It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Happiest of Holidays!

The Christmas cards should be arriving any day.

The packages have all been sent.

The Christmas Tree is adorned with our favorite decorations.

My Christmas candles are burning brightly.

And the stockings are hung on the bookcase with care.

Yep....It's Christmas at the Ranums!

SNOW90210 was last week in downtown Beverly Hills.

We enjoyed our first snowfall in Southern California (ok, it was just soap foam blown from the rooftops, but it looked like snow nonetheless...until you got a 'snowflake' in your mouth - Yuk!)

We saw them light the giant Swarovsky crystal Snowflake above the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

We finally understood Los Angeles' obsession with food trucks! We ate at the Gourmet Grilled Cheese Truck where I had a grilled goat cheese and balsamic sandwich which was unbelievable! And for dessert, a cupcake from Sprinkles. And you'd better bet it was extraordinary at $6 a cupcake!

And yes, that is a naked torso of a woman in the middle of Rodeo Dr. Only here!

Merry Christmas!

Love,

The Ranums

XOXOXOX

Fall has finally arrived...In December

While most people we know are experiencing the frigid taste of winter, it's been pretty dang nice out here in Southern California.
Average temperature has been around 70F, although we did have 2 days of 85F last week.
And fall finally decided to make an appearance. Better late than never!

Bananas! Should be ready for picking in late January

Stay tuned...I'll be posting our Christmas pictures in a couple days. I just had to get the autumn post over before I posted Christmas!

2010 Nicholl Fellowship Dinner

This past week, Micah was honored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences for becoming a 2010 Nicholl Fellow. Along with 4 other writers, Micah spent all week in lunches, dinners, seminars and cocktail parties that all culminated in one amazing (& fancy!) gala dinner at the Beverly Wilshire Ballroom (which is right on Rodeo Dr. & it's the hotel where Pretty Woman was filmed)

The 2010 Nicholl Fellows


Dana Stevens (writer of City of Angels and For Love of the Game) and Eva Marie Saint (North by Northwest, On the Waterfront)

The Fellows and the Academy members that presented their awards


Tom Rickman (writer of Coal Miner's Daughter and Tuesdays with Morrie) presented Micah with his award

Although terrified to give an acceptance speech in front of 300 people, Micah did an amazing job. He seemed so comfortable up there speaking in front of Mr. Oscar! Fingers crossed that it won't be the last time!

Micah thanked his parents & family, manager, his good friend, Matthew and, of course, his lovely, wonderful, amazingly spectacular wife ;)

They are posting the acceptance speeches online soon so I'll be sure to add a link when it goes up

The ballroom at the Beverly Wilshire

The Dinner Menu (it was filet mignon and black cod) Best. Meal. Ever!

I loved the beautiful centerpieces (which I did take home!)

Yep, we even ran to the ATM at midnight to deposit our first check!

Around the Block

Just a few random shots from around the block

View from straight out our door - Yes, it's very odd to have mini-skyscrapers in residential areas!

View to the right (North). This is the Beverly Hills High School - That large obnoxious structure is an oil well. This one is covered with a mural of flowers and sits near the athletic fields.

View to the Left (South)

All the fire hydrants in B.H. are painted silver - but my dog will still pee on them!

Proud

I can't believe how proud I am of my family!


Micah entered his screenplay into a very prestigious screenwriting fellowship organized by
the Academy Awards.
6,304 screenplays were submitted from around the world
340 made the first cut
114 made the second cut
only 10 made the final cut

He was notified yesterday that he was a finalist!

While it is a huge honor to be in the top 10, only the top 5 will actually receive the Fellowship. Not only does it include recognition in the entertainment industry but, more importantly, $30,000!

Keep your fingers crossed that he will receive a Fellowship - we should know in about 3 weeks!

Another amazing family update:

My new nephew was born on July 24, 2010
Fisher Andrew Cook

He, of course, gets a homemade quilt with ducks, frogs, turtles and dragonflies...

This was my first time doing a meandering stitch...holy moley! Not easy!

and a homemade Corduroy Fish

Our other nephew, Logan, turned 4 this week!
I 'borrowed' this idea from two of the most handsome superheroes that I know:
Myles & Eli

This was my first time working with satin. One word: YIKES!

Yep...that little star on the inside is to cover up a tiny hole! It ended up looking great!

We even had a wonderful visit from Keith & Karen!

I wonder how long it will take to get Skip & Dar out here!