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!