Colorado

Hi everyone, Nate here.

Just thought that I would put up a few pictures from my time out in CO. Just so y-all know, I was helping with post-production audio. I was working with a professional sound designer and composer and several other interns.

This is the control room. Most of the work is done on these computers.

Luke & Mr. Doryk
Luke and I where there a day ahead of the other interns.
We set up the project and copied in the sound files.

Setting up mics in the recording room.

This is the second computer. We used it for SFX (sound effects).

When things were getting too intense, Mr Doryk would take us out for a hike. =]

From left to right - Me, Luke, Brooke and Nathaniel.

One of the mornings we got up early and went on a longer hike.

This is a place that Mr Doryk likes to climb in warmer weather.

Here we are at the peak. The view was amazing.

While I was in Colorado, I stayed with my Mother's cousins.
They were very welcoming and made me feel right at home.
(Matthew, and Toni. Oh and the dog's name is Ce ce.)


We also got to do some rock climbing.


Yeap, that is me.


Well I hope that you have enjoyed the pictures.
Nate signing out.

The New Red Head

Sunday the family headed over to Gregg and Sharon's house to meet new little Sidney Grace. What a darling!!

Her face is so full and she has a sweet peaches and cream complexion.


We stopped at Panera Bread on the way and brought supper with us. Uncle Gregg looked a bit worn out. He had the week off and spent it with Leslie while Sharon was in the hospital. He's a wonderful Papa.

Sidney looks a lot like her older sister Leslie but with a different face shape.

Yep, loads of RED HAIR.
Leslie was doing great. She was a little shy at first but she warmed up and had lots of fun being wild with her cousin Matthew. Matthew could hardly wait to play with her!


A little later while Haley played with Leslie and Mom held Sidney, Uncle Gregg, Dad and Matthew messed with their new telescope. They were able to get it up and running. Yea.




We also got to meet Sharon's mom Connie for the first time. She is so nice. I'm glad she's there to help them out.

It was exciting to meet this new little person!

Getting Ready

We found our patterns. Now we have to make our modesty and length adjustments, which hopefully won't be too hard. (Let's see how we do without GJ our expert here!)

Then we are off to find fabric. This may call for a trip back to Vogue in the city!

This weekend we will be taking our first of six sewing classes that came with the sewing machine. Can't wait!

Dinner Last Night

Haley and I had a fabulous dinner with Andrew last night.

We picked Andrew up from work and he drove us into Chicago to the Russian Tea Time restaurant.

It was like stepping into a different world. Outside everything was modern skyscrapers, noisy traffic and rushing people.

Inside everything was fresh flowers, red velvet, brass samovars (ancient tea urns), quiet balalaika music, and tastefully (pun) classic dark wood moldings.

We ordered the Russian Tea Time platters. We started with a taste of all kinds of things; meat dumplings, stuffed mushroom caps, Tashkent carrot salad, beet caviar, hummus and tabouhlie.

I'm sorry, by the time they brought the platter of main dishes, I forgot all about picture taking. We had beef stroganoff, stuffed cabbage, Moldavian meatballs, chicken pozharski, rice pilaf and kasha. It was delicious. I am off to the library to get some Russian cookbooks!


They served us a black bread that was really different. As you chewed it, different flavors came through. We also ordered tea. It was served in silver "mugs" with glass liners.

Having some time with Andrew made the evening perfect. Of course I told him that he could take us to his favorite restaurants any time!

Made a trip to Oakland

Last weekend we went to visit the newlyweds.

This was G&G Lainio's first visit.

We were all so excited to go.

Couldn't have too much hugging!

We walked the yard and Grandpa Bud got right to work picking up sticks. We never did get to have a fire. Hum. Maybe next time.

Four Men on a couch??

There was a basketball tournament Sat night. It was so fun to meet folks from the area. I'm sorry I didn't get pictures. Grandpa Bud really enjoyed the games.

Afterwards we played some cards. The Hemmers taught us this game the last time they visited. It's called "Scum". I don't know where they find all these games, but we are glad they share them with us. I think that Grandma was the King in this game more than anyone else!

No the game doesn't involved spying. I'm not sure what Matthew's up to here.


Haley brought down her wedding gift for Kyle and Gretchen. She's been working on it for months. She could only work on it when Gretchen was gone so it didn't quite get finished before the wedding.

It's a beautiful summer weight afghan in their colors.

Can I say again how blessed we are to have a wonderful family. We had three generations together loving and enjoying one another. We humbly thank the Lord for His grace and mercy in our lives.

Did You Feel the Earthquake??

I did!! I couldn't sleep and was downstairs at the computer when I felt the chair beneath me start to feel like it was swaying. Upstairs the floors were making the creaking sound that they do when someone is walking. The water in my glass was moving just the tiniest bit. I thought it must be an earthquake. Then I found this article on the Internet just a few minutes ago. WOW

WEST SALEM, Ill. - A 5.4 earthquake that appeared to rival the strongest recorded in the region rocked people awake up to 350 miles away early Friday, surprising residents unaccustomed to such a powerful Midwest temblor.

The quake just before 4:37 a.m. was centered 6 miles from West Salem, Ill., and 66 miles from Evansville, Ind. It was felt in such distant cities as Chicago, Cincinnati and Milwaukee, 350 miles north of the epicenter, but there were no early reports of injuries or significant damage.

"It shook our house where it woke me up," said David Behm of Philo, 10 miles south of Champaign. "Windows were rattling, and you could hear it. The house was shaking inches. For people in central Illinois, this is a big deal. It's not like California."

The quake shook skyscrapers in Chicago's Loop, 240 miles north of the epicenter, and in downtown Indianapolis, about 160 miles northeast of it. Residents of Cincinnati and St. Louis also reported feeling the earth shake.

Irvetta McMurtry of Cincinnati said she felt the rattling for up to 20 seconds.

"All of a sudden, I was awakened by this rumbling shaking," said McMurtry, 43. "My bed is an older wood frame bed, so the bed started to creak and shake, and it was almost like somebody was taking my mattress and moving it back and forth."

Lucas Griswold, a dispatcher in West Salem, said the Edwards County sheriff's department received reports of minor damage and no injuries.

"Oh, yeah, I felt it. It was interesting," Griswold said. "A lot of shaking."

Indiana State Police spokesman Sgt. Todd Ringle in Evansville said there were no immediate reports of damage.

The quake occurred in the Illinois basin-Ozark dome region that covers parts of Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, and Arkansas and stretches from Indianapolis and St. Louis to Memphis, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The organization's Web site said earthquakes occur irregularly in the area, and that the largest historical earthquake in the region — also a magnitude 5.4 — caused damage in southern Illinois in 1968.

Lookie

Look at what we got to wear yesterday! It was 75 degrees outside. Woo Hoo!

To My Dear Nate the Great...

Nate.

Ten things I miss when you are gone.

Some how my mornings are just not right without your saying Good Afternoon to me.

And no one can give me your special Nate hug! Sigh ...

I must say that our meal time is very dull. I miss the usual yelling down the stairs several times (that dinner is ready, waiting and getting cold) and trying to get your attention by flashing all the basement lights {noise cannot penetrate into your lair (workroom)}. I also miss singing to you "up from the grave he arose" when you emerge. Yet another sigh...

No one can make my harp sound "Chinese" like you do Nate!

I have no one to show me his new brown belt techniques, and no one to lovingly throw me around.

No one to make me laugh at Myself.

No one to be wonderful and lend me his nice camera.

No one to be my chauffeur, body guard and do all my talking for me. (That is talking to other people, I usually don't have too much trouble talking Nate's ear off) ;)

No one to give me"blue eyes", just so I can see what I look like with "blue eyes". ( It is amazing what you can do on a computer)

And last but definitely not by any means least, I have no one to go grocery shopping with me. No one to tell me to choose the cart (I always get the wrong size) and scold me if I smush the bread in the process of loading the cart.

Well I must end my lament now and get back to normal life. But as soon as you get home I want my much needed Nate Hug. I also would not mind lots of stories and pictures.

I can't wait to see you!!!
with oodles of love,
Haley

New Baby

Yep. Haley is 16. Some people get a car.

Haley got a new baby.


It's a Baby Lock brand sewing machine
and you just wouldn't believe what it can do. We have fun projects lined up. Simplicity (not McCalls) has some of the cutest dress patterns. They actually are stylish and don't look like a potato sack. Can't wait to get started.


She will be taking 6 classes with it and I can hardly wait.
I get to go too!!
Happy "Mother who loves to sew" Grin

The Cat's Away

We need you Nate!

You've heard the expression: When the cat's away the mice will play. Well I think we moms need a new expression. When our children are away the computers won't play.

Yes Nate is still gone, he's staying a few extra days. So his computers are NOT cooperating. (Why is that significant you ask yourself since obviously some computer is working or there wouldn't be a post. ) Well his computers handle all the pictures!!

So I'm am going to post a few pictures from the ones that I was using to put together a power point for the wedding. They will each have NATE in them.

This is kind of like "Where's Waldo". Where's Nate??















HURRY HOME NATE!!!
(We really do miss you.)