Workout Day

I am almost all caught up! Yay for me!

Monday was a busy morning! Erin had to get Bridget up and ready for kindergarten, get Logan and Maeve up and ready to take Bridget to kindergarten, get herself ready to take them all out, feed everyone breakfast, and get going so Bridget wasn't late. I wasn't awake during all of this because waking up at 6am is definitely still a challenge that I have not mastered yet, but I did wake up to hear Erin yelling at Bella (her white fluffy puppy) to get back in the house.

Bella is used to being locked in her kennel whenever Erin goes somewhere because she can't be trusted to not potty in the house, but because TJ and I were home she left Bella out. Erin only usually does this when Bella gets to go bye-bye with them, so of course the second Erin opened the door to the garage, Bella went sprinting out there and right into the van. I had to go grab her so Erin could get out the door. Silly Bella!

While Erin was out dropping Bridget off, TJ and I got ready because we were going to the gym with Erin when she got back. So after she got back she loaded Logan and Maeve into the jogging stroller and off we went to the gym.

She dropped off the 2 kiddos at the children's area so we could workout without having to worry about them. The workout was really nice, but hard. You see, I haven't really done anything even remotely similar to working out since I was in high school, and I graduated in 2007. It was good for me though because I definitely need to get back into shape! I've been eating way too many yummy things lately :P

After the workout we picked the kids up and took them over to the park so they could run around and get some fresh air before we walked back home.

Maeve made a bee-line for the stairs on the jungle-gym and of course didn't want help to get up them! But she did allow TJ to take her down the slide. 

Then miss Maeve wanted to ride on the dino rocker with Logan.

She then wanted to ride on her own on the elephant.

Then Logan and Maeve both wanted to go down the slide so Erin and TJ went with them!

After we left the park we hung out at home until it was time to pick up Bridget, and then we all went out to Wal*Mart. Woo... super fun outing! Yeah, not really... but TJ and I did get some stuff for working out. I got some awesome 3lb weights (because I'm Super Weakling!), and TJ found a set of 40lb weights. TJ has until the 26th to get ready for his test for the Tucson PD, so since he has to majorly get working out, I might as well too :P

After we got back from home, the kids wanted to go play outside, so I got dinner rolling. I made Sirloin Tips and Mushrooms. This is another recipe that I found at All Recipes, and the edits I made to it are from one of the comments. The steak in this is so yummy and tender, and sauce is great!

Here is everything you'll need for the recipe, minus the bay leaves. You will need: 3 tbsp olive oil, 3 garlic cloves, 1-1/2 lb beef top sirloin steak, 1 (8 oz) pkg of fresh mushrooms, 1/4 cup water, 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce, 1 beef bouillon cube, 3/4 cup cooking sherry, 2 tbsp brown sugar, dash of dried thyme, bay leaves, and 2 tbsp butter.

Mince your garlic, slice your mushrooms, and cut up your beef.

Add your oil to the skillet and heat it up.

Then add your beef and garlic.

When your beef is browned, add your mushrooms and water...

...tomato sauce...

...cooking sherry, bouillon cube, brown sugar, and thyme...

...and combine it.

Cover your skillet and reduce the heat to medium. Cook for 40 minutes.

While your sirloin tips and mushrooms cook, get your potatoes ready! For these mashed potatoes you're going to need milk, butter, and about 1 red potato per person.

Cut up your potatoes and place them in a large sauce pot (or stock pot if you are making more potatoes), and cover with water.

Cover the sauce pot and bring the water to a boil.

Bridget got blue chalk all over her face because she and Logan were outside drawing on the concrete in chalk. It was very cute :P

Once it is at a rolling boil, remove the lid and turn the heat down a little bit so it doesn't boil over, and cook the potatoes for 20 minutes, or until fork-tender.

Mmmmm look at that! Super super yummy!

I absolutely love these green beans. Last Christmas I was in charge of dinner because momma was really sick and couldn't do it, so I googled a green beans recipe and found this one. They are really yummy!

For the green beans all you need are fresh green beans, some olive oil, and salt and pepper.

Trim your green beans and rinse them.

Add them to a bowl  and drizzle them with the olive oil. Then season them with salt and pepper and toss to coat.

Put them out on a stoneware baking sheet, or a parchment lined metal baking sheet, and cook in the oven at 425 degrees F for 12-15 minutes. Be sure to stir them 1/2 way through cooking time.

Carmelized, crisp, and tender! Yum!

Stir in the 2tbsp of butter once it's done cooking.

Add your butter and warm milk and mash up the potatoes. Then season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve the sirloin tips and mushrooms or the mashed potatoes, add the green beans, and enjoy!

Family picture! Too bad TJ didn't look forward in time!! lol

There we go, much better! :)

Logan rolling around on the floor of he and Bridget's bedroom before bedtime.

Me reading Bridget and Logan bedtime stories.

TJ tucking Logan into bed while Erin was putting Maeve down for bed.

Bridget is ready for bed!

Amos decided to "help" me work on my blog that night. He's a very "helpful" kitty!

Then Bella decided to "help". Why are animals so helpful?! LOL

Amos then decided to "help" TJ read his book. By the way, we're pretty sure Amos is part possum because his snout is unusually long for a kitty! Okay, we know he's full kitty... but where else would he have gotten a snout like that?! Although it is kind of difficult to tell from this picture I guess, but trust me, his snout is very long and looks very odd on him!

Maria and Bella love to play together, so we got to enjoy their "playtime"! Lucky us!

<3 Kate

Sirloin Tips and Mushrooms                                                                      [click to print]

Serves 4

Ingredients

3 tbsp olive oil

3 garlic cloves, minced

1-1/2 lb beef top sirloin steak

1 (8 oz) pkg of fresh mushrooms

1/4 cup water

1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce

1 beef bouillon cube

3/4 cup cooking sherry

2 tbsp brown sugar

dash of dried thyme

bay leaves

2 tbsp butter

Method

Thinly slice the mushrooms, mince the garlic, and cut the beef into cubes.

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil, then add the beef cubes and garlic. Once the meat is browned, add mushrooms, water, tomato sauce, cooking sherry, brown sugar, the beef bouillon cube, thyme, and bay leaves. Turn heat to medium, cover the skillet, and cook for 40 minutes.

After removing from heat stir in the butter. Serve over mashed potatoes or pasta.

Oven Roasted Green Beans    [click to print]

Serves 6

Ingredients

1 1/2 lbs green beans

2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

 

Method

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Trim the ends of the green beans and add to a large bowl. Toss with the extra-virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper and spread out evenly on a parchment lined baking sheet. Roast, stirring once halfway through, until lightly caramelized and crisp tender, 12-15 minutes.