A treasured treat in the Widman family. We sure do love our ice cream. Visited Mutual Friend, our local ice cream shop, in San Diego together. What a treat!

Mom did make it out to visit Jay and I in San Diego. We had such a lovely weekend, hiking the Tijuana Slough and walking the sandy beaches of the pacific. Will treasure this time we spent with mom on the coast, our new home.

In 2006, we threw mom and dad a surprise wedding anniversary party. Friends and family from all over the country came to celebrate. Couldn't ask for a better way to honor mom and dad then with family and friends and of course a hike on Mount Lemmon. Thanks to all that came, sent a video and helped support mom and dad hitting this great milestone!

Could not have asked for a better place, better way to celebrate my marriage. Mom made everything she touched special. Having our wedding at the Azure Gate Bed & Breakfast was so magical and special. I am so grateful for that offering she and dad gave us.

My mom lived many lives in many places. She always reminisced about living in Germany, first with her parents and then with my dad. Here is her apartment flat in Frankfurt in 1953, all d ecorated for Halloween.

My mom knew how to throw a party! Years of the murder party tradition, with costumes, the appropriate period food (prepared of course by chef Dennis) and me as the servant making sure everyone was well fed. Our house was a wonderful gathering place for parties, conversations and just being together.

Spending time with Puppa in her last days. Cherished memory of balloons and baby dolls. Puppa loved seeing her great-grandchildren. A grandmother that inspired the best from my mom...the most wonderful Grammy.

Mom had a strong connection to the desert and in particular the southwest ranchlands. It was her dream to live on a ranch with my dad and live off the land. Here's to her dream and the beauty it holds.

My mom showed us how to love, and how to live with compassion and understanding. I am so grateful to have learned the lessons from my parents on how to be partners in life and love. I hope that Jay and I can carry on these lessons in our partnership and build a strong foundation to show our little man.

Becoming a mom has been one of the hardest and one of the most rewarding events of my life. I have so many questions I want to ask, so many worries, and so many wonderful moments that I want to share with her. I am so heartbroken that this phase of my life is happening without the guidance of my mom. I hope I can give Bennett a life that is filled with magic, love and compassion just as my mom did for me. I am so grateful for all she taught me, all that she created for me. A true inspiration, I miss you, mom.

The whirling sound of the kitchenAid and the sweet smell of vanilla, eggs and flour coming together brings back nostalgic memories of my mom in the kitchen baking a small batch of chocolate chip cookies. A master of the rolling pin, my mom could bake like no other. Celebrations always included amazing cakes, cookies or breads that were special and unique. Baking is a family zen thing, when life gets tough the Widman girls hit the kitchen to work out the worries through the wonder of combining eggs, flour and sugar. I miss your sweet treats, mom!