This new blogger is driving me nuts

Ok, this is a pain in the butt! I do not like it!! Anyway, where is everyone?? We have had non-stop rain, and MAN is the wind blowing!! (Poor BJ) Nothing really new here. We are going on holiday next onth to Gran Canaria. In search of sun. Cleaned my car yesterday, and made the Slap your Mama's Enchilada's again. Hayle slapped me before we even sat down to eat. hmmmm. what else is new with you guys? Where are you? Kathy, any new dates? Jen, any funny stories about kindergardners? Mary, surely you have real estate news??

Hop-a-long little Barbara

Let this be a lesson to all you "do it yourselfers." No more ladders for my beautiful blushing bride. She almost put two more people in cast riding the motorized cart in Publix today. She hasn't done very good on day "1" so I do not know how she will survive the next 3 weeks before she goes back to see if the doctor will even consider a walking cast. There goes her New Year's resolution to work out, looks like she will have to adopt Kathy and Mary's resolution. It should be a fun 3 weeks for me since she can't do anything. Wish me luck.

Gerry

New Year

Happy New Year everyone. My New Year's goal is to work out and modify my eating habits and I am off to a good start so far. Yes I know it is early but it is all about baby steps. What are all of your goals for 2007?

G-ma got sauced!

We tried to stop her, but she just wouldn't listen.

Mary's Back

Melissa, Brittany, Christy and Neil entertained the crowd with an outstanding performance of "Delta Dawn" but that was not all the entertainment our family provided for Mike's employees.

Charlie's Graduation Celebration

Congratulation Charlie on your Graduation
Charlie graduated on Friday and we went to lunch with a few of his friends after graduation and then headed to Disney. It was nice to see Disney at Christmas time with all the decorations and as you can see an enormous amount of lights at MGM. We had a blast and I know all of the good attractions if anyone needs any insight. Of course you all know how I am and I have brochures from all the theme parks and have rated all the rides and attractions we have seen recently or can vividly remember from past visits. We had breakfast with the characters on Monday morning and got back on the road home so we could start our Christmas shopping. Everyone drive safely over the holidays.
Love, Barbara

PUH-LEAZE!!!!

First of all, I love the picture Neil. I think when we all go to Berlin in 08 we should re-enact the photo! It'll be even funnier then!

Second of all, I'm pleading with all of you to puh-leaze (that's the exaggerated form of "please") send me some recipes. Nancy is the only one that got pumped up and emailed me a bunch of recipes.

For a family that spends so much time in front of their computers, it's pretty weak that nobody sent me any family recipes. So get on it! Email them to melissashayes@gmail.com.

Remember I'm accepting all recipes that you consider to be your specialties. Like Brittany makes the really good slice-and-bake cookies. That's awesome. Now she just needs to type it up in her own language with any special touches she has (like licking the spoon after each cookie?). And Lori's Biscotti is famous. And Bridget makes Christy's favorite mashed potatoes. And Uncle Mike makes heavenly barbecue chicken. And Nancy makes an amazing stolen recipe of Eggplant Parm. And my mom makes the best canned Grand's Biscuits ever. And Tony always thought it was important that Bridget share her Noodles & Breadcrumb recipe with my mom to make for us. And who owns the Dummlies recipe? And I don't know about you, but I want Pedro's Meatball recipe. You get the idea...

So please. Send them to me. Otherwise you won't get a copy to pass along for generations. And that would be a horrible disservice to our future Braun kinsmen... and to your belly.

Who Wants to go to Berlin

What a great time we'll have.

It's official! The Braun kids are coming up for the Christmas festivities!

Ricky and I are super excited. We can't wait to see everyone and take part in the fun! We will be arriving sometime on Friday depending on the traffic...and we all know how that goes.

Can't wait to see everyone! Love, Jen
ps-who is coming to NYC with me?

Berlin

I am in the process of adding more pictures to an album on kodakgallery.com, I'll send you all a link when i', done. But you see me eating. Guess what I am eating??!!! We found women making Dummilies!!! Yes, Dummilies!! They topped them with podered sugar and applesauce though. They were just like we remembered too!! Some day, some day, we must all go to Germany for Christmas market!! I'm telling you it is SO much fun!!! Oh, and that is Checkpoint Charlie, and us drinking Gluewein. (mulled wine) So good!!

Hello??

Where is everyone?? Come on people! Well, Hayle and I decorated our tree, and the dogs were playing. we went out to eat and there was a little festival in town we went to. We've kept busy making bookmark. We've made like 50!!! Hope they all sell. We'll find out tomorrow.

Beautiful Linsey

On Thanksgiving I took some pictures of Linsey, and I just thought I would share them. I think she looks beautiful! Plus I don't have Linsey's email so I can send them to her.

Christy

Christy

Happy Thanksgiving

Well, you can see we had a GREAT Thanksgiving over here! Mom got up early and made a pumpkin Pie first thing. Then we called Kathy and ASKED A QUESTION ABOUT bROCCOLI cASSEROLE. It was so delicious. But then mom got into the booze. She was doing shots all afternoon. We had a huge dinner and pie and friends over and such a good time. Well, the carcass is boiling so I can make soup tomorrow. I'm gonna let mom post. Talk to you all soon.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Hope everyone has a fantastic day.

Since We're Constantly Swapping Recipes...

Hello All,

Christy and I are prepared to unveil something exciting. Something creative and new- unlike anything before it. (Cue: "Chariots of Fire") Something you'll brag to your friends about, but won't dare share with them. Something your children will fight over upon your death. And then their children will fight over it when they die, until 200 years from now the Smithsonian is fighting for it. And the good news: we're including you in its creation.

BEHOLD! This December the Braun family will make its indelible mark on the culinary world. We'll all get a little bit fatter as critics storm us with praise for the gastric gift we will bestow upon each other. Grown adults will cry with anticipation, anorexics will cave at the sight, mamas will be slapped.

We give you- The Braun Family Cookbook!!!

You have a chance (allright, an obligation) to participate in something truly remarkable. Christy and I will be collecting family recipes to create a special cookbook of family favorites. No more calling Bridget for her Sugar Cookie Recipe. No more admitting you got a recipe off a website (ahem, Eggplant Parm) by referring people to it. This printed collection of recipes will house it all and give credit where it is due.

Here are the details:
**Please email all recipes to: melissashayes@gmail.com
This is a new email address, but please send it here so they're all in the same place.
**Please email recipe requests to us as well. Meaning, if you want to make sure that the Pumpkin Biscotti does not remain a secret, let us know and we'll harass the keeper to make sure it's included.
**Please send us any fun pictures of the food, the family cooking together, or anything you deem relevent to possibly include in the book.
**Be sure to include all details like ingredients, cook times/temps, etc.
**Make sure you send recipes that you are known for, recipes that you love, recipes that have some inside joke you'd like to share... whatever. Everyone should send as many as they'd like.
**Nobody is exempt. Please tell everyone so that we get 100% participation (including the non-bloggers and the 18-24 set). Even if your recipe is for Grand's Biscuits alla Mary. It will serve as comic relief for generations to come!

That's it. We hope to be hearing from you all soon. We will keep you posted on the printing of these magnificent books and just how exactly you can get your hands on one once we have done some hard work in designing and laying out.

Love, Melissa & Christy

You've got to try this!

Christy told me about these Asian Lettuce Wraps and I had to try them. Here is a link to the recipe http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Asian-Lettuce-Wraps-2/Detail.aspx
This has to be one of the best low fat, low cal meals ever. I did not use ground beef. I used left over chicken and shredded it, then threw it in the sauce just before serving to heat up. Out of this world. I also shredded carrots, green and red peppers and cucumbers to put on it. MMM good.

Lions and Tigers and Bears oh my

Really just bear. Gerry and I took a drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway on Sunday. We had dinner with an old friend of mine that I haven't seen in 14 years and then drove thru the Smokies on Monday. We missed the color by about two weeks, but it still was beautiful and we saw our first bear. Of course Gerry (aka Rita) did not get out of the car. We had a great time.

This is my Vera Wang! It fit, and didn't look too bad. We had such fun in NY!! Hayle totally wants to live there! Tonight was Guy Fawkes night here in Wales. He was supposed to kill King James and blow up Parliament in 1605 but was stopped. So every year they celebrate that it didn't happen by having fireworks and bonfires this weekend. And I have to tell you, their fireworks over here are to beat the band! They kick butt!! About4 times I thought it was the Finale, but it kept going. Anyway, we walked with our neighbors to a park to see them. Fun. Tomorrow, we're off to Costco, more fun! OK, now I want to hear from you all. You've been away from the blog too long.......

Happy Halloween

I just wanted to wish everyone a very happy halloween!!

Love,
Jen

Show Me The Money!!

I was making this really adorable quilt (just because I liked it) and apparently Mom did too!!! She liked it so much that she donated it to her church for a raffle. Her church is very poor and these old ladies were looking in their closets for things to donate for the raffle. Most everything they found, went in the trash. Then they tried making crafts (like glueing toothpicks together in the shape of a cross), but that didn't go over so well....sooooooo good ole Mom opened her mouth. I wasn't even done with it and they were selling tickets!! So since I believe this is the only item for the show, I'm hoping you all will buy a couple tickets. You have to get the money to Mom soon, because the raffle is 11/3. I don't even know how much they are selling for, but I have to buy some too, because I really wanted this quilt. Mom also volunteered Lori's biscotties for snacks!! Way to go Mom. The priest loves her!! Send Money....