Friday, September 30, 2011
Random Photos!! Hope you enjoy!
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Happy Fall!!
Wow! Where do I begin? The Thornley Family has been quite busy over the past 5 months.
In March, we welcomed Juliana to our family. She is an au pair (nanny) from Manizales, Colombia that will be staying with us for a year and hopefully longer. :) She is a wonderful person that is not only good with the kids but is a wonderful Christian girl with a great personality and good morals. It has been great having her help with the kids and household duties...especially with George traveling quite a bit for his work. George and I have actually had more one-on-one time with the kids since her arrival.
We spent a week in June at Disney World. This was Thomas's (Baishi's) first time going. We went with my Dad and Terry, both sisters and their families, as well as, my step-brother/sister and their families. It was a great time...something we do at least every other year. Juliana kept the girls one day for George and I to take Thomas to Universal. We spent a lot of time at the resort pool which is always fun and relaxing.
Juliana and I also took the kids to New York City for a few days at the beginning of July. George was working in Lakehurst, NJ for the week but was able to drive up one night. We had purchased tickets much earlier to take Thomas to see SuperMan on Broadway for his 11th birthday! It was amazing and we had a great time. We also went to the Wax Museum, Ruby Foo's, Toys R US and much more.
On July 16th, we welcomed our beautiful daughter, Carlee Rose, into our family. She was 5 pounds 14.2 oz and was 18 1/2 inches long. George and I started the domestic adoption route Jan. 18th of this year. We requested an infant any race and gender. We were matched with a birthmother in upstate New York at the end of Feb. We immediately hit it off and she had our support for the duration of her pregnancy. We made it to 3 of her Dr. appts..which in my opinion is pretty good considering we are so far away. We were actually able to be at her 30 week ultrasound where we found out that we were having a girl. :) She is now 2 months old and weighs 9 pounds 8 oz. She is such a joy and we are so blessed to have her in our family. George and I loved the name Carlee and her birthmother requested her middle name be Rose after her grandmother.
Another addition to our family is our grandaughter, Ellis. George's son, Chris, and his wife, Alison, welcomed a daughter on June 22nd. She is precious!
Anna started her Sophomore year at The College of Charleston. She is not sure of her degree yet but I am sure she will figure it out soon. She is working part-time at a retail store and also works Sunday at the church nursery. She is a member of Zeta Sorority and has the title of Sorority Chaplin. She stays busy but we see her as ofter as we can.
We switched the kids from a public school to a private Christian school. We are extremely pleased with our decision. Academically the public school was phenominal but was obviously missing the Christian component. All four children attend and they all love it.
Bella turned 4 in July. She is such a high energy child with attitude. :) She is in the Pre K program. She goes to school 5 days a week..3 full days and 2 half days. I enjoy spending time with her on the half days before picking up her older siblings. She is doing well at school. She is learning basic Math, Bible and Phonics. She has to memorize a bible verse every week and is doing a great job. She is on the soccer team which meets once a week and is a fast runner and a go getter.
Li-Li and Maura both started the 1st grade this year. They are in the same class (since the school is small and only has one :)) and it is working out very well. They both enjoy to learn and help each other out. Maura is also playing soccer once a week. She is one of the fastest ones out there. We joke with her and tell her, "You do know that the kids with the same color shirt as you are on your team"? Li-Li takes Chinese class once as week, as well as, piano lessons on Saturday mornings. She is our girly girl and DID NOT want to play soccer.
Thomas (he decided he wanted to be called Thomas instead of Baishi...which is rally screwing us up) is in the 4th grade. He is doing a great job and has come so far in only a year. He is involved in Soccer (one day a week) and karate on Friday afternoon. He also attends Chinese School on Sunday for 2 hours...this is very important since he can lose his Mandarin so quickly. We are still working on eye contact, obeying mommy when George is out of town and respecting authority but overall his adjustment has gone quite well. He has made several new friends this year and just had his first sleepover. Thomas also decided on his own that he was ready to be baptized. He was baptized in May and then we had a celebration for him at The Harbour Club with a wonderful turn out from friends and family.
George is still loving his job. He is actually in Croatia as we speak. He is either working in Philadelphia, Lakehurst, NJ or Charleston. On average, he is only gone 9 nights a month. The weeks that he is home he only works on Tuesday and Thursday. It is nice to have so much time together on those weeks. In his spare time, he works quite a bit in the yard, It is looking wonderful and is finally at a point that he is happy with. He also bought two antique cars that he hopes to work on once his yard work dimishes in the winter.
Life is great for me! I love being a wife and mother. Even though challenging at times...it is quite rewarding. I attend a Bible Study weekly and hope to get back to scrapbooking real soon!
The Lord has definitely blessed The Thornley Family. We are all healthy and happy and thank the Lord everyday for all that he has done for us.
Thomas (11) with Anna (19)
Thomas with his cousins Kyle and Michael
Many more pics to follow but I have to head to Target!! :)
In March, we welcomed Juliana to our family. She is an au pair (nanny) from Manizales, Colombia that will be staying with us for a year and hopefully longer. :) She is a wonderful person that is not only good with the kids but is a wonderful Christian girl with a great personality and good morals. It has been great having her help with the kids and household duties...especially with George traveling quite a bit for his work. George and I have actually had more one-on-one time with the kids since her arrival.
We spent a week in June at Disney World. This was Thomas's (Baishi's) first time going. We went with my Dad and Terry, both sisters and their families, as well as, my step-brother/sister and their families. It was a great time...something we do at least every other year. Juliana kept the girls one day for George and I to take Thomas to Universal. We spent a lot of time at the resort pool which is always fun and relaxing.
Juliana and I also took the kids to New York City for a few days at the beginning of July. George was working in Lakehurst, NJ for the week but was able to drive up one night. We had purchased tickets much earlier to take Thomas to see SuperMan on Broadway for his 11th birthday! It was amazing and we had a great time. We also went to the Wax Museum, Ruby Foo's, Toys R US and much more.
On July 16th, we welcomed our beautiful daughter, Carlee Rose, into our family. She was 5 pounds 14.2 oz and was 18 1/2 inches long. George and I started the domestic adoption route Jan. 18th of this year. We requested an infant any race and gender. We were matched with a birthmother in upstate New York at the end of Feb. We immediately hit it off and she had our support for the duration of her pregnancy. We made it to 3 of her Dr. appts..which in my opinion is pretty good considering we are so far away. We were actually able to be at her 30 week ultrasound where we found out that we were having a girl. :) She is now 2 months old and weighs 9 pounds 8 oz. She is such a joy and we are so blessed to have her in our family. George and I loved the name Carlee and her birthmother requested her middle name be Rose after her grandmother.
Another addition to our family is our grandaughter, Ellis. George's son, Chris, and his wife, Alison, welcomed a daughter on June 22nd. She is precious!
Anna started her Sophomore year at The College of Charleston. She is not sure of her degree yet but I am sure she will figure it out soon. She is working part-time at a retail store and also works Sunday at the church nursery. She is a member of Zeta Sorority and has the title of Sorority Chaplin. She stays busy but we see her as ofter as we can.
We switched the kids from a public school to a private Christian school. We are extremely pleased with our decision. Academically the public school was phenominal but was obviously missing the Christian component. All four children attend and they all love it.
Bella turned 4 in July. She is such a high energy child with attitude. :) She is in the Pre K program. She goes to school 5 days a week..3 full days and 2 half days. I enjoy spending time with her on the half days before picking up her older siblings. She is doing well at school. She is learning basic Math, Bible and Phonics. She has to memorize a bible verse every week and is doing a great job. She is on the soccer team which meets once a week and is a fast runner and a go getter.
Li-Li and Maura both started the 1st grade this year. They are in the same class (since the school is small and only has one :)) and it is working out very well. They both enjoy to learn and help each other out. Maura is also playing soccer once a week. She is one of the fastest ones out there. We joke with her and tell her, "You do know that the kids with the same color shirt as you are on your team"? Li-Li takes Chinese class once as week, as well as, piano lessons on Saturday mornings. She is our girly girl and DID NOT want to play soccer.
Thomas (he decided he wanted to be called Thomas instead of Baishi...which is rally screwing us up) is in the 4th grade. He is doing a great job and has come so far in only a year. He is involved in Soccer (one day a week) and karate on Friday afternoon. He also attends Chinese School on Sunday for 2 hours...this is very important since he can lose his Mandarin so quickly. We are still working on eye contact, obeying mommy when George is out of town and respecting authority but overall his adjustment has gone quite well. He has made several new friends this year and just had his first sleepover. Thomas also decided on his own that he was ready to be baptized. He was baptized in May and then we had a celebration for him at The Harbour Club with a wonderful turn out from friends and family.
George is still loving his job. He is actually in Croatia as we speak. He is either working in Philadelphia, Lakehurst, NJ or Charleston. On average, he is only gone 9 nights a month. The weeks that he is home he only works on Tuesday and Thursday. It is nice to have so much time together on those weeks. In his spare time, he works quite a bit in the yard, It is looking wonderful and is finally at a point that he is happy with. He also bought two antique cars that he hopes to work on once his yard work dimishes in the winter.
Life is great for me! I love being a wife and mother. Even though challenging at times...it is quite rewarding. I attend a Bible Study weekly and hope to get back to scrapbooking real soon!
The Lord has definitely blessed The Thornley Family. We are all healthy and happy and thank the Lord everyday for all that he has done for us.
Easter Sunday at Narberth Presbyterian Church near Philly
Li-Li (6) Thomas (10), Maura (6), Bella (3)
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