Christmas 2007

Fun Christmas! We had a great weekend. Church was nice on Sunday. Monday we had a fun family day in Salt Lake City. We spent the night at my parents on Christmas Eve, acted out the Nativity, and Christmas morning ran upstairs to see if Santa thought that we were good girls and boys. Josh was a great boy! He got an easel and a sled and lots of games that him and his mom can play together. Ammon got playdough, animal toys, baby toys. Dave got movies galore, a boomarang, a flashlight. But I think Angela had been the best of all because she got a Bosch mixer, and an electric wheat grinder, and a solar oven (these gifts might sound a little weird but she was excited and surprised by all of them). It was such a fun weekend, so great to have Dave home for a few days with the boys, and so much to look forward to and enjoy.
On Christmas Eve we went up to Salt Lake City, walked around Temple Square, and drove through all the old neighborhoods. One of Dave and my favorite hobbies to do together is to look at old homes, and what makes them so cool and unique. Some day we are going to build or restore one together. We can talk about it endlessly, and we even wake up on Saturday mornings to watch our favorite home shows together. Fun hobby.
Since then I've been packing up old toys, organizing new toys, and playing lots of games with Josh. I heard that Christmas is the time of year that the most of the world is thinking of others and trying to do nice things for them. I realized this year how fun and important it is to think of others and how nice it is when you are thought of. Merry Christmas again everybody!!

Merry Christmas Card 2007

This is 2007's Christmas card for any of you who haven't seen it. I wasn't even planning on doing a card this year because we always have such a hard time getting a family picture so i improvised and this is what came out. Then I didn't even order that many and felt bad that I didn't get it out to everybody. Then I didn't even write much of a Christmas card to go with it. I must be a scrooge or something. I really wanted to enjoy Christmas this year and was trying to cut down on a lot of the things that make Christmas so hectic, paring down on the gift buying, and it was really nice, I could tell a difference. Although some years I like all the busyness and many lists, and last minute gift buying, I just wasn't feeling it this year. I really wanted to just be with my little family and do fun winter stuff together, have a clean house, etc. Next year I'm sure I'll want it all back and pack my month full again. Merry Christmas!

mormon.org

I read a great article by a leader in our church, Elder Ballard, urging us to share our beliefs over, “…blogs and other forms of “new media” to contribute to a national conversation about the Church.” I thought that was a great idea! I know that “Mormons”, are in the media a lot lately and thought I should explain why I love this church that seems so different.

I was born into this religion but very much wanted to know for myself if it was true. I found great comfort in the fact that we were always very encouraged to pray for ourselves and do our own studying to come to our own decision. I did this, and although I didn’t realize it at the time my prayers were being answered. I began to simply notice that when I was trying to study the scriptures, treat others as the Savior would, be clean and have faith that my life was so happy, so happy. If I wasn’t so diligent and let myself focus on me and what was fun at the time I just felt empty, like something was definitely missing. I took this as my answer that the things the church taught me were good. My life has only become fuller, and happier, as I’ve tried to live my religion more. It gives me answers to some many questions to why we are here. One of the promises that means the most to me is that Heavenly Father wants us to live with our families forever, and has provided a way to do so. My children and husband are the most valuable things I could ever have and it would break my heart if this life was the end of association.

I know that we have a God that loves us, as much as a Father loves his children. He wants us to be so happy. I believe that Jesus Christ directs this church in the things that it does. I know anybody can receive answers in the same way I did, just by experimenting, and trying for a time to live what this gospel teaches and you’ll know and see a difference in your life.

I could go on forever. There is a wonderful church website that you can look up answers to common questions, or even ask a question to a live person. Mormon.org (click here).

Please visit it and let me know what you think, or what questions you have.

Have a very Merry Christmas!

Love, The Bragonjes

Happy 5

It has been five years since Dave made me the happiest girl in the world. I was really trying to scrounge for pictures of us 9 years ago when we meet (and originally fell in love, unbeknown to us at the time) to see if I could embarrass Dave a little, but I realized that all the pictures were way more embarrassing of me then of David. Just kidding, I was having scanner problems and couldn't get them on so I'm only posting these pics that I had on disk. Sometimes I like to think what we will be doing five years from now, and it only makes me want to savor each moment now even more. I fell so blessed to have Dave and my little family. (I don't know why this is all underlined and it is really driving me crazy because I can't get it to stop.)
Love ya babe, happy 5.

busy, busy

I hadn't realized how much time had gone by since I last sat down to blog. I guess time really does fly when your having fun. This weekend has been full of friends and family :) !! Thursday I met up with good friends Julie and Missy (see entry below). Friday we had a bridal shower for my wonderful cousin Melissa Farnsworth. Friday night was a fun white elephant party with friends. The lucky ones from the party went home with things like, a nice typewriter, a scary santa doll with baggy eyelids, chopped ham, Viagra, the Beverly Hillbillies season 1, a Quizzle,....Lots of laughs. Saturday I woke up early to go to Provo to cut up fruit for Melissa's reception with my sisters and Mom. There is just something fun about sitting around and working on a project and jabbing away. We barely made it home to shower and head back down for the big event. The reception was also very fun. Sunday was a fun cousin dinner and today, Monday, was spent visiting the "North Pole" (i'll explain latter). Enjoy the pictures of all the fun.
Doesn't every good Christmas Party find you with a mouth full of Marshmallows. I'm proud of you Babe.


The Happy Couple!! Congrats Melissa and Ryan

The Wedding Planner (and cousin) Becca

The hired help just happened to all be sisters. I'm glad we thought we were so funny and decieded to all match, we haven't done that since our mother dressed us.

Ammon sat here happily and sampled each vegetable with out complaining and then spit them each out. That stinker, I don't get how you get little kids to actually eat their vegetables.

A happy, and tired family.


Eating the 'bobs'

What have we done?

I had to laugh when my good friend Missy said, "What have we done?" as we snapped a picture of her, mine, and Julie's kids. If we had waited one more week Julie would have had one more baby in this picture. Us 'moms' go back to Jr. High, and I'm sure we couldn't have pictured this picture back then. I'm afraid to see what the pictures we might take in ten years will look like. You guys are the best, it's always fun to see you all.

Happy Birthday Dad!!!

My Dad is truly the greatest Dad in the world! I have always felt like he has worked so hard to make our family happy growing up. He is happy and funny and likes to tease and used to tickle too hard. I remember how hard he use to tickle me when I was little and he still tickles too hard with my kids. I love how much he loves my kids. If I show up at my parents house without my kids he is really disappointed. And I guess it was pretty nice of him to leave his business in California so he could come to Utah and live by his family. I love you Dad!!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow....

Saturday was my favorite kind of day. Dave was home all day, we woke up to an unexpected winter wonderland and we had fun together all day. Josh loved the snow, Ammon, not so much. Josh wouldn't stop playing, I could see the excitement on his face. Josh kept asking me, "Do you want to play snowballs?" Here are a few pictures of the fun.