1st & 3rd

Check out the winner at the top!

Meet Coco

I couldn't get the black and white dog because she did not like cats and the rescue place wouldn't allow it since I have a cat. So I got Coco. I liked her name so I didn't have to change it and she is soooooo sweet.

Kelly's First Communion

What A Family

Kathy Grech came to visit and brought a couple of photos she had. Nancy and Gerry's school pictures were taken in 1971. The family photo was taken in 1966

HELP!!!

I need a new name for this little girl.

He's a Master!!

Adam graduated with his Masters! 

Super excited for him. He starts his new job at IBM on May 28th! It is just about the same time my dad started at IBM 20 some years ago! Crazy. Thank god the starting salary isn't what it was when my dad got hired, some odd 18,000 a year or around there. RIDICULOUS. Anyway, this picture was taken just after his graduation ceremony. 

As far as wedding plans go, Sorry to say we have none yet! We are in the process of doing things to try to get there though, we'll keep you posted, I promise :) Hope everyone is doing Great!

Love, Jen

We need some action here!

This is a bunch of Bull! Where is everyone?

May Bank Holiday

Hi everyone, we went about 2 hours west of home this weekend to a beach. we took the dogs because walking and playing with them is so much fun, you see one picture of them inside a pub!! and that was right after pouring rain, so wet smelly dogs, only in the U.K. it did finally get really warm on Monday and we really enjoyed it. So, what did you do this weekend??

Meet the Jada

We are coming down for my niece's graduation so thought it would be a great time to introduce Jada to the family. Jada is Gerry's girlfriend and she is excited to put faces to all the stories we have been telling her about the family. So mark your calendars for Saturday, June 7th. We will be meeting at the "Florida Party House" aka The Biasotti's. There will be hot dogs, hamburgers, sausage, and yes mom, macaronni salad. So everyone bring your own beverage and feel free to bring a favorite dish or desert. Bridget I know you are always in for a party and of course no one else can tell a story like you, so I hope you can make it. Christy and Heather I am counting on you tell the guys since I am sure they do not read the blog. We will be in town late Wednesday so I am sure if any of you kids, or as Melissa would say "cousins to me", would like to hook up with Gerry and Jada Friday night, I am sure they would be game. See you all in June.

G-ma not Neil

SEE....that other picture of Neil looking very nerdie wasn't him at all. The truth comes out!! It was G-ma all along.

Engaged!!!!!!!

Adam popped the question :) It's official, we're engaged!! 

Here's the story:

Adam and I went to Wilmington for the day yesterday.  We were on the pier of downtown eating ice cream.  When we were finished, I started looking through my camera at all the pics that I had taken.  As I was doing this, Adam said randomly that he had a surprise for me.  I looked up 

and he was down on one knee asking me to marry him. It was very very sweet & I couldn't have hoped for anything more!! The ring is GORGEOUS and he did such a great job! We are very excited.  As soon as we start to plan (we will def. take our time!) I will keep everyone posted on the exciting details! 

Thank you to everyone who has called me....it's so sweet of you!  

Lastly, YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY I'm 

soooo flippin excited!!

<3 jen 

Easter Fun!

Look at that picture I TOOK!!!!!! WOW!! Swimming with the dolphins was AWESOME!!! Then we had the BEST SEAFOOD!!!! the weather was a little overcast, but still better than home!!!!

HAPPY EASTER

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE

Well today is the first day after 45 days of no television. What can I say... haven't watched any yet. I can tell you we can all survive with out it. Gerry, Jr. thought is was irresponsible of us not to watch it. Of course as you all know we have had some severe weather during this time. I never felt so much love as I have during these past weeks. Gerry, Jr. would be constantly calling to give us weather updates. I had left my phone in the other room one evening and didn't hear it ring, Jr. called the house phone (which never rings) in a panic thinking we had blown away in a tornado. It has been definitely and eye opener as to how boring (yawn) two people can be. The good thing is Gerry has finally learned his way around a computer. Well Happy Easter to everyone. I think I will go have a rum and coke. Oh yeah, we gave up soda too.

Move Over Stephen A Tornado Hit Atlanta

Sorry to have to replace Stephen so quickly, but this is news in the making. Barb and I (freelance news photographers here in Atlanta) drove to Atlanta to assess the damage. We confirm there was a severe storm. Take a look! If you want to see more go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/90851013@N00/ and check out my pictures

Terrapin is sort of a big deal.

For those of you who don't know, Terrapin Beer Co. (where Stephen works), has finally opened its brewery in Athens, GA. Prior to this they were contract brewing and using an old warehouse. Now they have a huge facility where they are running tours.

The AJC has a big article online featuring a picture of my beloved on its Living section's front page.

You can read the article here. And don't forget to look at the rest of the pictures- Terrapin is officially a big deal.

Hayle's Form and skiing down mountain

take a look at the top of the mountain, Hayle comes down first in her turquise jacket, and Pete is right behind her.....

Kelly Biasotti

Ladies night out

Tory, Tory, Tory






Take it off







Cheating Heart

She's Crafty!

As the Beastie Boys say... "She's crafty!..." I won't quote any more after that because the song quickly defines what the Beasties really meant by "crafty"- and sadly (in this context) it doesn't actually involve art projects.

Anywhoozit. Everyone knows we Braun babes are quite the craftsters. Not to downplay the craftiness of our male brethren, but let's face it, the ladies are standouts. From knitting to sewing and spinning to painting, we all have our crafty hobbies. And there's the more artistic "crafts" like photography and graphics represented in the familiy craft pool as well.

So I've been exploring my own craftiness lately and trying to push myself to try crafts that I've avoided in the past- quilting being one of them. And I think its fun to teach others, explore things we don't know and create something. So very soon I will be unveiling the full extent of this challenge I am issuing myself and the others in the family (the boys are invited too!). But here is the general premise:
-Each month I'll announce a craft project. It may be a sewing project, it might be jewelry making. It might be something very vague like "Make a set of notecards" in which case you can utilize any number of craft methods. There might be very specific rules like "using only the color green..."
- If there is a family member that is a "Pro" at this particular craft, they will be called out as a resource. I'm going to try to make sure that everyone gets to be a "pro" so we're all forced to try something that someone else in the family enjoys. Feel free to send me ideas.
- At the beginning of the the craft month (I can't promise it will follow the lunar calendar- I might start on the 6th of the month or whatever day work slows down enough to do some planning), I will announce the project. Everyone will have two days to tell me whether or not they want to be involved in that craft.
- Each participant will then be assigned another participant (i.e. Mary has Jennifer; Jennifer has Kelly). They are not to tell other people (unless otherwise specified) who they are paired with.
- At the end of the month (yes, there's a deadline), they have to send their FINISHED project to their assigned person. That means you have to finish it (ahem, Mom).
- That also means that at the end of the month you will be getting a package in the mail that isn't junk. Or maybe it will be junk- but if you say that out loud, you'll be disqualified from future involvement.

And that's it. I just think it will be a fun way of forcing us to try something new, get and give a little gift and learn more about each other. The projects won't be too expensive or difficult (no fancy equipment necessary, etc.). And I think the boys can try to be creative in interpreting the rules so they can play without feeling like this is super girly (a guy friend of mine told me recently about how he learned to latch hook and when he could only find kitten patterns at the store, he made his own Grateful Dead skull pattern). So I hope you'll join me. And I hope you'll fill the comments section with loads of enthusiasm.

Trip advice

I'm headed to NYC and Boston over the next month, so I was looking for input on what I should see and do.

Happy Birthday Jennifer

The BIG 25 how old we are all getting. Hope you have a fabulous day.

The Gang

Happy Birthday to youuuu!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA!!!

You are so good at sending other people birthday cards, so here is your birthday card via the world wide web :) 

Hope you had a grrrrrreat birthday! We think about you often.

Love, 

Us Braun's 

Goodbye Falcon

21 :)

today is ricky's 21st birthday!! we are very excited, but i think he is more excited. now he can drink beer with my dad....HAHAHAHAHA, we'll see how that blows over :) 

elf scene

a day at the beach

It's Snowing in Georgia!!!!!

What a cheap thrill!

ready steady go

Check out our latest Cache Find

Melissa and Stephen went Geocaching with us yesterday and this is one of the treasures we found. Melissa took this finger puppet and we left some Terrapin Labels. This was a fun hunt, it took us on a two mile hike through Sweetwater Creek. We had to find 3 caches with clues to find the final treasure.

I am adding a picture of John at another cache.

Biasotti's on the beach NEW YEARS

Happy New Year!!

This is is how we celebrated, how did you??!!

Wii Champion

santas escape

Happy Holidays from the Sullivans

Hope you're all having as much fun as we are

It's the most wonderful time of the year....

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year.  If you are going to the Sullivan's Gala, have extra fun for us!  Make sure grandma gets in the sauce, and Neil wears his one piece PJ ensemble! If you will be staying home for the holidays, relax and enjoy yourselves!

Take Care!

We Miss you All!

Love,

The Braun Family

where are you?

what's everyone been? What's new? what are you doing? We are going to Finland on Saturday for the one day. We are visiting LAPLAND. This is the north pole, where santa lives. I tried to include a link if you want to see it. We will do reindeer rides, husky sledge rices, snowmobile rides and snow games as well as a visit to santa.
They will even provide us with outter clothing because they say we would not have clothing warm enough it is SO cold there! http://www.magicoflapland.net/lapland_winter_collection.htm

Goofen off on Thanksgivin...

Wish you were all here....

Happy Thanksgiving!!! I hope you all have a great day :) Our family is so thankful for all of you. We may not see you often, but we love you all!! Enjoy your turkeys, stuffing, and tators! Much Love, The Brauns

Party Time at Lori's

Today, Lori/Mom planned a hugh party at Lori's. The problem was that they forgot to invite anyone. Lori fixed enough stew to feed an army, but....We tried to have fun. Mom had to wear Kelly's sunglasses to hide her bloodshot eyes. You know how she likes to drink. Needless to say, the wine went like crazy....I did catch Lori Pouting for a minute. Then she tried inviting some of her friends, but no one seemed interested. Even Rob called to say he and Johnny were going to stop by Jacks to eat before heading home!!! Just so everyone knows, YOU MISSED A GREAT PARTY...And I heard Lori was serving stew for Thanksgiving dinner!!!

Gas Free

Lori & Rob are not the only movie stars, try making this commercial without laughing !!!!!! This is what Brian does with his new camcorder when he has time off of work.

Commercial

Hey Guys,

Check out Lori and Rob's acting skills!

The Brauns

Since there was a post with some "fallish" look to it, I thought I'd post what little bit of fall that I've seen here in NC. The weather has been staying pretty warm, but last weekend Adam and I went to Boone to visit Ricky on his new frontier. We had a great time. It's so great seeing my brother so independent and enjoying himself!! I hope everyone enjoys the view :)

It's Time for a Change.

The weather is finally starting to cool off. We have had very little Fall colors. I found these colored leaves. That's about the extent of it.

this is funny

Ok, yesterday, we all went to see Gwen Stefani. She was awesome!! She is the ultimate COOL. So COOL!! Beforehand, I took the dogs for a quick walk. As we walked into the concert, I realized I forgot to change shoes. So I was dressed, but instead of my dressy, pointy, black pumps, I had on my flat, dirty, red, clogs. How nice, at the Gwen Stefani concert. UGH!
So, last night, my sugar was a little high, unfortunately, I took too much insulin. I woke up, got Hayle off to school, but was so tired, I laid back down. Around 10am, I had a dream that a girl was in my room, cleaning, and told me I needed to get the kitchen curtains down, as they needed to be cleaned (they do). I woke up. At first I thought my underwear was on the outside of my pajamas, so I remember I had to check. (they weren't) Then I ran downstairs, climbed up on the kitchen counter and tried taking down the kitchen curtain pole. I couldn't get it off. I tried the other side. Wouldn't come off. Then, I started yelling 'Hello, Hello' thinking the girl was still in the house. Then I realized I was sweating. That's when I figured out something was wrong. I climbed off the counter and drank 2 glasses of OJ and finally came around. No one was here either. OMG, how stupid!! Hayle cracked up when I told her, so I thought I'd share.

A MUST TRY

This is IMPOSSIBLE...

http://www.addictinggames.com/theimpossiblequiz2.html

See how many questions you can get through. I've made it into the 50's.

UCF Football

Today was the first game ever on campus at UCF. We played #6 ranked Texas and it was an amazing game. We lost, but only by 3 points. I was hoping to win and rival the victory that Ricky saw in Michigan. I don't have amazing wildlife photos like my parents have been getting out west, but I really like the picture I took at the game today...

Wish it would post larger, but the stadium was packed and we had a great time. I've lost my voice, been scorched by the sun, and drenched by crazy Florida storms all in one day. Couldn't ask for a better time; can't complain about my new life in Orlando. Love you all, peace!

2007 Braun Halsey Vacation

Well lets see, we spent 3 days in Jackson Hole, WY and we are now at the West Entrance of Yellowstone, MT. We have been in the middle of a herd of Bison, seen Moose, Elk, a Mama Bear and her cub, a bald Eagle, a coyote, just to name a few. We are having a blast and have seen some amazing sights. We are on the hunt for Grizzly and am sure we will find some soon. We will be at West Yellowstone for a couple more days than on to the north end of Yellowstone, Cooke City and the Bear Tooth Highway.