My Christmas Traditions

It's a ho-ho-hoedown on the range in the town of Happy! How do you celebrate Christmas and the season's holidays with your family and friends?

Here in Happy, we have lots of traditions. Traditions are things you do each year, like going to Grandma's for Christmas dinner or dropping off a toy for a needy kiddo. I'll tell you some of my traditions:

On Christmas Eve we build a big bonfire in the clearing behind the barn and set bales of hay for folks to sit on. Just about the whole town turns out: Banker Bill, Dime Store Sam, Hi-Five Handy, Little Digit, Buddy, Zipp Handy, everyone! And of course L'il Pinky brings hot chocolate and a basked load of her famous cookies and cupcakes. I play my guitar and we all sing Christmas carols and take turns telling stories about our favorite Christmas memories.

After a while the little ones start to doze off and their parents carry 'em home and put 'em to bed to await the arrival of Santa Claus.

We spend Christmas morning with our families, opening presents before heading over to the Long Horn Diner where I whip up a Christmas dinner for anyone who wants to join us.

What are your holiday traditions? Whatever they are, I hope they're filled with love and laughter and the magic of the season!

WEEKEND ACTIVITY:
Virtual Christmas Caroling! You might not be able to gather your friends and family to go out caroling in your neighborhood, so why not do it from home? If you have a video camera or a webcam on your computer, record yourself singing your favorite Christmas songs. Then upload the video file and send it to your relatives! They'll get a kick out of seeing you sing on their computer! If you don't have a video camera, call up your grandma or grandpa and sing to them over the phone!

Cuckoo for Christmas Cookies!

Sure, I love the lights, the tree, the presents, the carols and the joy of spending time with friends and family at Christmas time. But what really spins my spurs is CHRISTMAS COOKIES!

My friend L'il Pinky makes the best Christmas cookies over at her Rumblin' Tummy Bakery, and I asked her pretty please with sugar on top if she would share some of her favorite recipes with us so I could post them here for you! So here they are, just in time for baking for the holidays!

REMEMBER: It's important to ALWAYS have a grownup around when you're cooking and working in the kitchen, especially with the hot oven. So partner up with a parent and get your cookie on!

Chocolate Mint Crinkles
Ingredients
* 3/4 cup finely chopped layered chocolate-mint candies (about 4 ounces or 24 candies)
* 1/3 cup shortening
* 1 cup sugar
* 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 2 eggs
* 2 teaspoons vanilla
* 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* Layered chocolate-mint candies, chopped

Directions
- In a heavy small saucepan, heat and stir the chocolate candies until melted and smooth.
- Remove from heat and let cool about 15 minutes.
- In a large bowl, beat shortening with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds.
- Add sugar, baking powder, salt; beat until combined. Beat in cooled chocolate, eggs, vanilla. Beat or stir in flour.
- Cover and chill 3 hours or until dough is easy to handle.
- Preheat over to 350 degrees F.
- Place balls 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
- Bake for 10 minutes or until edges are set (tops should crackle).
- Sprinkle candy pieces on top of each cookie; don't press candies into cookies.
- Bake 1 minute more.
- Cool on wire racks.

Makes about 36 cookies.


Peanut Butter and Banana Drops
Ingredients
* 1 16 1/2 ounce package refrigerated peanut butter cookie dough
* 1 cup dried banana chips, coarsely crushed
* 1 cup semisweet chocolate pieces
* 1/4 cup turbinado sugar, demerara sugar, or colored coarse sugar

Directions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Combine cookie dough, banana chips, and chocolate pieces in a large resealable bag and seal.
- Knead mixture with hands until dough is well mixed. Remove dough from bag.
- Put sugar in a small bowl.
- Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll balls in sugar to coat.
- Place balls 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten balls slightly.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are golden brown.
- Transfer cookies to a wire rack; let cool.

Makes about 40 cookies.


Super Chewy Sugar Cookies
Ingredients
* 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
* 1 cup softened butter
* 1 1/2 cups white sugar
* 1 egg
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 to 4 tablespoons buttermilk
* Sprinkles or colored sugar, for decorating

Directions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda and baking powder. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the egg and vanilla.
- Gradually blend in dry ingredients.
- Add enough buttermilk to moisten dough and make it soft, not wet.
- Roll rounded teaspoons of dough into balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet.
- With a brush or fingers, moisten top of each cookie with remaining buttermilk and slightly flatten top of each cookie.
- Sprinkle with raw sugar or colored sprinkles.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until slightly golden.
- Let stand for 2 minutes before removing to cool on a rack.

WEEKEND ACTIVITY
Ask a parent what his or her favorite holiday cookies are and bake them! Find a recipe (or use one from above) and team up to make cookie history. When you're done, share them with your friends and family, and be sure to seal some up fresh and save them for Santa!

December: Let's Get Holiday Happy!

December's calendar is bursting with fun and festive events for all sorts of people! There's a lot going on in this one month. Which of these special days do you celebrate with your family?

December 6: St. Nicholas Day
This festival, celebrated by children in America and Europe, celebrates the life of the famous saint who gave gifts to needy children 1,700 years ago. Today, kids put their shoes by the door so St. Nick can fill them with candy, fruit and small toys.

December 20 - 28: Hanukkah
This holy Jewish holiday lasts for eight days and the family celebrations include burning the Menorah, a holder with eight candles, spinning special tops called dredels, eating potato pancakes called latkes, Hanukkah donuts called sufganiot and cookies called mandelbrot.

December 24: Christmas Eve
Last-minute shoppers rush out to finish getting what they need so they can enjoy the evening with their families, awaiting the overnight visit from Santa Claus.

December 25: Christmas
People all over the world celebrate Christmas, a day of giving fits and being with families, to celebrate peace and enjoy a fine feast, while celebrating the birth of Christ.

December 26: Boxing Day
This holiday has nothing to do with putting on thick gloves and fighting in a ring. Celebrated in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and other countries, the day is celebrated by giving gifts in boxes. Many people go shopping on this day to take advantage of big sales.

December 26 - January 1: Kwanzaa
This week-long African-American holiday is based upon the ancient customs of Africa. Created in 1966, Kwanzaa celebrates African heritage and culture. Family and friends gather to wear traditional African clothing and celebrate seven special principles of their heritage, one for each day of the holiday week.

December 31: New Year's Eve
It's party night! Friends and families gather together to see out the old year and ring in the new, with good food and drink, games and lively conversation, Oh, and a lot of noise! Happy New Year!

These days have become traditional holidays, with millions of people celebrating them each year. But did you know there are some other holidays this month that are just a little bit out of the ordinary?

December 12th is Poinsettia Day, celebrating the famous Yuletide flower and the man who introduced it to the US from Mexico. Violin Day is celebrated on December 13th. December 18th is Baking Cookies Day (one of L'il Pinky's favorite days!). December 21st sees National Flashlight Day shining on us. And National Eggnog Day falls on December 24th.

So whatever holidays you celebrate, whether traditional or slightly off-the-saddle- as we like to say around these parts- have a delightful December and a warm holiday season! And don't forget to bring your violin and your flashlight!


WEEKEND ACTIVITY:
Can't wait for Christmas? Me either! This weekend, make your own Countdown to Christmas calendar! Print out this December calendar page or get a grownup to help you. Then circle Sunday, the 25th and draw a picture of Santa in that box. Each day, draw and color another square on your calendar with these pictures:

Dec. 3: A snowman
Dec. 4: A Christmas tree
Dec. 5: Candy canes
Dec. 6: An elf
Dec. 7: A Santa hat
Dec. 8: A wrapped present
Dec. 9: Holly leaves and berries
Dec. 10: A reindeer
Dec. 11: A string of colorful Christmas lights
Dec. 12: Your favorite Christmas cookie
Dec. 13: Mrs. Claus
Dec. 14: Christmas bells
Dec. 15: A gingerbread man
Dec. 16: A Christmas wreath
Dec. 17: Santa's sleigh
Dec. 18: A Christmas candle
Dec. 19: The star or angel on the top of your Christmas tree
Dec. 20: Your smiling face
Dec. 21: A snowflake
Dec. 22: Your favorite ornament on your tree
Dec. 23: A sack full of toys
Dec. 24: Stockings hung by the fireplace

After Christmas, have a parent help you scan your completed Countdown to Christmas calendar and email to my special Christmas helper at: Michellebain@thumbsupjohnnie.com.

To get your blank Countdown to Christmas calendar, click below!
Thumbs Up Johnnie Countdown to Christmas Calendar

These Boots Were Made for... Me!

A cowboy without a good pair of boots is like a sailor with no ship, like a baseball player with no glove, like a saxophonist with no saxophone …well, you get the idea. Boots are an important part of any respectable cowboy.

My boots came from M.L. Leddy’s in Fort Worth, Texas. They’re legends in the handmade boot and saddle biz. They also make clothes, belts, buckles and a bunch more, and have been doing it since 1922.

In my book Johnnie’s Missing Boot!, I got to meet Wilson Franklin, the owner of M.L. Leddy’s. He’s the grandson of the real M.L. Leddy, and he helped me pick out the boots that were just right for me. I wear ‘em everyday!

If you want to learn more about M.L. Leddy’s boots and the history of their business, visit their web site: www.leddys.com

Time for boots to be moseyin’ on down the road!

WEEKEND ACTIVITY:
My boots have a big star and a cactus and a horseshoe on them. Here’s your chance to design your own pair of fancy boots. Have your mom or dad help you print out this sheet below, then draw things that are important to you on them and color them.

When you’re all finished, scan the picture and send it to my special helper Michelle at michellebain@thumbsupjohnnie.com, so I can share them with my other friends here and on my Facebook page! Don’t forget to sign your name and write your age.

Visit the link to download and print your boots to design!
Cowboy Boots!

Turkey Time! Get Your Gobble On!

Did you hear about the Thanksgiving turkey that got into a fight? He had the stuffing knocked out of him!

Don't look now but Thanksgiving is just next week! I can already smell L'il Pinky baking pumpkin pies at the Rumblin' Tummy bakery! Mmmm! Might have to drop by and see if she needs anyone to sample up a slice or two to make sure she's got it just right!

Turkey and stuffing and veggies and pies are my favorite Thanksgiving treats. What are yours? Do you have Thanksgiving traditions? Where will you enjoy Thanksgiving dinner?

Every year I like to cook a big ol' dinner at the Long Horn Diner and invite all of my friends over for a feast! I even make pumpkin flapjacks for Thanksgiving breakfast!

Here's my recipe! ALWAYS REMEMBER TO COOK WITH A GROWNUP!

JOHNNIE'S PUMPKIN FLAPJACKS
Ingredients
2 1/3 cups Original Biquick® mix
1/3 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
1 1/4 cups milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspon pumpkin pie spice
2 eggs

Directions
1. Mix ingredients in a large bowl and stir until well blended.
2. Pour batter by slightly less than 1/4 cupfuls onto the hot griddle (grease griddle if necessary). Cook until edges are dry.
3. Turn; cook until golden brown. Serve with syrup.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM THUMBS UP JOHNNIE AND FRIENDS!

WEEKEND ACTIVITY:
Take this quiz to see how much you know about turkeys! Study the answers (found below) and then quiz your family members around the table at your Thanksgiving dinner!

1. The average weight of a turkey is 15 pounds. How much was the heaviest turkey ever raised?
a.) 26 pounds
b.) 36 pounds
c.) 56 pounds
d.) 86 pounds

2. A full grown turkey has about how many feathers?
a.) 100
b.) 1,000
c.) 3,500
d.) 100,000

3. What is the term for a large group of turkeys?
a.) A flock
b.) A brood
c.) A covey
d.) A wattle

4. Which turkeys make a gobble sound?
a.) Only the females
b.) Only the males
c.) Both males and females
d.) Neither, they actually bark

5. What is a 16-week old turkey called?
a.) A tom
b.) A giblet
c.) A fryer
d.) A drumstick

6. What is the name of the flap of skin that hangs over the turkey's beak?
a.) The wattle
b.) The gobbler
c.) The carbuncle
d.) The snood

7. What American patriot wanted the wild turkey to be the symbol for our country, instead of the bald eage?
a.) Thomas Jefferson
b.) Benjamin Franklin
c.) Abraham Lincoln
d.) George Washington

8. What is the only state that doesn't have wild turkeys?
a.) Michigan
b.) New York
c.) Alaska
d.) Texas

9. How long does it take turkey eggs to hatch?
a.) 7 days
b.) 28 days
c.) 2 months
d.) 9 months

10. Turkey skins are tanned and used to make what?
a.) Cowboy boots and belts
b.) Umbrellas
c.) Baseball gloves
d.) All of the above

ANSWERS:
1. = d.) 86 pounds, about the size of a large dog!
2. = c.) 3,500 feathers
3. = a.) a flock
4. = b.) only the males gobble; the females make a clucking noise
5. = c.) a fryer
6. = d.) the snood
7. = b.) Benjamin Franklin
8. = c.) Alaska
9. = b.) 28 days
10. = a.) Cowboy boots and belts

Happy Veterans Day and 11-11-11!

Today is Veterans Day. It's the day we honor those brave men and women who have served in a branch of the military for the United States.

- Army
- Navy
- Air Force
- Marines
- Coast Guard

We celebrate Veterans Day on November 11th, the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War 1 at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. So we proudly salute those people who have given so much to help us be safe and free in the country we love.

Do you know someone who has served in the military? A grandparent, parent or aunt or uncle or older brother or sister? If you're not sure, ask a parent. Then thank that person or draw them a picture for helping to protect our country! And give 'em a big ol' thumbs up and a hug!

WEEKEND ACTIVITY
Today is also 11-11-11! November 11th, 2011. It's the only 11-11-11 we'll see in our lifetimes!

Let's keep the number 11 in our mind this weekend and count things up to 11! What can you find 11 of? Get a piece of paper or a notepad and make a list of things you can count up to eleven.

For example:
11 cars
11 trees
11 fallen leaves
11 squirrels
11 birds
11 friends
11 socks

Can you fill up a whole page?

Then draw a picture of yourself wearing a sports jersey with the number 11 on it. E-mail it to me and I'll post it on my blog: michellebain@thumbsupjohnnie.com (She helps me out with my mail!)

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs!

My friend Miss Tiptop teaches kiddos at the Happy School lots of good stuff. She knows a lot about a lot of subjects! Recently she taught my nephew Little Digit and his best friend Zipp Handy about sign language. Sign language is a great way for people with hearing trouble to communicate.

The sign language alphabet is a series of hand signals. You spell out letters using your hands. For people who can't hear, signing can take the place of your voice! In my book, Zipp, Little Digit & the Happy Signs!, you can learn about different signs and ways to communicate.


WEEKEND ACTIVITY
Learn some simple sign language words this weekend. Sign the word HELLO...



Sign the word FRIEND...



Look at the chart below and learn to sign your first name. Then show your family and teach them how to sign their names.