Say Good-bye to February

Our Mansfield Thiot’s
I talked to Ricky on Friday and begged him for a chance to babysit our little Texas Granddaughters. It didn’t take much begging and he said we could have them on Saturday afternoon and he would take Becky on a fun lunch date and matinee movie. It’s a fun thing to see these little girls grow up. Brooklyn can remember what we did when she came before and thinks that we need to do the same things each time. It includes a tea party while having a bubble bath, playing with puzzles, taking a walk and hunting for “treasure” (leaves, acorns, flowers) and of course making cookies. She just tickles me the things she remembers and Addison is always willing to go along with all of it though she doesn’t talk much. She does love to say Tatia’s name which is very endearing to Aunt Tatia. All too soon, the doorbell rang, and Ricky and Becky were back from their adventure and took our little women back home with them. Greypa was here for the last hour and got to enjoy them a lot too.
Our Barnett Granges
Tatia and Jake came on a double date with Dick and I on Friday night. We had heard that Gulliver’s Travels staring Jack Black was at the dollar theatre. Please, oh please, don’t pay more than $1.50 to go see this movie. It’s worth about exactly that, if you go with low expectations, and don’t mind boy scout camp humor, you are in for a treat. After the movie, we went to Fred’s Cheese steak House. It was quite tasty food. They could work on the atmosphere but the company made it all good. Tatia & Jake have two more weeks of school until Spring Break. They are both counting the days. They are planning to pack up and move over the break. Lots of changes and fun times. Moving is so much fun we all know. It will be nice for them to have their own place and get to use their own things again. We will miss having them 7 minutes away, but will learn the way to their apartment and get brave and drive on Central expressway.
Our Carmichael Thiot’s
Every now and then, Charlie will send me a photo of Callum and Keelie. It always makes my day when that happens. He doesn’t include any words, just a darling photo which always puts a smile on this Grammy’s face. Thank you Charlie for your kind and thoughtful ways. I got to car pool home with Charlie one night this week and when he got home Keelie told me all about going to Disney on Ice with her Grandma and Mommy. She loved all the Princess who knew how to ice-skate. She cheered each time a different princess came out and loved the music and the costumes and dancing. So very much fun. I loved hearing about it from Keelie. Visiting with Keelie is much like chatting with a 40 year old woman. I always thought that Charlie had come with an old soul and I think Miss Keelie is the same way. I just love visiting with her.
Our Orem Thiot’s
I am happy to report that Pierce and Stacy survived their LONG weekend of babysitting Stacy’s cousins. They sure packed a lot of fun into those 4 ½ days. I’m sure the kids were glad to have their parents come home but I have a feeling they didn’t miss them very badly. Stacy secured a job this week and she will be able to work from home so no matter where they end up this summer on Pierce’s internship, she will be set. The internet has made miracles like that happen. Congratulations Stacy! Congratulations also go out to Stacy’s little sister Katy who received her mission call this week to the Sacramento Spanish Speaking Mission. How exciting!!!!!
Our BYU Thiot
One of Skyler’s favorite classes this semester is an Astronomy class. He went into the class feeling unprepared as he had never really studies about the stars since he was in the 5th grade. Many of the other students had studied for years about Astronomy. Well, it turns out that he has really grown to love the class. This week, his teacher gave the assignment to take a trip to the Salt Lake Temple and look for stars, moons, and suns on the exterior. He had a fun field trip with his friend Kara looking for them. What a great assignment. He also got to go to the visitors center and see the neat new display about the Salt Lake Temple. Skyler was thrilled to get to watch the BYU vs San Diego Basketball game on Saturday afternoon. It’s mighty fun to have a team to cheer for that WINS!!!
We Empty Nester Thiot’s
Dick has been extra busy and a bit more stressed than usual at work this week. They are making a bid to the State of Texas and have had to prepare a document/ ok more like a book with information in the bid. He’s had a team of people to help but has found it to be very stressful. A lot rides on this bid, so we will hope for the best. I went to the dentist on Monday and have been miserable ever since. Teeth are crazy things that can cause a lot of pain. Uggggggg. I’m hoping for a better week this coming week. We did have a very sweet experience on Saturday night. We were invited to help Kinsley celebrate Luke and Owen’s 1st Birthday. They are such cute little boys and it was so fun to watch them turn blue eating blue cupcakes. They weren’t quite sure what to think at first, but both decided blue frosting on chocolate cupcakes is a Good Thing. We love them so much and were glad to be there. Have a great upcoming week. SLY Robynn

I Love the Moon and the Moon Loves me

Our Mansfield Thiot’s
I see the moon and the moon see’s me
I love the moon and the moon loves me
God bless the moon and God bless me
When the Ricky was a tiny little boy, Mom Mom loved to look at the moon with him. She had the sweetest little poem she would always say to him about the moon. On Thursday night, I was driving home and when I looked out at the moon, I started dialing little Brooklyn on the telephone. Ricky answered and I asked him if he would take his little girls out side and show them the great big moon. Then I taught Brooklyn the little poem about the moon. It made me feel like Mom Mom was close by when we shared those minutes together. Thank You Ricky and Brooklyn and Addie, I love you!
Our Barnett Granges
Our ward has many cute young mom’s to be and Tatia has sure had fun attending baby showers these past few weekends. I think it makes her even more excited for her little one to come. Jake’s mentor at school, gave him two tickets to see Romeo and Juliet at the Dallas Opera on Saturday night. They’ve been excited all week to have a culturally refining experience. They took the train down town so they wouldn’t have to fuss with parking and had a great time. It was a LONG opera and they didn’t get home until after midnight. They had a nice time and realize it will probably be a LONG time before they get that kind of opportunity again.
Our Carmichael Thiot’s
When Dick and I were in California, the moon was a fingernail moon and we loved looking at it with Keelie. I was trying to think why I love the moon so much. When Charlie was a little boy one of his favorite books was I love you so much about little brown rabbit who loved his mommy so much. I remember a line from the book going something like “I love you all the way to the moon and back again.” Maybe that is why I love the moon because I love my family so much. I remember when they would move away I would always think, we are looking at the same moon and that always makes me feel closer to them. I know, I’m a little strange.
Our Orem Thiot’s
I’ve been smiling this week thinking about Pierce and Stacy. Pierce had a wonderful time on his quick trip to Las Angeles and he did great receiving his “Pencil Award” We are so very proud of him. You may want to take a look at his blog for more details. Stacy and her sister are taking a cake decorating class and have loved learning some fun new things. Yummy! Stacy’s cousin and her husband went on a get away for the long weekender and Pierce and Stacy are the happy baby sitters of these cute little children. What lucky little kids to get to play with Pierce and Stacy for 4 ½ days. Hang in there P&S!
OUR BYU Thiot
Tonight was the It’s Gr-8 to be Eight Fireside in our Primary for all the children who are turning eight this year and who are planning to be baptized. The cub master asked if I had a cub scout shirt that I could bring to show the boys what they had to look forward too. It was so fun to find Skyler shirt and see all his patches and arrow points. My boys loved cub scouts and boy scouts too. It was fun to show that to our little 7 year old guys. I talked to Sky for a few minutes earlier this week and he was busy busy and doing good. I wish there was a way that you could install an alarm system to phone home every couple of days. I always think I’m bothering him when I call him, but so LOVE it when he calls me, hint hint.
We Empty Nester Thiot’s
One of the highlights of my week would have to be Friday. It’s my temple day and after a lovely time at the temple, I hurried home about 2:30 and grabbed a bite to eat and then ran and picked up my friend Colleen who was going to the temple for her very first time. There was a message on my phone making sure I was in fact coming to get her as she was nervous and very excited. It was wonderful to go to the temple and get to serve as her escort for the evening. It’s like seeing everything for the first time again when you have someone there for their first experience. I’m so glad I was able to go with you Colleen. Thank you for sharing that sweet time with me.
We’ve had a couple of people move into the ward this week and Dick has gotten to help them move their things. He loves to get acquainted with them as soon as they come and I’m sure they appreciate the help. Our sweet friend Bob is in the hospital after some major surgery. He was hoping to be back home by now but things are not going quite as quickly as he would like them too. We are keeping him in our thoughts and prayers.
I have had a learning experience this week. Back in December I ate something and cracked one of my back teeth. I kept waiting and waiting to call the dentist and kept thinking if it didn’t really hurt, then it wasn’t a big deal. Well yesterday, I was nibbling on some fruit snacks and low and behold the tooth came out, Well not all of it, there is some way sharp pieces in there that are making my tongue crazy. I guess the lesson is, do not wait when you have a tooth problem. I hate going to the dentist more than just about anything. I would rather scrub nasty showers or even toilets at boy scout camp instead of going, I guess I have procrastinated too long. Wish me luck. On a Happier not, tomorrow is the birthday of my little brother Jeffrey. Happy Birthday Jeffrey Mike. You are the BEST baby brother a girl could ever wish for. It's also the birthday of our sweet little twin boys, Luke and Owen. I can't believe those babies have been here for a year. Ben and Rebecca, you are the cutest parents of those sweet little children. Thank you for shairng them with us. We love you! SLY Robynn

Happy Birthday & Valentines

Our Mansfield Thiot’s
It’s been an interesting week with snow and ice again in Mansfield. To Celebrate the sunshine coming out again, Ricky and his girls planned a trip to the Dallas Zoo on Saturday. The weather was warm enough to enjoy seeing the new exhibit with Giraffes and Elephants. Brooklyn and Addison got to feed the giraffes and they were thrilled and amazed at how LONG their tongues are. They have had a membership at the Fort Worth Zoo for a couple of years and were ready to meet some new animals. Dallas has been working hard at making the zoo a little nicer and they enjoyed it.
Our Barnett Granges
Jake and Tatia are enjoying the warmer weather too and were starting to go a little stir crazy being in the house with so many cold and icy days in a row. Saturday the weather was lovely and Tatia had her first baby shower given by a couple of the medical students wives. The shower was for Tatia and another cute gal expecting a baby just a few weeks before Tatia. I can’t wait to stop by and see the fun things she received. Cute Charlie and Mackenzie sent home with me a bunch of Keelie’s little baby clothes for Tatia and Jakes baby. Oh my goodness, baby girl things are cute.
Our Carmichael Thiot’s
I sure had a wonderful visit with our Carmichael Thiot’s. I don’t know when I’ve had such a hard time leaving. I asked Charlie if I could just take Callum for a few weeks and he said, “Mom, he’s MINE!” I love that tiny boy. Mackenzie is such a cute mommy and I so much enjoyed getting to be with Keelie Christina. She is an absolute doll and I love her to pieces. I am constantly amazed at the things she knows. She is one smart 2 year old cookie. I loved wearing my matching owl jammies with you Keelie! We had a fun evening unpacking all the darling baby boy things that sweet Pamela sent from her little boys to share with Callum. He is going to be a very well dressed little guy. Thank you Pammy for your kind and GENEROUS ways.
Our Orem Thiot’s
I got a phone call from Pierce on Thursday sharing some good news with me. The commercial he helped make last summer with the 125,000 water balloons won an award in the Advertizing industry. He and two other students and their professor are invited to the award ceremony this coming Wednesday in Los Angeles. We are so proud and thrilled for him. Stacy didn’t have nearly as good of a week. Her company is down sizing and she lost her job. She has some other ideas in the works and I’m sure it won’t be long until she finds something even better. She is so cute and sharp. Good luck sweetie!
Our BYU Thiot
Friday afternoon was one of my favorite days this week. Sky, Pierce, Stacy, my sister Laurie and her hubby Mike, my Dad, my Mom and my Sister Lani and Dick and I met at the BYU Art Museum and got to see the Carl Bloch art exhibit. He is an amazing artist that has painted many beautiful paintings of the Savior, Jesus Christ. It was really a very reverent experience to be that close to those masterpieces. I LOVED being there with so many people that I LOVE. Sky has had kind of a crummy week when his cute friend Jenn decided to call it quits. I was hoping to meet her, but maybe we scared her away coming to town. I wanted to cook dinner for Sky’s roommates but that didn’t work so I just sent a big pan of manicotti home with him from Gram’s birthday party. I hope they all enjoyed it.
We Empty Nester Thiot’s
What a great 10 days it was to be with so many people who I love and don’t see very often. I loved getting to be with Charlie’s family and then it was so wonderful to get to be with my mom on her birthday. She is one of my favorite people in my life. She is not only my mom, but is one of my very best friends. She always has been. I enjoy so much getting to spend time with her. We enjoy so many of the same things that it’s just wonderful to be with her. I think we about wore her out trying to pack as much fun in a short amount of time. She was a very good sport. We got to do many of my favorite things and I loved it.
I do believe Dick worked almost the entire time we were gone. He did take a day off when we were in California to go to Museum Day with Charlie’s family. We went to the California Train Museum which was quite remarkable. I’m not sure if Baby Callum will even remember being there as he snoozed all during the tour. Then later in the afternoon we went to the aeronautics museum and got to see lots of old, old airplanes. Keelie even got to climb up inside of one and pretend to fly it. She loved it. Dick had lots of meetings and worked with his Salt Lake partner Ross in trying to get some project wrapped up.
Dick came home and hit the ground running. He’s been at church all day trying to catch up on things he missed while we were away. He’s at the hospital visiting a dear friend tonight who had some major surgery earlier in the week. It’s not easy being the busiest man alive, but Heavenly Father surely blesses him the energy to do it. I hope you are all ready for Valentines Day tomorrow and that you know how much I love each of you.
Sure love you, Robynn

Elizabeth Brown Ira
IRA Elizabeth Brown Ira, 'Bebe' peacefully passed away Sunday, February 13, 2011 after a courageous fight with lung cancer. Her family was at her side. Bebe was born in Jacksonville on 10/12/1934 to Anne Brown Martin and George C. Brown. While married 56 years to Stewart Bentley Ira, they packed in 156 years of life together. Bebe is survived by her loving husband, Stewart, three daughters: Mary Stewart Farnell (Bobby), Winslow Ira Colbert (Bart) and Elizabeth Ira Williams (Pat). Grandchildren include Buck Williams, Ellie Williams, Bentley Farnell, Crockett Farnell, Vann Farnell, Jeanne Lamar Petersen, Amelia Colbert, Great grandson William Petersen and brother George C. Brown Jr. (Frances); brother in law Dr. Gordon Ira (Joice), sister in law Anis Ira Daley (Barney) and many nieces and nephews. Bebe attended Robert E. Lee High School and Salem College for Women and was a member of Ortega United Methodist Church for 49 years. She was a sustaining member of the Junior League of Jacksonville. Bebe's skill and love for playing bridge is legendary. Bebe and Stewart loved spending weekends at Fort George, the Ira farm at Black Creek and the Florida Yacht Club on their yacht 4 Ladies, always surrounded by friends and family. Especially important, she was always considered the perfect grandmother and friend to her beloved grandchildren. A Celebration of her life will be held at 11:15 am, Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at Ortega United Methodist Church with Reverend Daniel Casselberry and Reverend Michael T. Hudson, officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ortega United Methodist Church, 4807 Roosevelt Blvd., Jacksonville, Florida 32210 or the National Lung Cancer Partnership, 222 N. Midvale Blvd., Suite 6, Madison, WI 53705, whose purpose is to fund research, offer patient and physician education services to help raise awareness of the disease.

Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com