Before I forget

The 20 Minute Meal
I have lots of fresh basil in my garden, and just enough zucchini to make some bread, and cook up different ways.
I wanted a quick meal so I improvised on a Marth Stewart recipe I found in my collection:
 Start the water for fettucini pasta.
 slice an onion, a red pepper, and some zucchini - very thin.
Start sauteing veggies in olive oil, add some diced garlic or garlic powder.
soften 3 - 4 oz of  low fat cream cheese
heat up some chicken broth using the chicken base from Costco and 3/4 cup water
add  1/4  cup evap milk - to the cream cheese so it will mix in smooth
open one can of chicken, or add your own diced chicken
add chicken to veggies, then pour liquid and cream cheese over. Heat through.
Add 3 -4 good shakes of Parmesan cheese
add 3 t. corn starch to 3 T cold water.
stir into veggies and sauce. Let thicken
toss one handful of basil, sliced thin, into the sauce mixture

drain pasta and serve sauce over.  There was so much sauce we ate it in bowls!
Add a sliced peach as the side dish and dinner is done in 20 minutes!

This has to be lower fat than homemade alfredo, but it sure was creamy and tasty.

Book shower

Nicole hosted a very clever "Book Shower" for Michelle and her baby to be.
Since Michelle reads about 3 - 5 books a week, it seemed only fitting that Michelle and Cisco's new baby would also have a great supply of books on hand from day one.

The invitations looked like little books.

 B is for boy, Bis for Books, B is for Brunch!

G is for Gifts

Luckily we still have lots of old books around the Nicole could use for decor - vintage!

The spread: banana chocolate chip muffins, fruit, breakfast casserole, lemon bundt cake.

Davis came to the shower too - to hang out with Stella!

Lisa's clever wrapping impressed us all.

Letty brought a wreath made of 'denim' diapers. fun!

Mary and Lori

Amy and Mary

Lisa and Davis

Here are the pages of the alphabet book created by every one who attended. Cute! In the top of the photo you can see the little thank you bags of Alphabet cookies for the guests.

Stella said this party was a success!

Stella time

We had such a great time with Stella in June and July.  We miss her little smile, giggle, and her very alert eyes. We miss Camille too.
Here are some photos of their time with us in Utah.

looking at her mommy

Grandpa Clyde got hooked on playing with Stella.

She's  so fun to hold and watch.

Stella with her 2nd cousins Davis Keeler, and Vida Lynn Robinson, all born within 5 weeks of each other.

Getting used to the bouncer.

A huge smile for Grandma!

No way does Stella want to miss out on any action!

Stella with Michelle and a cousin not yet born...

Love her.