Changes

Big changes are coming.....you can find me http://muddycreekcreations.wordpress.com
though we are have some techincal difficulties but hopefully they will be worked out soon.

Where to go from here???

Lately I have been trying to decide where I want to take this thing. At the moment I really can't remember why I even started it. I don't have much time to do a cooking thing even once a week can be pushing it sometimes. As for the "mommy blogger" I had thought about going that direction, but I am uncomfortable with showing pictures of my children and really what's the point if you don't get to see some faces from time to time.

On top of everything else I don't think anyone actually reads any of this so really......why am I doing it?? So if it sits idle for a while you now know why. I will either get rid of it or perhaps find some time to make it into something. Either way for anyone who is out there and does read a big THANKS goes out to you.

7 quick takes

1. I don't usually complain about the weather. I live in oregon, and it rains a lot, that is a fact, if you don't like it move somewhere else. This last week though has been harder than most. We usually have rain, some sun, then more rain. Well not this week, we had gray, some more gray, with a side of gray. This will only last for a few more months.............It wouldn't be so bad if I could get outside and run, or if I had a good book to curl up with.

2. Speaking of running, it has been going really well.  I still have a pound to lose from after Christmas (up 3), but they are coming off slowly. Note: rum cake and pina coladas don't help the situation. I am getting use to running on the treadmill, and I don't dread it like I once did. I still prefer to run on the road, and do so on the weekends when it isn't nasty out. Even with all that I do I am still a fairweather girl when it comes to some things.

3. #1 and Dad have been going out weekly duck hunting. #1 comes home with a huge smile and exhausted. I have also been finding shell casings laying around. I am going to have to put a time limit on how long they can stay, or we might just get engulfed by them.

4. We are still waiting on when the move will be occuring. At this point it is going to be an event. There are a few things that need to be done to the house before we move in. Mostly carpet and flooring. Hubby has always been against hard wood/laminate flooring in the living areas of the house, he always says it is to cold, so I have been shopping for carpet for the bedrooms and living room. Much to my surprise this last weekend he surprised me and said that I could put in flooring in the living room, but the bedrooms still had to be carpet. Fine by me, so off to the home stores to find flooring I go.

5. Speaking of moving.....#2 and #1 have shared a room since #2 was 2. He doesn't remember ever having his own room and when we move he will. I wonder how he deal with it. #1 always has made it clear that he wants his own room, but #2 seems to find comfort in the fact that he shares a room with brother. It will be a big transition for all of us I'm sure.

6. On to #3.....every night when we put #1 and 2 down to bed he crawls in with them and wants to go to bed with them too. We have a bed frame for him, but no mattresses yet. It is an antique that I bought before he was born. I am trying to decide when to put him in his new bed. He will be 2 next month and while I put the other boys in beds at that time, I am worried that a new bed along with a new house might be a bit much for him.

7. Speaking of bedding, when we move I get to redo the boys's rooms. #1 and #2 both need new comforters and a theme for the rooms. I have been looking at the same one for the last 3 years and honestly I am tired of it. I need to find something that is fun, boy, and that won't kill me whenever I walk in the room.

The baby shower...update

Saturday is Sis's baby shower. Mom and I have been busy getting things done, making all the plans, and arrangements. At this point the planning is done, and we just need to act on what has been planned.  Tomorrow Mom will be out and about picking up bread, rental items, and flowers for the centerpieces. While she is out I will be making the salads and getting things prepared for Saturday.

Today #3 & I are off to the stores for all the groceries that we will need.

Pulled Pork

Last friday was my Mother-in-law's birthday, so on Saturday we had them along with brother and sister-in-law over for dinner, (the kids came too). I made this, and it was delicous. You know when you make something that you know is good, but you just don't remember how good it was. Well this was omg good.

This recipe makes alot, but it would be simple to cut it down. The best part is I put it in the crock pot, though you could do it in the oven if you would rather, I am not sure why though.

Pulled Pork

7 pound pork roast (I used a shoulder cut)

1 large onion chopped

1 chipolte pepper in adobe sauce chopped

3 garlic cloves minced in garlic press

3 cups homemade honey bbq sauce or your favorite brand

In a mixing bowl put in onion, pepper, garlic and bbq sauce, mix together. In your crock pot put in your roast, and then pour mixture on top. Put on the lid and set on low for 10 hours.  If you can half way through cooking turn the roast over. It just insures that all the flavors are melded in the pork.

I was a bit late getting it started, so mine cooked on low for 6 hours, then I turned it up to high for another 2 hours. It was perfectly fine. (this is when getting up for your run would be a good idea instead of hitting snooze)

About 30-45 minutes before you are ready to serve take out the roast and set aside for a minute. Take out half the sauce in the cooker and in a sauce pan on high heat, boil sauce. While the sauce is cooking down, take two forks shred the meat. If it has cooked long enough it should practicallly fall apart for you.  When you are done with that return the meat to the crock pot and then pour in the sauce that has cooked down slightly. Mix around until it is all covered with sauce. Leave the crock pot on high until ready to eat. This will help the sauce to cook down even more. 

I served mine on tortillas, but it would be great for sandwiches or just on a pile of mashed potatoes.

Enjoy!!

7 quick takes....a day late

1. So you have heard about my computer issues....would you like to hear more?? Probably not. I don't blame you.

2. All day yesterday I spent in my little tiny kitchen baking. I made 200 cake balls for sis's baby shower next week, a 3 layer pina' colada cake for mother in law's birthday party tonight, and then prep for dinner tonight too. I am really looking forward to my new kitchen and all of it's wonderful room.

3. Sis's shower is coming along nicely. We are expecting around 35 people, so it will have a great turn out. I hope she is surprised with all that we have done. I would put in more details but I know she reads so it would spoil some of my surprises.

4. Today I get to get my hair done and have a bit of time to myself before all the crazy starts next week.

5. We are signing the boys up for little league. It will be interesting how our time gets spread out since #1 & #2 can both play this year. Practice and games will be on the same days at the same times so hubby and I will be trading off on who is with which boy.

6. We have started planning #2 & #3's birthday party. With birthdays just three days apart we have the party for them on the same day. We still do a little something the actual day of their birthdays with a dinner of choice, and of course a cake. Birthdays are a big deal in our house. This year we are heading to a bounce place in Corvallis, it should be fun and the best part is I don't have to worry about all those kids in my little house. Speaking of birthdays I have to figure out what to get hubby for his. It is only a few days after the boys.

7. Sis and M have set a date for the wedding September 10, 2011. They will be having in my back yard. I am glad they are giving me some time to get settled in and things under control. At this point we aren't doing to much planning. She has the date, place and for now that is enough. Once her little one gets here we can start planning more.

A new computer and issues

This week I finally broke down and bought a new computer. Not that I could really afford it, though I couldn't afford not to at this point. The old one was slow, had errors, and it wasn't working properly. I had bought it when #2 was a year old and from everyone I talked to 4 years is a long life for a laptop.

With the new computer has come a few issues. My old router died about the same time and my software that I was using on the old one couldn't be used on the new one (different operating systems) so I have spent more money this last week than I really wanted too. (unless it would have been at a kitchen store, but that is for another day) Now I have a computer that has Internet but not all my programs. I am getting there though.

Today I installed my new quick books, and after an hour with tech support it is up and running. Yesterday was Microsoft office and e-mail. I have been trying to install i-tunes, but I might have to call on that one too as I seem to be unable to do anything this week without being walked through it.

Hubby has claimed my old computer which is fine with me, just as long as he keeps his fingers off of this one. So if I am not around much for the next while it is because I am on the phone with tech support for help with my new computer. I am sure I will learn to like her eventually.