In the Paper!

Last week, a friend from work, Stephanie, and I went to a new restaurant since we each had a coupon for a free lunch. It's called Asian Bistro, and you may be wondering how I could possibly have a picture of us there! Well, just after we got our steaming hot plates from the kind waitress, a man walked in with a professional camera. I noticed him and his camera, but wasn't about to say anything until he interrupted us to ask if he could photograph us eating. Strange question, but he said he works for the Arizona Daily Star and is doing a story on the new restaurant. Stephanie and I are both shy, but we let him take our picture while trying to carry on normal conversation as the man balanced on a chair above us, snapping away.

He told us the story would come out on January 31, but it came out instead on Thursday, January 24th! We wouldn't have even known if it weren't for people at work who read the paper and saw us in the Caliente section! Click on the link above and you'll see the entire story.

Here's my review:

The dining room was fancier than expected and the mirrors covering an entire wall make the space seem larger. The staff was very friendly despite us coming in for a free meal. Our lunch special consisted of soup, an egg roll, 2 honey wontons, rice or lo mein, an entree, and dessert! I thought it was delicious, although I have had better egg rolls and egg-drop soup. It was very reasonable, and I think that the service and close proximity in addition to the yummy meal, are what will make me a loyal customer.

happy dining,
Dawn

Sweet Anticipation

Here is the photo taken of Gayle at the start of her 3rd trimester in front of her white-washed kitchen wall, which Kurt and I used for the front of her baby shower invitation. Gayle's expression says it all-- how she is anxiously awaiting the arrival of their baby boy! She is enjoying every moment of her pregnancy though, even with all the throwing up she did during her first trimester. Sad, but true! It's all been worth it for her though; definitely.

I'm anxious to compare the features of Nathan to that of his parents. Will he have Gayle's small ski-slope-outlet nose, or Mike's long nose? Will he have a cleft in his chin like his daddy and Flintstone-feet like his mama? Will he be a golden boy with Gayle's blond hair and a continuous tan? He's bound to be tall and one thing's for sure, he will have blue eyes!

I'll post again once we have the shower, which is set for February 2nd, or when I have more photographs of my prego sister and her ever-growing tummy!

Signed,
an anxious auntie

Cat Nap

Aw... Max, our awesome cat, decided to join me on the couch while I read the bookclub selection for the month, A Thousand Splendid Suns. He was so relaxed- I love that he trusts me enough to be that way! He tucked and prodded his body in to just the right spot, his head twisting owl-like and almost upside-down. At one point, one of his back legs was sticking up towards the pages of the book and the pink pads 'neath his foot were all spread apart. He was conked out and his feline cuteness distracted me. I couldn't resist but to stick my finger between one of the crevises on the bottom of his furry foot. All he did was pull his foot away without even opening his eyes. (Oh, yay, here he comes now, to join me as I type.) Then he just let out a heavy sigh that I like to interpret to mean, "I'm so completely content." It seemed like such a human sigh. I love that he's so expressive.

Max has a very majestic face; regal and powerful. I like to imagine that he's my lion; that if we lived together in the wild and he were hundreds of pounds heavier than me with a single paw the size of my head, that we would still have this kindred relationship. He'd still like to purr near me as I read, reach up to my face with his paw when he wanted attention, and want to steal the very water that I'm drinking. He's my dream cat; the cat who loves to be with you.

What a pleasant evening with Max and a book.

Contently,

Dawn & Max

What a Difference a Year Makes

Ender, sweet little boy! Here he is on day 1 and then there he is on day 365! Look how he's changed after one revolution around the sun! He's so adorable and such a tall tyke; sporting such a grown-up look! I was amazed at how fast he could toddle across the Peter Piper Pizza carpet. Just THINK of all the things he will learn and discover every day. He makes me more eager for the day that Kurtis and I have a child.

I will be an auntie two more times this year - for Nathan, Gayle and Mike's little boy who's due March 4th (we finished the inviations tonight!), and for Kelly and Jen's baby- gender yet to be discovered. It's so great to have nephews and neices around because it's great training for Kurt and I, not to mention fun! Sarah and Megan are my wonderful, more mature neices, at ages 10 and 14. What great sister's they'll be and it'll be sweet to give them cousins some day!

Happy 1st Birthday to darling Ender-boy!

thinking of babies,

Dawn

Sweet and Full

I sat down this evening to create the invitation for my sister Gayle's baby shower and I began to crave something sweet. It would seem I couldn't get down to business until I helped myself to sweetness. So, I got out some recipe books to find something to make in order to curb my sweet tooth.

As I searched my cupboards for creme of tartar I found a tin of Hershey's cocoa which had a recipe for cupcakes and frosting on the packaging. Alas, I had no creme of tartar, but with plenty of cocoa, I made 31 chocolate cupcakes - enough to satisfy all of my sweet teeth!

An hour and a half later I sat down again at my computer with three cupcakes (yes, three) and a glass of milk. Ten minutes later, I slouched on the couch feeling very full and actually, a little bit sick to my stomach.

All in all, it has been a filling day in many ways!

I went to my nephew's 1st birthday party today and what a joy it is to see him and his delightful personality develop. I will post something about him tomorrow (his actual birthday). A year ago to the day, my sister-in-law, Jen and I hosted a baby shower for Keri, and the very next day she gave birth to 6-week-early Ender, who's happy and healthy a year later!

After the party, I took pictures of my brother-in-law, Kelly, and his wife - my dear friend - Jen. They're expecting their first child in September and so the purpose of the photos I took is to illustrate them before Jen begins to "show." But it's almost their 3 year anniversary, so the photos can also be for that reason.

My husband, Kurtis, has an interview at the U of A tomorrow, so he has been busy preparing his portfolio today. That is a very exciting development. It's 12:50 in the morning and he's still at Kinkos, perfecting his portfolio for tomorrow.

I've done as much as I can do with Gayle's invitation without my husband's design speed and expertice, so I decided to write this first entry of my blog, which is some what difficult (but enjoyable) with my hefty cat, Max, laying comfortably and akwardly on my lap. I love him so much. He seems to have been my accessory this weekend, constantly at my side. He's a lot more comfy than a bracelet.

So, see, my life seems very sweet and full these days, cupcakes or no cupcakes. I'm very blessed indeed.

Filled,

Dawn