Our Thankful Thanksgiving

Our Little Addison is 5 months old today! Happy Birthday sweetie!

Our Mansfield Thiot’s
It was wonderful to have Ricky, Becky, Brooklyn and Addison at our Thanksgiving Feast on Thursday. They also brought some new friends who have recently moved to Texas. Joe, Jennifer, Kloey & Kash. Ben, Rebecca & Kinsley Kate joined us and with Tatia and Jake and Dick and I it was a very full table and an afternoon filled with lots of Thanksgiving. With the big table topper we fit all 15 of us around the table and I loved it. The food was delicious and the company even better. Dick and I took the little girls for a walk around the neighborhood after dinner. We timed it just right as the people at home had the dishes all cleaned up when we returned. I’m going to have to remember to make that a traditionJ.Thanks for coming all you wonderful people who we love.
Our Cobre Valle Grange’s
Tatia reminded us at dinner that she hadn’t been home for 10 Thanksgivings. With being away to college, being in Argentina for two Thanksgivings, it had been a VERY long time since she had been home. I loved it. She made her delicious apple pie that could have easily won a blue ribbon at any state fair. It was gorgeous and tasted even better than it looked if possible. Tatia & Jake have enjoyed their long weekend away from school and children. They had a fun early morning on Friday racing around for some good sales. Saturday they put up their tree and started decking the halls. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at their home. I can’t wait to go for a tour.
Our Carmichael Thiot’s
Charlie, Mackenzie and Keelie enjoyed Thanksgiving in California. Mackenzie’s family have friends who they rotate homes for Thanksgiving. Charlie, Mackenzie and Keelie were invited too and they had a yummy feast. Keelie is quite a fan of Thanksgiving. Dick talked to them on Saturday night and they were on their way to shop for a Christmas tree for Mackenzie’s families home. She hosts her work party early in December and they are busy helping her get her home looking festive for the holidays. What fun times!
Our Orem Thiot’s
Pierce & Stacy enjoyed two Thanksgiving feasts on Thanksgiving. They were able to attend my families feast and also Stacy’s families. They were in charge of rolls and even the picture I saw of them looked good enough to eat. YUMMY and Beautiful. You two may become the official Thanksgiving roll makers. We can’t wait until someday you are at our home for Thanksgiving. On Thanksgiving eve, their favorite grocery store, got a fresh shipment of Christmas Trees. With the top off the Jeep, it worked as a great transport for their beautiful Christmas tree. You’ll have to peek at their blog to see the tree sitting in the back seat looking so excited to go to their home for the holidays. What fun!!!!
Our New York Elder Thiot
We won’t have a Thanksgiving report from Elder Sky until we hear from his tomorrow, but he assured us last week that he had a couple of appointments with members who he loves and that the elders had been invited to participate in the Turkey Bowl, a football game. Since we didn’t get a phone call from the Mission President, we assume he was not injured. He had a wonderful baptism last Sunday afternoon. You’ll want to peek at his blog to see the photos and his happy face. She’s the wife of a recent Russian Convert. He got to teach her the lessons in Russian and he loved it.
We Plano Thiot’s
This has been a great week in Plano, Texas. We’ve enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday and loved getting to share it with 40% of our kids and were grateful for the blessing of friends who filled the rest of our table and even more grateful that our kids have dear family and friends to spend the holidays with when they can’t be home. There is something magical about Thanksgiving with grown up kids that I discovered. They each bring part of the meal and it makes it so much easier for the host. Thank you everybody for your help.
Dick had a busy week. He’s got a new employee he’s trying to get trained and that takes a lot of extra energy and time. Tithing Settlement has begun and that makes for a busy time on its own. Thankfully, he’s got great clerks to keep him on time and things running smoothly. He was surely grateful for Jake and Tatia’s help in putting out the Christmas lights while the weather was lovely on Saturday. It’s still looking like Thanksgiving inside, but outside we’ve got lights.
I hope that you’ve had a week of Thanksgiving and have had a chance to Count Your Many Blessings, name them one by one. Count your many blessings see what God has done.
Sure love ya’ll, Robynn

GoBbLe GoBbLe

Make a Smilebox greeting

Take Time to be Thankful

Our Mansfield Thiot’s
Becky, Brooklyn and Addison arrived home from their trip to California on Wednesday evening. I wish I could tell you that it was a fun, pleasant, entertaining ride home. But if you have ever traveled alone with two tiny girls on a five hour plane ride, preceded by a three hour car ride to the airport, you will probably understand that it was challenging to say the least. Becky did it and I’m so proud of her for that. I was wishing I was better organized and could have flown out with her and hung out with the Carmichael Thiot’s and then flown home with her. I’m hoping the next time she goes, maybe I can do that and be some help too. I remember flying with my kids as tiny ones, and having had them eat all their treats, and play with all their toys before we even got off the ground. It took lots of prayers and nice passengers seated by us to get us on those trips for sure.
Our Cobre Valle Granges
This was letter “M” week for Tatia’s children she nanny’s. So the family “planned” a trip to “M”emphis for a “M”arriage. The good part of that was, they left on Thursday so Tatia had Thursday and Friday off of work. Tatia and I decided to celebrate “M” week by having a “M”agical day on Thursday. No, we didn’t go to Disney world. That wouldn’t have been nearly as much fun as we had. We started off the day at Hobby Lobby and got supplies for some “M”ightly fun projects. Tatia has been wanting sewing lessons since I’ve started teaching my friend Jenae so she bought a darling pattern and some fabric and we had such fun. We also baked Christmas cookies and stored them away in the freezer and had my sweet friend Jill stop by for a visit. We taught her to make Pumpkin rolls and Turkey place cards. My face literally was sore at the end of the day from smiling and laughing so much. I loved our “M”agical day Tatia! Jake cooked a delicious Salmon on Saturday night and invited the “M”ansfield Thiot’s and “M”e. Dick was at the temple with our youth. It was “M”arvelous Jake! Thank you and Thank you to your parents for bringing it all the way from Washington.
Our Carmichael Thiot’s
Friday morning at 1:00 AM, Mackenzie went to see the newest movie in the Twilight Series. New Moon came out and she was to the very first showing in the Sacramento area. I can not even fathom being able to stay awake to watch a movie in the middle of the night. I hope you enjoyed it Mackenzie. Charlie opted to be the babysitter and stay at home. Char is more like his mom I guess. Charlie did have a fun bike ride up in Auburn California. You’ll have to peek at his blog to see some great photos. There is a famous bridge there that I am so grateful he didn’t jump off of. He’s been known to do a little bridge jumping in his younger days in Rexburg, Idaho. This one was MUCH bigger and I’m so grateful that he is getting MUCH smarter. Charlie had to take his remaining vacation days for the year and so he’s had a laid back week. Enjoy the last of them Charlie. Hi Keelie, I LOVED talking to you on the phone and I LOVE YOU TOO!
Our Orem Thiot’s
Much to Stacy’s delight, she had a darling family who saw her photography blog call and schedule a photo shoot. They had 15 in their family and the pictures turned out amazing. You know how I like matching shirts, this family was my kind of group. So cute! You’ll want to peek at Stacy and Pierce’s blog to see how clever and cute the photos turned out. Stacy, you have got some sweet skills for sure. Pierce’s ankle continues to heal and improve. He had his first early Tuesday morning to work in the Provo Temple this week. I can only imagine how handsome he looks in his white temple suit. I’m so happy for you to get that great opportunity PJ!
Our New York Elder Thiot
Funny story, Elder Sky asked me a couple of months ago for a tape recorder. He thought that would be a fun way to send “letters” home. It took me a while, but Dick found a great little one and sent it his way. Now comes the fun. We made him a tape and found that by having Dick’s phone on speaker, we could record a tape from everyone in the family. Addison didn’t say much but we got the rest of the family. Even our adopted kids Ben & Rebecca and Kinsley Kate were able to talk to Sky. Then I started waiting to hear back from Elder Sky. Each day when the mail came I thought, oh maybe a tape will be here today. It took a while but yesterday, my dream came true. I have LOVED listening to Elder Sky talk on the tape. It’s so good to hear his voice. Only 33 more days and we’ll get to talk to him on the phone for Christmas. I can hardly wait! Thanks Elder Sky
We Plano Thiot’s
What a great week this has been. Our Primary was invited to come to the temple on Saturday to learn more about the temple. It was truly one of the greatest days of my life. I Loved being there with those children and loved sharing my love of the temple with them. Earlier in the week we made temple cookies. We used little golden gummy bears for the angel Moroni on the top. They were darling and delicious! Tatia came and took photos and a friend turned it into a DVD. We are going to show it to the children in Primary today. I can hardly wait. And now Thursday will be Thanksgiving. I am so looking forward to that. I Love November and I Love each of you and I am so thankful for you in my life. SLY Robynn

OK, 2nd entry from the husband/dad in recent times.

This was in the online edition of the Dallas Morning News. Have you heard of Dude Perfect? They are 6 guys at Texas A&M that make impossible basketball shots. As near as I can tell it isn't faked but they say that they don't usually make it on the first try either.



You can watch them on YouTube.com (the link above) or from their website (http://www.dudeperfect.com). They have quite a few videos.

Enjoy.

SLY, Dad

Our Thankful Week

Our Mansfield Thiot’s
Becky and the girls left early Tuesday for a get-away to California. Becky’s parents both celebrate birthdays this month and they gave each other tickets for Becky and the girls to come for a visit. What a fun idea. It was Becky’s first time to travel alone with both of them and she survived. Not the best day of her life, but she did it and I’m sure proud of her. I remember those days and it was a bit crazy to say the least. Ricky was left home to work and has a list of honey dues to get done. I hope he is checking things off as they will be home on Wednesday. Rocky came to spend some time with us since Ricky works long hours and that little dog enjoys company. Enjoy the rest of your trip Becky, Brookie and Addison!
Our Cobre Valle Grange’s
Tatia and Jake have had a good and busy week. On Tuesday, Jake heard that if you wear orange and go to What-a-burger, you get a free burger. That was all it took for us to put on our orange shirts and head over there. We were joined by LOTS of other folks wearing orange and enjoyed our complimentary burgers. Thanks for the fry’s and shake Dick! I got to go visit Tatia at work this week. What fun that was to see where she spends her days and get to meet the youngest member of the family she is the nanny for. Little Josh is darling and is such a sweet baby. It was a fun visit. On Friday night, I was watching two of my favorite guys and Tatia and Jake invited us over for the movie UP! WOWSERS! I love that movie. Thanks Granges!
Our Carmichael Thiot’s
Keelie’s last surviving gold fish passed away this week. It was kind of a sad moment. Some gold fish have very short life spans. Keelie loved watching him and they may need to get a replacement for that tiny girl to enjoy. Mackenzie is getting in the Christmas spirit and is starting to make her list and check it twice. I so admire people who can think about Christmas even before Thanksgiving. My brain can do one holiday at a time. Charlie had Wednesday off as the bank was closed for Veterans Day. Charlie went on a bike ride and except for a flat tire, had a good time.
Our Orem Thiot’s
I talked to a very excited Pierce this week. He was just returning home from an interview at the Provo Temple where he is going to be serving as an ordinance worker for the next while. He will be on the Tuesday morning shift from 6:00 until 11:00. He is so happy as he has been wanting to do that since he returned from his mission. Go Pierce! Stacy is enjoying her new job and has even had time to squeeze in another photo shoot this week. Go Stacy!
Our New York Elder Thiot
What a great week it has been to live in NYC! When Peaches was in St. Louis on his mission the Cardinals won the world series, and now the Yankees have won here in New York. The people here where really excited, and where really open to talking to us after they won. It made for an amazing teaching opportunity on Saturday.
We are talking to this man last week, Alberto, and we set an appointment to come and meet with him on Saturday. We came to his house down in the Coney Island area, and he let us in and meet with him and his wife. It was amazing! He and his wife were very interested, and asked to come back again this Saturday. They were excited to hear about the book of Mormon, and it is great to see the power that book has to change peoples lives!
We Plano Thiot’s
Dick received some sad news on Tuesday morning. His long time friend, Jeff Martin passed away. Dick met Jeff shortly before we were married. The Martins moved to Texas with us in 1981 and Dick and Jeff have worked together off an on since then. It was totally unexpected and has really caught us all by surprise this week. Life is so fragile and precious. We need to appreciate each day we have. We will surely miss Jeff. Dick was asked to speak at his funeral on Saturday. He did a great job but what a hard assignment it was. I hope each of you have had a good week and that you are able to count your blessing during the Thankful month of November. Sure love ya'll, Robynn

More Leaves to Clean up

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For the month of November, our Primary Theme is Our Family Can Give Service Together. I got a phone call from one of my favorite families in primary, asking if they could come and serve the Bishop and I by raking up our leaves. Now you might think since I did it on Thursday, there would be no leaves to rake, WRONG, the trees continue to drop leaves like crazy, and there were plenty for raking this morning. It was so fun after they worked, they came in for Pancakes. Yummy! We loved having them for a morning of Service.

Fall Leaves 2009

From the husband: (I love how Pierce does that)...

Today our resident yard-man told mom that the leaves covering the lawn (there wasn' any grass visible) was a bad thing. I told her to call him back to have his crew come clean it up. I knew I wasn't going to have time. Well, mom didn't want to pay someone else to do it so she got busy. I was working at home and shot this picture. When mom was done it was an amazing difference and she was pretty darn dirty but she did a great job. Thanks, hon!

Scarecrows, corn rows…pumpkin's on the vine, leaves curl, wind swirls, It's Our Thiot Times

Our Mansfield Thiot’s
Ricky called this week and said, “Mom, I’ve got a cute story to tell you.” I was all ears. He said that Brooklyn has a little phone that she loves to talk on. He came home the other day and asked who she was talking to. She said it was Grammy. Then she proceeded to put on this little “Grammy” voice and say, “Hi Brookie Cookie, how’s my girl?” I LOVED it. Now I know how I sound to my tiny girl. He he he. Saturday afternoon was a mighty fun time for the Mansfield Thiot’s. A friend of theirs is starting up a photography business and was looking for a darling family to practice on. She surely found one. I can hardly wait to see the photos. Ricky said she got some really cute ones of the little girls together. I’m excited!
Our Cobre Valle Granges
It’s been a good and busy week at the Granges. Jake had another exam this week and has been busy studying and preparing. He said after he took it that it was much easier than he had expected it to be. Go Jake! Tatia made Pumpkin Pies and Pum’kin Rolls (also known as toilet paper pumpkins) with the Beehives on Wednesday night. Those Beehives just love Tatia and she loves them too. Saturday night we went to see Where the Wild Things Are with Tatia and Jake and then they headed to the Drumline Competition in Lewisville. One of our darling neighbors and one of Tatia’s Laurels, was competing and Tatia could hardly wait to go. After all her years in drumline, she was looking forward to watching on the sidelines.
Our Carmichael Thiot’s
Charlie and Mackenzie and Keelie had a good week. When I saw Keelie in her Halloween costume, as a beautiful ballerina, I have been looking forward to seeing a video of her dancing in her costume. Mackenzie said she is kind of funny about it and won’t dance in it. She just touches it very carefully. I’m hoping she will warm up to it and we will get to see her twirl in her darling tutu soon. When I talked to Charlie yesterday and said “How are you?”, he answered “Fantastic”. Charlie has always been my boy that is “fine”. I love those Fantastic Carmichael Thiot’s
Our Orem Thiot’s
This week had some highs and lows for the Orem Thiot’s. Pierce plays in an ultimate Frisbee league that plays on Tuesday nights. He has LOVED it and really enjoys the other players and the great exercise, all up until the last few minutes of the last game. He was racing down the field and collided with another player and rolled his ankle. He heard 3 snaps and he was down and out of the game. He doesn’t think it is broken but is sprained really bad. He has been miserable but is doing better. Stacy has been a most excellent care taker and he is doing better. Like the Mansfield Thiot’s friend, Stacy is also starting a Photography business. She has done some weddings and family photo shoots. Saturday afternoon she did my sister Laurie’s family. She took over 1000 shots of them and we are sure looking forward to seeing her work. Another high point of the week was Stacy interviewed for an was hired for a JOB in Pubic Relations! Go Stacy Go!!!!
Our New York Elder Thiot
How sweet it is! Life here in Brooklyn keeps getting better! The weather keeps getting chillier, but life keeps getting better! I love mission life; I can’t even tell you how amazing it is out here. I got a new companion this week, Elder Grimm from Kerns, Utah. He is my first companion from Utah, I really like him and he is a great missionary. He has been out for almost two months, and is excited to be a missionary.
I love the work out here, and we have a lot of progressing investigators right now who are looking so promising. I’m really excited for the baptisms that are getting ready to happen.
We Plano Thiot’s
The month of November is a favorite of mine. The weather has been picture perfect this week. My front lawn in buried in autumn leaves and the temperatures are in the mid 70’s. I would simply like to bottle this weather and enjoy it year round. Dick said he think that is called San Diego. Our Electric bill arrived and it was amazing to see it under $100.00. I was THRILLED! After a very warm summer, this is a welcome relief for sure. Like most of you, we changed time last Sunday. My silly body is having a difficult time getting used to the extra hour. I’ve found some fun projects to do in the early morning hours. I’m hoping it will soon get used to it. I put my Thanksgiving decorations out this week and every time I walk past them, I think of all the things I am Thankful for. Top of the list is Dick Thiot. What a blessing he is in my life and many other peoples too. Have a good week ya’ll, SLY Robynn

Our Thankful Home

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I Spy Halloween

Can you Spy... A wiener dog dressed up like a bumble bee, a cow girl photographer, a man with an arrow going right through his head, a very fancy nancy witch hat, a hippy giving the peace sign, a darling bride a groom, the youngest "old lady", 3 fun friends?

Can you spy... Captian Jack Sparrow aka Young Men's President, Fred Flintstone, Alvin Chipmunk, Tye Dyed Friends, The outlaw Morris Family, A darling little pink pirate, a scout master saying "two heads are better than one", a chinese dragon, a scary witch and belle having dinner on the sidewalk?

Can your eye SPY... Our Mansfield Thiot's, The Harley Nelson Family, Harriet Potter, my rock'n roll freind Devin, a very cute party of 3 pirates, 3 black dotted Matt, Japanese Jacob, Kinsley & Brookie holding hands, a darling lion, baby with AMAZING hair, the sleepy family?

Our Mansfield Thiot’s
Our Little Addison turned 4 months old this week. Can you believe it’s been that long. She is growing and doing well. She is rolling over from her tummy to her back and is amazing. She was the cutest little tiger you have ever seen for Halloween. This was Brooklyn’s third Halloween. We’ve been able to be with her each year. Last night after trunk or treating, she and Addison and our sweet Kinsley Kate came over to hang out with Grammy and Graypa (as Brooklyn calls Dick) while their parents had some time off. We were looking at photos of them from Halloweens past. It was so very fun. Brooklyn couldn’t believe that Tiny Tinkerbelle was her and Kinsley wasn't sure that little cowgirl was her either. Our neighbor’s, right across the street have decorated their house pretty spookily. They have a set of GIANT (4 feet tall) cat eyes looking out their tall upstairs windows. Brooklyn is very impressed with those. It took all her courage she could muster to go trick or treating at Mr. Dave’s and Miss Cindy’s home. But she and Kinsley did it together and they we well rewarded. What fun it was to have 3 little girls together for Halloween.
Our Cobre Valle Thiot’s
Tatia and Jake were invited to a Halloween Party with all the Medical Students who attended BYU and a few others too. You will have to take a peek at Tatia’s blog to see the results of their very clever costumes. Before the party, they got to come to the church parking lot for Trunk or Treating with us. Earlier in the afternoon, we had a baptism for one of Jake’s little guys from his Primary Class. Jake was asked to speak about receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. What a great job he did of explaining how the Holy Ghost can be a light, a map, and a communicator (Phone) in our lives. What a lucky Primary Class to have Jake teach them each week. Jakes parents returned home last Tuesday and it was sure fun to have them here. We loved getting to know them better.
Our Carmichael Thiot’s
Word has it, that Keelie was the cutest little ballerina in the whole country. Now, I’m still waiting for the proof of that through photos, Charlie, hint, hint! Mackenzie had fun making her a tutu and of course she loves to wear it and twirl and twirl and twirl. She is a dancing girl. Last night we looked at Pictures of Keelie from the pumpkin patch and from last year and Brooklyn said, “She’s my friend and I just love her.” Do you know what that does to a Grammy’s heart? You can guess I am sure. Those tiny girls have only been together just a few times in their whole lives, but they know they love each other. That is what family is all about. Cousins that know they belong to each other. I loved love it.
Our Orem Thiot’s
Stacy and Pierce headed to the movie theatre on Halloween Night to see the Michael Jackson movie, “This is It.” I have a feeling they danced all the way home with seeing those amazing dance steps Michael Jackson could get his body to do. Orem had it’s first snow fall this year and Pierce has been looking forward to being the snow plow for the neighborhood. I’m not sure it stuck enough to get to get out his plow, but he does love snow. I asked Tatia if she missed being in Utah for the first snow. She always baked her yummy gingersnap cookies and watched her favorite Christmas movie White Christmas on the first snowy day. She said NOPE, she was not missing it at all. She’s enjoying our lingering fall weather. Stacy, we are sure glad you are feeling better. Pierce, don’t’ catch the bug.
Our New York Elder Thiot
What a fantastic week it was! Another week filled with fun experiences, amazing miracles, and even a few crazy people on the bus, overall, it was perfect.
This week I logged a record number of miles running around town and having appointments with all sorts of people all over the place. I’m getting familiar with many of the bus drivers on the lines we frequent, and I about have the subway schedules memorized.
This week is the beginning of my 8th transfer in Brooklyn, and I never want to leave. It is my home now, and I love the people here, even the crazy ones. The ward continues to be fantastic and supports us in many ways. Our investigators continue to progress, and are able to come to church on Sundays. I love being here. The one down side is I’m loosing Elder Wright this week, which is a bummer. He is an amazing companion, who never complains about anything and just works hard. He reminds me a lot of McKay Crandall. Now I will find out my new companion on Tuesday.
We Plano Thiot’s
It’s been a Boo-tiful week here in Plano, Texas. We had a couple of rainy days and several beautiful autumn ones too. The leaves are beginning to change and it’s beautiful. I have this dream of having a few weeks a year with no ac or no heat. This has been that week. Just right. Happy Birthday today to my nephew Chip! What a great man you have grown into. I love you. Have a great week ya’ll! It’s my favorite month November! Sly