Weekend Wrap Up and A Little Bit of Rewind ...

We had a fantastically laid back weekend.  My favorite.  Friday night we went to our good friends house, had Italian fish (i.e. pizza, big inside joke b/t me and the Milams, it's a long story) and played some Wii Resort.  Which. is. way. fun.  Saturday we, along with my brother and silly, went to my parent's house and had a fantastic steak dinner and watched our Boys beat the smack outta the Eagles.  Which was awesome.  And, tonight we grilled burgers on the new charcoal grill, watched The Soloist, each of us with our candy of choice (it was going to be The Hangover, but we figured we may as well make use of our Netflix, since we're now the proud owners of The said Hangover).  Milk Duds was my choice.  Which I am still enjoying.  Because they won't come loose of my teeth.  Maybe THAT'S where my FIVE cavaties (now fillings) came from ... BUT moving right along, it was a great weekend.  And speaking of great weekends and evenings, I just uploaded a few pictures off my camera and realized I didn't share a visual of what we did on New Year's Day.  I may not even have told you what we did. It WAS, in fact, over a week ago and I can't remember if I ate breakfast today or not ... Anywho, we went to my momma's house, that's what we did.  And ate black eyed peas (which I've never really understood whom, exactly, decided those are lucky.  Why couldn't they say twinkies were lucky?  Cause Heaven knows I'd for sure get my luck in on New Year's, shoot maybe several days out of the year, if it were twinkies that brought good luck)  Here is a pictoral look at our New Year's Day festivities all at my mom and step-dad's new casa ...

(The "fancy" Christmas tree in the formal living room)

(Bentley by the "casual" Christmas tree)

(The goodies after dinner.  I could eat my Mama's home-made banana pudding all dang day ... but I'm not sure my hiney would appreciate it ... mainly because it would have to squeeze itself into my pants ...)

(Me, (and my tan) my cuz Britney ... and the 982 Christmas cards on my mom's fridge ...)

(Me and my love and our tans)

(Me, my Mama (and my tan) and my sausage-like legs that are at an obviously AWESOME angle coming AT the camera.  Look up the word flattering in the dictionary, this picture is what you'll find ...)

(Bentley lookin' all cute n' stuff)

(Me, (and my tan) my cuz Erica and another awesome football-shoulder angle of me.  ... Dog?  What dog?  I don't have a white lab that leaves white bits of fur all over any and all black clothing I own ... ?  I know not what you speak of ... And I'm flaring my nostrils.  Neigh.)

And that's it.  New Years is (as is Thanksgiving, Easter, Christmas, Christmas Eve, President's Day ... kidding ... but seriously) a family affair.  All the cuz's.  All their spouses.  All their kiddos (if they have any).  All the family is present.  And I love it.  Happy (late) New Year from my family to yours!!!

Oh and PS - I make a point to point out my tan due to the fact that it's virtually non-existent anymore ... this was the day after we got back ... it lasted a good week my friends.  Nice huh?  Now I'm just trying to force it back w/ bronzer, too much I might add, making me end up looking like a blonde "Snookie" from Jersey Shore ... NOT so much a look I want to achieve ...

Happy Birthday Koda Bear!

That's right.  Today my little punkin' pie is 3 years old!  It really does (here I go into momma-mode) seem like yesterday when I got him.  Here are a few pictures of when we brought our boy home.  He was 10 1/2 weeks old, so a BIT bigger than normal little puppies when you bring him home.  But still pretty friggin' cute.  Of course I might be a LITTLE biased ...

And here he is now ... doesn't look like too much has changed does it?

(He's a bit of a mischief maker sometimes.  He throws fits when we leave ... or has parties, I'm not really sure, either are very possible)

(This is his "I want whatever you're eating momma" face ...)

Isn't he such a handsome boy?  Again, I know I'm probably biased but I'd go ahead and bet people would agree with me.  In the past three years you have:

*Stolen my heart

*Became potty trained

*Broken out of a perfectly good crating system on the first day we had to leave you at home (or so your mom and dad thought)

*Learned how to sit, stay, lay down, come and heel, both verbally AND through hand signals

 *Fractured your paw at 6 months old and had to be in a cast for 6 weeks AND sit still (RIGHT Mr. Vet.  RIGHT)

*Ripped to pieces probably close to $100 worth of toys (or more)

*Ripped to pieces two down pillows which looked like the equivalent to about 50 ducks exploding ... all over our house

*Ripped to pieces a pillow off our old Restoration Hardware couch which looked equivalent to fluffy snow-like cotton balls ... all over our house (both these times while Matt was out of town mind you)

*Gotten lost for about 30 minutes at Christmas while your daddy was home taking the decorations down and mommy was at work ... which was totally God's timing because I would have been a MESS - I was even after I knew he was safe and Matt was telling me the story!

*Gone swimming for the first time.  And were terrified.  And then were addicted.

*Held a dead duck in your mouth after your daddy shot it.  Much to mommy's dismay.  Sick.

*Become psychotically obsessed with tennis balls.  So much so, that it's the only toy we buy you.

*Become obsessed with the words, walk, ball, car, ride, play.

*Gotten neutered (sorry buddy)

*Eaten several rolls of toliet paper ... or just shredded them, whichever you choose.

*Kept me company on countless occasions when your daddy's had to travel.

*Become more calm/tame/chillaxed.

*Become more of a snuggle bug.

*Laid your head on my knees when I'm crying due to a sad movie/time in my life/commerical/TV speical about animals.

*Stolen my heart.

I love you Koda Bear.  Happy happy birthday to my sweet boy!!!  Here's to MANY more!!!

Two of My Favorite Things ...

Okay, I know it's not Christmas anymore.  But I wanted to share two of my new favorite things.  That I got for Christmas that is.

Don't you just love?  I made the pictures artsy (I can't help it, I'm obsessed with Picnik) so don't worry they look more realistic and authetic in person.  And no, they're not real.  Are you kidding me?  Like I would ask ANYONE to buy me a $1,000 + purse or wallet.  And like my mister would let me SPEND that on a purse or wallet.  Ha.  Right.  But I think they're AWESOME look-alikes.  And of course I don't tell anyone in public that.  Just my bloggy friends.  I hope you enjoyed seeing two of my new favorite things.  I heart them.  A LOT.  Thanks Mama for the purse and mommy for the wallet!  I know I made it easy by picking them out, but YOU made it easy by getting them for me!  L.O.V.E!

Warning: Most Boring Post Ever ...

... But I love the main character.  So I'm going to post it anyways ...

If you're a mom, I hope you know what that last line is from.  I'm not, but I learned from some of our best friends, the Milams.  Their little muffin loves (or did love) that show.  And I love their little muffin.  Man she's a doll.  But seriously, look it up.  You won't be disappointed.  Especially if you want to laugh. 

And that, my friends, was my post about my fish.  Mobi.  I know, ridiculous, but I don't have kids people.  And until I do, my precious pets will be my "animal kids" and my pride and joy.  Who am I kidding, they will probably be that way even after I have kids.  And one of my animal kids got a new plant.  So there you have it.  It's really is the little things that make your day.  Make sure you take time for those little things today.  You won't regret it.  I know I didn't, and I don't think Mobi did either.  Judging from the way he was going to town chompin' after those dried worms.  Sick. 

P.S. it's going to be freezing tomorrow.  Even for non-Dallasite standards.  So wear a coat.  Because I'm pretty sure I'll forget.  So this is more a reminder for me than for you, but seriously.  Wear a coat.  And maybe even gloves, a hat and scarf.  I know that's a foreign concept for us Texans but what you do is, put the hat, wait for it, on your HEAD, the gloves, wait for it, on your HANDS and the scarf ... well you know what to do with the scarf.  We flippin' wear them in summer.  Granted they're lighter weight but OH, we wear 'em!  I really don't get that idea, not that I don't think it's cute, it just doesn't make sense to me.  Why tie something around your neck when it's 110 degrees outside?  If we lived in CA where the average high is 87, maybe.  But 110?  Alright ... wow.  I'm going to go ahead and apologize for this post because it's a whole bunch of random jumbled up thoughts.  Sometimes it happens.  Like today.  Now seriously, that's all.

Today I Really Wish I Was ...

I know I know, it's not dang.  But this is a family show people!  And please ignore my chubby-face/arms/everything in pics 3 & 4.  Ew.  I'm convinced it was due to the sunburn.  Oh Margaritaville, how I wish I was still wastin' away in you ...

Oh and also, I felt it was time.  I mean I DO do (<--- yes, I just typed that, are you giggling?  I am ...) this at least 13 times a month.  So here it goes.  If you're reading/scanning over/blog stalking this blog regularly, and you haven't already, go on and be a follower.  This is the one time someone will ask you to be a follower.  And I am.  So go ahead.  Do it.  You know you wanna.  How's that for peer pressure?  And for those that already do, I love you all.  A lot.  As much as someone who doesn't talk to you on a daily basis can.  X's & O's!

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!

Christmas Card Reveal ...

Okay, I know.  That's super dramatic.  But I'm running low on quippy titles this morning.  By now you've all gotten our Christmas card and if you didn't, well send me your address and I'll add you to the list next year.  I swear I always remember SOMEONE I forgot ... about 10 days after it's appropriate to send one.  So here you go, here is my sister-in-law's (silly) GENIUS work, IF I do say so myself!  I'm so lucky I never have to order invitations, Christmas cards or stationary again due to my oh so talented silly.  So here you go, the REVEAL (ridiculous) ...

If you would like to order invitations, baby or just moved announcements, stationary or a few other fun cute things, visit my silly's website here.  Happy shopping!  Oh and Happy New Year (duh, Kate)!