Halloween Week

Our Mansfield Thiots
This year Brooklyn is dressing up as Ariel, the Mermaid,  Addison is Cinderella and Harper is the cutest little Strawberry ever.  They had trunk or treat on Saturday night and got to test out their costumes.
This was a double header week for me and the Mansfield Thiots.  I was able to go on Tuesday afternoon to pick up the girls from school.  The only problem was, I hadn't done it for so long, I forgot what time Addison got out of preschool.  Fortunately, Becky ran to get her on time when I hadn't arrived.  Thanks Becky and sorry Addison.  I will remember 2:00 instead of 2:30 for next time.  Please forgive me.  It was fun to get to pick up Brooklyn and I was greatful that Becky and Harper and Addison came along to teach me where the 1st grade door is.  Next time I'll be ready to do it right.  Then Dick and I got to go on Sunday for Brooklyn and Addison's Primary Sacrament Meeting presentation. They both had speaking parts and both had them memorized and did an awesome job.  I loved hearing them sing and being there was wonderful.  Thanks for inviting us to come.

Our Charlottesville Granges
Penny and Maxwell are getting excited for Halloween.  For music class last Friday, they were invited to wear their costumes and enjoyed going as a nice witch with her favorite black cat. Penny has been really enjoying Halloween this year.  Some how she figured out that she would like to be a witch.  Many years ago, my mom sewed a darling with costume for my niece Carissa.  Since Carissa wore it, it has been worn by many other little girls.  Quite a history that little witch costume has.  Penny was delighted when Aunt Kathy mailed it to her to share and wear.  Penny figure out that she needed a broom and was equally as thrilled when I mailed a darling little broom that a friend had given me. It's the perfect size for a 2 year old witch.  The only thing that would make it funner would be to have Penny and Max knock on our door on Halloween for trick or treating.  We will just enjoy the photos until that day comes again.

Our Carmichael Thiots
Mackenzie has worked her magic on Halloween this year.  Keelie decided she would like to be little red riding hood this year and Callum wanted to be that handsome and brawny wood cutter who saved the day in rescuing grandmother.  When I got the pictures of them on Sunday, I just squilled when I saw how cute they were.  I only wish Charlie had Jake's Big Bad Wolf Costume that Tatia made last year.  It was awesome! What fun Halloween is with such cute grand kids.  Their ward had trunk or treat last Friday night so they got to try out their costumes and what fun decorations they did in the back of their car.  I hope you won the prize!  You got my vote!

L.A. Thiots
In the mail today came the cutest birth announcement from Adelaide Elizabeth.  What a sweet little girl she is.  Pierce is back to work on his second week after his six week break.  He said he is getting back in the groove but misses being home with his girls.  He sure enjoyed that time and Stacy and Adelaide loved it too.

Our San Fran Thiots
Sky and Kara had quite an adventure on Saturday. They were invited to a Grand Halloween party held at the California Academy of Science.  They each chaperoned four children and had quite a good time keeping up with the kids and enjoying the huge museum of Science.  They dressed up as Mr and Mrs Fox.  I'm hoping to get  a photo to share.  Kara made the amazing masks they wore.
Kara's fun mom and big sis Lauren came for a visit a few weeks ago.  They sure enjoyed having them there.  San Francisco is a fun place for visitors.  Lots to see and lots to do. Last weekend Sky and Kara took Saturday to attend the Oakland Temple.  What a beautiful temple.  Thanks for the photo.

We Empty Nesters
Dick and I had an amazing day together on Saturday.  We had a friend in our ward move to a different apartment and we got to help her move along with many other ward members.  I don't know how to make a move a fun thing, it's a lot of work, but I was sure glad we could be there to help her get settled in.  It was fun to put her things in her cupboards and organize her kitchen.  It made me realize how much my kitchen could use a reorganization.
Dick has been busy with work but was able to not go in on Saturday and spent the whole day with me.  I don't know how long it's been since we've had that time together.  It was nice, thanks Dick and I'm sorry your having to work double time to catch up.
I am looking forward to Halloween.  Aunt Bonnie and Uncle Dennis are coming to Dallas and we are hoping to see them on Halloween.  I can hardly wait!  Have a great week!  SLY Robynn

My Adventures for the Past 7 Weeks

 On August 21st, my sweet mom had valve replacement surgery.  I arrived in Salt Lake on the 27th the night before she came home from the hospital.  She came home on the 28th and I was blessed to spend the next seven weeks with her and dad.  It was kind of a roller coaster ride when she fell and fractured her hip and had to return to the hospital for 2 1/2 more weeks.  She went to the A "CUTE" Rehab at St. Marks hosptial. You had to be CUTE to get in and she  more than qualified.  The following are some photos and memories that we have of the past couple of months.  I came home on the 19th of October and I'm already lonesome.  It was wonderful to be there with mom and dad and so much family close by.  Thanks for letting me come Mom and Dad, I love you both so very much!

 ·         Surprise on the doorstep of Miss Adelaide Elizabeth, Pierce and Stacy made a surprise visit to Utah to visit Gram and let her meet their sweet little baby girl.  What a delightful Sunday afternoon that truly was. Another surprise six weeks later, Stacy and Adelaide came again.  Once again, we LOVED it!

·         Surprise at the A “Cute” care  of Skyler and Kara they drove all night to make a surprise get well visit to gram in the Acute Care Rehab Center at St. Marks.  Fastest 24 hours ever having them in town. We all LOVED it.

·         Guess Who’s coming to Dinner:  Elder Holland, Elder Bednare, Pres. Monson, Elder Anderson, Elder Christofferson.  Prior to General Conference, we spent each evening with a different apostle or prophet.  We loved learning more about them and listenting to prior Conference talks.  It brightened our spirits and helped us get ready for October Conference.

·         Kathy’s bracelets for Club Glenys.  My mom's dear friend, Kathy Sealey had been praying wondering what she could do to lift our spirits while in the hospital.  She was surely inspired when she thought of bring her bracellets and loom to teach us to make these fun braceletts with rubber bands.  Mom loved giving them to favorite nurses and visitors who came to see her.  We called them the Club Glenys bracellets.  I love wearing mine.

·         Crocheting blessing dress for doll for Adelaide. One of my favorite things was having mom teach me to crochet a little doll blessing dress for our little doll Adelaide.  My mom is great at this and she was able to help me make one.  I loved getting to phone Aunt Jerry when I had a question neither of us could figure out and I loved having Mom's friend Kathy help us too and then Aunt Darlene put the sweetest little pink roses on the top of it.  Loved doing that.

·         Watching Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.  We remembered going to Sundance Theatre to see the play but the movie was nearly as fun.  

·         Watching Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella,  Popcorn to boot.  What a delight when we found mom's copy of Cinderella.  The one with the darling Brandy playing Cinderella and Whoopie as the Princes Mom.  It was so fun to watch it together with Mom, Dad and Lani too.

·         Twinkle lights by the Cinderella Dolls.  Lani strung a string of lights on the bookshelf to add a bit of magic to mom's room. They lit up her Cinderella dolls that her great granddaughters gave her for her birthday last year.  So magical

·         Drive up the canyon to see the Autumn Leaves in their glory. Our last Sunday, we all piled in the car and once we got the seat belts functioning, we drove up the canyon past park city and down provo Canyon to see the beautiful Autumn leaves.  What a thrill that was to see them.  Thanks Dick for driving us.

·         Reading the History of Relief Society book before Breakfast.  Mom and I enjoyed reading a chapter each morning before breakfast.  It was interesting to learn more about the wonderful women who have served in Relief Society throughout the history of the church.

·         Having a Tender Mercy Watch, after listening to Elder Bednars talk on the Tender Mercy's, we set about watching for them.  We even put it as our goal on the board in mom's room. It awakened our minds to the  many many we were blessed with daily.

·         Celebrating Chris’ passing his citizenship test!  Go Chris  One of our favorite CNA's was from Peru.  he passed his Citizenship test one of the days we were with him and we loved celebrating with him.

·         Loving Aunt Jerry’s phone calls.  I loved getting to visit with Aunt Jerry on the phone  as she made frequent calls to get the update on mom.  What a great sister she is. 

·         Enjoying Uncle Mikes daily visits, a finer brother could not be found anywhere if you searched the world over.  Mike's daily visits were so appreciated and looked forward to.  In his quiet and calm way, he brings peace and love.  We especially loved the Saturday afternoon when he brought his two darling daughters and their little ones.  We loved having Madi, Avery, Layla, and Miles there with Pammy and Shelly.  We missed you Oliver and Emily. 

·         Looking forward to Darlene’s visits in her busy life. It was fun when she came to see Mom and brought a fun project for us to do.  I'll always love my darling fly swatter.  

·         Loved Kellie’s package delivered by her Grandma Smith.  Keelie and her mom put together the funnest get well project package and Mackenzie's mom delivered it to the hosptial to us.  We loved the silly putty,  the coloring book, the magic wand that glowed all through the night and espcieally the chap stick.  It was most helpful.  

·         Trading shifts with Dad, Laurie and Lani.  There are lots of folks who love my mom and it was fun to take turns.  I mostly liked it when we overlapped and were there together.

·         Tucking mom into bed at night with mentholadum and chap stick

·         Face Time with Tatia and Penny and Maxwell were fun.  We loved hearing Penny's cheery voice and seeing baby Maxwell learn to crawl.

·         Family prayer every night was a memory I will always cherrish.  We all hoped dad would call on us:)

·         Ric’s family visits were fun and we loved it when they came by.  We loved it when Morgan had a surprise visit and came to the hospital to see Gram too.  What a ray of sunshine she is

·         Cierra and Lucy Visits were loved.  We loved the darling pictures they brought to the hospital and everyone who came loved seeing them too.

·         Chips family visits x 2 were sure enjoyed.  Those sweet babies and darling Taylor can sure put a smle on Gram's face.

·         Dinner with Ila Fae was a fun evening.  Laurie made us some yummy rigatoni that was enjoyed by all.

·         Playing Druthers with everyone who stopped byJ

·         Making pumpkin Rolls for mom’s therapists, Cora, Christina, Bettina and Noel.  We made cute pumpkins from a roll of toilet paper and some fabric.  They turned out cute the the girls seemed tickeled with them

·         Planting little pansies in the back yard made us all smile.  I hunted for blue pansies and found a few we mixed with red and yellow and purple too. 

·         Watching handsome DOC on BYU-TV at 10:00 or 4:00 made for a good day.

·         Helping organize mom’s pills with Lani and lots of prayers, it took heavenly help to get all the pills sorted out correctly each day.  Thanks Lani!

·         Fun visitors, Aunt Marie, Visiting Teachers, Kathy & Steve Sealey

·         Uncle Boyd and Aunt Deannes visit with Laurie’s yummy snickerdoodles

·         Making Missionary ghosts for Elder Chan and his companion

·         Making Missionary Ghosts for Elder Jake and his companion and Lani’s Primary class

·         Laurie’s  Yummy stir fry dinner

·         Looking at Family History photos on Family Search

·         Enjoying and Printing 1940’s and 1950’s Birks family photos, thanks Uncle Bud

·         Organizing your fall/winter closet with Laurie’s wonderful help

·         Krista and her girls visits

·         Making applesauce with Krista and Aida and Brother Sealey and Dad.  We made quite a mess but made some deliciuos apple sauce that we froze.  Yummy!  

·         Jamie’s family service day,  picking up apples and pine cones

·         Taco Tuesday with Josh’s family

·         Dad’s 85th Burger King Birthday was lots of fun.  Mom wasn't feeling well enough to go so Uncle Mike came over and they watched the Man from Snowy River together during the party.  We all had a good time. 

·         Aunt Maries visit with her birthday book

·         Some of our favorite nurses and CNA’s  Lindsay, Chris, Brooke, Michelle, Elena, Amanda, Natalie.

·         Jeff and Jenn’s visits and pumpkin roll making party

·         Apple Fritter Day.  YUMMY!

·         Favorite Meals,  Cream Chip Beef on Toast,  Penne Pasta Mac and Cheese,  Meat Loaf and Baked Potatoes,

·         Worst meal, Lasagna but best company

·       Solar powered Dancing Scarecrows, pumpkins, witches, skeletons (not our favs)

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