Crack a Nut

Instead of saying "Break A Leg" for good luck everyone at the Nutcracker would say "Crack a Nut". We had the best time as our first experience doing the Nutcracker Ballet this year. I had to be there for every rehearsal and show - lets just start by saying they did 8 shows in 4 days. We pretty much lived at the Amarillo Civic Center this weekend and I am very much looking forward to some home cooked meals with the two boys in my life...Jeff & Blaine. They were left on their own pretty much with Brooke and I gone the past few weeks every night. It was all worth the time away in the end. Brooke was a Baffoon and was a hit. She not only put a smile on my face but started what ended up being a heart felt moment for all of us....

Mrs. Ginger and his family....yes Mrs. Ginger is actually a Man dressed up as Mrs. Ginger in the Ballet. She/He has to wear this HUGE dress on stage (big enough for 8 little girls to hide under the skirt) so a Man has to play the part. Danny played Mrs. Ginger and fell in love with all the girls. His wife came over and kissed Brooke on the forehead and continued to tell me how much she meant to them. Brooke made a comment to Danny after seeing him undress back stage. She told him it was the BIGGEST BRA she had ever seen and was just rambling on for over 20 minutes about this BRA...it was like she couldn't get passed him having to wear it. After he got home that evening he just laughed and cried at how much joy all the girls brought him. We all pitched in for a gift certificate and gave him a group photo to remember the girls by!

Henry Christmas Pictures

Thanksgiving

Headed to Grandbury Wed. afternoon to see Mom for Thanksgiving. I am totally PUMPED to spending another year at her new house with the family. This will also be my 1ST Thanksgiving with all my brothers & their families in A VERY VERY LONG TIME! Jeff is really excited to shop at the new TESKIES in Weatherford, TX and thinks he is getting him a new saddle...have you shopped those lately...it's a house payment (let's just put it that way)! HA HA. Anyway, this will be my last post for the week as I am packing, taking Brooke to Nutcracker Rehearsal, meeting Vet to take care of a sick horse (yes, Brooke's new horse J.J. is sick and think he has Pneumonia). I didn't know horses got colds much less this sick...he's been coughing on and off for about 3 weeks but Penicillin just isn't doing the trick! I guess any animal can get sick..just been lucky all these years with DOGS I guess! Ha. Here's a funny to leave for the week with!

Jeff is giving our horse a shot last night and it blew up all in his face. The needle busted....Penicillin is thick like white paint and splattered all over him! Needless to say, it was a CAMERA moment but I didn't have it with me. You'll have to just vision his face, jacket and all the nice words he was saying as he was wiping off his face and me LAUGHING hysterical! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!

Pumpkin Trifle

OK, I found this NEW "Yummy" Pumpkin Pudding. Here's a great quick & easy receipe just in time for the holidays!

Pumpkin Trifle Dish

* You'll need 1 Trifle Dish

* 1 Box of Jello Instant Pudding (hard to find but Coulter Walmart has a display)

* 1 Carton of Whipped Cream

* 1 Spiced Cake Box.

Make the cake according to the directions on the back. Let cool for 15 minutes. Make the pudding according to the directions on the box and put in fridge to firm up. Cut the cake in small cubes and layer the following:

Cake

Pudding

Whipped Cream

I was able to get three layers in my Trifle Dish. ENJOY!!!

Nutcracker

An exciting time for Brooke - she was asked to be a BAFFOON in this year's Nutcracker at the Amarillo Lonestar Ballet. She and another little friend named Breanna are paired up to do back handsprings and jump around, well like cute little Baffoons. There are 8 girls total and Brooke is the youngest Baffoon to play the part. We know a few ballerinas that are in the Ballet and are just amazing to watch them all. I believe there are over 170 participants that put on this ballet and I am sure I'll get to know them all too well with about 10 rehearsals/performances between now and opening night! Opening Night is Friday Dec. 12th. I am real excited that Brooke will be out of School on the 11th & 12th as they will perform for the area schools at the Civic Center both mornings. I know she is excited to do this in front of some of her cousins and friends! I cannot say enough about how blessed we feel with all of Brooke's accomplishments this year....at the young age of 6! My Mom has 3rd row tickets for Opening Night and will be a very special day for all of us because my Mom has NEVER seen the Nutcracker before. She is in for a BIG TREAT!

Need some Family Fun Time?

All Aboard The Polar Express - it's comes to life this year for the FIRST ANNUAL EVENT in LUBBOCK, TX!

This holiday season take a train ride to the North Pole. The Polar Express comes to life when trains depart the Lubbock depot for a memorable journey. As you travel through the quiet night, listen to the story of The Polar Express and meet Santa and his elves at the north pole. Then, Santa will greet each child onboard the train and give each one, their own special Christmas bell. Guests will enjoy a train ride filled with warmth and laughter and Christmas carols as they are served hot chocolate and cookies by attendants. And, children are invited to wear their own special pajamas for this wonderful event. This is a special trip that families will want to make an annual holiday tradition.

http://www.westtexaspolarexpressride.com/

November 9th was Brooke's first Rodeo Experience. She ran Barrels and Poles on her new horse, J.J. We are very proud of her as she made perfect runs all the way through. J.J. is 21 years old and is a Chestnut Gelding. He is a roping horse that we lucked into and just after 3 weeks of training together, they were ready for their big start!

Office Halloween Party

Today was our 1st Halloween with our new office at ANB. We were so excited to take part of all the fun activties, which included a Costume Contest and Office Decorating Contest. We went all out SPOOKY. Check out my office cuties dressed up as MUMMY & VAMPIRES!

Birthday Boy!

Birthday's in October are just busy for us and the most important - DADDY'S! Jeff is 33 today, HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONEY! We are doing a quite dinner at home w/ just us and one of his favorite dinners, Chicken & Dumplings.

1st Ever Casino Party

It took me a few months to plan it all out but it's done and was an ABSOLUTE BLAST. I threw my best friend a SURPRISE LAS VEGAS CASINO Party for her 30th Birthday. We got World Poker Tour Texas Hold'em and Black Jack Tables and decorated the whole house. Including moving all my living room and kitchen table OUT! It was worth it! Jeff make PW's Queso Receipe that was YUM YUM YUM and I made a new receipe from my Mom for Burritos in a Crock Pot w/ all sorts of great Appetizers from friends. The food was just as good as the gambling! Here's a few of my favorite pics!

Birthday Girl

Our Dealers Jeff & Michael

Gina, Misty & Jana #2

Cheers!

October 16th

Today is my brother, Josh's, birthday. This is a very special birthday for him because he is now a daddy of 2 girls! Here's Briley who has daddy's red hair and blue eyes. Happy Birthday Josh!

Pickler Cont'd

Well, sometimes no matter how much planning you put into something....things just don't work out like planned.....let's just start by saying rain rain go away don't rain on my concert night! It rained allright, enough that the Homecoming Football game was delayed and then rained OUT! At the time we finally left the game soaking wet, we went all the way home to change clothes. Here's our cute little shirts we made so we would look alike.

Needless to say, on the way home to change clothes both our kids fell asleep in the car. Grammy came to the rescue and watched the kids as Jeff and I went on to enjoy the concert. We made it just as Kellie was getting on stage. It was worth it after all that.

PICKLER FANS

We surprised Brooke with a night out to see Kellie Pickler. We hope to get her autograph and picture....next blog you'll see if we do! Brooke loves country music and this will be her FIRST CONCERT!!! We are so excited that Kellie will be in Canyon, TX tomorrow night after the WT A&M Homecomng Game! Brooke & I are making shirts tonight so look for pics soon!

Sour Cream Noodle Bake (kids love it)

Here's a little favorite I've been making my family for 9+ years. It's one of those easy and delicious meals that will keep you going back for more. Hope you enjoy it, let me know!

Ingredients You'll Need:

1/2 c. Green Onions, chopped

1 lb. Hamburger Meat

8 ou. Sour Cream

8 ou. bag Noodles (spiral or wide egg work great)

1/2 t. Garlic Salt

1/4 t. Salt / Pepper

1 c.Shredded Cheese

1/2 can tomato soup or 8 ou. can tomato sauce

Preheat Oven to 350. Cook noodles according to pkg directions. Brown your hamburger meat & drain. Put back on stove and let simmer for 5 minutes after adding your tomato sauce, garlic salt, salt & pepper to taste.

Mix your Noodles, Onions and Sour Cream together in a bowl.

In an 11x13 plan, layer your Noodles

Meat & Cheese. Top with extra cheese as needed. Bake for 25-30 minutes and you are ready to enjoy!

My kids love this with spiral noodles but original recipe called for wide egg noodles. You can also just mix this all together instead of the layers and it still taste just as yummy!

Me & Mom - Momma Mia Weekend

Glitter Graphics

Banana Bundt Cake

Easy and Delicious!

3 Eggs
1 cup Oil
2 cups of Sugar
2 cups Ripe Banana's smushed
2 cups Flour
1 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Vanilla
1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
1/4 tsp. Cinnamon
1/4 tsp. Ginger

Preheat Oven to 350. Mix all together until thick. Pour into Floured & Greased Bundt Pan. Bake 1 hour.

A horse named HENRY!

Have you ever known LOVE where you wake up thinking about it, eat thinking about it, your kids remind you so you start thinking about it.....this kind of LOVE came to the Henry family four months ago after meeting a 13 year old horse named, Henry! Was he meant to be a part of our family or what, you tell me? He is the kindest, most gentle and intelligent LOVE and brings so much faith, joy & peace to our family. About six months ago we starting looking around for a horse for our daughter, Brooke. We wanted to surprise her for her 6th Birthday. After looking around and getting disappointed with one horse we were hoping for, I got a phone call from a 2nd cousin, Buffy Ruthardt. She had a horse but we both never knew each other were struggling about one thing that changed our lives forever, a horse named HENRY! He's now a new addition to our family and we will never be the same.

Crazy Tumbling Brooke