SPACEMJ Brayton

Seems like "orangespinner" needs a little encouragement to blog some more! I'll work on that...

:D Greetings from Elizabeth!

I started this post in June and then got very busy.

Last night (Saturday, 3 June 2006) the Hartford Central School alumni banquet was held. Anyone who is an alumni from the school can attend. The classes that are having their 10th, 20th, 30th ... Reunion are most likely to come in larger numbers. The current graduating class is also honored at the banquet.

With this being Elizabeth's year to graduate she wanted to go. Sam and I and Crystal accompanied her. When we got the banquet we saw that's Sam's Grandma Brayton was also there. She was there to celebrate her 70th class reunion. Grandma graduated from Hartford Central School in 1936. Of the 15 students that graduated that year there are 6 class members still living. Only Grandma and one other woman were able to attend the banquet.



Elizabeth Frances Armstrong Brayton b. 19 March 1918; graduated from high school June 1936
Elizabeth Grace Brayton b. 19 March 1988; graduates from high school 23 June 2006


We think this is very cool. Liz was born on Grandma's 70th birthday and Liz graduates from high school the year of Grandma's 70th graduation anniversary.

This picture was taken at Elizabeth's graduation. She was the Valedictorian of her class. Her Grandpa Brayton presented her with her diploma during the ceremony. Dad Brayton has been on the school board for 15 years and has the privilege of issuing a diploma at the request of the graduate. Also pictured here is Great-Grandma Brayton. All three of the people in this picture graduated from Hartford Central School.

I love the page! I like hearing about what the kids do around the farm incase we end up living there. Sounds like fun. We are excited to have Elizabeth here in the Fall! Your page looks great. It's hard to tell what it's going to look like because of how the format is set up. I usually just publish my post, see how it looks and then go back in and make any changes. Thanks for thinking mine looks like a scrapbook. I was thinking it felt like a yearbook! With all my yearbook background I tend to be constantly thinking of photo captions in my mind. Just a short couple weeks and we get to come to NY!
~DKSBrayton

1984 2006

Hi Everyone!
I got this blog site several months ago but haven't made it known because I was still figuring out how to use it and what it could do etc. We took some pictures today over in Arlington Vermont and I wanted to share them with you.

Twenty two years ago this month Sam and I were married. For our wedding announcement we had our picture taken in front of this covered bridge. Ever since then we have tried to go back every year in the spring for a family picture.





First came Ashley:

Ashley pre-mission (almost 21 years old). Part of our reason for going to have these pictures done so we would have a bunch of pictures that included Ashley. It'll be more and more difficult to get our whole family together for pictures as time goes on. Currently Ashley is working two jobs. The first is as a teacher's assistant at Glens Falls High School. She is what they call a "one on one". She works with a disabled boy all day and helps him get to where he needs to go. She was offered the job full time but had to turn it down because she'll be leaving on a mission in July. For now she has this job for the rest of the school year. Her other job is at a men's clothing store in the Aviation Mall. They sell suits, dress shirts, ties, blazers, belts etc. They also rent tuxedos. The last few weeks were crazy due to the fact it was prom season.

Second was Crystal:


Crystal (age 19 1/2) pointed out to me today that she's going to be doing a lot of packing up and leaving in the next few months. This weekend she and Ashley are going to a Young Single Adult trip to Palmyra, NY. They'll visit the Sacred Grove and other church historical sites. At the end of June Crystal will pack up and leave for Girl's Camp. She will be working in the kitchen helping to prepare the meals and serve them. My parents will also be helping in the kitchen at our Girl's Camp this year. She is most excited about her trip to Oregon in July. She'll be leaving with my parents when they return home from here July 11th. She'll spend 9 weeks in Oregon living with my parents and spending time with my sister Lois and her family who live next door. During this time she may travel to Utah for her cousin Marilyn's wedding reception. She is looking forward to that as well.

Middle is Elizabeth:

Liz's (age 18) big news this month was slightly overshadowed by the arrival of Ashley's mission call. We received a letter from the school that Liz is the Valedictorian of her graduating class. She'll be attending BYU-Provo in the fall and has received a full tuition scholarship. She hopes to get into the Animation program. She would like to learn computer animation and work on computer games and possibly movies. Liz also won a place in the Hyde Museum's Juried High School Art Contest. There were over 900 entries, of which 100 winners were chosen. Elizabeth's drawing will hang in the museum with the other 99 winners for a month.

Our man child is Mark:

This handsome devil (Mark age 16 1/2) is working very hard in school. He has to take three big (Regents) finals this year. Girls have discovered that Mark's reputation for being a gentle giant is well deserved. He recently donated blood for the first time because one of the girls in his class (she was in charge of getting Sophomore volunteers) begged him to. He doesn't like his smile but I told him that prophets smile the same way.
When Mark isn't helping his Grandpa Brayton on the farm he's working out ways to use the old Harvestor Silo as a club house. At our ward they're going to be ripping out the old pews and Mark plans to be first in line to bring some of them home. He wants to start furnishing the "club house".

"What about baby?!" Jessica:

Jessica will be 14 in August. Her two favorite things to do are play with her dog, Savannah, and draw and color pictures. Her style is uniquely hers and we think she's a wonderful artist. Jessica will be entering high school in the fall. It shouldn't be too dramatic of an adjustment since all grades meet in the same building. In a small school you know pretty much everyone. Being 14 and in 9th grade means Jessica will be starting early morning Seminary in the fall as well.



Above is my Mother's Day drawing from Jessica. It's me in my orange jeep with Savannah in the back seat.

This is Savannah. She is a purebred Beagle. Her 1st birthday was April 26th. We all love her. She's lots of fun.












Aren't they wonderful!? We are so pleased with all of our children. We love to see them have fun with each other. Their Brayton grandparents recently bought a used ping pong table and the kids have had a fabulous time playing against each other, their grandparents and parents. Any combination of players will do. They get laughing so hard sometimes they almost can't stop.

That's all for this time. Once you've looked at all of this let me know what you think. Suggestions for improvements are welcome, especially those who have experience with blogs. I need help knowing how to get things where I want them. Lots of Love to you all!!!! Pam and family :)