UNO Throw-Up

I don't know how many of you have ever played the game UNO Attack, but it has quickly become one of our family's favorite games. Every Monday night after FHE and every Sunday night we like to play games as a family. UNO is one of the few games that all of us enjoy playing and can play given the our current ages. UNO Attack is a lot like UNO except instead of drawing cards you push a button when it is your turn to draw at which point you may get zero cards or you may get a bunch (or in other words you may get thrown up on) It is so fun to watch the competitive nature of my children come out as we play these games. We all want to win, OF COURSE, but it has been fun teaching the kiddos that not everyone can win, but we can still have fun if we don't win (just not as much, right?).

Here are a couple of pictures from this week.

We didn't crimp Kendal's hair, we just braided it!
So cute and getting so big!

Our bookworm...she has read the entire Percy Jackson Lightning Thief series this week!

More cuteness

All 4 looking at the camera...it only took 25 pictures but we got one!

Check-Ups

Sunday Pictures

The last week or so it seems like we have spent quite a bit of our time at doctor's check-ups. I guess it is just that time of year....time to get our health in order.

Trey went to the doctor two weeks ago to have his asthma/allergies checked out. He seems to be doing better with the current daily inhaler he was given this go around. We are trying to catch breathing issues before they become an issue. We will continue to monitor him and we hope that it is something that he will grow out of. In the meantime, he is a busy 3 year old boy who tries his best to be a good boy. There are definitely days that he pushes the limits, but overall he is a good kid. He is adjusting to his new house, new routine and new friends. Out of all of us, his world was most rocked by the move and the new baby...having both happen at just about the same time is a lot to handle for a 3 year old kid.

Bayley's visit to the doctor was probably the most miserable. Last Saturday we had the opportunity to attend 101 Dalmations the Musical as a family. We had been looking forward to it, but we quickly realized the Bayley wasn't feeling it when everytime music came on she tried to cover her ears because she was in pain. Jeff finally took her out and the two of them sat on a couch while the rest of us watched the remainder of the show. That night we took her to an after hours clinic and sure enough she had an ear infection. Thanks to strong antibiotics and ear numbing drops she was able to recover quickly and resume her busy schedule which now includes piano lessons and dance. She is very excited about both.

Kendal has been relatively healthy the last couple of weeks...knock on wood. She is still doing cheerleading and I think she has decided she is a little too far from the "real" action for her liking. I think this may be her last time participating in that sport. This spring she is going to give softball a try, but I still think her true love so far is still soccer. We will definitely get her signed up for that this fall.

Adison had her 4 month check up on Friday....I CANNOT BELIEVE IT HAS ALREADY BEEN 4 MONTHS! She is 13 pounds 13 ounces and 24.5 inches long...both place her right smack dab in the 50th percentile. She is growing more opionated everyday....I guess you kind of have to be that way to survive in this house, however she is still as cute as ever. We all love her to pieces.

Finally, our last check up was to the dentist. On Martin Luther King Day we took advantage of the day off of school and made a trip to Georgia to see the dentists, a.k.a. Uncle Spencer and Aunt Leigh. All went well, except I did learn a very valuable lesson...don't try to eat pizza 5 minutes after being numbed for a filling. Instead of eating just pizza, you might accidentally start eating your lip as well, which I did realize once I tasted blood. Not pretty...

Cute Cousins Jaidyn and Adison 4 Months

Jeff continues to stay busy with his new job and new calling. He loves the challenges of both and let's just say he is never bored. I too am busy with my job and calling and am now trying to squeeze in training for another 1/2 marathon into my schedule. My sister-in-law Leigh and I are both trying to lose our baby weight so we are running the Nashville 1/2 marathon in April. Who would have thought I would become a distance runner...not me!

New Years Resolutions

I've decided I need to resolve to do a better job of updating the blog in this new year. I did pretty well last year until I had a baby, moved, and then the Holidays came. I think that I'm finally starting to settle in now that the Holidays are over, so hopefully weekly blogging will become more regular.

We've had an eventful month, but it has definitely been a fun one. We spent Christmas here at home and enjoyed the time together as a family immensely. For the first time we were able to start some of our own Christmas traditions, which included eating breakfast for Christmas Eve dinner, talking about the birth of our Savior and opening presents in front of the fire taking time to tell why we were thankful for the person/persons who had given us the gift. The kids got a lot of fun gifts and are still enjoying trying them all out. We met Grandma and Grandpa "G" at Lake Wedowee Christmas day for Christmas dinner and to play games. It was a great day!

After church on the 27th, we headed north to spend time with our family in Indiana. The drive went well until we hit ice in Louisville, Kentucky at which point I decided that the only thing worse than driving in the ice is being a passenger in a car driving in ice. We made it though safe and sound and had a wonderful week in Indiana. The kids were spoiled rotten by Grandma Nancy and Pawpaw Rick. Not only did they get great presents, but they got to go to the movies with Grandma Nancy and even got to buy treats at the theatre. Jeff, Bayley, Kendal and I also got to go ice skating with Sydney while we were there. It was mine and Kendal's first times and we had a great time hanging on the rails. Jeff decided he would make a better spectator and photographer than skater so he watched while we skated. The best part about it all was that the experience was completely FREE!

The Bunch of Us

Huddling around the fire pit after ice skating

While in Indiana we also got to spend some time with Grandpa Daryl, Terri, Erin, Cheryl, Barry, Kelly, and Grandma and Grandpa Thornton. The kids once again got to experience Christmas all over again with more great gifts. We really have been blessed with such great family and it was so nice to get to spend time with some of them that we don't get to see often enough during this Christmas season. It was a great trip.
The Thornton Group

After returning home we had a couple of days to recuperate from our travels before the girls headed back to school. Their first week back was shortened due to the threat of snow this last Thursday, so they had an extra day off to just hang out at home. After all the hype, however, we didn't get any of the white stuff. The kids were all very disappointed. They were even more disappointed when they found out that Georgia got our snow and that Grandma and Grandpa "G" were getting to see snow.

On a final note, on Christmas Day Adison turned 3 months old. Fortunately she survived the Christmas present opening chaos and escaped with just a small bump on the head (a present was dropped on her head as it was being passed between older sisters). She continues to be a sweet addition to our family. She smiles a lot and loves to suck on her hands. She has started to giggle and also is becoming a bit more opinionated... I guess you kind of have to get that way to survive in this house! We really do love her and can't believe that 3 months has already flown by.

Adison 3 months
Well, I've started out my first post of this new year right...Let's see how long this resolution lasts, hopefully the whole year long!

A Christmas Letter

Christmas 2009
Dear Family and Friends,

It’s hard to believe that another eventful year has passed us by. This year has once again been filled with many challenges and changes for our family. Through it all we have been extremely blessed and we feel extremely grateful as another Holiday Season approaches.

Jeff had a busy and eventful year with Pfizer. He survived a round of job layoffs, celebrated a great 2008 with a trip to St. Martin, and was promoted in August and now calls on specialists at the University of Alabama Birmingham. As a result of his promotion and imminent move, he was released from his calling as Branch President in October. He enjoyed a couple of weeks without a calling, but was just called as the Young Men’s President in our new ward and is very excited about working with the youth.

Alisha continues to follow Jeff wherever his jobs take him. However, she now readily admits that it gets harder and harder to move the more kids and stuff that we accumulate. Although she misses Oxford, she is looking forward to settling down in Birmingham. Between church callings (currently Relief Society Teacher), being a mom, and working out she stays happily busy!

Bayley had a very big year this year. By turning 8 she had the opportunity to be baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She was thrilled that her Grandma Nancy and Grandma and Grandpa Griffeth could be there for her special day. She continues to do well in school and has developed a true passion for reading. She enjoys cooking, especially sweets, and is a big help in the kitchen.

Kendal started kindergarten this year. She loves school and all of her friends at school. She does an excellent job writing and illustrating stories and brings a new one home just about everyday. This year she played T-ball, soccer and is now cheerleading. She is quite the competitor and definitely has a feisty side to her…I wonder where she gets it? She loves being a big sister and has a very tender heart.

Trey is an active 3 year old boy. He is slowly but surely becoming more aware of the differences between what’s boy and what’s girl…meaning less playtime with Barbie and more time playing with trucks and trains. He spent a lot of time in the water this summer and he is developing into a great swimmer. He LOVES his baby sister Adison and is actually really good with her.

Adison is the latest addition to the Thornton family. She was born September 25th, on her Grandpa “G”’s birthday, and was 7lbs. 3oz. and 20 inches long. She is a WONDERFUL baby. She is now 2 ½ months old and can brighten all of our days with her smile and sweet demeanor. We feel so blessed to have her here.

We hope that this holiday season is filled with joy and happiness for you and your family. For updates throughout the year check our blog at www.alishathornton.blogspot.com.

Love,

Jeff, Alisha, Bayley, Kendal, Trey, and Adison

Blogging Blues

So I have been a total slacker when it comes to updating the blog. We've had a lot happen in the last month, so I will quickly try to remember all that we've been up to. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with the Griffeth's in Marietta, Georgia. Everyone was able to make it this year, which always makes things fun and exciting. Having 8 kids under 8 in one house, makes for lots of noise and lots of action.

Bayley and Kendal have been busy at school. Bayley just finished her toothpick bridge building activity for her Enrichment program at school and the parents were invited to come and watch the bridges be tested as to how much weight they could hold before they broke. I believe that Bayley's bridge held over 6 pounds...pretty good for toothpicks. She loved the activity and was thrilled that her bridge pretty much stayed intact so that she could bring home her hard work. Kendal has started cheerleading. She has begged and begged for the opportunity to give it a try, so we thought we would let her get that ambition out of the way early in life. She will cheer her first game in January, so it will be interesting to see how she really likes just sitting on the sidelines and yelling, rather than being in the middle of the action.

Trey has also been busy. He loves his new story times at the library and finished up a round of swimming lessons in November.

Adison is growing up way too fast. She is such a sweet girl. We all love her so much and are so glad that she is here.

Jeff and I have so excited to have finished up our basement. It has been crazy moving in and then trying to finish the basement, but now that it is done we are thrilled with the way that it has turned out. The kids love their playroom and Jeff LOVES his new office and bathroom. We still have the storage room and garage to finish up, but once those two projects are complete I think we will really feel moved in.

I can't believe it is already Christmas week. Where has the month gone? Maybe tomorrow I will post our Xmas letter...no promises though. Just in case I don't get around to it...the Thornton's Wish You a Merry Christmas!

"Just a minute"

My life these days feels like a bunch of "just a minutes". So much so that I think that is all I say to my kiddos these days. A couple of weeks ago I was struggling getting Trey to do things when I asked him. In fact, I caught him saying "just a minute" mom whenever I asked him to do anything. It was shortly thereafter that I figured out where he got his new favorite phrase from...ME! It always seems like he asks for something right when I am either feeding or changing Adison. In which case my response is always "just a minute". More and more though it seems like I am saying "just a minute" whenever my kids ask for anything. I am always doing something and have many more somethings to do when they ask for things right now. Needless to say we are all working on our patience and on prioritizing what really is important in the moment.

Last Saturday we were able to go to the Birmingham Zoo with Jeff's work. The weather was perfect and we all had a great time. Here are a couple of pictures:
The Tiger was really sad that the glass kept him from "playing" with the kidsKendal's look will tell you exactly how she felt about feeding the birdsBayley also does not hide her feelings
Yesterday we spent the day at the Lake with Grandma "G". It was another absolutely gorgeous day, so we went down to the clubhouse at Chimney Cove and enjoyed the Wedowee Hospital Health Fair. We weren't sure what to expect, but the kids had a great time collecting free goodies and enjoying the free jump slide. The highlight for Bayley had to be winning 2 out of the 3 raffles that were held during the event. She won a small briefcase bag and a first aid kit. She was stoked and Kendal was dejected (life just isn't fair). Anyway, it was a fun day spent with Grandma G and a great get-away while Daddy was gone to New York.

Speaking of Jeff being in New York...a week and a half away is too long after you have had essentially 6 weeks of having him home all of the time. Needless to say we will be excited to get him home!

An Adison update:
She is now smiling all of the time! She has also really started to fill out. I can't believe she is already 7 weeks! Here are a few more pictures of our ever-changing little one!

Grandma Nancy's Visit and Halloween 2009

Wednesday afternoon Jeff's mom Nancy flew in to spend a couple of days with our family. We didn't tell the kids that she was coming so that they would be surprised when she got here. They were definitely suprised and very excited when they saw her standing at the bus stop when they got home from school. As always, Nancy was a real trooper. She let us drag her around to different activities and when she was home she played, played and played some more with the kids. The LOVED it!

Nancy with Trey who is sporting his storytime monster mask!

The last couple of days have been spent participating in various Halloween activites. We had Trunk-or-treat at church, a neighborhood halloween party, a play group party, the creepy carnival at the library and of course the actual Trick-or Treating. After Christmas and birthdays, Bayley said that Halloween is one of her favorite days of the year. She loves dressing up and she loves candy. Jeff weighed our candy from last night and we are now the owners of 9lbs of candy...WOW! Good thing there are dentists in the family, right?


Adison as a pumpkin

The kids dressed up as cats this year...the girls were black cats and Trey was a lion. Adison sported a flower costume to Trunk-or-treat, but hated her hat...it fell down over her eyes. Here are some pictures from the last couple of days:


Trey taking a nap on Halloween...you gotta love pumpkin earsAdison as a flower