Games NIght!

The games night for Saturday will begin at 7 p.m. with lots of appetizers on the menu. Hopefully everyone will be healthy by then and can enjoy the evening. As far as I know Susan's daughters and son-in-law are coming.
By the way, thanks for the awesome Christmas, thanks for the gifts and for just being you! The electric kettle has been put to use every day. We have used the hot buttered rum mix and the caesar rimmer. The candle holders have also been used and look great in the new dining room. Papa Kojak has almost finished reading his books.
For those who need to know, we purchased a new coffee maker yesterday. It works great!

CHRISTMAS!!!

As of 9:30am on December 15, there is 8,790 minutes or 527,400 seconds till the opening kickoff to the Braun family Christmas.
By the way, when is everyone planning on coming out on the 21st? Lunch? After lunch?

Countdown to Christmas

Can't Wait?
How long 'til Christmas?
7
Days
12
Hours
44
Minutes
...But who's counting?

Tough Day at the Office!

Bowling and such!!!

Great bowling last night with Jason and Susan. I think that I should have added bowling lessons to Dad's wish list. He seems to be struggling way too much! The great big cookie/appetizer making day is still on track for Friday. We will start first thing in the morning, since I will still need to get the house ready for the Doerksen gathering on Saturday. I think both Ashleigh and Kim are coming with Vince. Susan is coming after lunch, since Josh will be in school by then. For those of you who still need to know.....the start time for the gathering is 12 noon.

Update on Kimberly's List

I have decided that I would like an Apple shuffle mp3 player. It's tiny and just right for me.

Christmas Lists!

Our email system doesn't seem to want to work, so I will blog our lists

Dad

LED Flashlight
Interesting tools
Coffee Maker
Sub Woofer (not a dog)
22 Rifle to shoot rabbits
State of the art BBQ tools
BBQ Thermometer
Laser guided pool cue


Mom

Stainless Steel Strainers
Book: Bloodletting, etc. (Giller Prize Winner)
Insulated Teapot or Teacozy
Electric Kettle
Placemats - sets of 12 or combinations thereof
Paper Towel holder for countertop
Mahjong Computer game
Leakproof waterbottle
Nice socks

Tee hee hee...

Does everyone like the new look? Tee hee hee.

The Final Progress Report

The new dining room is finally finished!! We have already entertained several times in it and enjoy it so much!

Christmas List

RAP List

• Car starter
• Any help with new appliances (fridge, stove, washer, dryer) or laminate flooring would be appreciated.
• Couches/arm chairs
• Lawn mower
• steak knives
• Bar stools (not too countryish looking)
• Games - Apples to Apples expansion pack, Killer Bunnies, Battle of the Sexes...or anything you think might be fun.

Ryan's List

• Bomber parafanalia - hat, cup, sweater...anything really
• Tools - nice light hammer, bionic wrench, mitre saw (10" or bigger), Mastercraft 40 pc screwdriver set, electric sander, Stanby snips
• Sherwood hockey stick (coffee blade)
• New appendix?
• X-box controllers (used is good) - 2
• Ski pants
• Underware and socks
• Gift Cert's - Canadian Tire, Bomber store, mall, restaurants, etc.

Amanda's List

• Of course...clothes - white/black vest, sweaters, shoes, pants...anything really...or a shopping trip.
• Cool Night table lamps
• Guitar strap (pink? something funky?) and capo
• Towel rack...and anything pretty for a bathroom
• Storage containers (both nice ones that can be out in the open and just plain old rubbermaid containers)
• New sheet set (beige, white, brown)
• Coffee maker (preferably black or stainless steel or both) and coffee
• Gift cert's - clothing stores, home stores, restaurants, music stores, etc.

WOW, WHAT A CAR!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the new image that will be mine for the next 3 years. I wanted a car that was unlike anything else on the market...but also affordable. It has a 6 speed manual transmission and a rotary engine. It is sooooooooooooo much fun to drive! Zoom zoom.........!

Kimberly's Christmas List

Shopping trip with mom
“Tribal” type necklace/earrings
Breadmaker
No spill Thermos mug
Spa gift certificate
Vietnamese coffee set
Clay teapot & mugs
Plastic drinking cups (short and easy to hand wash) that look like glass and not plastic, even though they are plastic
Nice smelling things
Slippers/moccasins
Superchick-Beauty from pain C.D.
Wooden-toy Christmas ornaments
Game Cube game – Mario Tennis
MP3 Player with arm band holderRunning Room gift certificate
Rona/Home depot gift certificate

By Kimberly...
P.S. Amanda could you invite me to the blog, so I can post too?

Jonathan's Christmas List

-MP3 FM adaptor for the car

-Bass amp - I need to pick

-Settler's of Catan: Cities and Knights

-MarioKart Double Dash for Gamecube

-Flatscreen monitor for the computer

-Gift cerficates for HMV, ebgames interpunk.com, Tony Romas, The Keg

-Captain Morgan's Original Spiced Rum

-Spending money for new clothes

-A Bike

Early Morning News!

Since I couldn't sleep anyway, I decided to post a blog to the new blogspot. This is my way of seeing if this thing works. Just my luck, I set up the spot and then couldn't remember my own password. We'll see if this goes.

CHRISTMAS IS ONLY 47 DAYS AWAY!!!

We need to plan when we are having our Christmas. Reply with the days that work for you within a week or two of Christmas.

Another Party!!!!!!!!!!

Calling all women in the Mafia.......................You are invited to an Epicure Party on November 17 at 7:00 p.m. at Chantel's. There will be appetizers & coffee/tea. You are also welcome to bring a friend. For those who don't know Epicure is: spices, dip mixes, chai tea, cooking tools, peppers & salts, pepper jellies, salsas, rubs, herbs, spices & blends, & time saving receipes.

Formal Dinner Event

Hello everyone,
Just wondering when the formal dinner is going to take place. I've gotten word that it will either be Nov 10th or the Nov 24th weekend sometime. Either of those times would work for us, but I think that the 24th or 25th would work best...simply for the reason that the 10th is only a week away and we have been rather busy lately. When does it work best for everyone else?
Amanda

The Mary Kay Party!

Hello!

I talked with Ruthann and Monday Nov 20th worked for both her and us to have the Mary Kay party. It will be at my house at 7:30. Can you confirm that you're coming? Thanks!

Ash :)

Camp Arnes 2007

The reservations are being made and excitement is building for our annual Doerksen 2007 Family Extravaganza! The dates to make note of are March 23-25/07. More information will follow.

The Dove Video and an Invite I forgot to mention

Hi Family!

Below is the link to the Dove video we talked about last night showing the HUGE difference between what the model looks like in real life and the final photo for the public. It's really eye opening!

http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.ca/flat2.asp?id=6852

Also, I forgot to mention it, but I was wondering if the Braun ladies (Mom, Kim, Amanda, Susan) want to get together and do a Mary Kay evening? One of my friends from church just started so she's looking for all the practice she can get. So the evening consists of some product sales pitches, a fun facial (or you can do your hands like I do, if your face is sensitive), snacks, and hanging out. You don't really have to buy anything, but if you're looking for something it seems as though their products are good quality. It's a small party, so it would just be a fun thing for us to do together. Let me know what you think!

Ash :)

NEW LIGHTING!!

Brainstorming

Hello everyone,
Just wondering if any of you have any ideas of how I can get my students excited about piano lessons and motivated to practice. One mom called me and said that her daughter was really discouraged this week in her practicing and felt like giving up. So, she was wondering if I could think of something that would help...maybe a reward...but not candy or chocolate. In her lesson yesterday, b/c I had such short notice, I asked her to draw a picture about one of the pieces she is playing sometime this week (she loves to draw), but is there some sort of somthing she could work towards? Her previous teacher (not Lauri) let her add a bead to a necklace for every week that she practiced a certain amount...and she finished it by Christmas. Do any of you have any other ideas of little projects she (and other students) could work towards? That aren't too expensive either? And any other ideas that might be more exciting for older students?
Amanda

Needing some advice...

Just wondering if those of you who have bought a house could tell me if it was a scary experience for you too. How did you finally get the nerve to make an offer? Did you fall in love with the house the minute you stepped into it and it was no problem to make the offer? Or did you think...this is a pretty nice house...there might be something better out there...but we like this one, so we'll go for it? Pretty much what I'm asking here is...you guys (V & A and K &J) seem to have got the right house for you, so did you hesitate about making an offer or was it a no brainer b/c you loved the house so much?
Any advice would be great...if this makes any sense at all to begin with.
Thanks!

THE FIRST MEAL!!!

With some excellent homemade wine from James & Rachael!!! :)

hey amanda

i didn't know your email address, so i'm just going to post it here. would you be at all interested in playing some jazz music at our coffee house on the blue like jazz weekend? basically, blue like jazz "the play" is coming to town sept 30 and oct 1, and after the play each night, we're having a coffee house downstairs, with jazz music? that's where you'd come in (if you want). it would all be background-type stuff. something to set the atmosphere really. let me know.

oh, i didn't have ryan's email either, so if he wants the outline of the running club he can email me at jpunk5@hotmail.com.

laters

Celebrating September Birthdays

Have we set a date yet to celebrate the sept birthdays (Dad, Jonathan, Ryan)? The weekend of Sept 22-24 is out for us b/c it's my Mom's b-day and relatives are in from out of town. Sept 30th maybe? Early October?

BBQ Birthday Party!!

Birthday alert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wednesday, the 13th is Grandma Doerksen's 86th birthday. The whole Doerksen family is invited to a BBQ at our house, Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Hope you can all come.

The Grand Finalle of Level 2!!!

Hello all!

Here are some pics of my grand finalle cake for level two! I'm pretty excited about how well it turned out!

Ash :)

i need more info

on the $12/month internet. where do you get it from. what's the process? we're on the verge of stepping into the 21st century!!

The Cake Decoring Class - Class Two

Hello again!

Here are the pics from class two! Actually, it was class three, because the last class is next week. But in the first class we only learned some techniques for piping borders and such. Those make for boring pictures!

Ash :)

Whoops, this one should have been in class one! It's a leaf.


This one is a rose.

Pansies!

Daisies! My personal favorite of all the ones I've learned so far.

I can't remember what this one is called.

And finally, daffodils. They turned out pretty neat.

The Cake Decoring Class - Class One

Hi guys,

Here are the pics from my first level two class. Thanks for being patient in waiting for these! Results from the second class will be up shortly!

Ash :)

The purple ones are supposed to be violets.

These ones are supposed to be apple blossoms.

Progress Report - Addition

Zoo day?

Just wondering where everyone is at this weekend. Is it possible to find a day for all of us to go to the zoo?

Ooooo, good idea.

Here's Ryan's b-day wish list:

Insulated Coveralls
Ax (not the cologne, the actual tool to chop stuff with)
Running watch
Mitre saw (don't ask me how to sepll that)
Some other kinds of saws
X-box games (Burn Out is good)
The Keg gift certificate

birthday list

gift certs to awesome restaurants, hmv, and eb games. i know this is a lame list, but i don't really know what i want right now, and gift certs will give me the time i need to figure it out.

painting!!!

we did the primer last night in the living room and the dining room. kimberly's not sure of the color or the living room yet, but i think the dining room will be blue.

A SPECIAL THANK-YOU

I again want to thank-you Ramona for the birthday shopping, and lunch, I really had a great time with everyone. I like everyones taste in clothing, and I recieved great compliments on them at the hotel.
Folklorama was a blast, and our hotel was incredible, especially the Sunday brunch. Thank-you Jason

SNOW!!!!!! 130 days 9 hours 47 minutes!!!!!

This is totally serious. With snow on the ground in North America, Christmas must be just around the corner. We don't have much time to plan. Only 130 more days till Christmas and we need to get the prime time slot. Whoever is planning the game this year better start thinking. With this much notice there better be a few commercials too. Let's see if anyone else can do the energizer bunny justice.
Tee hee hee.

Trek across the Prairies!

Trek across the Prairies!
What a drive on Friday! Left at 9:30 a.m. and reached Calgary at midnight. Stopped only for twice for gas in Brandon and Swift Current. Ate supper at Boston Pizza in Swift. Weather was good...we were ahead of the system in Sask. The anniversary celebration was great yesterday and we are almost ready to leave Calgary today. Papa Kojak and John just went to retrieve Jim & Marion from the hospital emergency (diabetic problems) and after they return we will start the long journey home. Should arrive sometime tomorrow! We heard you guys had some rain...and we are very curious to know how much...if you want to call..we have both our cell phones on.

Cool flower

Skyline begins fall harvest.

I think that's Vince in the overalls. What do you think Ashleigh?

Progress Report - Addition

Progress Report - Addition

The windows are here!