the candlelight service on Christmas Eve,
exchanges gifts, and caught up on all of life's happenings.So fun to have everyone together
like the "old days," Jeremiah would say...

Can we do this every year??

Christmas with the Mister

This year, the month of December was I-N-S-A-N-E.
That said, Jeremiah and I celebrated Christmas
about five or six days early.
(The only day we really had the time.)

We watched Elf,
read the Christmas story
light the fresh balsam candles
and exchanged gifts and stockings by the fireplace.Jeremiah filled my stocking with a few magazines,
a new book, a Starbucks gift card and a little note
letting me know he ordered me a BHG subscription.
He also gave me two beautiful coats. Good work, babe.


I filled Jeremiah's stocking with movie tickets,
a Starbucks gift card, some yard work gloves
and a few card games.
I also gave him his very own Flavia machine
with enough coffee, hot chocolate and tea packets
to sip to his heart's content.

It was a little more low key than last Christmas,
but it was simply lovely.

The gingerbread houses, big Christmas dinners,
and tours of neighborhood lights
aren't what Christmas is about anyway.

DisneyWorld Trip Advisor

After a week at Walt Disney World,
I thought I'd share a few "Must See's" and some advice on what to skip.

Shows to See:
The Lion King and Nemo at the Animal Kingdom
Lights Motors Action and Indiana Jones at Disney Studios

Must Ride:
Test Track, Soarin, Mission Space, and the ride in the big ball at Epcot
Expedition to Everest and Dinosaur at the Animal Kingdom
Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, Peter Pan at the Magic Kingdom
Toy Story Mania and Rock-n-Roller Coaster at Disney Studios

Eat Here:
Mama Melrose at Disney Studios
Victoria and Alberts at the Grand Floridian
Boma at the Animal Kingdom Lodge
California Grill atop the Contemporary Hotel
Italy's Napili in Epcot

Other Highlights:
Obsorne Family Light Show at Disney Studios
The Safari at the Animal Kingdom
The World Showcase and IllumiNations at Epcot
Private boat ride and Magic Kingdom Fireworks Show
The Character Breakfasts

Things I highly recommend you skip:
Drew Carey, Narnia and the Little Mermaid show at Disney Studios.

DisneyWorld in Pictures

The sweetest little Minnie Mouse I've ever seen.
No, we don't know her. at all.The whole gang (okay, minus 2) with Minnie herselfThe Magic Kingdom Castle all lit up at nightTea CupsThe castle during the day, from Tomorrow LandMagic Kingdom trainMain Street USABrian and I at EpcotThe StampleysDaddy-daughter shotGrand Gathering at EpcotRoz. is. NUTS.Disney StudiosBeauty and the Beast show at the StudiosTower of Terror at the StudiosThe twenties and thirties are pretty. darn. cold.A rainy day at the Animal KingdomLike I said, rainyAnimal Kingdom's Tree of LifeExpedition to EverestSaundra and her flowers "from Earl"
*Pictures courtesy of Mom's camera and Brendan's camera*

Mikovits Family Christmas

This year,
Christmas at the Mikovits house
consisted of soup, salad and rolls, gift giving galore,
a delicious caramel banana ice cream dessert,
and Ramona and Beezus.

And after Christmas at my parents' house,
we headed up to Thousand Oaks for Calvary's Christmas Eve service,
the tastiest of Christmas Eve dinners (with pesto torte, of course!),
and bright&early Christmas morning with my silly cousins.

We definitely missed having Gram there,
but receiving communion with Papa on Christmas Eve
was especially sacred.

Here are a few pictures from my parents' house:

Lys and I modeling some of our new gifts.
My with my vace and Lys with her scarf, mittens and purse.Everyone in their new coatsJeremiah loves his floors
so of course he loved his new vac&steamMother-Daughter photoLys modeling as many gifts as she can at the same timeSilly boysDad with a new picture for his office
What'd we give?

Dad got a new dress shirt and
personalized cuff links for all his business travel

Mom got a set of hand-painted plates,
an automatic can opener and a bracelet from New York

Lys got a lovely sweater
and some lovely-smelling perfume

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

He Passed!

Remember this handsome guy?


Remember how he's been studying to be a CPA?

Well...
He passed his final CPA exam!
And I couldn't be more proud.

Good job, my darling.
I'm so proud of you!

10 Highlights from 2010

Just like 2009, 2010 has been a good year for us:

1. I turned 23 and Jeremiah turned 26.
2. My Papa started going to church and
   I had the privilege of taking communion with him on Christmas Eve.
3. My sister got her Esthetian's license.
4. I celebrated my 3 year anniversary at Qualcomm
   and Jeremiah started full time at CBIZ.
   
   
5. We traveled quite a bit, going to:
   Santa Barbara (CA), Westlake (CA), Santa Monica (CA),
   SLO (CA), Pismo Beach (CA), San Francisco (CA), Maui (HI),
   New York City (NY), Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill (NC),
   Staunton/Swoope (VA), and Orlando (FL).
6. We played at the Del Mar Fair, Padres Games,
   Seaport Village, the Beach, the 4th of July Fun Run, Bates Nut Farm, Julian...
7. We celebrated our first year of marriage and bought our very first little townhome.
8. We were honored to celebrate many weddings:
   the Usshers, Kruegers, Kookers, Cooneys, Dabbos and Smiths.
9. I spent the year as part of an amazing women's bible study.
10. And Jeremiah passed his fourth and final CPA exam
    and is now done with the tests!!

What an abundantly blessed year it's been!
Can't wait to see what 2011 has to offer.
Bring it.