Trying A New Recipe

I'm not a huge fan of pork.  I love bacon (of course!) and ham but have never been crazy about pork roasts, chops, etc.  In the past few years, however, I've been to gatherings where they roasted a pig and had pulled pork for sandwiches.  It's always so good!  So today I'm using my crock pot to cook a pork roast and we'll hopefully have pulled pork sandwiches for dinner.  I found this recipe and it just looked good!  The recipe is for ribs but it was also suggested to use with a roast for pulled pork.

For the Ribs

• 1 cup barbecue sauce


• 1 teaspoon liquid smoke


• 1 large onion, sliced into rings


• 1 large apple, sliced into rings


• 5-6 pounds country style pork ribs  (or roast)


• 2-3 tablespoons olive oil

The Rub

• 1 1/2 tablespoons paprika


• 1 tablespoon sugar


• 1 tablespoon kosher salt, finely ground


• 1 1/2 teaspoons mustard powder


• 1 tablespoon chili powder


• 1 tablespoon ground cumin


• 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper


• 1 tablespoon granulated garlic


• 1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper

Instructions

1. Mix the liquid smoke into the barbecue sauce and set aside.


2. Layer onion in the bottom of the slower cooker. Layer the sliced apples over the onions.


3. Mix all the rub ingredients together. Rub all over the ribs.


4. Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large skillet. Brown the ribs on all sides. You may have to work in batches. Add remaining olive oil to the skillet if needed.


5. To the slow cooker, add a layer of ribs (start with any that contain bones) on top of the apples and onions. Cover those ribs with about 1/3 cup of the barbecue sauce mixture, brushing on to cover the meat.


6. Layer remaining ribs on top of the first layer and pour on the rest of the barbecue sauce. Use a brush to ensure all ribs are covered.


7. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high 4-5 hours.

 

It's Going To Be A Fun Day

I am so looking forward to this afternoon!  My friend Kathy is coming to spend the day with me and the kids :)  Lloyd has a late night tonight because he's teaching a class and won't be home until around 11 pm.  Her husband works second shift and doesn't get home until around midnight, so it's the perfect time to get together and hang out.  I'm going to make lasagna rolls, salad and garlic toast for dinner.  I enjoy our visits so much!  We always have a lot to talk about and we laugh a ton!  She's a great friend!  She always humors Lauryn with her silly games and stories and once the kids are in bed, we get to hang out and have a couple of hours where we don't have to censor ourselves :)  Then our conversations get really fun!  :)   I can't wait for her to get here!

32 Weeks

As of Sunday I'm 32 weeks along.  I feel like I've been pregnant F-O-R-E-V-E-R!!!  Only 8 more weeks to go, if I go the full term, but I have a feeling this little boy is going to come early like his sister did.  As long as he's healthy, I'm fine with that!  :)  I had my check-up today and everything is looking good.  My blood pressure was up again but after laying on my side a few minutes, it went back down.  I haven't had any issues with swelling, headaches or seeing spots so I'm not too worried about it.  My baby boys heart beat was at 142, his head is down low and he's getting ready to make his entrance.  I actually lost a couple of pounds since my last appointment which puts my weight gain at 7 pounds.  For anyone who's seen my belly, it sure doesn't seem like that all because it looks more like 20+ but that's it.  Since I wasn't a skinny girl to begin with, I think the baby is just taking what I already had!  :)

I also got my new glasses today.  I picked them out over a week and a half ago and while I was waiting, I was nervous that they weren't going to look right.  Once I got home and took my contacts out, I put them on again and although they're going to take some getting used to because they are very different from my last pair, I really like them.  I stopped over to show my mom and she LOVED them.

We're having a simple dinner tonight because I'm tired and don't feel like cooking or cleaning a big mess.  So it's sandwiches and fries for dinner.  I still am not sleeping well so I'm going to try to go to bed early tonight and hopefully will be able to catch up on some sleep.

So Nice :)

For quite a few weeks now, Lloyd has been having very late appointments and getting home between 8-9:00 pm.  Lauryn and I understand that he's working very hard for us but we've been missing him!  I especially enjoying having him home at dinner time so we can all sit down together, eat our meal and share our day.  The past three days we've had that!  He's been home around 6 pm and we get to actually have some time together before going to bed.  Today, Lauryn filled him in on our day and he told us about some clients who are relocating and looking for carpet cleaning durham nc.  While I am glad that he has been so successful with Home Run Real Estate and I know every time he's late, he's doing it for us but I have so enjoyed have our normal routine back these past three days.

Stuffed!

Oh my goodness, I am so stuffed!  We went to dinner with my aunt, uncle and cousins tonight and had a great time!  We went to Rio Grande, a place I've never been to before, and we all got stuffed.  Even Lauryn ate a little bit better than I thought she would!  Everything from the bread and salad to the steak and garlic mashed potatoes was delicious!  That's definitely a restaurant I'd like to go back to!

Last Father's day, Lauryn and I got Lloyd a heavy duty wagon to pull around the yard.  It was meant for leaves and sticks and stuff like that but I think he ended up using it to pull Lauryn around more :)  He was just telling me that his cousin is going to take off the handle and use some welding cable to add a hitch to it so he cause use it on the tractor....or to have a different way to haul Lauryn around! :)  I might actually get some use out of it this year too.  Since we moved into this house at the end of October, I'm not sure what kinds of flowers are planted around the yard and I'll probably clean up the garden beds and add some new flowers.  I can't wait for Spring :)

Is The Weekend Over Yet?

Usually, I can't wait for the weekend to get here and I'm bummed when it's over  - just like everyone else in the world.  I was think weekend to hurry up and be it over with though because on Monday, we have our ultrasound and will hopefully find out the sex of our baby.  I can't wait!  I've been thinking a little bit about names but it will be easier when I know what we're having.  I need to start a blanket and if we have a girl, the third bedroom needs to be completely redone! 

I do have plans for Saturday that I'm really looking forward to.  The girls and I are having a much needed Mom's Night Out!  It's been a while, I think the last MNO I was able to go on was last year before Christmas, so it's time :)  We're going to Applebee's for dinner and then maybe a little shopping after.

Creamy Baked Penne

Last night I whipped up a pretty yummy pasta dish.  I had to pick up a few things at the store, sauce, penne and canon batteries, among other things and when I got home, I threw a few ingredients together.  It was very creamy and good.  Even Lauryn ate seconds.  Whenever something turns out, I like to share so here it is:

*NOTE*  I used two aluminum pans for this.  I split the pasta between the two and put one in the freezer for another day.  With there being just the three of us, half of the recipe was plenty for one meal.

1 lb. ground beef

1 (lg) jar spaghetti sauce

1 box penne pasta

2 c. mozzarella

1 tub of Philadelphia Cooking Cream - Italian Cheese & Herb

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Brown beef and drain.  Add spaghetti sauce, Cooking Cream and 1 c. mozzarella.  Simmer on low.

Cook penne according to package.  Drain.  Add to sauce mix. 

Put mixture in a casserole dish and top with remaining mozzarella.  Bake, covered, for 15 minutes.  Uncover bake 5 more minutes.

Lazy Day

No one in this house is doing much of anything today.  It's hot and humid outside and we're all just hanging in the house having a totally lazy day.  I've been catching up on my online stuff, like Facebook, Twitter and the Michigan Moms Club.  I came across a pretty cool page on Facebook that I wish I would have found before Easter!  They have a lot of neat things and they personalize baskets and it would have been great to get something like that for Lauryn.  I'll have to keep them in mind for next year!  If you'd like to check them out, go here.

I have no clue what to have for dinner tonight.  Right now, nothing sounds good and I don't even know what we have in the house.  At some point, soon, I'll have to go to the store and get a few essentials, so I might have to pick up something easy for dinner while I'm there.

Terrific Tuesday

The weather was absolutely gorgeous today!  Sunny and warm but not hot, humid and sweltering.  It was perfect!

Willow came over for a couple of hours and the girls had a ton of fun playing.  They both ate their lunch well and only Willow ended up taking a nap.  Lauryn was a stinker and played in her bed the whole time.  Kristin came to pick up Willow and I got to show her our camper.  I think she liked it :)  After they left, Lauryn and I went to the library to pick up a few books, stopped at the store then came home.  Lauryn visited with our neighbors while I unloaded the truck.  I was hoping she'd get a nap when we got back but she was awake and raring to go.  Then when I was getting dinner ready, around 5:30 p.m., she climbed into the play yard and fell asleep.  When I discovered her a few minutes later, I debated whether to let her sleep or to wake her up.  I let her sleep for about a half an hour and she woke up when Lloyd got home.  She was a pistol after that!  Lloyd and I ended up eating dinner without her because she wanted to lay in her bed and whine.  Finally, when she came out, she ate a little salad and them some toast.  After that, her mood changed back to the sweet little girl I know and the rest of the evening has been pleasant.  Thanks to our neighbors giving us some strawberries, we'll be enjoying some strawberry shortcake in a little bit :)

I've been looking at all of my online and I think I'm going to get some document management software from Dokmee.net.  My desktop and a lot of my folders are getting pretty messy and could use a little help!

A Good Monday

After having a pretty relaxed morning, Lauryn and I got ready and went dollar store shopping to pick up a few things for the camper.  It was about lunch time when we finished so we went to Big Boy and both had the salad bar.  Lauryn had a good time there.  We had a really sweet waitress who kept talking to her and she loved it!  Afterward, we came home and Lauryn colored for a little bit while I read my book.  Then it was nap time.  It took her a little while to wind down but when she finally did, I thought I might get a little nap too.  At first I couldn't fall asleep so I called my mom and talked for a bit, read more of my book, then dozed on the couch for a little while.  When we got up, it was close to dinner time.  Since Lloyd was going to be home late, I made myself a french bread pizza and Lauryn had a sandwich, string cheese and a juice box.  After dinner we went out in the backyard and I weeded the garden and my flower bed, took care of my three flower baskets, replanted some cucumbers and melons and then Lauryn helped me water everything.  She REALLY loves watering everything :)  I LOVE getting work done in the garden and being able to look at it after and see how nice it looks!  When we came in, we were both a little dirty so we took a quick shower.  Lloyd came home a little bit later and now we're relaxing before bed time.

Stuffed!

I ate WAY too much tonight at dinner!  I am still stuffed!  The chicken was great and so was the rice but I totally pigged out on watermelon!!!  I just love that stuff!  Hopefully the plants I bought today will take off and I'll have a lot of it at the end of the summer!

I've been looking at craigslist at lot lately, trying to find some good deals on furniture.  I'd love to get a new set of kitchen table and chairs, a coffee table and some adirondack chairs for the patio.  There are always a lot of good deals there but whenever I'm looking for something specific, it seems I can never find any that's in really good shape.  It is getting to be yard sale season though too, so maybe I'll find something this summer :)

Sunshine!!!

I love the sunshine!!!!   I love being able to have the door and windows open so the fresh air can flow through the house :)  I had Willow today and after the girls got up from their naps, we went for a little walk.  They crack me up, pointing everything out.  "It's a birdie!  It's a car!  It's a stick!!!!"  They are very obvservant little girls.   Poor Cloz'r had to stay home though.  I don't dare try to take her with us.  With one girl on each hand, I don't know how I'd be able to take her too!  She'll have to go later :)

I'm making an easy dinner tonight.  Grilled ham and cheese sandwiches and fries.  I usually plan dinner early in the morning (or the night before) so I'll have time to thaw the meat out but I didn't do that today so I'm keeping it simple :) 

I got more nylon netting yesterday.  Three spools!  I ordered pink, purple and blue.  I think I'm addicted to making scrubbies!!! :)  Now if only I could sell them!

Better

The fever has finally broken!!!  Lauryn woke up around 2 am and was hot!  We chilled on the couch for three hours before I could finally get her back to bed.  During those three hours, I tried keeping her filled up on liquids.  It was a long night but at least she wasn't upset....just awake!  I noticed this morning that her gums are a little red and swollen.  I think the fever was caused from her two year molars.  Every single tooth that has come through has been really rough on her :(  All I can say is I'm glad the fever finally broke!!!

I got a call from my mother-in-law this morning.  She wanted to see if it was okay if they took us out to dinner tomorrow night for Lloyd's birthday.  Heck yeah, it's okay :)  I love cooking but I also love a break from the kitchen :)  After dinner, we're going to come back here and have some German chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream.  YUM!  This should be a really nice weekend!

Stuffy...Blah!

Over the weekend, Lauryn came down with another cold.  She had a fever on Saturday and Sunday but seems to be feeling much better now.  Unfortunately, now I'm stuffed up.  I CAN'T WAIT FOR SPRING!!!

I have Willow today and these girls are too much fun when they get together.  Kathye came over and after a little bit, I turned on some music and we danced with the girls, then they danced with their baby dolls.  Too much fun!  Tiring, but fun :)

Spaghetti and meatballs for dinner tonight.  It's not a big fancy meal but it will forever be one of my favorites!  Lauryn's too!  That's one meal I can always count on her eating!   I'm thinking I might make some pumpkin bread tomorrow.  I've been craving it and I have a new recipe I want to try out.  If it turns out good, I'll post it :)

Nice Evening

We had a really nice time with Lloyd's parents and his brother tonight.  Dinner turned out great!  They all seemed to really enjoy it :)  Even Lauryn ate pretty well!  Afterward, Carol and I cleaned up and the guys went out to play horseshoes.  They were too full for cake so I sent them home with some :)

Kathye came and visited for a few shortly after they left and she brought me a bunch of yummy scented lotions and body washes that she got great deals on :)  I love those kinds of things!

I came across an online ad earlier for compression stockings.  I really wish I would have known about those while I was pregnant!  I had such horrible swelling in my legs and ankles and those could have helped a lot!  Note to self:  remember those for the next time around :)

Busy Morning

So far, I've made homemade meatballs and now have them simmering in sauce in the crock pot, I just pulled a caramel apple cake out of the oven, two loads of laundry done-one more to go and have cleaned the bathroom.  My in-laws are coming over for dinner tonight and I like having the house spotless when they get here.  Just a few more things to do and everything will be ready.  We're having linguine oil and garlic with dinner and ciabatta bread...YUM!

The other day, a friend of mine was talking about having her Christmas shopping done already!  What?  I wish I was that together!  I am definitely a last minute shopper.  She was telling me that she was looking forward to Black Friday this year, so she could get some good deals and possibly a few more gifts.  That is not my kind of shopping at all!  I don't like crowds and I'm not about to get up and get to a store at 3 am, just to save some money.  I'm all for a good deal but to me, that's just now worth it!

One More Month

I can't believe in one more month, we'll be celebrating my baby girls first birthday!  It just doesn't seem possible.  I've been get the party all planned and I'm trying to keep it as small as possible because we just don't have a lot of room for a big party.  I think my list is pretty much finalized and including the three of us, there will possibly be 21 people here.  One more month....Holy Cow!

Today is looking awfully dreary.  It's cold and very rainy right....good nap weather :) My house is smelling very yummy this morning.  I've had a roast in the crock pot, which was seared first, for over an hour now.  Mom has to work tomorrow so it will just be me and Lloyd for dinner.  She's going to visit tomorrow though and hopefully my aunt will be coming over on Sunday.  I miss her a lot!

I'm getting really far on the blanket I'm making for Lauryn.  I haven't decided just how big to make it but I guess when I run out of yarn, it's done :)  It's getting pretty big.  As soon as I'm done, I'll post pictures.  This is by far my favorite blanket - great colors and great pattern!

Feeling Better

Now my cold has gone from sore throat, to sinus yuckiness and now it's become a nagging cough - which is a lot better than that sinus crap!  Hopefully I will be rid of it all in a day or two!  So far, we've managed to keep Lloyd and Lauryn from getting it *knock on wood!*

On Saturday, one of Lauryn's top front teeth finally broke through! YAY!!!  And you can see the other one just under the surface.  For the past few days I've had my sweet little girl back!  Seems like once they break through, they don't bother her quite as much so she's not so fussy.  I can't wait to see her with her two top teeth to go along with her two bottom ones.  That's going to be adorable!

I can't believe it's only going to be in the 50's today!  Last year, when we were bringing Lauryn home from the hospital (beginning of November) we had 70 degree weather.  I'm thinking it's not going to happen this year.  I can't believe that my garden is still going!  Sunday I picked about 15-20 tomatoes and saw that I have six green peppers that will be ready soon.  Hopefully they make it!

I'm thinking about making meatloaf and linguine oil and garlic tonight.  I'm not sure about the veggie yet.  I still have to run to the store.

Rainy Night

I love the rain!  It looked like it was going to storm a little while ago and there were thunder claps and lightning but sadly, it's stopped.  I love when it's raining hard when I'm going to bed!

Lauryn is getting the hang of waving.  She mostly waves at herself, which is adorable, but she's getting it.  I need to set an appointment for her 9 month check up soon.  I still can't believe she's 9 months already!  Seriously, where did the time go?

No big plans this week.  I'm going to my moms to pick up a couple of outfits she got for Lauryn and to trim her hair and then not too much going on until the weekend.  We're planning on having Lloyd's parents over for dinner to celebrate is dad's birthday.  Since it's going to be such an uneventful week I should be able to get a lot of things around this house done...we'll see though :)

Lazy Day

Today has been very unproductive....and I don't mind it one bit!  I love it when Lloyd, Lauryn and I get to just hang out and do whatever we want or nothing at all.  They are both taking a nap right now and I'm deciding whether to take one or not.....decisions, decisions!

It was nice hanging out with my mom last night.  I know she loves getting to spend time with her grand baby and it made me happy because I still had someone to cook for.  Lloyd was finishing up a few things at the other house so he didn't get home until around 10 pm and when he's not here, I really have no desire to cook a meal just for myself.