M-I-C-K-E-Y...M-O-U-S-E

Tomorrow morning B and I are leaving on:

where we will check in at:

I will be visiting my good friend from grad school:

And finally...we will be heading over to:

We're looking forward to three fun-filled days at Disneyland!

Christmas Recap (Part One)

I hope everyone had a joyful Christmas with their families.  We sure did!  My parents came down and stayed with us for two days.  It was jam-packed and we didn't get a lot in that we had planned.  We were, however, able to bake cookies (peanut butter blossoms and sugar cookies), fudge, and seven-layer bars for B's coworkers since they all had to work Christmas.  We also did some shopping, made two great dinners, and opened presents.  My parents went way overboard with gift giving (this year's reasoning being "It's your first year as a married couple."  Last year's was "It's your last Christmas before getting married.") hehe

B's gifts from my parents: work stuff (knife, folders, flashlight), DVDs, golf and tennis accessories, Oregon Duck accessories, gift cards, money, and books

My gifts from my parents: Tory Burch flats, Wii Fit, Wii Resort, kindergarten stuff (games, markers, puzzles, etc.), clothes, gift cards, money, jewelry, and books

The Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and weekend recap will come next!

Long Time, No See

Circa 2007 - NC visit (notice the televised, romantic fire)

This afternoon I drove to visit my long time friend and MOH, Megan, who I've known for about 12 years.  She's in her 3rd year of med school in North Carolina, so I only see her a couple times a year.  We had such a great time catching up.  I went and visited her a couple years ago in NC and had a blast.  We're already planning another visit for this coming year, since she won't be coming back to California anytime soon.  I hadn't seen her since my wedding, 6 months ago, and we're always able to get back together like we saw each other yesterday.
I'm very thankful for the friends in my life.  A few of them blog, so go check out their sites!
Confessions of a Domestic Goddess
Our Little Family
Miss L

Sidenote: My parents are coming tomorrow!!!!!!  SO, SO, SO excited!!!!!

Gingerbread House

We had so much fun decorating our first gingerbread house that we purchased at Costco.

In my fleecy Christmas pj's, from my mom

B is VERY focused and took this architectural masterpiece VERY seriously

(p.s. his eyes slightly creep me out here)

TA DA!  The finished product

Holiday Movies

I had to blog of the ridiculousness that's currently occurring.  My husband is watching Prep & Landing (don't even begin to ask me what it's about) and is literally laughing out loud, hysterically.  Why do men find THE stupidest things hilarious?
As far as holiday movies go, I'm more of the original Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Charlie Brown Christmas type of girl.

Happy Birthday Sis

Happy 19th birthday to my SIL!  We hope you have a wonderful day and can't wait to see you on Friday for dinner at The Cheesecake Factory!  We love you!

B's Work Party

It's that time of year again.  The holidays, which means, work parties.  Last year after B's party we both agreed not to go again.  Well, he comes home to tell me he bought tickets for this year's party.  I complained and asked his logic and we both came to the consensus that a) he knows more people now and b) the raffle prizes.  It was going to be more fun this year.  NOPE.
We didn't win a raffle prize.  Boo.  We were really counting on the 37" plasma or the Wii, but what I wanted most was the SNUGGIE!  Yes, they raffled TWO Snuggies.  One lady, who bought $500 worth of raffle tickets, won a majority of the things.  Our thinking is if you can afford $500 in raffle tickets, just go out and buy all the stuff yourself.  
Most of our table bailed after the raffle, feeling the same way we did.  Boredom.  Here are just a few snapshots of the evening:

Before leaving our house

B's old roommate, coworker and groomsmen (Kenny) & B's other coworker (Scott)

Meghan & Kenny

P.S. Do you notice in almost all our formal photos, B is wearing that darn blue shirt.  I finally took him out yesterday and demanded that he buy a new shirt.  He did.

Thank You

Click HERE to send a much needed thank you to our service men and women overseas.  They protect us each and every day, risking their life and being away from their loved ones.  Everyone can always use support, so thank you to Shannon for posting this.

Holiday Survey

In keeping with the holiday spirit, here is a survey I saw on http://domesticgoddessconfession.blogspot.com/


1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Wrapping paper.  Although I do have a tendency to love making gift baskets

2. Real tree or Artificial?
Artificial.  It's not messy, no need to check the water, and it's cost-effective.

3. When do you put up the tree?
The first week/weekend of December

4. When do you take the tree down?
The day or so after Christmas, depending on work schedules.

5. Do you like eggnog?
LOVE eggnog, but I haven't allowed myself to buy it this year.  Since B doesn't like it, I know I could easily consume a carton in a couple days (sickening, I know)

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
Hmm...every year I receive amazing gifts!  Off the top of my head right now, I'd have to say these horse jumps for my toy horses (I was OBSESSED with horses when I was younger and would often play "horse" by running around and jumping things in the yard)

7. Do you have a nativity scene?
No, but one of these years I'd love to have the Willow nativity scene.

8. Hardest person to buy for?
My MIL

9. Easiest person to buy for?
My mom

10. Worst Christmas gift ever received?
I will not mention names, but I've received some pretty random, used gifts from one of my relatives.

11. Mail or e-mail Christmas card?
Real mail without a doubt.  I LOVE getting cards in the mail.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
A Christmas Story or Charlie Brown Christmas

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Usually November or if I see something throughout the year, I'll pick it up and store it

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
No

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Gingerbread or pumpkin bread

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree?
Clear

17. Favorite Christmas song?
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
This year staying at home, besides traveling a couple hours to visit my in-laws and grandparents.  Since my parents live out of state (they'll be coming down this year though), it'll vary on who flies to visit and when.

19. Can you name Santa's reindeer?
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph.

20. Do you have an Angel on top or a star?
Not yet =(

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Morning.  Stocking, breakfast, open presents

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
Crowds

23. Ugliest Christmas Decoration ever invented?
Can't think of anything right now

25. Which looks best theme trees or homey trees?
Homey trees, although B and I just talked about having a "Ducks theme" tree for fun

26. Gingerbread or sugar cookies?
Sugar cookies

27. Do you like Fruitcake?

Never tried it

Elf on the Shelf

My best friend, domesticgoddessconfession.blogspot.com, received an Elf on the Shelf from her parents last year for Christmas.  The more she told me about it, the more I fell in love with the idea.  So I ordered one and it arrived!  B and I just finished reading the book, and we named our elf "Jingles".  Basically, this elf is sent by Santa each day to report if you've been naughty or nice.  He then goes back to Santa each night to disclose what he saw.  In the morning, he reappears in a new location in your house.

 (sorry, won't turn)

In other news, since I haven't yet reported, the Oregon Ducks are going to the ROSE BOWL and playing Ohio State.

Picture taken off our TV when they beat Oregon State - Rose Bowl bound

Christmas sheets my mom sent us - so cozy!

Chexie admiring all the presents

Picky.

B made dinner two nights in a row.  I ate the meal zero times.  Good husband, bad wife.  Yesterday he made curry chicken (too spicy) and jasmine rice.  Tonight he made pesto chicken (too season-y) and jasmine rice.  Last night I opted for a bowl of Cheerios; tonight, a PB & J sandwich.  Bon appetite to simple foods.

Festival of Lights

B and I spent yesterday evening going to the local festival of lights.  It was amazing!  It was about a 2 mile drive that looped through the park.  We played Christmas music in our car and it really put us in the holiday spirit.  Here are some of the pictures (lots of them):

Entrance

Pelican catching a fish (it moved)

Ship with throwing cannons

Exit

This was taken tonight (night after festival of lights).  It was FREEZING and dark out, but after dinner we went for a walk.  I layered in a sweatshirt and extra puffy down jacket.

I think the light show will be a new tradition, especially once we have kids.  What a great evening to spend drinking hot chocolate, snuggled in pj's, driving around looking at lights =)

50 Questions

1. What time did you get up this morning?
7AM FOR A CONFERENCE PRESENTATION

2. How do you like your steak?
GRASS FED AND WELL DONE

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
THE BLINDSIDE

4. What is your favorite TV show?
MODERN FAMILY, INTERVENTION, REAL HOUSEWIVES OF THE OC, AND MILLION DOLLAR LISTING ARE MY CURRENT FAVS

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
BEND, OREGON.  ONE OF THESE DAYS WE WILL...

6. What did you have for breakfast?
A YOGURT

7. What is your favorite cuisine?
DEPENDS ON MY MOOD.  I LOVE RUTHERFORD GRILL RIBS

8. What foods do you dislike?
MUSHROOMS, OLIVES, RAW FISH

9. Favorite Place(s) to Eat?
SAN JOSE: YO YO SUSHI
NAPA: GILLWOODS (FOR BREAKFAST)
BEND: GREG'S GRILL
EUGENE: LUCKY NOODLE

10. Favorite dressing?
PLUTO'S VINAIGRETTE

11.What kind of vehicle do you drive?
2003 & 2005 HONDA ACCORDS

12. What are your favorite clothes?
MK JEANS, RUFFLE SWEATERS, MK FLATS

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance?
ITALY AND GREECE

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?
HALF FULL

15. Where would you want to retire?
BEND, OREGON

16. Favorite time of day?
DEPENDS.  ON THE WEEKENDS, MORNING.  DURING THE WEEK, EVENING.

17. Where do you live?
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

18. What is your favorite sport to watch?
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON FOOTBALL.  ROSE BOWL BOUND!

22. Bird watcher?
NO, PEOPLE WATCHER.  COSTCO IS THE BEST FOR THAT

23. Are you a morning person or a night person?
I'VE TURNED INTO A MORNING PERSON

24. Pets?
OUR 2 KITTIES

25. Any new and exciting news that you'd like to share?
NOPE, SAME OLD SAME OLD

26. What did you want to be when you were little?
A TEACHER

27. What is your best childhood memory?
PLAYING WITH MY COUSINS

28. Are you a cat or dog person?
BOTH, BUT MORE DOG

29. Are you married?
HAPPILY

30. Always wear your seat belt?
ALWAYS

31. Been in a car accident?
MINOR FENDER BENDERS, BUT NOT LATELY

32. Any pet peeves?
BAD DRIVERS AND RUDE PEOPLE

33. Favorite pizza toppings?
PESTO

34. Favorite Flower?
GERBER DAISY

35. Favorite ice cream?
COLDSTONE CHEESECAKE FANTASY

36. Favorite fast food restaurant?
IN AND OUT

37. How many times did you fail your driver's test?
ZERO

38. From whom did you get your last email?
RYAN

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?
TARGET OR NORDSTROM

40. Do anything spontaneous lately?
NOPE

41. Like your job?
YEP!

42. Broccoli?
COOKED

43. What was your favorite vacation?
MY HONEYMOON AND GOING AROUND THE WORLD WITH NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

44. Last person you went out to dinner with?
MY HUSBAND

45. What are you listening to right now?
SILENCE.  I LOVE IT AFTER BEING WITH KINDERGARTNERS ALL DAY =)

46. What is your favorite color?
PINK

47. How many tattoos do you have?
ZERO

50. Coffee Drinker?
YES!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree...

Christmas music on?  Check.  Cinnamon candles lit?  Check.  Christmas wardrobe on?  Check.  We're ready to decorate!  Here's our beautiful new tree!  We decided to go with a fake tree, due to convenience and longevity.  We purchased this one from Macy's.  This is a big deal for us, because this will be our first Christmas together as a married couple.  The previous 3 years, I would always fly up to Oregon to spend the holiday with my parents.  I'm so glad my parents will be coming down to see us for Christmas this year!

Also on a fun tree decorating note:  My mom has been collecting Hallmark "Daughter Ornaments" since I was born.  She always said, "When you get married, I'll pass them onto you, to use on your tree."  Well now that I'm finally married, we hung all the daughter ornaments.  It's a tradition that B and I want to carry on with our children as well.

B unpacking our tree (wearing his new Christmas pants from my parents)

All decorated

Kitties (we need presents under the tree; it's so bare!)

So fitting for B, right?

My ornament

I'm off to go wrap some presents.  We still need to buy a bit for my dad and SIL.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

I Love My Ducks (I Smell Roses)

Being an Oregon alumni I have a lot of school pride.  Tonight at 6pm Oregon takes on Oregon State for the opportunity to play in the Rose Bowl.  LET'S GO DUCKS!!