A Gallery for Erin

My friend, co-elephant-photo-opportunist, and fellow-photographer, Erin Kah (pronounced Kay) Durband of E-Kah-D Photography has a portfolio of some of her work displayed at a cute downtown café in La Placita called Chris’ Café.

I’m so proud of her! If you’d like to see more of Erin’s amazing grunge, trash-the-dress-style photographs you can view her website at http://www.ekahd.com/ and her blog at http://ekahd.wordpress.com/.

She one of my most inspiring friends.

Inspired,
Dawn

Peanut Butter Waffles

My mom invented peanut butter waffles when I was in middle school and lately, there has been a resurrection of them at my house, which probably isn’t good for my waist, but I adore them and it’s total comfort food!

Here’s the recipe:

1. Insert two L’eggo My Eggo Buttermilk or Home-style frozen waffles into the toaster until golden brown.
2. Lather each waffle with a layer of creamy or crunchy peanut butter.
3. Sandwich the waffles together and cut in bite size pieces.
4. Drizzle maple syrup over the top.
5. Pour a glass of chilled milk.
6. Try to savor every bite because it goes away oh-so-fast.
7. Contemplate making more.
   

It’s completely delicious, but Kurtis doesn’t believe me and won’t try it! If you try it, do let me know what you think!

Yum,
Dawn

Dear Little Monkey

Dear little monkey,

I loved you before you were born,
but these little things have made me love you even more!

Your soft, bubbly arms,
your giggling charms,
the drool on your chin,
your gummy grin,
a nose like your mama,
your feet pajamas,
the spitting image of your dad,
the song Sarah sings when you get mad,
how Megan cuddles you,
your bright eyes of blue,
your amazing coordination,
and eager observations,
the way you play,
the faces you make,
your strength,
your length,
those thick, chunky thighs,

and your large hand size.

How I love you, you family of monkeys.

oo-ooo, ahh-ahh, eee-eee,
Dawn

A Room in Waiting

Jen is in nesting mode, which is only natural for it being only about 2 and a half weeks before the baby's due date, and what a nest she and Kelly are preparing for little Liam!

Liam's nursery is decked out in a brilliant bright blue and the theme of Where the Wild Things Are is everywhere you look with pictures from the book framed on the wall, hand-drawn paintings of the book's characters from one of Jen's childhood friends, and wild animals eagerly waiting their new roommate on the freshly painted chifferobe.

A crib is on order to complete the room, and a corner bookshelf is in the works by Liam's handy carpenter-skilled Daddy! What a wildly lucky baby Liam is!

"Let the Wild Rumpus Start,"

Dawn

A Great-Grandpa for the First Time

Here he is - Roy Clarence Widero, my dad's dad, my grandpa, or "Mr. Widero," as my late Grandma Bernie often called her ornery husband.


We all drove up to Tehachapi, California the weekend of July 20th to reunite with my Grandpa at his house atop one of the grassy, foggy hills of this windy region of California. My dad's three sisters and their families met us there, too, which was so fun! It has been about a decade since I saw my cousins Danny and Kristin, so it was about time! We all had a great time catching up, playing pool, eating food, introducing Nathan, and remembering old stories.

I love how Grandpa "dressed up" in his vintage 70s shirt!

Grandpa read two of his clever, original poems to us - the ones he was able to find amongst other random papers in his unorganized desk drawer, so creased and aged that rips and tears are exhaustively fighting the urge. I just adore his poetic wit about the irritating wait in a super market line and about the embarrassment and awkwardness that is a bedpan. I'm planning to collect as many poems and drawings penned by my talented Grandpa that I can get my hands on for a family heirloom. It's a project in the works that I'm very excited about.


Here's my Grandpa with his four kids. From left to right: Aunt Lisa, Papa (Martin), Grandpa, Aunt Cheryl, and Aunt Jody.

Are you wondering what's making them laugh so hard? It certainly isn't me!


Nathan giggles when his daddy makes him run mid-air with a wiggle of the tush, causing all who see this silly sight to laugh heartily out loud!

Four proud generations.

But the biggest highlight of the trip for me was definitely the connection that a few of us were privileged to witness between Nathan and his Great-Grandpa Widero upon their first meeting and how much genuine interest they had in one another. Turn up the volume and watch below. But don't listen too closely or you might hear my stifled, awe-inspired tears behind the camera.



And a great grandpa he is, too.

Glad I Was There,
Dawn

A Baby Shower for Liam

Last weekend was Jen's Tucson baby shower where we had so much fun showering her with baby-cute and baby-practical gifts!

It was awesome that Jen's mom, Pam, and Jen's Aunt Kathy traveled all the way from Santa Clara, CA to join the festivities. In-town guests included our mother-in-law, June, our sisters-in-law, Kathy, Kimmie, Keri with Ender, my mom and sister with Nathan, my two cousins, Julena and Jillian, our book club pal, Alison, and Jen's friend, Amie with her little girl. It was the perfect amount of people for my teeny house!


The theme was children's literature, so everyone brought a children's book to add to "Liam’s Library!" Then I challenged the group by having them name the title of nursery rhymes after only hearing a line or two! I completely lowered their self-esteem with that one!

Then I made them get sentimental and creative by writing an age appropriate letter to Liam after drawing a number out of a bowl ranging from ages 1 to 18! I got age 6 and that was a fun letter to write. He may be able to read it himself by then!

June made her famous ice cream dessert cake, which is hard to decorate, so we decided to make a diaper cake to match the theme of Liam's bedroom - "Where the Wild Things Are," to complement the yummy dessert.

I also invited a surprise guest to the shower- one of Kurtis’ clients, Libby, who is a baby sign language teacher for Sign With Baby Tucson. She and her 4-year-old daughter were awesome teachers and they inspired the group to learn to communicate with babies before they’re ready to speak with their voices. Libby had us make finger-print-people for each member of our family and then we learned the signs for family members. Here are Kimmie and Keri inking Ender's little fingers!

I know that Jen already intends to do this with Liam, and my sister and I, and all the grandmother’s (my mom, Pam, and June) are very excited too! I have some practicing to do in order to keep up with these babies! Gayle's already started with 5 month old Nathan. It's exciting to wait for him to sign back!

Here's Libby showing the signs for Gayle's (HUGE) family!

June made Liam an adorable home made sock monkey out of 25 year old socks! This is just too special, and I’m glad I knew that it was homemade because I don’t think she would have told anybody! She would have let us all believe that this keepsake was purchased at a store instead of toiled over with love and care and the special stitches only a grandmother can give.


Then, Pam gave Jen and Kelly a Beatles baby tee and a Pink Floyd baby tee representing two of their favorite bands. And it just so happen that Kelly was wearing the exact same adult-sized tee! How perfect!

It was a pretty wonderful day. Plus, I got my house clean because of it!

Sparkle and Shine,
Dawn

Little I Love Yous

Last night, Kurtis and I were cutting, folding, and stapling a "leave behind," as he calls it, for the hopefully-I'll-start-one-day-if-I-have-the-courage-photography-company, Widero Photography, which includes my sister, too! We're both Widero girls! Kurtis designed the awesome logo for me a few years ago for a Valentine's Day gift. He's very supportive and encouraging. That's just one of the many ways that Kurtis shows me that he loves me.

Here's another:

He cut that out with an exacto knife while we were supposed to be cutting! What a slacker! Just kidding!

He's so sweetly good at leaving little I love yous around for me to find; both tangible and simple, random acts of love. I couldn't ask for more.

Love to him,
Dawn