Swimmin' Hole Lane

Yippeee! Southwest is coming to Charleston!

2010-05-11T16:36:00.004-04:00

Big news in the city! Southwest is coming Charleston! Big doings at work today, everyone all excited about the "breaking news", home page takeovers and all!

Stayed tuned...travel plans may be in my future and as a result, posts from afar. ;-)

Juxtaposition

2010-05-08T21:51:00.002-04:00

The word juxtaposition kept popping into my mind today. After this happened a few times I stopped to analyze why this was occurring. My morning started with a 6 a.m. phone call from a frantic Ebbie saying that Donnie had fallen and was weak and slow to respond. I called Tookie then dialed 911 and was on my way. I arrived to find Camellia Dr. impeded by a fire truck, police cruisers and an ambulance. After many hours in the ER it was determined that he has pneumonia and is severely dehydrated. En-route to the hospital I passed the turn to Tessa's house and immediately thought of new baby Cade. Then I decided the juxtaposition was that of a new life and one nearing the end. Each presents it's own challenges and even similarities. For now I will pray for the ability to be able to provide the care that's needed at this time and to remain extremely grateful for the knowledge I have of our Father in Heaven's plan for us.

Maples trees and WITSEC

2010-05-06T15:58:00.011-04:00

I came home last night to find my lone red maple tree on the ground.

For those of you that don't know I live in what was once a corn field surrounded by trees. Since this was my one tree I was about to call the CSI team in to gather evidence and find the tree killer. Before I could place the call I received a phone call with a sheepish voice admitting to the crime. The perpetrator has decided to join WITSEC (for those of you that don't watch In Plain Sight, WITSEC is the US Marshall's Witness Protection Program) to avoid admitting to driving over a perfectly good maple tree without even noticing that it was directly in front of her (yes, a female driver). Said perp only realized the crime once her trusty GM vehicle quit moving forward. I know, I'm probably giving too many hints here, but yes, I did sell this trusty GM vehicle to the perp a few years ago.

Before you think I am over-reacting, here is a picture of the tree in the upright position, aided by Carol. You can see it was on it's way to becoming a lovely addition to my corn field.

Droid fever

2010-05-03T14:34:00.003-04:00

I almost had a case of the deadly Droid fever this past week. Thankfully through tremendous willpower I was able to overcome the plague of this fever!

Even though the "geek" in me really, really, wanted to succumb to the fever, I am happy to report that even after spending over an hour in the Verizon store and playing with the incredible "Android Incredible", I was able to walk away. Seriously, I must really be getting old and responsible. Walking away from something this cool is not generally in my nature! I guess a mortgage really does have a way of making you pay attention! Let's all hope the P&C will get with the program soon and give us something besides the outdated BB Curve!

Happy Blogoversary!

2009-07-30T21:09:00.002-04:00

I just realized yesterday was my 1st Blogoversary! Now if I could just teach Cami to post... Happy blogging y'all!

Nauvoo

2009-07-30T20:51:00.011-04:00

The majority of the family met in Nauvoo for a week of fun, fellowship and church history. Kim, Derek, and Justin stayed in SC to care for the critters and make some $. Here are a few highlight pictures.The Whole Gang

The Werner Family The Iowa HarropsHarrop Grandchildren The Happy Grandparents

Farm Happenings

2009-06-09T22:35:00.000-04:00

Catching the rooster!

Catching Carol!

Doesn't this cow look frightened? Guess he heard the 3 C's were in town!

First Casualty

2009-06-09T22:16:00.000-04:00

The first day @ the Farm while Mommy and Grammy were still there, Claire took nasty tumble from her bike. OUCH!! A hard part of growing up....

elbow

hip

Life on the Farm

2009-06-09T21:32:00.000-04:00

Cami and Tookie drove Cooper, Carol, and Claire to New York to spend 3 weeks with Grandma & Grandpa Brayton @ the Farm. The kids are having a great time and learning "farm chores". Zipping up. Don't be too jealous, but it's still cool in upstate NY. Beautiful pasture Mama Chick and her biddies. The girls are really enjoying watching the biddies hatch and grow and helping to care for them. Ellie Mae getting water for her critters!Fixing the hay trailer in anticipation of the harvest. Cooper says he getting muscles from his farm chores!

We Made It To The Farm!

2009-06-08T21:27:00.000-04:00

After 2 days in the car, a little silliness was called for!

Harrop Cousins

2009-06-07T22:05:00.000-04:00

To break up the 15 hour drive to NY, Cami and Company spent the night with cousin Jenny and her husband Pete and family in their home just outside of D.C. Nice to catch up and get some much needed rest. Thanks Vogls!

Nathan, Michael, Cooper, Claire, Carol, Ashley and Olivia.

Off to the Farm

2009-06-07T20:13:00.000-04:00

Cami and Grammy (Tookie) left after church today to take the 3 C's to Grandma and Grandpa @ the Farm in NY. The children will stay for 3 weeks. We're hoping Grandpa teaches Cooper some good work skills planting hay on the farm! The girls are looking forward to hatching biddies and guineas and watching them grow. I'm sure they'll all have names soon! Pictures will be coming, Carol packed her camera. What a good summer time activity to spend time on the farm with family. Wish they were closer so we could see them more often! Derek and Beau will drive up @ the end of the month to retrieve them. G&G should be tired by then! Swimmin' Hole Lane will sure be quiet....

Super Sugar!

2009-06-04T22:29:00.000-04:00

Super Dog!!!

A Week of Parties!

2009-06-04T22:00:00.000-04:00

The last day of school was Thursday 6/4. Cami and Derek hosted 4 consecutive nights of pool parties! Hamburgers and hot dogs for 4 nights!!! By Friday pizza never looked so good! The dogs were excited with any dropped food! Monday - Girl Scouts Tuesday - Claire's 1st grade class Wednesday - Carol's 3rd grade class Thursday - Cooper's 7th grade class Friday - Rain ...priceless Here's a few photos from the week.

tired hosts

talk to the hand!

drinking in the fun!

Carol & boys

Cooper & girls in a chicken fight!

Carol's Award Day

2009-06-03T21:16:00.003-04:00

Carol finished 3rd grade by receiving awards for "A/B Honor Roll" for the year and "A Honor Roll" for the last 9 weeks. We are so proud of Carol!

Brownie Bridging Ceremony

2009-05-18T20:55:00.000-04:00

Claire is now officially a Brownie and will go to Girl Scout camp for 3 days in July. The entire family present but she was so excited that her teacher, Ms. McNeil was there!

Summertime Hairdo!

2009-05-07T20:08:00.002-04:00

Buddy got his summertime hairdo on Tuesday. Below is a picture of Sugar (on left) and Buddy (on right) from December. Notice the difference.

Before

After...

Buddy's saying ahhh this is much cooler!

Thanks Mammasetta!!

Charles Towne Landing

2009-04-11T18:46:00.010-04:00

Beau, Cami, Cooper, Carol and Claire spent a beautiful Good Friday @ Charles Towne Landing. It is a SC state park on the original landing location for Charleston. It includes an animal forest complete with animals and birds that would have been here more than 300 years ago, many bike and walking trails, and a recreation of what life was like in 1670. As you can see we had a great time...even had all the kids in the stockade! We took our bikes and had a picnic and enjoyed the sunny day.

Imitating the shore birds!

Manning the rudder on the ship!

My New Dentist!

2009-03-30T20:39:00.004-04:00

I made a visit to the dental clinic @ MUSC today. Here is the photographic proof of Justin torturing me...The funny thing is I actually paid for this!

Graduation!

2009-03-16T09:50:00.003-04:00

Sugar and Beau are now a registered Therapy Dog team!! Therapy anyone???

Toothless

2009-03-14T18:58:00.003-04:00

Even with the recession the "Tooth Fairy" paid $5 for this!!!

Claire finally loses a tooth!!!

Claire's First Grade Program

2009-02-25T17:30:00.003-05:00

Dancing to the Farmer in the Dell

Girl Scout Cookie Time!

2009-02-12T18:23:00.002-05:00

Once again it's Girl Scout Cookie time! The economy has taken a bite out of cookie sales...only 600 boxes this year compared to 1300 last year. We might be looking for a "bail-out" too!!

I killed Barney...

2009-02-12T18:04:00.004-05:00

For those of you that don't know Beau has been driving a little purple Metro for about 16 months that she bought for a few hundred dollars. She loved this car for the tremendous gas savings having put 45k miles since owning it. She affectionately called it "Barney". Yesterday while driving in rush hour traffic, everyone came to a sudden stop and Barney was not sudden enough! Fortunately Beau did not sustain permanent injury, just air bag burns and contusions. As you can see Barney was not as lucky...as usual, Derek came to the rescue! He was just a few miles behind in the traffic and was his usual calming force amid the chaos!

We're grateful that no one was seriously injured but Barney will be missed!!!

Crazy Make-Up

2009-02-12T18:01:00.003-05:00

Carol and Claire had fun with Lolly one afternoon getting a "wacky" make-over!

Therapy Dog

2009-02-12T17:53:00.003-05:00

Sugar and Beau have completed the first step in becoming a registered Therapy Dog team. Stay tuned...

Flurries in the Corner!!!

2009-01-20T20:21:00.002-05:00

Snow flurries in the Corner today! Not enough to stick or cancel school, but still an unusual sight...

Vacation Photos

2009-01-20T19:53:00.006-05:00

Braytons are back from the cruise and back to the cruel world of school and work. Their first night home the temperature here dropped into the teens. It was quite a shock when they drove up in shorts and flip flops to find Swimmin' Hole Lane so cold! The children said they had an awesome time!! We're looking for a dolphin to keep in our pool!

Here's a slideshow to let you share in the fun....

email Cami @ dc4brayton@homesc.com for a link to many more photos @ Snapfish.com

Bon Voyage! The Braytons are Bahamas Bound!!

2009-01-11T20:24:00.005-05:00

Goodbye Suckers! The Braytons have gone on a cruise to the Bahamas for a great family vacation. Carol will turn 9 while they're gone and will get to snorkel and swim with the dolphins! A very excited family and a very sleepy mommy left Sunday morning to drive to Florida after mommy got home from her 3rd night shift. Kennedy Space Center tomorrow and then it's Bon Voyage in the afternoon. It's only Beau and the critters @ Swimmin' Hole Lane this week....It will be different that's for sure!

Think they took enough sunblock? Notice the SPF 85! Having a nurse mommy makes for a LARGE first aid bag!! Or should I say paranoid mommy???

Merry Christmas from Swimmin' Hole Lane!

2008-12-24T11:40:00.005-05:00

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-24T10:43:00.003-05:00

The annual trek to James Island

2008-12-24T10:11:00.006-05:00

The Braytons took Lolly and Beau to James island County Park to see the annual light display. The light drizzle stopped and we got out to walk through the forest and go see Santa. It started pouring while seeing Santa and we had to hurry back to the car!

Too scared to find out what she's saying...

Carol with Santa. She's probably asking for a new "critter". Let's hope not!

Cami made Cooper sit on Santa's lap. I think he's asking for a 15 year old blonde....

The trip home...2 goofy, 1 sleepy!

Fort Brayton

2008-12-15T20:12:00.008-05:00

...sure it looks dangerous, but it's fun and there's not much to do in the country...

Grammy's Birthday Party

2008-12-15T18:13:00.005-05:00

We celebrated Grammy's birthday Sunday at Tessa and Justin's. All the girls participated in the meal and Beau provided dessert. We had a great evening! Grammy got lots of great presents...a digital picture frame with over 400 photos of her family already loaded, a scarf, gloves and knit hat, new Clark clogs, socks and a pedicure. What a haul! Guess that's one of the perks of having 6 children!!

Birthday pie...coconut cream

Opening presents with helper Claire

Justin and Grandpa in deep conversation.

Orvin Christmas Party

2008-12-15T10:51:00.006-05:00

The annual "Orvin Holiday Throwdown" was December 7. It was a cold night but still a happening event. The Custom Four played and sounded great ! It was fun but ALOT of work. Ebbie claims this was the finale...we can only hope and pray...

H.G., Ebbie, Andy and Rachel

Claire and Rachel on the stage!

Matthew,Ebbie, Andy and Rachel

Christmas Program

2008-12-09T14:28:00.007-05:00

Carol's school had a Christmas program last night. Carol and her chorus group performed and then it was off to make ornaments in the different classrooms.

Carol and her "best" boys!

Carol and Daddy

Making "edible" Christmas trees!

Concentrating on the craft!

We have a new niece!!

2008-12-09T14:11:00.008-05:00

Phil and Heidi have a new daughter, Presley Jo Harrop. She arrived at 5:47pm on Friday 12/5--7lbs even, 19 1/2 inches long, cute as a button. We can't wait to meet her. Grammy and Grandpa fly to Iowa right after Christmas.

Presley Jo ( or PJ as Beau calls her)Proud Papa Phil

Meeting the new sister!

Mommy and Presley Jo (Berkeley took this photo)

Sleepover

2008-11-29T17:25:00.002-05:00

Carol had a sleepover at Beau's bungalow Friday night. This is what Beau found when she came into the room! Beau slept in the guest room while "Ellie Mae" stayed in the master with the "critters".

The Hunters

2008-11-29T17:16:00.005-05:00

Tessa and her husband, Justin, and their son, Drake, spent the night at Beau's house Wednesday night. Justin and Drake left at 4 a.m. and 28 degrees to go duck hunting. As you can see it was a successful hunt. Not so much fun for Tessa and Beau...Sugar and Buddy had to bark an enthusiastic good morning to Drake @ 4 a.m. and then the sound of gunfire began @ 6:15 a.m.! No rest for the weary...

Justin, Drake and duck with bad luck!

Drake sporting his camo vest. Best dressed dog in the duck blind!

Thanksgiving 2008 at Green Acres

2008-11-27T18:31:00.003-05:00

We had a beautiful day to celebrate and give thanks!! We ate outside and enjoyed the mild weather and sunshine. Andy, Lindsay, Jeremy, Ebbie and Donnie and Jud an John joined our standard chaos along with all 7 dogs!! As usual, there was way too much food including fried turkey (domestic and wild)...compliments of Beau!! As you can see, there was touch football, singing and napping for the after dinner activities!

Pre-Thanksgiving Oyster Roast

2008-11-27T18:17:00.004-05:00

Here is our Pre-Thanksgiving Oyster Roast. Jud, John, Howie and Truvy made the trip from Atlanta for the weekend. We had a total of 15 people and 7 dogs!! The oysters were delicious and the company was VERY entertaining!!

The last November birthday!

2008-11-23T22:08:00.003-05:00

We had our last November birthday dinner for Brad, better known as "Gwanpa". Now the Holiday feeding begins...it's all about the food here!

More birthdays...

2008-11-23T22:02:00.005-05:00

Tessa's birthday

Our little "Punky" turned 26!

The Birthday Season Commences!

2008-11-10T18:07:00.004-05:00

It's birthday season...we start with Dara in late October, then Cami,Phil,Tessa, and Brad in November and Tookie in December. So much cake, so little time... I wasn't brave enough to put the correct # of candles on Cami's cake.

Voting

2008-11-05T19:00:00.003-05:00

Carol and Beau stood in line for 1 hr 35 mins @ the Cordesville Fire Dept. to cast our vote. Carol's school had a program for the children to receive a registration and vote at school. She received an extra 100 for going to the polls and watching me vote. The poll worker placed an "I Voted" sticker on the back of her registration card for verification. Way to stick it our Carol!

4th Annual Trunk or Treat

2008-11-05T18:39:00.004-05:00

We hosted Swimmin' Hole Lane's 4th Annual Trunk or Treat on Saturday. It was a load of fun with 200+ in attendance! Candy, candy and more candy, followed by hotdogs and hayrides. Life is good in the country!

Halloween

2008-10-31T19:29:00.002-04:00

Since our Trunk or Treat was on Saturday, Derek took Cooper, Carol, and Claire to Park West on Friday to Trick or Treat with Emily, Jason and Olivia. They had a great time loading up on candy and then relaxing in the hot tub. Poor children...what a tough life!

Soccer 2008 Finale

2008-10-27T19:03:00.006-04:00

The kids just finished another indoor soccer season. This was Claire's first year to play...she scored 3 goals!! Cooper and Carol both scored at least a goal in every game. Derek helped coach Cooper's team and was the back up coach for the girls team. They had their end of the year party at the corn maze (see below). Although it was a GREAT season, we are glad to have our weekends back!!

Happy Birthday Dara!

2008-10-27T16:11:00.003-04:00

Happy Birthday, Dara! Grammy made an ice-cream cake so we had to put the candles on a casserole!

Fun @ The West Farm Corn Maze

2008-10-25T20:52:00.004-04:00

The kids spent a fun afternoon @ the Corn Maze with their soccer teams.

Claire practicing for a future in farming!

Carol tries her hand at milking!

Driving @ the Corn Maze

2008-10-25T20:46:00.003-04:00

Our family friends have a Corn Maze at their farm each October with lots of fun activities for the entire family. Cami and Derek have been helping out at the corn maze this month driving the tractors for the hayrides. I'm not sure who has more fun... the tractor drivers or the kids!

New job @ www.charleston.net

2008-10-11T11:16:00.003-04:00

I started my new job at the Post and Courier Wednesday. If I could have designed the perfect job for me, this would be it! I'll be calling on independent auto dealers and helping them get their inventory online. Most of them don't have a web site so I'll be creating a site for them and teaching them how to use it as well as how to take pictures of their inventory to display on the site. Guess the school teacher gene is rearing it's head...you know, teach a man to fish,etc...

Going Away Party...Possum Pileau & Pickles!

2008-10-03T12:30:00.005-04:00

Welcome to Williamsburg County! Possum Pileau and sweet pickles!

One of my colleagues made this for my going away party. This combination is a delicacy here!

See the bones in the pot?

Possum innards...

Cordesville Camp Meeting

2008-10-03T10:19:00.004-04:00

We've had some excitement in the neighborhood this week! A tent revival right down the street! They don't get cranked up until after 8:30 pm and it's pretty loud. You can hear the bass and drums and some of the shouting...Claire said they need to turn it down so she can go to sleep!

Here's a little video from Thursday night. I imagine Friday will be better attended. Stay tuned...

Weekend @ Swimmin' Hole Lane

2008-09-29T14:01:00.005-04:00

Sunday was Cami's turn to cook dinner for the entire family. Our "little domestic goddess" grilled delicious talapia and shrimp for us with an assist from Derek. Beau provided the sides and dessert as well as the venue.

Saturday means soccer...girls @ 10 am & Cooper@ 1 pm. Cami was able to watch since she didn't work Friday night. Claire scored her first goal !

Mommy , Carol & Claire

Coach Daddy & Cooper

Student of the Month

2008-09-25T13:54:00.000-04:00

Carol was awarded Student of the Month for September.

Mommy was out of town for work, so Carol was lucky enough to have 2 of her aunts in attendance!

Lolly and Carol

Tessa and Carol

Goodbye Kingstree!!!

2008-09-25T11:11:00.003-04:00

Whooeeeeee! Beau has a new job! I'm going to be working for the Post & Courier (Charleston newspaper) as an online sales executive. Basically I'll be trying to get car dealers to list their inventory on the newspaper's web site, http://www.charleston.net/ . It's a normal 9-5, M-F job!!! Now I can have my life back.... The $ is decent and the benefits are great! I start on 10/6. Thanks for all the prayers and good thoughts. I feel like I've been in a body cast for 2 years and just found out it's finally coming off...now all I want to do is scratch!

Camping mishap

2008-09-22T13:30:00.003-04:00

Our Boy Scout seems to always be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Cooper was camping with the young men from church Friday night and Saturday morning. Saturday morning began with a 5 mile hike. The scouts were trailing the scoutmaster in a pickup truck that had a nylon rope attached to the trailer hitch...somehow one of the boys stepped on the rope which recoiled and wrapped around Cooper's ankles giving him some nasty rope burns. Guess we're building character...

It's official...we're now Buddy's people!

2008-09-09T11:40:00.002-04:00

It's official, we now belong to Buddy. It's been over 10 days since Buddy wandered up and we've found no one to claim him. (I'm secretly glad!) We had our first car ride and vet visit today to check for a microchip (none found) and to start the booster shots. He's perfectly healthy and was an excellent patient. Guess he gets to put his name in the hat to draw names with the family pets for Christmas. Doesn't everyone's family draw names for their pets?

Against my better judgement...

2008-09-08T15:15:00.004-04:00

I really do know better, but sometimes I can be persuaded....

I agreed to go with Lynn to Clemson to visit with Will and to see the football game. I really do love Will like he was my own child, but I hope I never see ORANGE again!! It was 112 in the shade and miles to walk up hill to the stadium. Car trouble on the way home made the trip 2 hours longer and resulted in NO a/c. Another hot and sweaty day!!! He's only a freshmen so I'm sure I'll return, but it will definitely be in October....

There go our Saturdays...soccer has started

2008-09-08T14:36:00.007-04:00

Cooper in action while Coach Daddy looks on!

Carol and Claire are on the same soccer team. This is Claire's first year to play. They play indoor soccer at a local Baptist church, called Upward Soccer. Cooper is almost too old to play indoor soccer. It's making him lazy to be able to use the walls! Sorry about the photography...Lolly and Tessa were in charge for the girls game and Claire was in charge for Cooper's. Photography lessons for FHE this week! I (Beau) was out of town for a football game.

Yes, I know I'm cute!

Snack time after the game.

Neve

2008-09-08T14:29:00.006-04:00

Looks like Neve likes her cherry Coke, too!

The children, especially Claire, pick the kitten up constantly. I'm afraid we're raising a neurotic cat!

Hanna wreaking havoc...

2008-09-05T09:01:00.002-04:00

Thank goodness Hanna is only a tropical storm but she's still going to give us lots of rain and wind. Schools are closing at 11:00 am expecting 30-40 mph wind around 2pm with gusts up to 70 mph. The miser I work for insisted I drive to Kingstree with the promise that he will give me a heavy car to drive home in should the wind pick up. Look for a little purple Metro flying across the LowCountry as Barney and I head for home! We're keeping a close eye on Ike!

Kim

Friends

2008-09-04T16:15:00.001-04:00

Chillin' on Beau's porch. It's a dog's life!

Buddy and Sugar.

Surfing USA!

2008-09-02T11:14:00.002-04:00

The Love Bugs Are Here!!!

2008-09-02T11:06:00.002-04:00

We had a swarm of LOVE BUGS Monday. They were everywhere! Someone forgot to tell them to take the day off for Labor Day. The party went on regardless of their blatant "love fest". We all managed to somehow ignore them as we had a family cookout by the pool.

Everyone except Dara. They were making her crazy! She refused to eat and stayed for about an hour constantly swatting and killing the "lovers"!

We tried telling her that "SC is for Lovers", but she wasn't buying it!

They were greatly diminished by late afternoon and almost entirely gone this morning. I guess they were too tired from all that activity!

Buddy finds a home...

2008-09-02T10:59:00.003-04:00

Friday morning Beau saw a small dog in the front of Brayton's house. By Friday night he had a name, Buddy, because Carol said he looks like dog from the movie Air Bud. By Saturday afternoon he was lounging and swimming in the pool. He looks like he's a golden retreiver mix and probably about 4 months old. He's been remarkably calm and well behaved. I think he has a new home...

First Temple trip

2008-08-25T12:58:00.010-04:00

Saturday morning Cooper was ordained a deacon. It was a very spiritual experience for those of us present to witness as he begins this next important phase of his life.

Saturday afternoon Derek took Cooper to the temple for his first youth trip. Beau some how managed to tag along to share the experience with them. Unfortunately, Cami had to sleep before her 5th night in a row to work night shift...

Columbia, SC Temple Cooper and Derek Moncks Corner Ward Youth and Leaders ******************************************************************************

Freaky hunting club entrance we passed on the way home from the temple.

We drove the back roads so Derek could learn the way and had to have a picture of this. Quite ironic to have Cooper in his "Sunday" clothes in front of all these bones and skulls!

Cooper is 12! Where does the time go?

2008-08-20T12:53:00.003-04:00

Cooper has been a picky eater since birth. In the last year since joining a scout troop that camps often, he's become brave and tried new things. Our boy's palette has expanded to include seafood,bar-b-que and boiled peanuts! He requested shrimp scampi, grilled lemon chicken, fresh corn on the cob, and homemade mashed potatoes with cheese and bacon for his birthday feast. Don't worry, Beau included a green salad as well, he just didn't eat that! Those SC Braytons are all about the carbs!!!

Our birthday boy hit a growth spurt this summer and gained over 10 lbs and grew 2 inches!

Say goodbye to the "slim" jeans. Now if we can just keep up with an almost teenager's appetite! Good thing Grammy and Beau like to cook... (The puffy hair is a result of using the leaf blower on his hair out on the porch while the girls and Beau cooked dinner!!!)

First Day of School

2008-08-19T10:14:00.011-04:00

Happy on the first day of school!

All 3 kids are playing soccer this year. Practices start today, so we will get pictures from the games posted in a few weeks!!

Off to 1st grade!

Claire is starting 1st grade. Her teacher, Ms. McNeil, also taught Cooper. Claire is a lot like her mom...she is very social and likes to talk, so we hope that does not get her into too much trouble. She had surgery #8 on June 30th and recently passed her hearing test (which is only like the second time that has happened). I am really hoping that she will make great strides this year, especially with reading. She struggled last year...it seems that being able to actually hear the sounds really speeds the learning process along!! Claire came home yesterday and said that she has already made a few new friends. She won't take long to adjust!!

Here I come 3rd grade!

Carol is starting 3rd grade. Her teachers are Mrs. Dress and Ms. Brooks. Her class flips between the two for different subjects. She is in the Eagles program which is a great tract for the gifted and talented students. It is more challenging and moves them along quicker. Carol is much more timid than her sister, but she already has several friends in her class. It is a good group of kids which is fabulous since they will be together for 3 years!!

Look out 7th grade!

Cooper is starting 7th grade!!! Wow...that really makes me feel old. His birthday is tomorrow and he will be 12. His challenge this year is going to be Honors Algebra I. Math is his best subject!! Derek and I are still trying to figure out how we got smart, tall, red-headed children!! This is the first year that he has not been with the same group of kids from his original Eagle group. I think that they mostly have their core classes together and then separate for foreign languages and exploritories (art, P. E., etc.). Cooper is just finishing his Faith in God award and also moving onto 1st Class in scouting.

Cooking

2008-08-10T11:34:00.001-04:00

Beau helped Cooper, Carol and Claire bake cupcakes for their great-great uncle Donnie's 85th birthday! The girls made cards and sang several versions of "Happy Birthday" much to Donnie's delight!

Faith in God

2008-08-09T11:48:00.001-04:00

Cooper and his trusty sidekick Sugar ( with assistance from Beau) spent several hours Saturday memorizing the 13 Articles of Faith for his final requirement to complete his "Faith In God" award. He turns 12 on August 20!

Family fun at the pool

2008-08-06T10:15:00.006-04:00

Everybody loves the pool; kids, adults and the dogs!

The cousins

2008-08-06T10:03:00.001-04:00

Tookie and Brad's grandchildren.

Berkeley H.,Cooper B., Oliver & Orson H., Carol B. and Claire B.

Neve get's inspected...

2008-08-06T09:34:00.006-04:00

Orson loved the new kitten! He checked her out thoroughly. Maybe Phil needs to get his kids a kitten!

Sunday is for resting...

2008-08-04T13:58:00.008-04:00

Carol and Sugar took advantage of a quiet Sunday afternoon

@ Beau's Bungalow

Dancing at the pool house

2008-07-31T10:12:00.003-04:00

Carol, Claire and Ashley dancing on their new stage, the pool house deck!

Swimming and flying!

2008-07-30T10:32:00.005-04:00

We had a fun morning with our cousins from Iowa, Oliver, Berkeley, and Orson, in our pool! Sugar and Sollie were there to play with us,too. The older children love being "launched" in the air by the strongest adults! Today it was Lolly and Derek. Can you say Ben Gay? Be sure to watch the video. Just press the play button

Sugar wore her "Wonder Dog" cape for awhile, then changed and became OJ's sidekick.

A quiet evening @ Grammy's house

2008-07-29T19:28:00.001-04:00

We all had dinner @ Grammy and Grandpa's house Tuesday night, then watched Miley Cyrus in concert and read books.

There's a new critter in town

2008-07-28T20:25:00.002-04:00

Here's the Brayton's new kitten, Neve. Neve means snow in Portugese. We called Peter last night and had him tell us how to say and spell the new name. Pretty cute, huh? Sugar thinks it's a new toy so we haven't left them alone yet.

Sandridge fishing and hunting

2008-07-26T10:45:00.003-04:00

Grammy, Grandpa, Dara, Tessa, Justin and Beau took Carol, Claire, Oliver, Berkeley, and Orson to George and Cecy's farm at Sandridge Saturday morning. We fished in the pond and everybody caught and released fish! It was blazing hot! On the way home, we passed Justin and Oliver on the driveway. Justin was clearing bushes and found a surprise! The "Great Hunter" Oliver and "Ellie Mae" Carol both had to have a turn holding it. Fun in the country!