Jen's Birthday Festivities and Fun Pants...

So it's Tuesday and we've had a huge weekend of fun and frivolity.  We kicked off Jen's Birthday Celebration on Thursday and kept it going through Saturday night.  We then finalized the long weekend with a Memorial Day party at our house, to be chronicled in my next post.

We began the birthday celebration with Luncheon at Tony's, the fine dining establishment in Greenway Plaza...not the Mexican joint next to our house.  This was a real treat as the food and service are absolutely top notch.  Jen started with some kind of asparagus bisque followed by a salad of mixed greens with fried chicken.  I chose the chopped salad with chicken julienne.

The Birthday Girl

The Bread

We both then munched heartily on the massive praline topped cheesecake served with special plating complete with a Happy Birthday notation.  And all topped off with a bouquet of cotton candy.  Needless to say, we left some cotton candy on the table!  Just so you follow the whole experience, we completed the evening with a family birthday dinner of fried chicken and chicken fried steak at The Barbecue Inn.  More on the Barbecue Inn in another post as it deserves a complete review of its own.  Let's just say, "That's a whole mess a good fried eatin'!"

Birthday Dessert

Saturday was the BIG party night and since it was Jen's 40th, we did it up right.  We had most of our favorite people in the world join us for an evening of cooking, drinking and eating at the Well Done Cooking School located in The Heights area of Houston.  We had such a good time! The laughter never stopped and I think Chef Carlos was pooped by the time we took our leave.  The meal started with a fresh Caesar salad with homemade dressing and seasoned croutons.  Then came Herb Crusted Leg of Lamb, Sweet Pea and Parmesan Risotto and a side of Fried Asparagus, all topped with a Chipotle Hollandaise.  Oh my goodness this was good!  And of course, the wine, beer and cocktails flowed for the entire event.

Your Host and Hostess for the Evening

You girls need a third angel?

Ally, Jennie and Extreme Scotty

Michael, JG and Becky

Yours Truly with the Fabulous Ruthie...really, that's her name!

Ruthie, The 'Dre and Lars

The Caesar

Chef Carlos explaining rice coloring...

Becky

Let's make some Risotto!

She looks to be having a swell time!

Ally & Jen...yes, they're sisters!

Damn you smell good Carlos...I mean the food smells good Carlos!

That's one nice leg a lamb!

LoFlo creates her Crusted Portabello Mushroom

Becky and Ruthie on the Veranda

I just don't understand why you want to go to the moon!

Two good lookin' dudes!

Andre'...you need to make them bigger!

Don't ever sneak up on a guy and put on gloves JG!

Very pretty in her new necklace!

Ally & Tara work on the Asparagus

LoFlo and Becky

Lars handling the frying duties...

The scrumptious end result

Blowing out fake candles on her Spice Cake

That's a fine lookin' group!

So once again, Happy Birthday to my beautiful bride.  I hope you had a fun and certainly memorable birthday weekend!  I love you my Darling.

And oh yeah, did anyone notice the debut of my new GTH/Fun Pants complete with white bucks and a crisp white polo?  Pretty damn cool if you ask me!

Jen's having another 39th Birthday!

Today I get to dedicate my entire post to my beautiful wife Jen...for today is her Birthday!  Would anyone even guess that she's turning 40 today?  She's got more bound in her step, a tenacity to seek success, a self motivated spirit unrivaled by her peers and an unmatched love for her family and friends.  On top of all that, she's a top notch wife, the love of my life and my very best friend in the world!

  

The real testament to how wonderful she is and how much effort she gives to others, is the fact that I had a very hard time assembling a bunch of photos of just her!  She's always behind the camera, putting others before herself and placing the spotlight elsewhere.  She can be tough but has the kindest soul, a Christian disposition and such a tender heart.  So today, she gets the attention and the spotlight.  It's her day to shine.  I am so very proud of her.  She's 40 and she's Fantastic!

JFC Gala 2011...the Sudduth's go Late Night!

Saturday night was the Justice for Children Annual Gala where we put on our finest duds and raised mucho money for a very worthwhile charity that focuses all their attention on getting kids legally away from abusive situations.  Jen is on the National Board of Directors and I've been helping out as a dutiful husband. We even chaired the gala a few years ago. Now, although this is a very serious cause, the Gala is all kinds of fun!  If you want to know more about JFC, click here.  If you'd like to make a donation, every bit is greatly appreciated!

This year's event was held at the Hotel  ZaZa, a very swank, edgy hotel near Herman Park.  It used be the Warwick Hotel.  We checked in at 1:00 for some pool time with all the pretty people.  Unfortunately, I was the fattest guy in the place.  Jen fit in perfectly!  There is nothing more I hate than a bunch of 20 something dudes with washboard abs!  Anyway, we then strapped on our groovy gala wear and headed down to the ballroom.  Lot's of our friends were in attendance and I was even handed a microphone and asked to work the "Big Board Auction", enticing folks to spend a little extra on some cool trips, weird artwork and 1st class plane tickets.  Needless to say, the bar was OPEN!

Yours Truly and my Beautiful Date for the evening

Dinner started with a tomato bisque followed by a huge slug of filet mignon and sides.  The wine was flowing nicely and the silent auction was on fire.  We had two items on the auction tables, a custom shirt / necktie offering and our usual Dinner for 8 at the Sudduth House.  The shirt/tie offering went for $300 and we ended up selling 2 dinners at our house for $400 each.  I'm a little worried about one of the dinners after the winner strongly stated that I would be her "Chef Bitch" for the evening.  Should be interesting!

LoFlo, Jen, Ruthie and Sherri - lookin' awfully fine!

The Cool Calabrese's and the Fabulous Olson's

Who are these ladies?  I'll take a guess that it's Jen and Robin?

Jen and Margaret with JFC Founder - Randy Burton

The Sweeeeeeeeeet's!

Lucky Leitch went home with Airline Tickets!

Hangin' with the Day's...why is she wearing his tie?  Hmmm...

Hugh and his spicey date Tineke

A whole bunch of ladies with their game face on!

Mr. & Mrs. Sakson...helping the kids!  And owners of Kid to Kid in the Galleria!

And then there was the stage show where Yours Truly had to entertain the crowd with not one but two Sinatra renditions of "Fly me to the Moon" and "The way you look tonight".  Several friends congratulated me for having the guts to do it...strangely though, nobody told me how good I sounded!

Fly me to the Moon...let me swing among the stars...

After it was all over, the committee members made their way to the hotel bar for some late night cocktail action.  This was where I made my mistake.  I have a one martini rule that I generally follow, with an addendum to the rule that states that no martini's shall ever be ordered after 1:00 in the a.m.  Both rules were shattered.  We made it to our room about 2:00 and retired to the cool white sheets and a peaceful slumber.

The McCarty's and the martini mistake...

Another Gala down and lots of money raised for a really wonderful cause.  What a great event where we can do such good and have an absolutely swell time to boot.  Thanks to all our wonderful friends for joining us and making a contribution.  Jen and I truly appreciate your continued support of JFC and our cause!