Cowboy..I mean Prince Brooks
Cute invite..fit for a prince!!
We left Friday afternoon for a weekend trip to Dallas.
1st stop Dallas Mavericks-vs-LA Lakers
Tried California rolls for the first time and they weren't to bad..we weren't brave enough to order sushi.
I got B tickets to the Mavericks game for Christmas..he thought I was the greatest wife ever!! We went to the game and then headed back to our hotel, TheCrescentCourt, downtown Dallas. It was a really great hotel!! Saturday morning after ordering room service breakfast we headed to the Galleria. B got the game, I got retail therapy!! We had Mexican food, Gloria's, for lunch then went to see Juno. The movie was good and very funny..B even liked it. Then, headed to McKinney to hang out with several of B's fraternity brothers from Texas Tech and their wives. In the pic above it's L to R, Bryan, Lyn, Marc, & Clay. It was a fun evening and they caught up on old times. We hadn't seen any of them in several years. Spent the night at Marc and Julie's then headed home to see our precious little one who was sick the entire weekend for his BaBa and Poppa. Thanks for keeping him mom and dad, it was a nice break!!
Last week, Bryan's boss came town and I cooked dinner for him. Tried a couple of new recipes and thought I'd share them with you. They both turned out really great. Most of the time when we have meat for dinner, other than chicken, B grills it. I got this pork tenderloin recipe from Stacy, a dear friend from Amarillo. It was a big hit and I'd suggest you trying it.
Here goes:
1 pork tenderloin
6-8 bacon strips
1/2 C soy sauce
1 T grated onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1T vinegar
1/4 t cayenne pepper
1/4 t seasoned salt
1/2 C sugar
Wrap bacon around tenderloin and secure with toothpicks and place in gallon Ziploc bag. Mix remaining ingredients and stir until sugar is dissolved. Pour over pork and marinate for at least 4 hours. Put in a greased Pyrex, cover with foil, and bake 300* for 1 hour then 325* for about 45 minutes. Baste every 30 minutes to help keep it really moist and take the foil off toward the end of baking for bacon to get crisp. Slice and serve...I poured some sauce over the sliced meat as I was serving it. Also, can freeze the leftover juice to marinade chicken, etc later!!
Had to include Paula Deen in this meal too:
Corrie's Kentucky Pie:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_66389,00.html
This recipe makes 2 pies, so I froze one for later. Super yummy with Bluebell Vanilla Bean ice cream!!
I have a really great/easy recipe for roast. A girl that I taught school with in Amarillo several years ago shared it with me. It was so nice when I was working to put it together in the crock pot that morning and then be ready when we got home from work.
Crock pot roast and veggies:
1 pkt Lipton onion soup mix
1 can Cream of Mushroom soup
A rump roast..small enough to fit in your crock pot with the veggies
potatoes-I usually get 2 lg baking pot and cut into chunks
carrots-I put about half a bag of the mini ones
1 onion-quartered..if you don't like onions leave it out.
water-about 1/4 of the soup can- not to much b/c the veggies will also have water in them
Season the roast with garlic powder, onion powder, lemon pepper, and seasoning salt..rub it into the meat per Paula Deen!! Mix the soup and onion mix together in the crock pot, then add the water. Put the roast in and cover with veggies. Cook on low for 6-8 hrs. It makes a gravy that is fabulous. I'll also make Sister Schubert rolls to dip in the gravy!! Let me know if you try it. Very easy and yummy.
Need some suggestions...I'm wanting to get a new daily devotional book. So, I'm asking for all of you bloggy friends to suggest away. Post a comment if you have any!! Much thanks. Happy Weekending with your fams.
Four jobs I've had:
1. The best job of all...Brooks' mommy
2. Teacher- 2nd, 3rd, & 4th grade
3. Double T bookstore at Texas Tech
4. TX DOT- worked for the highway dept. in high school
Four places I've lived:
1. Atlanta, TX
2. Arkadelphia, AR
3. Lubbock, TX
4. Seattle, WA
Four movies I've watched over and over:
1. Sweet Home Alabama
2. Walk the Line
3. Failure to Launch
4. Top Gun
Four shows I watch:
1. Oprah
2. Grey's Anatomy
3. Friday Night Lights
4. Law and Order SVU
Four places I've been:
1. Maui
2. Hilton Head, SC
3. Victoria, BC
4. Coeur d' Alene, ID
Four people who email me regularly:
1. Jamie Leah
2. Stacy
3. My Papa
4. Bryan
Four favorite things to eat:
1. All Mexican food, especially Abuelos
2. Chick fil A
3. My dad's smothered steak
4. Chips and dip
Four places I'd rather be:
1. On a beach with my hubby
2. Can't wait to visit NYC
3. At a spa
4. Also really want to travel Europe
Four things I look forward to this year:
1. Meeting new friends in our new town
2. Vacation with my hubby
3. Taking Brooks to the beach for the first time
4. Spending time with my "southern friends" since the move from WA
Four people to tag:
1. Florence
2. Allison
3. Jen
4. Holly
Today, was my first day to attend MOPS at a new church. If you aren't familiar with this program it stand for moms of pre-schoolers. It is a really great way to meet other women going through the same things you are as a mother. Since we move so often, it is a great way to get connected. I was a member of a group in Seattle and am excited to get involved with this group. I attached the website above if you think it might be something of interest. It is for mom's of children from birth to five.
Help mom...
Brooks now loves to wear hats and sunglasses. For a long time you couldn't make him wear either. Last night while I was cooking dinner, Bryan asked me to come in the living room to see what B had done. It was so cute, they both had hats on and we didn't tell Brooks to do it. He was so proud of himself, but took his ball cap off before I could snap a pic. Living in a home full of boys, I have become quite used to sports, any kind of balls (they are abundant), and hats!! I love it... :)
Our new home...we love it!!
These beautiful wooden doors with scrolled iron are one of my favorite things about the house. They are super heavy..no way Brooks can escape!! :)
Formal dining area..the builder put in great fixtures throughout the home.
Den area
Great kitchen with double ovens and a 5 burner gas cook top..this Southern cook is in heaven.
Cute sink in Brooks' bath..not very practical for small children but still pretty.
Outdoor fireplace and tv cubby...Bryan's fav part of the house.
Gigantic backyard with beautiful pine trees. Brooks and Jax love to be outside.
I'll post pics soon of the house decorated...still a work in progress. We are settling in nicely and already starting to meet people.
Brooks playing in his new firetruck tent with Babsie and Poppa
Ecstatic about his new balls..I swear we could open a sporting goods store!!
Awww...my sweet hubby!!
My treasured parents
Jax was worn out after all the Christmas celebrations
Brooks playing with his Aunt Linsey
Bryan, my father-in-law Bob, brother-in-law Davy shooting skeet
And yes..this is me with a gun in my hands..watch out!! It was actually a pretty funny site, me in my UGG boots, Kate Spade sunglasses and fur lined puffer vest in the middle of a county road in West Texas target shooting!! A true Southerner...
3 generations 
Brooksie bear on Christmas morning..he was so sweet opening his gifts. I love my little guy to pieces.
Christmas Day lunch before we headed back home at B's parents with his Grandma Gage.
