Just one more week...

Little Miss Harper is pulling up to furniture. Oh my baby girl!

Our Mansfield Thiots
This past weekend was a very difficult one for our Mansfield Thiots.  On Friday, Ricky was having horrible pains and quickly recognized the symptoms as a kidney stone.  If you have ever had one before, it is so easy to recognize that horrible, dreaded feeling.  Without sharing all the details, I am very grateful, and thankful that he delivered a nasty little stone early Tuesday morning.  Thank you to those of you who united your prayers with ours.  I know Heavenly Father listens and blesses us.  I'm so grateful that Ricky has such a kind and loving wife who took good care of him, and 3 little girls who also worked hard to cheer him up and help him feel better.  You are a lucky and blessed man Ricky Thiot.  I'm so glad you are feeling better and I hope and pray that those mean stones will stay away.

Our Up-Stairs Granges
You may tire of hearing me say these words, but it is so Delightful, Fun, Wonderful almost magical to have Jake, Tatia and Miss Penny living upstairs.  Each morning when I hear Miss Penny's voice I have to pinch myself to remind myself that it is for real, they are here and I'm not dreaming.  They have fixed the rooms formally known as the Missionary Pad into a darling little home upstairs.  I LOVE to go peek in Penny's room and see her darling little bed and all her treasures.  One of my favorite things in that room is a painting that we bought for Tatia when she was a tiny little girl.  It's a whole group of dolls.  I remember when we met Tosha Hall and there was the prettiest little china doll that looked just like our Tosha.  When we hung it on the wall in Penny's room, I just had a burst or memories come to me of laying on Tatia's bed with her and looking up at her girls as she called all her dolls that Grammy had made her and her Mom Mom had given her, both with such love.  This morning Tatia told me that she had just had the last Tuesday night she would ever have without baby Max being born.  Oh we are looking forward to his arrival and hope he can wait until next Tuesday when Tatia's doctor will be back in town to make his delivery just perfect.

Charlie & Keelie driving the jeep

Our Carmichael Thiots
Can you believe that in only one week, my Keelie Christina will turn Five Years Old?  I am loving remembering back 5 years ago when we were able to be right there when she was born.  Maybe my favorite part was having Kenzies mom say these words, "Oh my, she looks like a Thiot Baby".  She was exactly right, Miss Keelie is a Thiot and couldn't be more loved.  I love her curls and I love her big brown eyes but most of all, I love what's inside.  Keelie came with a spirit much like her dad's, I always called him an old soul. She is most comfortable talking with grown ups.  I can not even imagine how much Dick's mom would have adored her on this earth.  I'm sure they were dear friends in Heaven before she came.  Mom Mom would be so proud of Char and Kenzie at what a fine job they are doing as parents.  Happy Week before your Birthday Miss Keelie!   Your Grammy loves you.

Mr. Pierce catching a wave and sitting on top of the world....

Our LA Thiots
One of the benefits of living so close to the ocean in California is getting to go surfing multiple times a week.  Pierce, like his dad and brothers have always loved the Beach Boys music and now Pierce is living that Beach Boy dream of getting to Catch a Wave and sitting on top of the world.  I loved the photos that he sent to Dick this weekend and it is actually him.  Stacy really caught a winning pose.  Go Stacy and Go PJ!  This weekend Stacy is coming to Texas for a wedding photo shoot.  Her darling sisters are throwing her a baby shower to start feathering the next for their new little one due in July.  I've had so much fun working on a little project for our little Lady coming this summer.  I love doing a project by hand that makes me think of how much I love that little baby the whole time I work on it.  That's the blessing of being poky on projects, lots of time to think of the love I have. 

Kara & Skyler Dec. 30, 2011

Our Provo Thiots
I just had one of the choicest experiences of my life.  Kara and Skyler have a blog that Kara writes mostly on and I just read a post she made about Love and Marriage.  I don't know if I have ever read anything so sweet and honest about how wonderful marriage can be.  Thank you Kara for taking the time to share that.  You know as a mom, you give birth to babies and you love them more than you ever knew you could.  You always hope and pray that when they are grown, they will find someone to love and someone who will love them for all eternity.  Skyler, you are a lucky man.  Each of our kids have married such amazing people to grow our family even stronger.  I feel so blessed to have you all in our family.   I love you all the moistest!

goodie bags at Birks Spring Birthday Party

Our Filling Nest
Dick had a pretty good trip to Florida.  He was not feeling like his best self, but was able to accomplish all the customer needed him to do.  What a gift Dick possess in knowing computers and what amazing things he can help them do.  I am so lucky to have married such a wise, kind and smart man.  Thanks for working so hard for our family Dick.  I love you and appreciate it so much.
Last Saturday night, my big family celebrated all the March and April Birthdays.  One of my favorite things to do for that celebration is to help with Party favors.  There is the cutest little company in Lehi called Pioneer Party that is always my lovely assistant.  They sure did good this time.  Someday I am going to plan ahead and do them myself, but for now, the procrastinating Robynn, pioneer party to the rescue.  Thanks Ric for being the pick up service.  I hope you know how loved you are by me. SLY Robynn

Oh What a Spring Break....

Papa & Nana, Cutest Grandparents EVER

Our Mansfield Thiots
The past five days have been the best for the Mansfield Thiots as Becky's wonderful parents have been in town from California.  Brooklyn and Addison have been so excited for Nana and Papa to come and I'm sure the time went past way to fast for them too.  What a great way to spend their spring break, being together.  Everytime I thought about them, I smiled.  Have a safe trip home Jim and Diane. 

Sweet UHaul for the Perfect Move

Our Plano Granges
Yes, it's true, as I am typing right up my stairs is a darling little apartment with our now PLANO Granges living there.  Saturday morning, Jake orchestrated a perfect move.  He has been boxing things up for the past month with Tatia and Penny's help and had several buddies come over and help load the truck and a couple of them arrived here and unloaded necessities and then they took the rest of their lives and stored them in a storage unit for a couple of months until they will do it all again only this time they will be heading the Charlottesville, Virginia for the next 5 years.  WOWSERS.  This was quite the week for the Granges.  Tatia said the month of March has 3 important M's.  First was MATCH Day on the 15th.  That was the date they found out that Seattle as they had thought would NOT be their new home, but Virginia.  They are delighted.  Then on Saturday the 16th, MOVING Day and now we wait for the last M  which we will call MAXWELL Day.  He is not due to arrive until April 2nd, but we are hoping he might surprise us and come a bit early as Tatia is feeling way ready to have this little man come.  She has a baby shower on Thursday night with some friends and then he can come.

Mackenzie made these darling Rainbows with Gold at the End... love it

Our Carmichael Thiots
Charlie and Mackenzie's life's have quieted down a bit with the production of Savior of the World being presented last weekend.  They have both been quite involved and loved being a part of it but are enjoying their "free" time that having it behind them brings.  Mackenzie found a Kindergarten for Keelie that they are both excited about.  We are crossing our fingers that her position on the wait list works this time.  Go Keelie!  She is going to be an excellent Kindergarten girl just like Brooklyn I just know it.  Her five year old birthday is only a few weeks away.  What fun times in California.  Callum and Keelie are planning a trip to Utah to visit with Kenzie's grandpa who is going to have heart surgery in the next little bit.  Good Luck to you Grandpa!  You will be in our prayers.

Pierce took these awesome photos, I LOVE the rainbow and your bike!

Our LA Thiots
Pierce and Stacy continue to be a busy and happy couple.  Stacy posted some fun photos of a photo shoot she did with a new swim suit line.  Very fun photos Stacy.  You sure have an eye for photography.  I love looking at your work.  Well done!  Pierce has been busy busy with the Gateraide account working on some new adds and commercials for them. He's amazing at what he does and is enjoying it a lot. At Stacy's last doctors appointment, when they did the ultra sound, the doctor told her that this little girl is one lively little lady.  Lots of fun swimming she is doing and maybe my favorite part, she had her little tiny thumb in her mouth, just like her Grammy used to love to suck her thumb.  You are going to be my kind of girl sweetie.

Skyler & Jill Cook Christmas of 2008

Our Provo Thiots
Skyler and Kara are in the final phases of life in Provo, Utah.  They were able to sell their housing contract which was very good news and are starting to figure out how to move their lives back to Texas for Sky's internship this summer.  It's a bit of walking into the unknown, not knowing if he will get a job offer her afterwards, but at least they know where they will be for 12 weeks this summer and we couldn't be happier.  Skyler and I both lost a dear friend this week.  Jill Cook Lane was a dear friend of ours and almost feels like family.  She returned to her Heavenly Father this week and sure left a lot of sad people here behind.  She will surely be missed and never forgotten

Penny, Addison, Kinsley, Oliver and Miles, Miss Brooklyn was in bed feeling crummy.

We Empty Nesters (not any more)
I'm ashamed to admit that it has been 3 weeks since I have written the Thiot Times.  I'm not really sure what excuse I can use but life has been a bit busy and crazy all at the same time.  I wish I had a great memory and since I don't, I love to write things down to remember the blessings in our lives.  Last week at this time, my house was filled up with  four little ladies at our Spring Break edition of Grammy Camp. What a fun tradition this has become, getting to spend time with little grandchildren close enough to come.  We missed our little Keelie & Callum. I'm looking forward to having a whole week of Grammy Camp with them when I go visit this summer.  We packed a lot of fun into our two days. I loved having Cousin Pamela come over with her two darling boys, Oliver and Miles and teach us how to make belts with duct tape.  You read it right, they turned out so cute and my girls were delighted with the results.  Thank you Pammy!  We had a fun adventure going swimming.  We all loved the Lazy River maybe especially me.  I loved floating down with a granddaughter in my arms.  Fun! Thank you little ladies.  I can hardly wait for the next one.
Dick left after church on Sunday for Florida.  I know he told me where he went, and I know it had a fun way to remember it, but for the life of me, I can't remember.  He is working with a new customer who  sells equipment to take care of golf courses.  Does that sound right up his alley or what, at least the Golf Course part.  His trip was too quick to take his clubs along, but he would have loved to.  He will be home on Wednesday night right after the youth group from church come to our home for their progressive dinner.  We are getting exited to have a back yard, I'm hoping, filled with happy hungry kids.  With Lasagna on the menu, I'm feeling better about spills on the grass  than on the nearly cleaned carpets.  Pray for good weather please! Hurry Home Dick, we miss you!
This past few weeks have truly filled my every waking hour,  I've had many opportunities that I cherish and with Tatia's family moved in and settled, I'm now looking forward to welcoming home Baby Max.  Oh how I love new babies and how I am looking forward to a little guy in our home.  Maxwell James, you are already loved.  One of my favorite books is called, "I loved you before you were born."  It says exactly how I feel about these little grandchildren who are joining our family . With Max's arrival, the Thiot family will be up to 19 family members.  That's not bad going from 2 to 19 in almost 34 years.  I only wonder what the next 34 will bring.  Have a good week ya'll.  Sure love you, Robynn For a sneak peek of Grammy Camp, click on this link.  http://smilebox.com/playBlog/4d7a55354d446b324e54493d0d0a&blogview=true

Happy Birthday Kara!

Happy Birthday to you

Happy Birthday to You

Happy Birthday dear Kara

Happy Birthday to YOU!

Today is our sweet Kara's Birthday.  We wish we could be with you to celebrate you happy day.  What a happy day it was when Skyler met Kara and knew immediatly that this was the girl for him.  She makes Skyler one happy man.  We all love Kara and are so glad that she is a part of our family. 

March 10th is a very special day in our family.  My Sister Laurie was born on this day as was Dick's best friend in the world, Jesse.  Heavenly Father saved March 10th for very special people.  Happy Birthday to all of you spring time babies! We love you lots!

It's Kenzie's Birthday!

Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to You
Happy Birthday dear Kenzie
Happy Birthday to YOU!

Today is our Mackenzie's Birthday.  I wish we were together to celebrate with her, but it's so fun to think about her all day long and think about the things we love dearly about her. 

I love the Beach Boys song about California Girls, she and Becky are both our California girls and oh how we love them. 

Kenzie is a darling mommy and she and Charlie have blessed me with two of my amazing Grandchildren. 

One of my favorite words that Kenzie uses is the word "struggling".  I often think of that word and always think of how brave Mackenzie is to try new things and keep trying even if it takes a bit of struggling.  

When she and Charlie were married, she sent me this photo for the slide show we did and the camera surely captured her that day.  I can see both Keelie and Callum in this picture.  Their excitement and zest for life and everything good in this world. 

Kenzie, we are so glad to have you in our family and wish you the Happiest of Birthdays.  Even though it will be a "working" holiday, being a mom all day and rehearsing and performing in the Savior of the World program by night, we love you and hope you can feel that!

Living in a Post Card

Arriving in Punta Cana, you exit the airplane and climb down the stairs.  It's warm here!

There were some great big jets next to ours. WOWSERS!

This is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Sunday February 17th Our First Full Day in Paradise

We are here and LOVING it!!!! It’s wonderful living in a POST Card.The view from our window has the private pool, and you can see 8 giant palm trees swaying in the breeze.  I can almost see Lickeon shimming up one to retrieve a coconut for Jeffrey.  We had a wonderful morning attending the branch in Punta Canta.  What a neat adventure that was to try to understand a few words here and there.,Besides the 3 of us that went, Kip who is the cruise director, Lani and I, there was two big bus loads of folks from BYU entrepenour club who came too.  They had to send the missionaries home to retrieve a second sacrament tray.  Fortunatly, the tour group brought a loaf of home made bread and a big bottle of water.,  DELISHIOUS sacrament break.  I wished I would have studied harder in Spanish class. The spirit was strong in any language.  We loved it.  We are going to list a few of our favorite things so far

1, the train in Atlanta that took us from Terminal A to Terminal E was FAST and FUN.  You had to hang on for your dear life as there were no seats, just poles and hanging hooks.  We practiced some pole dancing.

2. the bread at dinner each night is delightful.,  The dinner menus are fancy nancy style and the bread is the most recognizable item on the menu.  We’ve tried some fun things like Lobster bisque, antipestoasta,

3, meeting Lani’s working folks who all adore her just like we do.  It’s so fun to hear so many of them rave about her.  I love that.

4,  We have a butler, his name is Doward, like Howard only spelled with a D.  We like to call him to help us as often as we can as he is quite cute and very black and handsome

5.The GIANT Jacuzzi bubble bath tub  We are trying to find some bubbles.

6, Walking down on the beach and seeing a giant brown pelican doing some fishing.,  There were parasailing boats that we loved watching too

7, Virgin pina colada drinks, YUMMY

 

‘We are sorry we were disconnected on the telephone.  International cell phone time is $$$$$$,  We will try to send a daily e-mail report to you.  If you have questions, feel free to ask and we will answer them. This is mighty fun.  I’m so glad I came. 

SLY

Robynn & Lani

 

Punta Cana Day 3 - February 18, 2013

 

Hello All,

 

Day three was totally terrific!  We started out with the LANDesk welcome breakfast at Gabi Beach.  The eggs were just a little runny, the bacon very crispy and delicious!

 

Following the breakfast we suited up and headed to the pool.  Robynn found underwater beach chairs that were incredible.  Water was cold at first but one we were numb we did great!  After being in the water for 30 or so minutes we headed over to the covered hut with a full size bed and began reading our books. Being outside at the pool and covered up was a little bit of heaven on earth! 

 

About 1:00 p.m. we headed in to change and ordered room service for lunch and enjoyed the hallmark channel with our eyes closed.  Tonight we had dinner at  Japanese restaurant, we had benihana style cooking in front of us.  We sat with a darling and very friendly family from Boston. 

 

Our top ten favs for today were:

 

1.      Greeting everyone at the welcome breakfast

2.      Learning everyone’s wife’s names (I’m a rock star)

3.      Hawaiian Pizza and Chips and Guac

4.     Watching the Hallmark channel

5.     Seeing everyone with their Punta Cana beach bags (my selection by the way)

6.     Pool time with the French, the English, the Chinese and the Brazilians

7.     Mastering 3 flights of stairs (no elevators)

8.     Playing with a darling baby girl in line at the gift shop

9.     Our new Boston friends

And

10.  Wearing borrowed turquoise bracelets at dinner

 

We hope you are all doing as great as we are!

 

We love you lots!

Lani and Robynn

 

Tuesday’s Top 10 - February 19, 2013

 
Como esta?

Below are our top dias for today!

1.     Our three hour tour aka shark and stingray land

2.     Swimming with the stringrays and snorkeling with sharks

3.     Dancing man and girls with glitter tummies

4.     Reading An Invisible Thread

5.     Naps

6.     4:45 pina colada run

7.     A walk through the gift shop – ring trying on

8.     Eye spying our Boston friends – birthday girl Emma

9.     Taking two baths today – Lani

10.  Ordering great room service meals

 

Signing off with another great day in Paradise!

LYLots Robynn and Lani

 

Wonderful Wistful Wednesday's top 10 in the DR – February 20, 2013

 

1.     Breakfast with Jean Robert pronounced like Jaaan Robber (French man) (think little mermaid Sebastian voice)

2.     Relaxing at the pool cabana

3.     Finishing our books

4.     10:30 a.m. Pina Colada Run

5.     Walking on the beach

6.     Fabulous Massage and Facial at the Zen Spa

7.     Another bath

8.     Dinner with the Hall’s (my boss and his wife)

9.     Chocolate molten cake at the Palazzo Restaurant

10.  Turn down service

 

Hello all!

We can’t even believe it’s Thursday night already!  Time flies when you’re having fun!  Tonight was our farewell dinner on the beach!  The tables and chairs were all done up in white.  It was beautiful!  We had floating candle vases with water and nothing else.  We think someone forgot the fillers!  Oh well!  The dinner was interesting!  There were 10 different types of salads.  Robynn’s and I’s personal favorite was cabbage, pineapple and chicken.  They also had baked potatoes which were cooked just perfectly! 

Have a great night!

 Thursday’s Thrilling Top 10 – February 21, 2013

1.     Robynn getting to check her email

2.     Eggs benedict (not)

3.     Smallest English muffins ever

4.     Laying by the pool in our covered cabana

5.     Chips, queso and pico

6.     Hot and cold tubing and having a hail storm on your back at the YHI Spa

7.     Watching the Proposal

8.     Nice warm shower (no bath today)

9.     Band at the farewell dinner

10.  Turn down service

 

PS Lani has gone down to the finance department as someone has charged some cigars to OUR room.,  Only 740 dollars worth.  WOWSERS!  That is a lot of smokes.  I’m so glad Lani knows how to take care of things like that.  I would just pay the bill, Well, I wanted to say what my very favorite part of the week was.  I’ve loved the good meals, the warm weather, the beautiful hotel, but my best part was hearing all the wonderful things about Lani.  I have loved that little girl since the day mom and dad brought her  home from the hospital but there hasn’t been a prouder moment for me than this week to see how loved and admired she is by her co-workers.  Her boss, Mr. Mike Hall told me tonight that she is the most Christ like person he knows.   Can you even imagine having that said about you? He said she brings a calmness to the office and doesn’t get involved in petty things and brings her contagious cheerful positive attitude with her every day.  I was so proud to be her sister and to be invited to be here this week.  I’m not sure I had a clue what it was going to be like, but I have loved every moment.  There is an old TV show I love called Everybody Loves Raymond.  I think we could write a new TV show and call it Everybody Loves Lani.  It’s been a great week to see what that gal of ours can do.  Sure Love ya’ll, Happy Birthday Jeffrey Mike, we love you too!

 

Last Day....Friday

Friday was the day we were to check out of our lovely hotel and head for home. I woke up early and was determined to see the sun rise over the ocean.  I jumped into my walking clothes and headed down to the beach.  I tried to be quiet, but our door was not a quiet close and I ended up waking up Lani.  Sorry Lani. It was fun to watch the tractors cleaning up the sea weed and raking the beach  I couldn't believe my eyes that that is what they did each day to keep those beaches so beautiful. 

Unlike most vacations I have been on where you leave first thing in the morning, we didn't have to check out until 1:00.  After a yummy breakfast at our favorite spot, Lani and I decided we were going to try to get a little sun so you could tell we had been out of town.  Instead of applying the 70 spf sunscreen, we went for 30 spf.  Lani sat in the sun shine on the sunny part of the pool side, I stayed in the shade on the shady side.  Lani's lounge chair was by what we titled the Book Mobile.  I could see it from where I was sitting and it seemed that people were piling up there.  Not looking at books, but stopping to chat with Lani.  She is fun and everyone loves her and loves to visit.  I started working on my crochet project, which I was hoping to complete two of.  I found that I enjoyed relaxing and reading more than really accomplishing anything worthwhile.  I loved working on Max's blanket and I got a lot of comments, wondering what I was making and for whom,  I loved mentioning that I have two new little grandchildren coming soon.

After working on our tans, we headed back inside for showers and a packing party. Somehow we managed to get everything we brought back inside our bags.  Then we headed to the gift shop to buy eachother a suvinier.  Lani picked out a darling little Domincan doll and I chose a motorcycle with a family of five perched upon it.  I had seen it the first night we were there and was wishing for it.  So fun.

Our bus picked us up on time and we headed to the airport.  It was a little different than airports I'm used to.  I think we had to show our passports about 10 times at different check points.  I'm not sure what they were thinking but it was great to get another Stamp in my passport.  Once when I arrived and another when I left.

Lani and I had seats a row apart which wasn't too much fun, but was fine.  I crocheted all the way to Atlanta and made some good progress.  When we landed in Atlanta, we made a mad dash to customes and then had to retrieve our baggage and recheck it in.  Atlanta is a BIG airport very spread out and we had a very tight connection. It was a lot of running to the gate and I was the last one on my flight as was Lani and her group.  It was just a two hour flight to Dallas and I had a row to myself.  I actually layed down and slept all the way home, (it was the middle of the night by then with all our time changing.) It was a wonderful week and I feel so blessed to have gotten to go with Lani.  Thank you Lani!!!!!!