MERRY CHRISTMAS

Time has flown by this month and I find myself realizing that I did not think about, let alone send out Christmas cards this year. So the "card" will have to do for 2007 (just make sure you pause the music on our blog before you push play, to get the full effect :)).

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

Our year in review:
We moved from a couple block down the street (still managing apartments, we went from women's to men's) on New Year's day. We have been at Somerset ever since. I would have to say that is a record for us (in one place for a year)!!

Jake (28) took his prereq's to get into nursing school at EITC in the winter months. Applied and was accepted in the spring and finished his first tough semester in the LPN program December 7th. It's been fun to enjoy him while he's been home. He has been doing a great job and balancing family, school, work, church and everything in between! We love our Daddy.

Terressa (26) has been busy working part-time from home managing 288 young men. It has been quite a difference managing young men vs. young women, but I've enjoyed it anyway. In my "spare time" I love to read, take the kids to the park and just be a mom. It's been fun watching the kids grow up and develop their imagination and reasoning skills.

Bryant (5) started preschool in August and has really loved learning his letters in a new way and coming home to share them with his sisters. He loves doing his homework and has Kayelynn excited to do homework as well! He had a preschool program last week where they shared some of the songs they've been learning along with the letters associated and he got a surprise vist from Santa himself!!! He's been trying to be extra good since :)

Kayelynn (2 1/2) is growing up quickly. She has really grown tall and skinny this year, she is not your chunky toddler anymore :) She loves being a princess, dressing up, singing, dancing and being the "mom". She's our little diva. She loves to shop and accessorize and wear 10 outfits a day! She is most certainly daddy's princess!

Sarah (16mos.)is our active talker, dancer and cuddler. She loves to be a part of the kids, she is not a baby. She has quite a developed vocabulary. She learned to walk at 10 mos and has loved her freedom since!

We hope you enjoy the attached card. We have truly been blessed this year with supportive family and friends. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year with the blessings and guidance of the Lord.

Love, The Thornock's

Fun Pictures of the kids

Thought you might like to see some random shots of the kids.
Hope you enjoy!


she thought is was fun to "dress-up" in boots and a hat

Lanae visited, Kayelynn loved it

the kids went to a football game at the college with Lanae and thought it was the coolest thing ever

silliness

Bryant wanted Sarah to look like a clown, so he "painted" her...

Silly kids

Happy kids

Cute Kayelynn

Handsome Bryant

kids with cousin Harrison

Making cookies with cousin Harrison at his house

Finals, Weddings and Good Feelings

I, Big Jake, would like to thank all the family for the support getting past this ever critical part of my program. I was able to pull off 1-A, 3-B’s, and 1-C. I shouldn’t be proud of the C, but for getting up at 4:30 am to drive to class and remain awake for two hours of lecture twice a week on duties and tasks I’ve done for the last five years can get repetitive. I am so glad to finish with upper 80’s to mid 90’s on all of my finals.
To add to the excitement of having a break for the holidays, we are celebrating the sealing of Josh and Danielle, whose name I can’t spell at the moment. To be part of such a wonderful spirit that warmed and brought the floods of emotion beaming from my eyes is something to treasure for ever. I longed for my wife to be there with me like the desert yearns for the rain. I take charge to rectify, legally of course, and hold accountable those who demonstrate less than matured attitudes by prohibiting the eternal importance of gathering in celebration, to witness and partake of the sealing powers of the priesthood that have surging influence toward growth and stability of what to them is least important, FAMILY!
On a stronger point, I enjoyed the trip with my grandparents. We had ample time to discuss topics of growth, politics, religion, life and economy. What better way to develop and explore our views on the world than to speak with someone who can stand on a perspective similar to your own.
It was great being with all of the family. I am hoping we can congregate again in March, if not, some other time when we are a little more free to do as we please. We shall keep yah up to date on that one.

Elves

Thought this was cute...thanks to Kelli :)

Have fun watching :)

(I'm a little, okay, a lot, slow when it comes to posting links and such, so the best i could do was give you the url, you will have to copy and paste it into your address line to watch, sorry).

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1145754741

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. We don't "celebrate" Thanksgiving in the way we do any other holiday and it is one of the most important, not only in history, but in our personal lives as well. This is when we should take the time to list all we are thankful for whether by alphabet or numerical. We are always so wound up in the things we dislike, want, need or just life in general, but we rarely take the time to actually be grateful and share that appreciation.

1. I am thankful for my testimony and membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

2. I am thankful for the times when I learn and grow from the trials and not so pleasant "opportunities" that life brings.

3. I am thankful for a loving husband, forgiving children and thoughtful family and friends.

4. Again, I am thankful for the gospel in my life and the knowledge I have because of my membership.

I hope you all had a THANKFUL Thanksgiving, shared with family and/or friends!!!

Do it yourself!

A while back I told some of you that I had made a new frame for our old bed. The old metal frame was two peices that didn't join right and I spent 4 hours a move getting it together. So a friend of mine has been chating with me about timber frame construction. Its the good old stuff thats both rugged and beautiful. I decided to give my creativity (and mad skills) a whirl and how well it worked. It only took six months to get the photos together and to put on the finishing touches but with a little planning and a 12 hour day you too can build this sleep saving device. Here are some pictures we snagged during the build. Oh, the pictures loaded backwards so feel free to scroll.


This future shot reveals the tapered ends as well as the layout of the frame. Poor Bryant, he wanted to be more hands-on but had burned up most of his energy. Notice the amount of toe clearance around the frame perimeter to accommodate my feet.


To adapt a more classic look I popped the wicker backing out from the old headboard and then used 3/8” lag bolts to secure it to the top beam.


The rest of the frame was secured with ½”x 5” galvanized lag bolts. The joint bolts were countersunk and the legs were not. Just a note, the truck is not to scale!


I could not find a good timber saw, but I did have a reciprocating saw and it cut my depth markings just fine.


With the strength of Zeus,(hence the rubber mallet), I chiseled the large chunks free and used a rasp to file the interlocking cuts smooth and to create an old-timey look.


I selected 3-4X6” fir main beams with 3-4X4” cedar cross beams. The whole structure is solid and provides a pleasant aroma too. Overall difficulties were minimal, just a few sore joints and some bruising. Hope you all enjoyed these few photos, I should have taken more of them but with me being lazy and all it makes for difficulties. Please forgive me. Big Jake

Halloween FUN

I know it's be a few days/weeks since Halloween, but I still wanted to post the fun of the pumpkins and the day/night.
We got pumpkins from my mom for each of the kids. The Monday before Halloween we carved the pumpkins to avoid too many wrinkly faces. The kids each choose the face that their pumpkin had. It was fun to see them excited and disgusted with the process. They thought it was the best when we could actually see the faces with all the lights off.
Bryant had a Halloween party at preschool in the morning, then the kids got to spend the day with grandma where they had another little party and then we went trick-or-treating to a few neighborhoods in town (like 20 houses). Bryant knew full well what this entailed since his preschool teacher took them for a trial run that morning. Kayelynn wasn't quite sure why we couldn't go into the home of our friends, but then realized that the candy was why we came and there was no reason to stay. Sarah didn't understand at the first house why we would want to touch her bag and then why the candy should be put into the bag and not her mouth. After three houses she realized that she was getting candy at every house and that if she said "tt-teet" she would get candy. When the people would let her choose candy she was so excited she would say thank you as she took 3 more :) It was cute to see her enjoy the night. The kids all had fun and were really excited to come home and explore what their bags held.



Halloween Night

The neatest part of pumpkins

The kids with their own pumpkins

FIELD TRIP

Bryant has had so much fun being in preschool. I never would have considered myself a preschool "believer", but long story short I put Bryant in anyway and it has turned out to be well worth the money!

His first field trip was on Friday and it was neat! They were learning the letter 'F' for that week, so what did he get to do, but see and "experience" a FIRE TRUCK!!! All week he asked if it was Friday. It turned out to be a very cold and windy day, but it was the coolest thing to touch the firetruck and see how big it was and especially to climb inside and actually turn on the sirens...

A quick winter...

So we had 2.5 inches of snow on a Saturday and on Tuesday we had 80 degree weather! Crazy!!! It's settled back into a somewhat normal weather pattern now, but I just thought you'd all like to know that Rexburg is still random.

A record was set...

Back in the 1970's there was a record of 2" of snow on October 6th, well yesterday we set a new record of 2.5" of snow! CRAZY! Since I've been in Rexburg (almost 8 years) I do not remember accumulated snow this early in the year. But it was fun! It was the wet, heavy snow so we made some good snowmen!!!





It truly felt like Christmas. Bryant declared that he needed to have his birthday now that it snowed, we assured him he would...after Halloween and Thanksgiving.

We also lost power for a few hours because the snow was so heavy and the trees had not shed their fall leaves yet...we drove around town today and saw some big tree branches and half of the trees laying in the yards, road, and parks. It was quite interesting.

I've been tagged...

I've been tagged by my sister-in-law to share 8 things about myself that you may not know...the exciting thing is that I can actually share something about me and it isn't triggered from work, the hard part is coming up with 8 things about myself, so here goes...

1. I LOVE to read! I always have a new book, I have all the Anita Stansfield books and have read them many times. I have read Work and the Glory 3 times (I love to get the general Church History from them). I have recently discovered Richard Paul Evans and just checked out from the library "The Locket" - I can't wait to read it!

2. I am an organization freak. It is not necessarily an instant notice when you walk in my home, but when something has a place I am OCD about it always being in that one place (only I am allowed to move it to a new place and declare it as the "new home"). This irritates Jake to no end :)

3. I love to scrapbook! I have many albums finished and many more to start. I always have them on display for anyone to look at. I am not the extravagant scrapbooker, but I love to put the pictures on the page and dress it up just a little.

4. I sell Discovery Toys. I originally got into this to get the discount toys that are lifetime guaranteed, but now I'm excited to show everyone what they've got. For example, this Fall they came out with 50 new products (more than ever)! Feel free to check out their website at www.discoverytoysinc.com! (if you want to order anything just call me and I'll place the order for you and have it shipped directly to your home) :) Sorry that wasn't intended to be a sales pitch, I'm just excited to share with you what they have :)

5. I LOVE to bake and try new recipes! I am constantly baking something or other and I always make way too much so I like to share it too. It's usually some sort of treat and Jake is trying to lose weight so I either have to hide it or I have to get
rid of it fast so he's not tempted ;)

6. I love to bargain shop. I have found this place in Boise, ID that is a consignment children's shop that has a quarter sale every month. So, yes, I confess pretty much everything my kids wear come from that store! (I'm sorry, but I just can't pass up the $.50 outfit).

7. I love to throw parties. I like the idea of planning something and having a social event that always includes food and games and chatting...Halloween party here we come!

8. I love to spend time with my handsome hubby. We don't have a lot of time together because of school and work, but the few minutes a day we get with each other I treasure. He treats me like a queen and I like being treated like someone special :)

Well, I hope you learned something new about me, if not, just pretend :)
I tag you all that are reading and haven't already been tagged by someone else. I would love to learn 8 new things about you:)

I spoke too soon...

Well Kerrie, thanks for the post, but I spoke too soon when I said I survived. The last week has been full of enough events that I just pray the law doesn't have to become involved this semester.

Freshman Academy is over, but some of those kids returned...one in particular had left his things in his previous apartment and when he checked in was assigned to the apartment next door, so one of the resident assistant's (RA's) unlocked the door to let him move his things, no thought beyond that.

Well, four days later I caught wind that this gentleman was getting into that apartment often and using it...so of course I investigated. Well, he had left his things there and was using that apartment to eat, shower and dress...all he did in his assigned apartment was veg and sleep. He had unlocked all the windows and kept the door unlocked for his convenience. He had clothes strewn around the entire apartment, I mean it looked like a tornado had come through. Not only that, but all the mattresses and desks and kitchen chairs and even the VCR were missing...and where could they be, but in the apartment next door!!!! AGHH! So, I locked the door and windows and opened all the blinds and sealed that aparmtent, so he would have to come ask to get in because he wasn't home when I needed to talk to him.

Well, it took me 24 hours to get a hold of him, after an RA called and told me he had spent 20 minutes breaking into the apartment. I marched right over and found the door locked, well I was prepared with keys and yelled in to announce myself and heard water running, he was just about to get into the shower...I sternly instructed him to get dressed and come into the front room. The look on his face is somewhat comical in hindsight, he was caught, and he was so scared he was shaking in his pants! I mentioned that if I would have called the police he would have been cited for trespassing, theft, breaking and entering and squatting...needless to say, he had all his things moved and all others returned in less than two hours!

Whoa the mentality on some of these 18-year old freshman! Again, I vow that I will teach my children some common sense and if they decide not to use it, they will be on their own to learn it the hard way!

To top off the night, I got another call from a different RA stating that some kids on the 3rd floor were throwing desk chairs and trash out their window to "impress the girls across the way". Well, I was already fired up about the breaking and entering, so they were in for a treat. A quick lesson on respect was learned in two minutes flat with quick trash pick up all around the property at 11pm at night!

I just wish both of these events wouldn't have happened on a Friday night while Jake was at work, but I proved to myself and my residents that I can handle anything and don't have to call in Big Jake to scare these kids, hehehe. Who would have thought a 5' 4" woman that hates confrontation would be the one to lay the law and demand respect and still earn the respect and friendship of these kids? I never would have! I have learned so much moving to the men's property. I think I let myself be passive at the women's properties, but moving here has taught me to be aggressive and still maintain my reputation. That doesn't mean I like these events, I just pray that is all this semester has to offer when it comes to events (something deep down says it's only the beginning)...keep checking back for updates :)

We survived

One more check in has come to a close as we moved 260 boys in on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday and the rest of the week has been catch up! Every semester I vow I will not go through another one for all the stress it causes me physically and emotionally and how it affects the family, but here I am doing it once again!
Truly though, I really learn to love and care for the guys that live here and want to see them succeed and move on with life. It's fun to get to know them!
My sister came to help us with the kids while Jake was in school all day and I was locked in the office all day - what a blessing family can be. It's interesting how small the world can seem with such a diverse community coming together. There were quite a few young men who knew my sister and that just made it that much easier to get through check ins! I made it! In 13 weeks I will be checking them all out, another thing I vow I will never do again every semester :)

SARAH IS ONE!

This year has gone by so incredibly fast. Sarah had her first birthday on Friday the 24th! I cannot believe that it has really been that long. In my heart she is my baby, but in all reality she's a toddler. She wants to be one of the kids and isn't going to settle for anything less! It's fun to see her interact with the kids in such a big girl way. She had a fantastic birthday party with the family here in town.




She loved being sung to, once she realized it was all for her!





She got her favorite toys. Babies and balls! She was so excited to see the babies we got her kissing on of them. The balls, she wouldn't let go for the next two days she took the pink ball with her everywhere. She also got a stroller to push the dolls in (that picture didn't turn out), but she was in high heaven to be just like her sister, Kayelynn. Even Kayelynn was looking at her like "wow, you can really play with me now...you aren't a baby anymore". It was pretty comical.



Being the center of attention was fun for her...she is usually trying to fight for it when everyone is over. It was a good day for her...I think she felt extra special that day. Which is my goal for all my children on their birthday!

Final Summer Vacation

Every year at the end of the summer my family gets together for a mini-family reunion. Last weekend we went to Pine, ID (between Sun Valley and Mountain Home) to a cabin full of toys and luxury. We left Wednesday night for the 4 hour drive and made it to the cabin seeing 3 deer, a fox, and a badger. We spent Thursday playing on the motorcycles and dune buggies and getting the water toys ready to play Friday and Saturday.


Thursday night the neighboring cabinmates visited and invited us to see some neat birds...we ventured over and found that they had made friends with over a dozen hummingbirds. The neighbors make their own sweet juice for the birds to eat, they say they go through about 3 tubes a day. We were there long enough to see almost all 12 at a time and my brother, Parker, was able to actually "pet" one of them. It was very neat, even Sarah was facinated.


As soon as the sun starts to go down the hummingbirds disappear and the bats come out, a little creapy, but kind of neat! The kids thought it an odd transition.

Friday we spent the afternoon on the lake playing on the jet skis and Saturday we were on the lake all afternoon with the boat and the jet skis. The kids loved riding on them. Sarah would fuss until she was able to ride on the jet skis with Jake, she even feel asleep on one of her trips with him.



We have so much fun being with family, playing, relaxing and socializing with each other. Our kids are the only grandkids at this point so they get to experience a lot and get a lot of attention. Bryant, of course, is the one to soak it up the most. Kayelynn really came out of her shell this time and actually enjoyed playing with her grandparents and aunts and uncles instead of keeping so close to mom and dad. Sarah is going through the separation anxiety phase and really doesn't enjoy being around people she doesn't know or who could (gasp) talk to her. She's growing up to be quite the toddler, but is the cutest behind the closed doors of our own home. Jake and I just enjoyed the time away from the world and being together as a family. It was a great vacation!

On the flip side

Even after all the stupid things we deal with sometimes we run into a tragedy and it makes time for pondering. One of our freshman academy students was injured trying to save another student after he fell into a bilge at monkey rock last Thursday. The Tragic part was the student from France passed way after life suport was electivly removed. Our students were all pretty shocked by the incident. So young in life that often they don't expect such outcomes from little mistakes.
On the following night some High School Seniors (9 total) were out meandering around 80mph on some county roads in their dad's 07 truck and one thing led to another and they rolled. One of the 4 in the back was injured fairly bad. Our Hospital team reasembled him and suprisingly he left the hospital two days later. Guess it helps being young and athletic. If anything this kid was lucky. They pulled him out from under the truck. All well, such is life.

How about an A...

My official grades a came in the mail. Even though the grade scale was adjusted to weed out the weaker of us acedemically I scored an A. No that is not a typo. On my two -real- finals, the math didn't count, I graded a 91% on physical assesments and a 99% on Nursing theory and concepts. Made me "smile" when I opened the scores. After Terressa revived me we celebrated Jaker style, Steaks. Look out Fall I'm kickin some butt. Hopefull "kicking" is all they require:)

Update

We had a post saved and Jake was late editing it. It posted in chronologic order so feel free to read under Shocker 3-4 post down. We love all your input, especialy when we can all laugh about it. Thanks

Gratitude

Some times it take prayer and reflection to percieve a clear grasp on reality. Some times it takes 30 hours of night shift to exaust me into those relms of clarity. Either way I have much to be thankful for and much more to pray about. I have done well this term with our nursing program. Not boasting of myself, my peers have many times turned to me for clarification and asked some pertinent questions that thankfully I payed attention to in class. This trust helps me feel some realm of establishment after spending much time learning, it also builds my confidence as a health care team member. There is so much stress in concentrating that I ofter look, no, leap past what is important. I don't think I do, in the sense that "I" am unaware. I have a great disire to share so much of what I have processed and learned. In my head are so many insights and theries that I have a hard time organizing them into sound comprehendable senarios. I am sure everyone has been there. I thank the Savior that I have not gone mad. In him I find forgivness, and it drives me to look less at others for fault. After my mission the asurity of maturity thru adversity was envisioned. Before then I was sketchy and unrooted, later I had established a pattern of understanding that built upon step after step after step. I have observed this in my brothers through their persuits and hope I can follow and influence some as I go. As for my family I pray they can have patience with me as I undergo this change. I know that my frustrations can come to the surface but, as metal is purified all the bad and unpure accumulates on the top and is scraped off our incinerated depending on its properties. I mean no harm and shall do all to make amends for those arrogant inflicted pains. At Last I shall become pure, yet not without inheriting all that has been laid before me to gain. I love you all, you are my freinds, family, and most of all, mentors. Jake the Bigger

Sarah

My baby is growing up so fast. It's hard to believe she will be one on the 24th of August. She is amazing me daily with her new found words and actions. She is waving, walking - if she would just believe that she can do it. She is saying hi, mama, dada, bryant, kayelynn, of course all in her own little way. We took a lot of pictures this weekend and she quickly learned to say "cheese". As soon as we get the camera out she would get her grin on and say cheese until the camera was put away. She is growing up to be her own person and we love her!!!




Riding the lawn mower. She loves feeling like she's part of the group instead of the baby.



Check out those strong muscles!!



Hanging from the monkey bars at the park. She loves to "hang"