Flashback Friday

Thanks to Virginia for the AMAZING flashbacks!!!!!

The beginning of the California Braley Bunch.

Earlan, Virginia, Jolynn - 1964

Photo at Nana/PopPop patio in LaMesa

(I LOVE the glasses Virginia!!!)Christmas 1970 in LaMesa

PopPop holding DeWayne Jessee and Kalen Braley

Nana holding Philip Howe and Jerrod Braley

In front: Sonja Jessee, Janell and Jolynn BraleyChristmas 1988 Union City

Kurtis, Kordel and Pepper Pot (cat)

(Pepper Pot looks thrilled!)
The beginning of the Clegg family

1993

Jay, Jolynn, Marissa

Have any you want to share? Let's see them!

Flashback Friday

This was Christmas Eve 2002. The reason I love this picture so much is because it was the last Christmas we got to spend with Nana. Aubrey was only 2 1/2, but she still remembers Nana. I'm glad we had the opportunity to live close so that Aubrey could know her.

If you have any Christmas flashbacks, lets see them!

Visit my blog

We just had family pics done on Saturday and I put a few up on my blog. If you are interested in prints of any of them let me know via comment of which ones and what size. Hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas Season so far!
http://braleybunch.blogspot.com/

Flashback Friday

Christmas Card 1982

Tom, Cathy & Vanessa

We are expecting...

Just wanted to let you all know we are expecting baby #3. The baby is due June 1st so I am 3 months pregnant. We are all excited. Jillian wants a girl...Spencer has no clue, but what can you expect from a 2 yr old?

Flashback Friday

Cousin gathering at the Clegg home in Spanish Fork March 2003.

(After the birthday party for Nana at BYU!)

Marissa, Matthew, Holly, Seth, Hayden, McKay

The Lehi Braley Halloween

Better Late than Never, right?

Here is our little princess Corinne. She absolutely loved trick-or-treating. We were out for over an hour and she was still sad to come home.

Our cute Shane. We didn't have a costume for him, but we thought his cute Halloween outfit from Old Navy was good enough. Wow, he's just so cute! I know, I'm biased.

The boring parents. Well, actually, I think just me the mom is boring. BUT, I did make Kordel a cool costume. He was a ghostbuster, I made a good sign for his back too, but of course forgot to take a picture.

Here's Corinne at our ward Halloween party. She was doing the cake walk. She already had had at least 2 cupcakes, but she just kept playing and playing, she loved running around to music and stopping on numbers. Something I need to remember for my sun beam class!

Finally, Happy Halloween!

At our wards Fall Festival (Princess Bride and Spiderman...with glasses?)
Spencer was adorable. This costume definately showed off his physique. It made it even better!
Jillian had fun too and really wanted to go on the hay ride but when it goes an average speed of 35 mph around the church parking lot,
Mom and Dad decide that maybe the kids are just too young for this ride.
Jill finally talked (whined) us into it and the hayrides were over. Ahh...shucks.
Spencer loved Trunk or Treating! It was fun to watch him realize after a few cars that he was getting candy at each car. He decided to ditch his sister and dad and book it through the cars. They were actually talking to people at each car...what a concept.

Getting ready for Trick or Treat day at pre-school. Jillian, Spencer and friends. Mom doesn't have to buy any Halloween candy.
Jill gets enough here to last Halloween night and then some.

Posing on Halloweeen. Yes, she is now Tinkerbell.
Thanks to a neighbor Jill could choose from 6 costumes for Halloween.

"Spencer, Spencer look at the camera." (For more than 3 seconds please...)
We had a lot of fun trick-or-treating the neighborhood and some friends houses. Then we came back to our neighorhood for chille and a "bonfire" and marshmellow roast. Of course, we also had smores. It was good to meet some of our neighbors that we hadn't met yet.

MAJOR Halloween Flashback!

Thanks to Virginia for these great photos from Halloweens past!

This was taken in Seattle when I (Virginia) lived/worked there for 5 years after high school. 1960



This was taken during my (Virginia's) senior year of high school.The place is in Mima/Niels Nielsen home in Midvale, Utah. 1955

Nana Pumpkin Costume 1963

(nice legs!)

Jack & Graham Trick or Treat

Halloween-Schmidt Style

Once again, Cathy outdid herself on the costume making this year! Aubrey
Vivian


Dillon

After making the Buzz Lightyear costume, she will most likely retire pretty soon from the world of costume making. Luckily Erik & Mirjam are having a boy! So, little Noot Nielsen (which we are affectionately calling him around here) will have some pretty sweet costumes to wear in the next few years.
All ready for the sock hop.

I found this dirt bag hanging around the hospital pharmacy. He wouldn't leave me alone until I took my picture with him. I kind of like his teeth and greasy long hair.

Halloween Photos

Since I know all of you will be taking tons of pictures tonight because it is Halloween. . .lets post them this week. It would be great to see all of you and your children in your costume glory. If you have forgotten how to upload/post/blog. . .please email me.

Vanessa

Flashback Friday

I searched and searched for a great Halloween flashback of Tom, but this is the best I could do. He is dressed up in his police uniform, so that counts, right? This is in 1991 and I asked my dad to dress up in his uni and go to the front door of a boy I wanted to ask to a dance. The point was to make him think he was in trouble with the law and then deliver him the invitation to the dance. Good thing the kid said yes. . .or who knows what may have ensued.

Flashback Friday

This is Poppop (our grandfather) According to Virginia, this was most likely taken in the early 1930's in Southern California while he was in the Navy. For those of you that might not know this, he was in a really bad motorcycle accident and almost died. We are sure glad that he didn't because none of us would be here.

Flashback Friday

Hi Vanessa,

I've wanted to send this to you for "Flashback Friday" for a while. Krissy is here and I enlisted her help.Cliff and Sandy gave me a framed print of it to me a few years ago. The picture has become one of my favorites.I don't know too much about it. Hopefully, Virginia will come to my rescue. Thank you so keeping us close!

Love,Barbara

(Virginia guesses that it was taken in 1944)

Kurtis

Kurtis is famous now...

http://www.kidk.com/news/30592809.html

Flashback Friday

Nana & PopPop

Joe & Mildred Jacobsen Dec 1979

Flashback Friday

Nielsen back yard in LaMesa, CA.

Some of Poppop's work with rocks and plants 1971.

Sonja (in white in back), Jolynn, Kalen, Janell, Dewayne, Jerrod (in front)

Cousin Leona

(From Virginia)

Hello to the missing cousins at Monday night's gathering. Sorry things did not work out for you. This is Leona and Brad Lasher - from Vancouver, WA. Leona is the daughter of our uncle Alan - one of the triplets. Leona is a radiographer - loves to take those mammogram photos! Brad is a pilot for Delta - loves those flights to Maui. They are a delightful couple, keen sense of humor, and very adventuresome on their many bike trips around the western states. We were pleased to meet them and hope they can return to the big family reunion in May on Memorial Day weekend. Plan to be there!!

Ready to head down the hwy - Rt 6 to Southern Utah for a look at the wonderful canyons.

Steve's Trip to Escondido

(Written by Tom)

Steven (Nielsen) rang our doorbell today while he was out "tracting for bugs" in the Southern California neighborhoods. (His post-mission-summer-job is selling for an extermination company.)

We had a very nice visit. For his mom and dad (Doug & Jeanette), he is doing well, looks healthy, fit, hydrated and well-fed. He offered to give me a "kin-folk discount" on their exterminating service...but...being related to Doug and Dad I declined for two reasons...I'm cheap and "think" I can do it myself. :)

Steven is about "10 feet tall" now and has his pleasant-easy-going demeanor and smile going for him. His sales pitch is solid and he seems to be having fun and is looking forward to returning to school this December after signing all us flea-infested-Californians up for his "hit-man" services.

Flashback Friday

(From Virginia)

This is a real flashback - can you find one older than this? First one to correctly tie this family to our family gets a hearty congratulations for being up to date in knowing all about their ancestors!!! Keep up the good work. I found this photo in one of Mom's books - that apparently none of you other kids wanted!! haha The title of the book is "I Walked to Zion - true stories of young pioneers on the Mormon Trail" collected by Susan Arrington Madsen

"I was talking to the assistant wagon master and driving the lead team, when we heard a terrible yell. We looked up the road and saw a large band of Indians coming towards us. They were very modest in their request, for they demanded 10 yoke of oxen, 1000 lbs. of flour, 300 lbs. sugar, 100 lbs. coffee, and 100 lbs. bacon. If we wouldn't give it to them, we would have to fight and they would take what they wanted. There was between three and four hundred Indians. Some of the men wanted to fight it out with them, but our wagon master, Mr. James Clayton, would not hear of that if there was any other way to get along with them. He told us to prepare for the worst, for we may have to fight, but he would do all he could to avoid it. After talking to them for some time, he thought of the man in our group with smallpox. He told the chief to go with him to the wagon where the sick man lay. A number of the Indians followed their chief, thinking they were going to get all they asked for. But when they got within twenty-five yards of the wagon, Mr. Clayton called to the sick man to look out of the wagon for he wanted to see him. He arose and looked out. The scales were just falling off his face. The chief gave a look and said, "Smallpox!" He turned his horse and yelled for his men to follow, and they did so. It was almost two miles to the Platte River, and they rode as fast as they could till they got there. Then they crossed and looked around for a few minutes, then rode off again. Mr. Clayton was watching them through a large glass. We could not get sight of an Indian for three weeks after that. We had to conclude that smallpox was a very good thing to have close by." George Humphreys, who came to Utah in 1856, served a mission to Great Britain, 1896-98. He married Sarah Ann Eaton in 1864, and they had ten children. They lived in Paris, Idaho, where he was known to be friendly, to have a clever wit, and to be an excellent gardener. He died May 19, 1922 at the age of eighty.

Source: George Humpherys. Autobiographic sketch, holograph, LDS Church Archives.

Don't Forget!

We will be having a visit from your cousin Leona and her husband Brad from Washington state.

We will have the gathering at our home, spouses, kids invited. Pot luck dinner to start at 6pm - or as soon as you can get here.We are happy to tell you locals that we now have grass and bushes in the back yard - for the kids to play, etc.Brad and Leona will be spending the night with us before heading on to Southern Utah on their motorcycles.

MONDAY - SEPT 15TH - 6PM
PLACE: VIRIGINIA'S HOUSE
PLEASE BRING YOUR OWN SANDWICHES FOR YOUR FAMILY
WE WILL FURNISH DRINKS, CHIPS AND DESSERT PLEASE
RSVP - email Virginia

Leona is the daughter of Alan - one of the triplets. Even though she is my 1st cousin - she is closer in age to most of her 2nd cousins - as she is turning 46 in Oct.I think you will enjoy meeting her and her husband - who are pretty gutsy to be taking a road trip by motorcycle!!!She is looking forward to meeting as many of you as she can.

Flashback Friday

Vanessa, Tom, Cathy & Erik

Christmas 1990

Happy Birthday to everyone that has a birthday this week!

Elton (click here)

Cathy (click here)

Janell

Seth

Barbara

Hope you had or have a great day!

Flashback Friday

Thanks Virginia for this one!
1988 outside of Nana's house.
Barbara, Cliff, Krissy & Bill.
I really just wanted to post this one because I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Cliff's "Flock of Seagulls" hairstyle. (sorry Cliff)

Pine Valley Going to Pot

Yep, you may have seen the news reports (or not) that Pine Valley is rapidly becoming the "Mendocino County (Calif.)" of Utah for marijuana cultivation. (Click here for related story)

On the valley floor where Tom and Cathy have "the cabin", things are normally quiet. That serenity was interrupted this week when Washington Co. Deputies, agents from DEA, and other "black helicopter types" descended on the peaks in the Pine Valley Wilderness (See photo below)

I suspect Earlan may be tempted to augment his "Costco money" with a "few acres of hemp" in Spanish Fork Canyon. But since he's still busy on the "High" Council and he knows we'll publish "maps to his stash" on Flashback Friday, it's likely he'll behave himself...for now. :)

Flashback Friday

Sorry I was such a slacker last week, I was at Girls Camp.

Jeff sent me these pictures. No date. No location. He is guessing he is around 6-8 years old. It appears that we have Jeff, Scott, Kurtis and Kordel and I'm thinking that is Earlan.

It's sort of hard to see, but Jeff did want me to point out that Kurtis and Kordel's elementary school mascot were "The Hooters". He thought this was pretty funny. I got to thinking about it, and my school mascot when I was in elementary was the "hooters" as well. I think that all changed after the restaurant became popular!

Here we have Jennette, Kurtis, Kordel, Jeff, Poppop and Scott.

If anyone wants to fill us in in dates and location, that would be great!

In other news, check out this sweet time we had at the Owlz game with Erik & Mirjam last week: click here.

Flashback Friday

Happy 70th Birthday Virginia!
We bring you this magnificent photo of The Braley family visiting New York - June 1981 inside the Peter Whitmer home in Fayetteville, site of the re-organization of the church.

Tom's most vivid memory of Virginia is when she used to drag him and Doug down to the San Diego Municipal Gym in Balboa Park to watch Earlan play basketball in his little tiny "old school" gym shorts. Get on down!

I (Vanessa) remember when Virginia and Earlan came to San Diego for my wedding. I appreciated them traveling all that way!

Feel free to share your favorite memory of Virginia in the comments section, and if you are in Spanish Fork this Saturday between 2pm-4pm, feel free to stop by and say hi.

Check out Pictures

My friend did a photoshoot of my cute baby boy last night. For a preview of some of the pictures, just look on her website. It would be the ones posted August 6, 2008. http://currenphotography.blogspot.com/

New Arrival

Heather and Corinne with the newest edition to the family - Shane Kordel Braley.

He was born kickin' and screamin' at 12:27 a.m., August 1, 2008. He weighed 8 lbs. - 7 oz, and he was 19 inches long.

Hmm... this blanket looks very familiar...

Flashback Friday

Christmas 1972 in LaMesa, California

Tom & Cathy with Jolynn in middle of it all

This was just 5 days before they were married.

(And how about that couch? How long DID Nana have that thing?)

He's Here!

Hello All.
We wanted to announce the birth of our second son, Graham Bennett Nielsen. He was born on July 15 and weighed 7 lbs 9 oz even though he was three weeks early. We are pleased to have him join our family!
Jeff, Kelli and Jack