Sur La Table

In case some of you don't know sur la table is "on the table" in french.
Good eats at the Bailey household. I am trying to make a weekly menu and a strict grocery list so I don't end up at the grocery store and buy things I don't need, or a whole bunch of things that won't make a meal. It has been extremely helpful, especially when the kid's don't come with me. Don't get me wrong I love taking my kid's to the store and showing them where food comes from and letting them pick stuff out, but when you are trying to stick to a list and not over spend, I look like the Mom that never lets their kids have anything. "No we cannot get that, Not today, I already got you something, that's not on sale." Sound familiar mommies? :) I love my kid's. I do take pride, however, that I can send Tucker down the cereal isle and tell to pick out some cereals, and without telling which ones he can and cannot have, he automatically comes back with, frosted mini wheats, honey nut Cheerios, and oatmeal squares. :) Good job Tucky you make mom so proud.
Now that I wrote you a book on my grocery shopping experiences here is the menu:

Friday:
Homemade pizza. (pepperoni with olives for the kid's; combo for Rob; and Margarita for  Mom).

Saturday:
Breaded chicken with eggplant topenade, served with salad.

Sunday:
Tri Tip Sammies, with tater tots, and green beans.

Monday:
Tuscan bean soup with garlic brochette.

Tuesday:
Sundried tomato penne with chicken and served with salad and avocados.

Wednesday:
Leftovers. (I know, I get the same response at my house, but a necessary so we don't waste food).

Thursday:
Skirt steak Tacos with black beans and guacamole. Yummm!!!

Friday:
Roasted veggie and black bean Rice bowls. (my family loves black beans).

Good Eats Everyone!!!!

Half Marathon! What?!!

Yes ladies and gentlemen, I have decided to enter into the world of long distance running. Thanks to my sister-in-law convincing me to run a half marathon at the end of April, I have begun the intense workout week after week. It started with three miles;What?! I don't think I have ever run three miles consecutively; I am a short, sprinting type runner. Well though I thought I would die I finished . :) After a week of running on my Mom's new treadmill (thanks Mom for the purchase :) ), three miles, four miles, sprinting; the first Saturday of our workout plan came (Sat. are our hard long runs). Six miles was the distance. Easy Peasy for my sister in law who has run three marathons, a couple halfs, and countless 5ks (which are three miles, for those who do not know runners talk). We met at Rob's parent's house, and had Rob drive us exactly six miles away from the ranch so that we would only have to run one way. As I sit in the car and watch him drive further and further away, my heart begins to race and I begin to think there is no way I am going to make it back to the ranch alive. My wonderful hubby even told me to take my phone just in case I needed him to come and get me. (Thanks hunny for the confidence). Finally after what seemed like an endless ride, Rob dropped us off and drove away and thus began the journey into a long, long, long run. Now I know what some of you are thinking; six miles that is not far. Have you ever ran six miles? It is farther when all you have are your feet to cover the distance. Needless to say the first two miles were horrible, the next two were ok, and the last two were the easiest to my surprise. But, the important thing is, I made it, without calling the hubby for a rescue mission.
Since then I have been doing well running a good pace four miles, and feel really good running five without feeling the pain going throughout my whole body. Now I only have eight more weeks to get ready for the big race, 13.1miles. O'man. I am scared and nervous, but excited to step out of my comfort zone and work my way toward something I have never done before. The race is April 27th at Folsom Lake in Sacramento. Wish me luck!!! I will keep you all posted on my progress (not like you care or anything), but I figure why not share with you my running adventure.

Run, Run, Run, Run.

Sur La Table

I have gotten out of the habbit of posting my dinner menu because being busy sometimes I don't know what we are having that night until I dig into the fridge. So, on another note, here is what is on the menu at our house this week.

Monday- Grilled Chicken, Roasted Potatoes, Salad with roasted beets.

Tuesday- Black bean tacos with the works and Spanish Rice.

Wedensday- Speghetti, Ceasar Salad, and Garlic Bread.

Thursday- Homemade Mac and Cheese, with Grilled Cheese Sandwhiches.

Friday- Homemade Pizza with Cut Veggies and Ranch.

Saturday- BBQ Chicken (thighs and wings), Pasta Salad.

Sunday- Are usually a break for me, so it might be leftovers, breakfast, or dinner out. :)

Buon Appetito!! What is on the menu at your house.

Delicious Bean Salad

I am always looking for new things to make. I love cooking and experimenting in the kitchen, but that has somewhat gone downhill since my children. Everyone who has kids knows what I am talking about. I am lucking that my kids aren't too picky when it comes to food, but sometimes figuring out a dinner menu can be a challenge. I thought I would share this wonderful bean salad recipe. A couple weekends ago we entertained some friends with a BBQ and one of them brought this wonderful bean salad. It was so good, so healthy, and extremely easy to make, I thought I would share it.

Bean Salad-
1 Can Black Beans
1 Can Pinto Beans
1 Large Tomato
1 Large Avocado
Half a bunch of Green Onions
Salt
Tomato Bullion
Cumin

Drain and rinse beans; let them sit awhile so they drain completely. Don't want any extra liquid in your salad. Chop tomato, avocado, and green onions, and add to beans. Season with the salt, tomato bullion (I know, I didn't know this existed either, but look where the chicken and beef bullion is and there is tomato. Who Knew), and the cumin. Let Sit, then enjoy. I told you it was easy.

Hot Air Balloons

HELLO 2:30 AM!!! Have any of you got up at 2:30 in the morning to see something, well this is the most beautiful site and is well worth the early morning, tons of coffee, and the drive to Reno. For the past three years Rob and I have taken the kids to the hot air balloon races in Reno, Nevada. The show starts before the sun even comes up. See why we have to get up so early. We left our house at 3:00am headed to Reno and set up sleeping bags, tons of blankets, and a thermos of coffee(hot chocolate for the kids) and watch the balloons light up the dark morning sky. There are usually only about seven balloons that take off when it is still dark outside, it is called the glow show.

Slowing the sun comes up and while still lying on the ground there are several balloons blowing up and getting ready to take off into the sky. It is truly a beautiful sight, because you are so close to them and when they take off you are able to look up right inside the balloon.

                                               Many different balloons. There was a soccer ball
                                               Darth Vader's helmet, stagecoach, strawberry,
                                               Pepsi can, and many different colored ones.
                                               Tucker's of course was Darth Vader. I couldn't
                                               get a good picture of it but it is the black one right
                                               behind this strawberry.

                                                     Mom and Sammi taking a picture opp in
                                                     front of the Pepsi can, my favorite.

                                                     This balloon with the face on it was Kemper's
                                                      favorite. He kept calling it the man balloon.

                                              Dad and Sammi enjoying the warm sun coming up.
                                           

                                              Rob and his brother-in-law Rob and his nephew
                                                Mitchell, only 3 weeks old.

                                                     Tucker loved all the balloons.
This is an amazing site to be seen. Every year at the wee hours of the morning we always ask ourselves why we get up this early just to see balloons, but then we get there and are reminded that it was well worth it.

First Camping Trip of the Summer

This was our very first camping trip for this summer. I absolutely love camping. There are some things in life that bring back great memories, ones that brings us great peace and joy, and now as a parent want to pass on those wonderful memories to my own kids. As a kid my family went camping at least twice a year. This trip was only Rob, myself, and the kids. It was a great time to relax and give our full focus on the kids. We decided to borrow my parents trailer, which was an absolute life saver. With three kids, including a 10 month old, it was nice to have a shower and good, warm bed for them to sleep. Thanks Dad and Mom!!!

                                     Taking a morning walk. There is something to be said about
                                                           a rock; kids just love them.

Of course there was a lot of bike riding. Tucker's bike had blown a huge hole in the tire right before we left for our camping trip, so he had to share his brother's motor cross bike.

                             Tucker wanted to be buried in the sand, and sister was loving it.

          Who said girls can't play with dump trucks. Sammy loves playing with her brother's.

Taking some time to teach a little baseball. Tucker started hitting the ball with the tee, but then Rob was throwing him the ball and after a few tries he finally got it.

Kemper is our little baseball player. He loves playing. I have never seen a kid, this age, so accurate with throwing and hitting a baseball. I was trying to take a picture of him hitting the ball, and he kept rotating so he could hit directly at me. I actually get scared when he hits or throws because I often underestimate his strength. And he is left handed!!! Look out Boston Redsox, you have your future pitcher!!! :)

What would camping be without some smore's. Tucker loved to roast them, but didn't like to eat them. So he would give them to me and just eat a marshmallow out of the bag. Silly Kid!

Kemper didn't want to but his marshmallow in the fire, so he would put the marshmallow on his stick and then eat that way.

                                                               Daddy and Sister!!
We ended up camping for two nights at Eagle Lake. It was real windy the first, but the next few days warmed up. Overall it was a nice family get a way. There will be a least one more camping trip this summer.

Some Great Fishing

This summer has been full of great times. One of our family outdoor adventures has been fishing. It all started with our local Susanville Fishing Derby. This was the first year that Tucker was able to participate in. He was extremely excited, and of course dad was too.

                                                      Tucker ready to go at 5:30 A.M.

                      My little fisherman. He caught two good sized fish. He was so proud.

Our next fishing trip was extremely fun. One Sunday we had decided to check out a reservoir about 45 mins. from town. It wasn't looking to be a real enjoyable trip; the road to the reservoir was extremely rough. I am talking the true dirt road, with boulders, and cliffs, and sounds that make you think your car is about to fall apart. And when we finally got there is was windy and cold. The moment we started fishing, the fish started biting, and the longer we fished the bigger the fish got. It was by far the best fishing of all times!!!!

                                                  Our catch of the day. Eight beautiful bass!!!

                            Rob and his brother-in-law Rob!!! Having the time of their lives.

For another family outdoor day; we heading to Antelope Lake for some fun in the sun, fishing, and playing in the dirt. I love these days. Being at the lake reminds me of my childhood, when we would go camping every summer with all the cousins; it truly was a great memory and I want it to be a great memory for my kids.

Kemper and Tucker taking a moment for a pictures. Not an easy thing to get them to do.

                                                      Rob helping Tucker catch a fish!!
This next trip was not a successful fishing trip, but it was a hiking one. We heading up to another small pound in the middle of nowhere.

                                                                Family photo opp

            Daddy with his baby girl. She already has him wrapped around her little finger.