Here's to Mother's Day

Grandma Lainio

Grandma Sisson in the Zion Passion Play

Grandma Lainio

Grandma Sisson Alaska

Grandma Lainio

Grandma Lainio

Grandma Sisson

Motherhood

Mother's day is coming. I love this quote by G.K. Chesterton.

"When people begin to talk about this domestic duty as not merely difficult, but trivial and dreary, I simply give up the question. For I cannot with the utmost energy of imagination conceive what they mean. When domesticity, for instance, is called drudgery, all the difficulty arises from a double meaning in the world. If drudgery only means dreadfully hard work, I admit the woman drudges in the home, as a man might drudge at the Cathedral of Amiens or drudge behind a gun at Trafalgar. But if it means that the hard work is more heavy because it is trifling, colorless, and of small import to the soul , then as I say, I give up. . .How can it be a large career to tell other people’s children about the Rule of Three and a small career to tell one’s own children about the universe? How can it be broad to be the same thing to everyone and narrow to be everything to someone. No, a woman’s function is laborious, but because it is gigantic, not because it is minute. I will pity Mrs. Jones for the hugeness of her task; I will never pity her for its smallness."

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.