Happy Christmas Time!

Ashley got MARRIED! On December 26, 2008 she was sealed for time and all eternity to David Blen Nance in the Palmyra, New York temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (The bride and groom even had a snowball fight after they came out of the temple). Ashley has since graduated from Brigham Young University - Idaho with a degree in Early Childhood Education/Special Ed. She and David are expecting a baby boy on (or near) December 31st.


Crystal lives in Provo, Utah and LOVES it there. She attends many social events and shops with her friends. She recently joined a running club that was formed by students in her apartment complex. She runs every weekday at 6am. Crystal is actively searching for a full time job in the food industry.


Elizabeth lives in Orem, Utah and attends Brigham Young University. Her major is Computer Science with an Animation emphasis. The dragon is one of her creations in progress. She and her friends have formed a sketching club called Snaggletooth. They meet twice a week to practice sketching. Sometimes they sketch each other. In the wee hours of the morning, Liz works on campus cleaning the McKay Building.

Mark is serving a mission for our church in the Pocatello, Idaho area. The above picture is of him (right) and his missionary companion (left) with a young person Mark baptized. Judging from his e-mails, he's diligently doing the work of the Lord by sharing the message of the Restored Gospel with anyone willing to listen. He is also having a FABULOUS time! He will be home next year, probably in time for Christmas.

Jessica is a senior in high school. Her college application to Brigham Young University - Idaho is more than half finished. Lately, she has been overcome by the urge to learn how to drive (even in the snow). She hopes to get her license in January. Of course we must mention Jessica's beautiful beagle, Savannah, who is 4 years old in people years. She is still led by her nose and loves to be with her people, until there is something gross to sniff.


Sam and Pam are both students now! Sam is working on his Business Management degree through University of Phoenix. Each class is a 5 week on-line intense adventure. Pam is working on a Teaching Assistant Certificate at Adirondack Community College, taking two courses at a time. At church Pam was recently asked to serve as president of the Primary Organization (18mo. olds - 11 yr. olds). Sam serves as the Albany, NY Stake Young Men President (12 - 18 yr. old boys).

We hope each of you enjoy a peaceful and joyous Christmas season and that your hearts carry those feelings throughout the new year!
WE LOVE YOU!

Ashley and David

Some of you may ask, "So, what's the story?" The short version is that Ashley and David have had a short holiday romance. They became a couple on a romantic weekend in Rexburg, Idaho just a week before Halloween. While visiting my parents and sister in Oregon over Thanksgiving break they became officially engaged. And...they will be sealed in the Palmyra Temple, December 26, 2008 (yes, that's an 8)!!!!! But, honestly, just look at those pictures. You can almost feel the love they have for each other. We're all very excited and happy for them. ((Some of us are a little stressed as well!!!!))

Congratulations, Ashley and David!!!!!

Their story in Ashley's words:

"My finance’s name is David Nance. I met him at BYUI in 2003. We were in the same freshman orientation group, and had many of the same friends after that. He served his mission in Chile Santiago North and I wrote him a few times, and he wrote me back. I left for my mission about four days after or before he returned from his. He emailed me a few times I think, and to back in touch with me once I had returned – which was late last December.

He had transferred down to the BYU campus in Provo, Utah since I had seen him last, so even though we kept in close contact over the phone, I didn’t actually meet up with him until August when we visited my family near there for my cousin Eric’s baptism. He came and visited me there for a couple hours, and apparently I did something right, because by October it was obvious he liked me, and I sure liked him. He came up to visit me in Rexburg in mid-October and we went on our first official date. “Fireworks” is a mild description for the feelings we had that weekend. Don’t be alarmed. We’re very careful to behave ourselves :) Two weeks later he came to visit again and we started talking about being together forever.

Two weeks later was Thanksgiving break. I went down to Provo for a few days then we went together to visit my Grandparents in Oregon. On the Sunday before Thanksgiving (11/23) he proposed in a saw-it-coming sort of out-of-the-blue way, down on one knee and everything. Wednesday he called my house and asked my Dad. Thursday we announced it to everyone in Oregon, and some of the phone calls spilled over into Friday. Friday we got the ring and materials for my dress, as my Grandma Lois and Aunt Lois (Weig) said they would make it for me. By the time I woke up Saturday morning they had finished the dress, and I took it back with me to Rexburg.

Sunday we ran into a friend, Jonathan Dunstan, who took some pictures for us with my camera to put on the wedding announcements. Then he went back down to Provo for school and I stayed here. We’ll be married in Palmyra, New York, in the Palmyra temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the 26th of December – the day after Christmas!!!! Crazy, yes, but it’s right. It’s so right. And I’m excited to start sharing my forever with my best friend, David Blen Nance."

Reindeer Run 5K

Before the race:
This is a cool t-shirt because it's a long sleeved running shirt instead of a regular cotton t-shirt. The reindeer on the front is wearing a Christmas tree costume.















Just to prove that I ran with actual reindeer I asked these two if they wouldn't mind posing for a picture with me. As you can see, they didn't mind at all. Cute, huh?

AND THEY'RE OFF!
The starting line was at the bottom of this hill! For those familiar with this area, we are running on Haviland Road (the same one the Glens Falls Chapel is on). The north entrance to Adirondack Community College is behind us. Meadowbrook Road and the golf coarse are in front of us.







Where's Pam?!
Look for an orange blur. I was trying to get a little closer to Santa so Sam could take a picture. This guy ran the entire race dressed like that. I think the woman to his right is his elf.











After the Finish!

3.1 miles (5K) in 28 min 30 sec
a personal best for me. I was tired but not spent.
I had a good time and experienced my first winter time run. I'll be looking for a 10K in the Spring.

The Great Pumpkin Challenge 5k Race 2008

WeeeHoo! Are we excited or what!?
Pam and Krystal dressed up as Pumpkin Fairies. Krystal made the costumes. They turned out GREAT!
Scotty is...you guessed...Thomas the Tank!


Pumpkin Fairies preparing for the race!
One last stretch and time check.

Rounding the corner headed for the 1 mile marker!
We're flying now!!!

Our loyal cheering section and photography crew!
*back row left to right: Dan, Mark, Jessica, Sam
front row left to right: Scotty (alias Thomas the Tank) and Hazel (disguised as a stroller)

There she is!!!! What a cutie!!!

Orange Blur Finish!
Sprinting as fast as our little Pumpkin Fairy legs would carry us!

Pumpkin My Ride!
What else would two Great Pumpkin Fairies ride in?

Hill Cumorah Pageant 2008

Elizabeth drew this postcard of King Noah from the Book of Mormon.

This is a cast member dressed as King Noah speaking with a member of the audience before the performance. The King Noah character and Joseph Smith spent a lot of time posing for pictures with people in the audience.

Sam, Pam, Crystal, Liz and Jessica were in the cast of the Hill Cumorah Pageant this month. Mark was on the work crew (Go to 2008hcpworkcrew.blogspot.com to see pix and video of the work crew).

Here is Pam in her Lehi Mob costume. She was among the people that ran Lehi out of Jerusalem.

Crystal was a Noah Citizen. She was with the crowd who shouted at the prophet Abinadi and watched him burn. All the Brayton women portrayed wicked people in the Pageant. The wicked people got the brighter, flashier costumes.

Elizabeth was also with the Noah Citizen crowd. She and Crystal weren't allowed to stand next to each other because they both wore red. Liz and Crystal are both wearing wigs.

Speaking of wigs, this is Pam in her second costume ready for the scene with Samuel the Lamanite. In the scene Pam threw a 'rock' at Samuel just before she joined the crowd as they tried to run him off the stage. The rock was a piece of Styrofoam wrapped in duct tape.

Jessica in the cast team tent area on the last day.
Most of the tents have been taken down.

Mark in his costume for the Lehi boat scene.
You can also see his work crew headphones and special effects tools.

Scotty, Dan, Krystal and Baby Hazel come to watch our performance
(Hazel was mostly listening).
This is the only picture I can find with Jessica and Sam in costume.

Bread Sculptures Past and Present

One day in February 2001 the kids had some fun making sculptures out of homemade bread dough. The picture shows them displaying their baked creations on our back deck just before they ate them.
This year, when the time drew near for Ashley to return from her mission, Mark suggested that we re-live that fun and memorable day. What a great way to celebrate our time together! Only a few days later Elizabeth went back to BYU-Provo and a few days after that Ashley returned to BYU-Idaho. Bread Sculptures Identified: Crystal's says HI, Mark made a woman's head with braided hair and big lips, Jessica's is Rapunzel's long braid, Elizabeth created a very intricate dragon, and Ashley sculpted some Chinese characters (It may be her name in Chinese.)

Scroll Down to see Ashley's missionary homecoming pictures and video...

Sister Ashley Brayton Returns from Taiwan

Ashley's mom gets to her as soon as she crosses over the security line. Then the rest of the family closes in.

Ashley receives a warm family welcome at the Albany Airport (NY). Smiles all around!

Ashley hugging Great Grandma Brayton and greeting her youngest sister, Jessica.

Grandma at-the-farm commenting on Ashley's missionary name tag.

I'M HOME!!!!