Learning Life's Lessons

Our Mansfield Thiots
Brooklyn had a kindergarten field trip this week  Her school's kindergarten went to Lego Land together in Grapevine.  Brooklyn has 3 uncles who would have LOVED to have gone with her, but her Mommy was the lucky winner who got to go.  Miss Addison was in preschool but Miss Harper needed a tender so I was the lucky winner who got to tend.  Miss Penny and I drove to Grapevine and met Becky and picked up Harper.  We brought her home for her morning nap and a lunch date and a few minutes to play, then we headed back to Grapevine and returned her to Becky and got a sneak peak of Brooklyn.  Miss Penny was so sad that she had to go back on the school bus that we made a plan to get together on Friday evening.  Ricky and Becky brought the girls and we had a Pizza Party with Penny and had a great time.  Ricky and Dick and Jake played with the girls out back.  It was a perfect evening which ended with a bubble bath for the girls and they got to go home in Uncle Sky's t-shirts, another favorite tradition they  love.  Oh there is nothing like family and cousins.  If only we could have blinked Keelie and Callum here too.

 

Our Upstairs Granges
The real reason for the visit on Friday  night  was for Addie and Brooklyn to get to meet Baby Max. Come to find out Miss Harper had bragged about her getting to meet him and they wanted to come right away.  They loved him as we all do.  What a sweet little baby boy we've got.  Saturday, Tatia and Jake invited us to drive to Ennis to visit the bluebonnets that are so richly planted there.  They've gone the last few years with their friends the Monsons' and this year we got invited to go too.  It was such a fun afternoon/evening  We loved seeing the fields of blue bonnets touched with some gorgeous red indian paint brush.  Thank you Tatia and Jake for letting us crash your party.  It was a breezy afternoon and Baby Max was not too sure of how you breath in that kind of weather.  He was not a fan but the rest of us enjoyed it. 

Our Carmichael Thiots
In 3 days time this week, Charlie spend 24 hours of it driving.  I'm glad he is a good driver and that he safely drove his sweet family to Idaho Falls to their Grandpa's funeral there.  Below is the obituary for him.

Henry Samuel "Hank" Crumb, 83, of Idaho Falls, passed away Friday, April 12, 2013, at Intermountain Health Care in Salt Lake City of heart failure.
Hank was born Jan. 17, 1930, in St. Joseph, Mo., to Henry Stewart Crumb and Anna Catherine Carver Crumb. He grew up and attended schools in St. Joseph.
Following high school, he joined the U.S. Army and proudly served for 25 years in various places throughout the world, including Vietnam, as a supply officer and recruiter, retiring as a sergeant first class. Following his military service, he earned his bachelor's degree from Idaho State University.
In 1952, he married Betty Lee Carr in St. Joseph, Mo. Following his discharge from the Army in 1972, Hank and Betty moved to Ammon and Hank went to work as manager of the Idaho Falls Civic Auditorium. He later worked as a supply officer at State Hospital South in Blackfoot. Betty passed away in 1992.
On May 29, 1993, he married Winona Brunson Sayer in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple.
An active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Hank served in various capacities over the years. He was also active in the American Legion, VFW and VVA. He was a member of the Ammon Lions Club, was a volunteer firefighter in Ammon and took part in the Freedom Team Salute.
Hank loved woodworking, making cradles, dollhouses, picnic tables, furniture and cabinets. He also enjoyed painting and square dancing.
Hank is survived by his loving wife of 20 years, Winona Crumb; sons, Henry Samuel Crumb Jr. of Savannah, Ga., Jim Crumb of Ammon, Gary (Jan) Sayer of Ammon, David Wayne Sayer of Marin County, Calif., and Michael (Nikki) Sayer of Idaho Falls; daughter, Vicki (Steven) Smith of Sacramento, Calif.; daughter-in-law, Dixie Sayer of Idaho Falls; brother, Charles (Evelyn) Crumb of Houston; 15 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Betty; a son, Allan; a daughter, Suzanne; a son, Randy; a sister, Jasmine Glenn; and a brother, Herman Crumb.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 17, at the Idaho Falls LDS Mountain View Ward, 1450 Mountain View Lane, with Bishop Randy Wheeler officiating. The family will visit with friends from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. today at Wood Funeral Home, 273 N. Ridge Ave., and from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Burial will be in Ammon Cemetery. Military rites will be performed by the Bonneville County Veterans Memorial Team and Idaho Honor Guard.
Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.woodfuneralhome.com.
Dick got a text message from Charlie last night that said Keelie and Callum were having hot dogs for dinner while watching some baseball.  Charlie has taught them well, hot dogs and baseball go well together. 

Our L.A. Thiots
When I heard about Brooklyn's field trip, I knew Uncle Pierce would be first in line to go with her if he could.  He loves legos and loves field trips.  I remember Pierce going on his kindergarten field trip to the Zoo.  I took him the the fabric store to pick out some animal fabric and we had him so snazzy zoo pants to wear.  He always loved field trips and was a good sport. 
Stacy and Pierce have been looking for a bigger place to live with the new baby coming this summer.  I'm happy to report that they will moving right next door to a two bedroom apartment.  They will miss their fun neighbors but are delighted to have more ROOM!  Congrates LA Thiots!!!!

Our Provo Thiots
Our Provo Thiots are heading this way this coming Tuesday morning bright and early.  We are excited and maybe our grandpup Rocky is the most excited as he can't wait to meet their cat Branson, my grandcat.  When Miss Silkee was still alive, he always wanted to run and play chase with her.  She HATED him and didn't want anything to do with him.  I am hoping Branson is a little more fun and wants to play instead of spit at him.  Drive safely you 3!

We Filling Up Nesters
Tuesday two new little babies were born into our big family.  My nephew and his sweet wife added two new babies to our family.  Baby Devan and Baby Paige are both still in the hospital learning to eat and will be coming home soon we hope.  They are sure in our thoughts and prayers.

Saturday morning started out with Dick and I being able to attend the Memorial service for Ben Midgley, a young man in our stake who is the same age as Skyler.  He the uncle to one of Sky's friends Kenny Midgley and Sky knew him well. He attended Philmont Scout ranch with Sky's troop and was an amazing young man.  Sky described him well when he said that he danced to his own tune. Ben was in a motorcycle accident last Sunday night.  He was on life support until Wednesday night when many of his organs were harvested for donations.  They said at the service that at least 12 people were blessed from his final gift to them.  His oldest brother Ken, our friend at church wrote this on his passing.

It is appropriate that today is a bit rainy and cold…a reminder that sometimes the skies must cry to bring new Life…

Ben Midgley passed away late last evening as the result of his motorcycle accident, and I was able to be by his side.  He will now be honored on the Gift of Honor wall for organ donors at Baylor Medical, as well as in the hearts of those who know him.  In a strange, cosmic arithmetic, there are several people of all ages whose prayers for a miracle have now been answered, and who will hopefully view their own new lease on Life as a gift of the highest cost and value.
Having spent the last 72 hours at the Hospital, the realization is strong that on a minute-by-minute basis people are coming into this world and people are leaving this world, perhaps even passing each other along their way.  It is up to us here and now to make of our Time, whatever allotted, the most of learning and of choosing good over evil, action over complacency, compassion over harshness, forgiveness over judgment.
I have gained a heightened admiration for those who choose a medical profession, for those who work so closely with the emotions and wonder of Life.  Notwithstanding the incredible advances in knowledge and technology, a common refrain heard throughout daily, medical life is, “We just don’t know.”  This is a poignant reminder that this Life is a Walk-of-Faith at the most basic level.
And so Walk we will, as there is simply no other way to do it...
A Memorial Service for Ben will be held at the LDS Chapel at 2700 Roundrock Trail in Plano, Texas, at 11am on Saturday, April 20.

Between Grandpa Crumbs passing and Ben's, I have had time to reflect on the fragility of life.  We don't know what allotment we have been given and we need to do the most with each day we have.  I hope your week has been one that you have learned much too.  Sure love you, Robynn

It's BlueBonnet Time!

Harper, Addison & Brooklyn

Our Mansfield Thiots
It's blue bonnet season in Texas, and I think you would agree, it's the very prettiest time of the year.  Spring time turns this empty fields into gorgeous fields of blue.  You don't even have to be born a Texan to love them, but it helps.  Ricky and Becky took the girls out for a photo shoot Saturday morning and sure captured some gorgeous shots of their little ladies. It sure put a smile on my face to open the e-mail filled with the photos.  Thank you  Ricky and Becky.  I love your borrowed camera, keep those pictures coming!  Dick had a fun afternoon with Ricky and his two big girls.  They went birthday shopping for Ricky's birthday.  They found him a gas grill and Ricky called last night while grilling a steak and was raving about the great way it cooked the meat.  He was thrilled!  Happy Late Birthday Ricky!

Tatia and Maxwell,  

Our Upstairs Granges
Jake left on Wednesday afternoon for a quick house hunting trip to Charlottesville.  He had a list of possibilities when he left and was able to take pictures and videos of places and e-mail them to Tatia so together they could make a decision on where they will be living for the next four years.  Exciting times.  We missed him and its sure good to have him back home.  He got home about 2:00 this afternoon.  Dick did a tricky thing and drove his truck to the airport this morning for his week out of town and left it in the park and ride spot with an extra key hidden under the bumper. Then Jake when he got in, he just took the shuttle to the park and ride and drove it on home.  What a great idea Dick had  Only one trip to the airport instead of a couple.  It still fills like a dream to have baby Maxwell here with us.  I would describe him as Delicious.  He has the best little cheeks for kissing and hugging.  It's wonderful to have him start out his life at Grammy and Graypa's house.  We had a fun visit from cousin Pamela and her darling boys on Friday. She brought her mom's yummy recipe of lasagna.  It was so good and I'm delighted there is enough for Sunday dinner.  Horray!

This is Grandpa Crumb and my dad Grandpa Birks

Our Carmichael Thiots
This has been a kind of roller coaster week in Carmichael.  Some happy news and some sad news.  Keelie was accepted in the Kindergarten program they had been hoping for early in the week.  That was exciting.  Then at the end of the week, Kenzie's grandpa went in for heart surgery and instead of getting better, he returned to live with his Heavenly Father.  Grandpa Crumb was an amazing man. I'm so glad I was able to meet him several times.  What a great story teller he was. He could keep a whole room filled with people giggling and laughing for a long time.  Even when he repeated stories, they were better the second time around. He had been in failing heath for a while and is sure going to be missed.  Charlie and Kenzie are planning a quick trip to Idaho this week for the funeral.  Travel safely Carmichael Thiots.  We love you.

Pierce on the biking portion of last week's triathlons

Our LA Thiots

I have not visited with Pierce or Stacy this week.  Stacy posted this fun photo of Pierce on her blog.  I LOVED it!

Our Provo Thiots
Skyler and Kara are finishing  up life in Provo, Utah.  They have both loved it there but are feeling ready for a  new adventure.  Two weeks from tomorrow Sky starts his internship at the Richards Group and he and Kara will be my upstairs neighbors too.  This is going to be one of the funnest few months of my life.  I'm sure Dick and I will always remember the spring/summer of 2013.  Good luck finishing up everything.  Sure love you1

A sweet primary moment, big brother helping little brother with scripture

We not so Empty Nesters
Dick caught an early flight to Arizona this morning for a week at Spectrum.  He is teaching 5 1/2 classes and I wish I could say he is all prepared and ready for an enjoyable week.  Instead I can say that he is gone and is hopeful that he will not require any sleep while he is gone and will have time appear to prepare.  I know I have said it before, but that man tries to cram more into his 24 hours than the average bear.  Good Luck Dick, you are surely in  my prayers.
What a week this has been.  It's so fun to wake up each morning and hear the words, "Grammy, where are you?"  I love that little Penny's voice.  She came to church with me today as Tatia and Max stayed at home.  It was sure fun to have her on my row.  I loved dropping her off at nursery.  She did great and had fun playing toys and having fun with friends.  She is such a fun little lady.  Have a wonderful week ya'll. SLY Robynn

One Gr-8 Week

Our Mansfield Thiots
Ricky, Becky and little ladies made a quick trip to Plano on Tuesday evening to meet Mr. Maxwell James Grange.  Tatia and Jake loved showing off their new little guy.  He is such a sweet little baby.  Both Ricky and Becky loved having a turn to hold him.  Graypa and I got to hang out with the four little girls while they were upstairs.  We had a great time and even snuck over to McDonalds for some French fries.  How can it get any better than that, a new baby and fries. 

Our Upstairs Granges
Well, it's true, Penny is officially a big sister and a wonderful one I might add.  She thinks Baby Max is just perfect  She loves to touch his soft skin and she is so gentle and loving with him.  Tatia's doctor got back in town last weekend and was there to deliver Maxwell into this world.  Everything went just as planned and at 3:14 in the afternoon, he was born.  Graypa, Penny and I headed to the hospital and got to meet him when he was just a few minutes old.  It was sure fun as my dear friend Judy  and her daughter Jena were over visiting.  We kept checking my phone for messages and when we heard he was here, they cheered with us and then scooted on their way.  What fun new babies are. We feel so blessed to have grandson number 2 and grandchild number 7 safely here. Congratulations!

Our Carmichael Thiots
Keelie had her 5th birthday the day after Maxwell was born.  This is going to be a mighty fun week in our family with Ricky on March 31st, then Maxwell on April 2nd followed up by Keelie on April 3rd.  Party on dudes!!!!!  Keelie celebrated a few days early by going to  a fun pizza place for dinner with some family and friends.  Pizza and games are a great way to celebrate turning 5.  Graypa and I were delighted when we got to face time with Keelie and Callum this morning on the top bunk of Keelie's bunk bed.  It's so fun to have Mr. Callum right below on the bottom bunk.  He is great at climbing up the ladder just like Keelie is to get to the top bunker.  Be so careful you two. 

Our LA Thiots
Pierce participated in his first Tri-atholon on Saturday and was pleased with his time.  It involved a bike race, a swim in the ocean, and a run on the beach.  He said the waves were pretty big and the ocean rough but the rest was wonderful.  I wish I had been there to see Pierce run, bike and swim.  I loved watching him at track meets in high school.  Run Pierce Run!!!  Stacy has been in Dallas this week and we even got to have her over for dinner and a sleep over.  She got to meet little Max and was his first photographer taking some new born photos and a Grange family photo too.  Stacy has a real gift for capturing great moments.  She was in town to do some additional photo shoots with a wedding on Saturday.  On the way to the reception, they stopped and snapped a gorgeous shot in the blue bonnets.  Yes, it's blue bonnet season in Texas which is my favorite time or year here.  I love those pretty flowers that grow like weeds in the spring time.

Our Provo Thiots
Skyler and Kara and making the preparations for their move to Plano for the summer (and we hope longer).  They are trying to figure out where to store their stuff and have started boxing things up.  Skyler had a fun night on Thursday when a buddy invited him to go to a sneak peak of Jurassic Park in 3-D.  Both Pierce and Sky wanted to go with Gram to see it as she took them when they were little boys to see the original.  That made me smile that they wanted to do that.  Gram would have loved it guys.  Happy Packing and moving Provo Thiots, we can hardly wait for you to get here.

We Filling up Nesters
I know I have said this before, but please let me say it again.  I LOVE NEW BABIES.  There is almost a bit of magic that comes with a new baby.  That sweet, sweet spirit that comes with a new baby is like nothing else.  Tatia is so kind in giving me lots of turns to hold Maxwell.  I love every single second.  He smells so good I could almost eat him up.  Dick and I got to tend Penny while Tatia and Jake were at the hospital.  She is very comfortable at our house and it was delightful to have her.  The hospital is about 10 minutes away so we were able to make multiple trips to visit the new baby.  Each time Jake would take Penny to the play area at the hospital and she loved that.  On Wednesday, we had rain and Penny LOVED splashing in the puddles on the way back to the car.  I dont' think she missed a single one.  On Thursday, they came home from the hospital and my dear friend who used to live behind me, sent the most wonderful surprise.  A fabulous dinner and a darling gift for Miss Penny too.  Mary is the most thoughtful person I know.  I wish everyone had a neighbor just like her.  She lives in Frisco now but we have kept in touch and love each other dearly.  Thanks you neighbor lady! As if having a new baby come home to our home wasn't enough, the week kept getting better.  General Conference was this weekend.  I love Conference.  It was wonderful and I am glad that I was able to record it to watch it over again.  Having Penny here is lots of fun and we might have missed a thing a two that was said so I am glad we can rewatch it.  For Sunday morning we had a sign up sheet that you could sign up to entertain Miss Penny for 30 minutes at a time.  That was mighty fun and I loved coloring with Penny during my shift.  She has some sweet coloring skills.  After  you completed your shift, as a reward, you got to hold Maxwell for the next 30 minutes.  Oh my, we loved it.  I hope you have had a gr-8 week too and that you know how loved and appreciated you are by me.  SLY Robynn

Happy Birthday Maxwell James!

The Grange Family Welcomes Baby Maxwell


Maxwell James Grange
April 2, 2013
8lbs 8 ounces
21 inches long
Perfect in every way!
 

Happy Birthday Keelie Christina

Grammy and Keelie,


Five Years ago today, our second little Granddaughter joined our family.  Happy Birthday Keelie.  We love you so much.

Hoppy Birthday & Easter!

Happy Birthday Ricky!

Our Mansfield Thiots
Have I told you about Becky's Grandma before?  I hope so, her name is Gloria and the little ladies know her as Gigi.  She celebrated her 80th birthday this weekend and her family through her a party in the party capital of the world, none other than Las Vegas!  Ricky and Becky met me on Friday with their 3 little ladies and their "stuff" at the Bass Pro Shop in Grapevine and then headed to the airport to catch their flight.  They had a fast and fun weekend with all of Becky's family except Matthew and Hailey who weren't able to come.  We had a fun weekend with the girls and my house seems quiet this morning with them gone home.  We took them home about six last night and had them all tucked in bed and asleep when Ricky and Becky returned at midnight.  I was sure glad Dick came with me as he is a great middle of the night driver.  I think we got home in 55 minutes such five minutes shy of the usual 60 minutes.  No traffic in the middle of the night that is for sure.  Thanks for coming for a mini vacation girls.  Miss Harper won the prize for being the very nicest and easy going baby I have ever tended.  She was delightful and did just what her schedule said she would.  You  are a dear little Harper.

Tatia the cutest easter bunny ever!

Our Upstairs Granges
Miss Penny is about to become a big sister!   Yes,  by tomorrow night, our little Maxwell James will have arrived.  Tatia has been such a great sport all weekend helping me with Ricky's girls and promised to wait until they went home to have Max.  She goes to the doctor at 11:30 this morning to make sure he is all set to come and is scheduled to be induced in the morning.  She has had lots of false labor and so we are hoping that once Max knows it's truly his day, he can just come right on out in  jiffy.  Penny has been looking all over the house for Brooklyn and Addiemae and Harper this morning.  She can't figure out where they have gone.  She LOVED having them here to play with her and they all adore her too.

Ricky, Tatia and Charlie Easter 1983

Our Carmichael Thiots
We didn't get a chance to talk to our Carmichael Thiots on Easter.  I hope that you all had a very nice day and that the Easter bunny spoiled you very well.  I can only imagine how darling you must have looked on Easter Sunday.  I'm guessing Callum was sporting a darling bow tie and Keelie a beautiful Easter dress.  I would love a picture if you snapped one or two. 
Our LA Thiots

Charlie, Tatia, Pierce and Ricky Easter 1987

Friday night was one of  my favorite nights.  I was invited to a baby shower that Stacy's sisters gave her while she is in town this week.  An evening to help her feather her nest the invite said.  What a lot of Darling Feathers that little girl got.  She may well be the best dressed baby in all of LA.  I loved being there with all those people who love Stacy so much.  My sweet cousin Pamela drove Tatia and I and it was delightful to be there.  Stacy looked so cute, it was fun to see her with a little tummy, it makes it seem real that there is another new baby girl coming to join our family.  Hurray for July!

Ricky, Sky, Dick, Pierce, Tatia, Charlie Easter 1989

Our Provo Thiots
Kara and Skyler had a good week and when we talked to them were looking forward to a rather non traditional Easter Feast of Pizza with some friends.  It doesn't even matter what you eat, it's that great Easter feeling we all love.  It was so fun to sit right by Kara's mom and her sister Julie at the baby shower.  I loved catching up with them.  Kara has been training a couple of new workers at work.  It's been a bit frustrating at times, but she hopes to get them up to speed soon.  Sky said it's like training a new missionary companion.  So much to learn and it's mostly yourself learning patience.  Good Luck Kara!


Bunny Buns from the Friend magazine https://www.lds.org/friend/2011/04/bunny-buns?lang=eng 

We filling up Nesters
This Easter Weekend was an LDS Encampment for all the 12-18 year old young men in the Dallas Fort Worth area.  There were 12 Stakes of Youngmen invited and what a grand event it was.  It began on Thursday after school and ended Saturday evening.  Dick was able to spend some time there, not as much as he would have liked but said everyuthing he saw and heard was wonderful.  The boys were treated by a visit of President Beck who is our Young Mens General President and gave a great talk to the young men on Friday night,  We had storms later that night, but not a drop of rain touched Camp Wisdom.  The young men were all protectdd and kept safe.  Horray! 
It was sure fun to wake up on Easter morning and have had the Easter Bunny make a visit.  It's been a few years since we've been on his route, so it was extra fun.  It was fun hunting for the girls easter baskets, that silly bunny likes to hide them at our house and the girls were great treasure hunters and found them.  The egg hunt was crazy.  When we went out to hunt eggs, the weather took a turn for the worse and started to blow and rain, and lets just say, it was a FAST easter egg hunt.  We may  need to go back out this morning and find the rest of the eggs.  Thank you Becky and girls for dying the eggs for us.  They were amazing!!!!  I loved making Bunny Buns for the primary kids.  they turned out so good and the kids gobbled them up.  We made another batch for us when we got home for our dinner.  I love Easter Time.  I love how the world is waking up and coming back to life.  I love thinking about my Savior Jesus Christ.  I hope you had a wonderful day too.  SLY Robynn