At Grandma's... (& Grandpa's)

There are a couple of acres for two boys to roam, plenty of sunshine- and an occasional rain showers hat provides ample time for wearing frog boots and splashing in mud puddles. There is great food and plenty of it! There are lots of family and friends dropping in to say, "hello," and give hugs. And there are lots of family game nights; a few of our most recent favorites: Settlers of Catan, Carcassone, and Ticket to Ride. There's also the opportunity to spend a couple of days at the lake- lots of skiing, tubing, napping, visiting, playing in the sand, swimming!

Yes, we are having an end-of-the-summer vacation and loving it! I'm enjoying our last year before I have a kiddo in school and we are tied to a school schedule...aw, the beauty of having preschoolers. We're on our own schedule!

Happy August, friends!
Aimee
www.tetonvalleyranch.com

Date Night!

I have a dear sweet friend who has offered to take my boys tonight so that hubby and I can have a date! I love date nights. We sit next to each other in the restaurant and just enjoy our uninterruped conversations- and having no mess to clean up after dinner. So good. Hubby and I have been married for eight years and I have to say that we still have great conversation over dinner- I've seen plenty of couples who just eat in absolute silence watching everyone around them. I hope we're never like that. I want to always be able to connect. We don't have definite plans lined out, but who cares! We'll hold hands, talk, and just enjoy life together!

Happy 31st!
Aimee
www.tetonvalleyranch.com

Good Morning!

I'm not much of a morning person, but this makes a morning enjoyable...The fresh blueberry muffins are thanks to the Better Homes & Gardens New Baking Book. So quick and easy- and so very delicious! And did I mention that my boys love having "cupcakes" for breakfast?

Happy Baking,
Aimee
www.tetonvalleyranch.com

Labels

I've never been much of a label reader... until recently. See, one of my best friends has gone gluten-free over the past two years and to be sensitive to her needs when she's in my home, I've started reading labels. Interesting, I tell you. Why are there so many ingredients in even the simplest of things? It's bizarre. And evidently of utmost importance that high fructose corn syrup be a main ingredient in almost anything. Weird. It's so refreshing during the summer months to enjoy the fresh produce that the season brings...for instance, tonight's late night snack- a bowl of fresh blueberries. The ingredients- blueberries!
Love when it's simple!
Aimee
www.tetonvalleyranch.com

Cat's Out of the Bag...

So, the reason that I've been delighting in comfort food lately? We're expecting Baby #3! Yes, this is the same reason that I fell off the face of the earth for the month of June. The all-day nausea and exhaustion landed me on the couch and not accomplishing anything in the house- much less in the kitchen. But now, I'm almost 13 weeks and things are turning around.

• I have energy.


• I'm not nauseated.


• My house has been cleaned this week.


• I'm cooking my family dinners again.


• I even baked some banana bread today.

"Welcome to the golden trimester," I tell myself. I have about three months to be productive and get my nesting done. Then I'll be big and tired- and I'm sure the productivity will come to a screeching halt!

Happy July everyone!
Aimee
www.tetonvalleyranch.com

Comfort Food

So, for the past few weeks we've been winging it around here. I haven't had much of a meal plan, so we've had our share of grilled cheese, pizza, peanut butter & jelly, and all things quick and easy. (More on that later.) But, tonight, I have a plan! I'm making this delicious dish of scalloped potatoes and ham. What's better, it is so incredibly simple. So simple, that there are no measurements in my friend's recipe- that usually makes me crazy, but right now, I appreciate it. Here's the plan...

• Peel and thinly slice potatoes- lay in the bottom of a casserole dish
• Add in chopped onion and pieces of ham (thinly sliced)
• Top with shredded cheddar cheese, salt, and pepper
• Repeat layers as desired
• Add in about 1" of milk
• Bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour

Then, enjoy the potato, ham, and cheesy goodness! I'm ready- it's going in the oven right now! Throw together a side salad, or maybe some green beans... Dinner! My family will be so happy for something different than the sandwiches lately!

I'll post pics soon!

Happy June,

Aimee

www.tetonvalleyranch.com

Feeding Frenzy for the Moving Help

We had some dear friends move away this week- to Chicago. It was a sad time, but a very busy time. Family and friends pitched in to help things happen quickly. Their entire 2000 square foot home was packed and loaded into a moving truck within a week and a half! It was amazing! We loved helping- because it gave us some last minute quality time together- and because they have helped us move several times (although just in-town).

On Tuesday, while the men loaded the moving truck, the ladies cleaned the house. I brought lunch over for all the help- and I must say, it was easier to feed 15-20 people than I imagined! I used a friend's pulled pork sandwich recipe which was so simply done in the crockpot overnight. Throw in some baked potato quicksides, and a big batch of brownies and fresh strawberries.... Wa Lah! I looked like a domestic goddess! Everyone raved about the food and were so grateful for a good lunch in the midst of the work. I was glad to do it- and I'll definitely tuck this secret away for next time I need to feed a big group!

And, by the way, evidently all I had to do was post about the cool weather, and it was whisked away. It's been in the 90's for several days now! The popsicles are being devoured!

Happy June- for a little longer!
Aimee
www.tetonvalleyranch.com