SPACEMJ Brayton

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 :)