As Promised ...

Not that ya'll were on the edge of your seats waiting, but I DID promise I'd post pics of my other macaroni tree once it was finished AND, since I'm pretty proud of these things, and almost went crossed eyed from glueing the little dadgum macaronis onto the styrophoam trees, I'm posting more for my own enjoyment than yours, at least that's what I'm betting.  So here they are.  They were proudly displayed at my Mamo's house at Christmas where I think, she and I were MUCH more impressed with them than everyone else was.  Rightfully so, we were the ones that spent 6 hours (spread over a few Saturdays) bringing these little masterpieces to fruition.

Keep in mind these are iPhone pics.  I didn't have my fun new camera with me when I took these.  And they're a little dark.  But I do love these little trees.  And am too afraid to put them in the attic with the rest of my Christmas decorations for fear of a squirrel getting in there and having himself a little hard-macaroni, paint and glue feast.  So I'm thinking I'm going to keep them up in my China cabinet.  I think they're pretty enough and subtle enough to keep out year round. 

Speaking of putting away Christmas decorations, does anyone else feel like their house grew 4 times after they took down theirs?  After taking the last box up the stairs (and depositing it on the landing for Matt to hike up the ladder into the attic, aren't I nice to let my husband risk his life instead of mine?) I looked at him and said "Geez our house looks huge!" ... and he agreed.  He loves everything clutter free.  I could've kept going and pulled down all the picture frames, decorative do-dads and curtains and I think he would've sighed a huge sigh of relief.  But he's smart enough to know that's not going to happen.

And SPEAKING of the mister, last night we had SO much fun.  We bought a new grill, because Matt has always wanted a charcoal grill.  And we gave our gas one to my brother and silly when they recently moved into their first house and have been grill-less ever since.  So, with Christmas money and gift cards, Matt made the plunge yesterday and can I tell you he may as well have bought a Porsche ... that's how excited he was.  So, to break the newest member of the Fulmer household in we went and got some YUMMY filets and asparagus (to do on the grill) and I made artichokes with a mayonaisey/worcestershire sauce/lemmon pepper/garlic salt dip (healthy, I know) to have before dinner.  Add a little red wine and you have a fantastically delicious, wonderful little evening at home.  And man was it delicious.  We couldn't resist the urge to have "a little something sweet" (as my mister likes to say) afterwards, so I treated myself to a box of Dots and he did the same with a bag of M&Ms.  We finished the night with a game (or several) of Yahtzee and turned it in right in time to get a good night's sleep.  I just love a night at home with my boys.  Here's to many more with our newest family member, our charcoal grill!