A Very Thankful Week

Our Mansfield Thiots
I am sure thankful for our Mansfield Thiots.  On Wednesday,  we met up in Grapevine for lunch and I brought home with me three little Thiot girls to help me get ready for Thanksgiving.  They were thrilled that Grammy had Mary Poppins in her dvd player and they sang and danced along with Mary and Burt all the way home, (in car seats of course).  When we arrived home we were greeted by Kinsley Kate and her brothers.  It was soooo good to see them and we quickly talked Kinsley into staying overnight to help us ready for the morrow.  First on the docket was to check everybody in and put their things away for safe keeping.  Then we had a planning meeting and came up with a great list of fun things to do. I am so thankful that these little ones love to come to my house and help me.  I enjoyed every minute and we did get lots done.  Thank You Girls!

Our Charlottesville Granges
Tatia's family has been counting down the days for Thanksgiving eve.  Why you ask?  Well they had a special delivery arriving on Wednesday and what a great Surprise when they arrived earlier than they were expecting.  Skyler and Kara went to Charlottesville for Thanksgiving. From what I have heard, they truly hit the ground running and have packed in lots of good times and made lots of great memories.  Penny and Tatia spent Wednesday morning have a pie baking party.  Penny is in charge of making Penny's Perfect Pumpkin Pie and Tatia made her nearly famous Apple Pie.  I could almost smell them from the yummy photos you sent.  Thank you and I'm still smiling thinking of the Dallas Thiot's and the Charlottesville Granges being together.

Our Carmichael Thiots
It's a tradition in Carmichael to take a hike on Thanksgiving day either before feasting or afterwards. This year the hike was at Lake Clementine.  Now I know how tasty those little clementine oranges are so I'm guessing they may grown them close by.  Charlie sent some gorgeous photos of him and his two little turkeys who love hiking with him.  Grandpa Smith and Ian Smith also were invited on the hike and they all loved it and had a good time making great Thanksgiving memories.  I'm so thankful we were able to be with our Carmichael Thiots a few short weeks ago and enjoy a prequel to Thanksgiving with them.  I hope Callum realized on Thanksgiving that he really does Like Turkey.

Our Los Angeles Thiots
Stacy's parents and her Grandpa and his wife arrived in Sunny LA earlier this week to share a Thankful week with our LA Thiots.  Oh my goodness, do they know how to get a lot done in those few days together.  Pierce took the week off and they were able to really get their yard into shape.  It was great having good workers come.  They trimmed up all the vines that had been trying to overtake their back fence and were even climbing on the garage.  The amazing friend who built their benches brought the completed table over and it's on casters (wheels) so it can easily move about the yard. It looks amazing and I loved getting to face time with them to see it.  They went to see the Last Dinosaur on Thanksgiving Eve.  Adelaide has been noticing the signs for it all over town and was thrilled to go.  She loved it as did everyone.

Our Dallas Thiots
Tuesday night I got a phone call from Sky asking if we might be available to take them to the airport on Wednesday. Their flight was at 6:30 and they wanted to be there two hours early in case it was extra wild and crazy with the business of thanksgiving eve travel.  Nothing could have made me happier than to have shouted SURE!!  You see, I wake up crazy early and it was so much fun to have some fun people to be with when I'm awake.  Dick and I woke up at 3:20 and jumped into our clothes and drove down town and picked up our two darling holiday travelers.  They were so gracious to transport a package for me and I sure appreciated that.  They had an uneventful flight to our nations capital and rented a car and headed on the adventure to Charlottesville.  Thank Heaven for GPS on phones.  They did great and found those cute Charlottesville Granges in good time.  I loved getting to be Kara's sub at the temple yesterday.  It was fun pretending to be the  "little" Sister Thiot.  Thanks Kara!

We Plano Thiots
This has been an extra busy week for Dick.  DCS, a company he works for is placing their annual bid with the State of Texas.  Every few years they have to go through this horrendous process of bidding for the job.  It's gigantic to prepare and they even talked about having to work right through Thanksgiving.  Lukily, that didn't have to happen, but there were lots of early mornings and late nights.  Tomorrow is the day it goes to Austin. Dick doesn't have to go this year which he is pleased about and hopefully they will know if a few weeks if they got the bid and if all that work was truly worth it.
As I am typing we are starting our third day of rain in a row.  We broke the record for the most rainfall in the state of Texas ever this year.  Now that is interesting considering we are in a drought. The problem is the rainfall all came at the same times.  Not the best of planning weather men.  If we could spread out all this rain throughout the year instead of bringing it all at once, that would be much much better.  Let's hope 2016 can do a better job of it than 2015 did.  So far, we are not floating away and for that I am thankful.

Thanksgiving this year was extra special and extra exhausting for some reason.  Our company left about 8:30 and after putting the things in the fridge that needed to be there, I went to bed.  I have to get up at 4 on Fridays to be at the temple at 5:30 and I was pooped.  Dick promised to take care of things before he went to work on Friday.  Bless his heart, he returned the chairs and took our big table topped down and did the best he could to straighten up.  I came home exhuasted on Friday afternoon and couldn't even think about finishing up.   I subbed for Kara on Saturday morning so I went to bed early, got up early, came home exhausted again but I am glad to report that the dishes are done, the sink is clean, and I can see my counted tops again.  I think Stacy and Piece may have had the best idea of taking their company OUT to eat this year.  I'm going to look into that next year:)  I'm sure thankful for Dick and All his help and for everyone who came and brought parts of the feast.  It was a great day to count our blessings.  I hope you had a good one too.  SLY Robynn

1. Assemble gingerbread houses
2. Service project, gather acorns for Aunt Kara to use for Decorations at her friends wedding
3. Read Thanksgiving books, everyone got a turn
4. Clean and separate acorns
5. Go to Elliots Hardware to purchase Gold Spray Paint
6. Spray Acorns
7. Make Donuts for Breakfast with hot cocoa
8. Decorate Ginger Bread houses
9. Help Set Table
10. Write Thankful notes to everybody
11. Plan Treasure hunt
12. Go See The Last Dinosaur
13. Finish Brooklyn's turkey drawing project
14. Play on the tricky bars out back
15. Take Rocky for a walk
Oh my, I think I just figured out why I am feeling so tired.  What a lot of fun!

It's Almost Thanksgiving!

Our Mansfield Thiots
It's been a while since we've gotten together with our Mansfield Thiots.  It's been a crazy few weeks traveling about the country and so it was extra fun to spend the afternoon with them.  Several  months ago, I drove past a yard sale with a darling head board for sell.  I knew Becky was looking for one to move Harper into and so when I saw it, I sent her a photo and she liked it too.  It's taken this long to finally deliver it to them.  Dick borrowed a BIG RED TRUCK from Bob Graves at work and we drove it over.  It was fun riding in the truck and Ricky, Becky and Dick were able to put the bed together and while Becky ran to buy  a mattress pad, the boys disassembled Harpers crib and put it in the attic.  That was a tough moment for all of us.  Brooklyn, Addison, Harper and I worked on their thankful tree.  It was so fun to watch them write down things they were thankful for and hang it on their little tree.  I loved it girls.  We also started making some plans for a sleep over on Thanksgiving Eve and some things we want to do at Grammy Camp in December.  We are all getting excited.

Our Charlottesville Granges
Each time I talked with Tatia, she told me what a busy week she was having.  Now it was filled up with mostly wonderful things, just a LOT of them all at once.  Let me see if I can remember a few.  Monday was their good friend Gerrie's birthday.  She came and spent the day with them.  They took her to lunch, then home for birthday cupcakes and then a movie.  While she and the kids watched star wars, Tatia went to work making her a new birthday purse.  She usually carries her things in a shopping bag so she was THRILLED to have a darling new bag for her things.  I LOVED how it turned out.  Max needed a hair cut, so while Penny was at school, he and Oscar went to the barber shop and Mister Barber did in fact snip a little here, snip a little there, while Mister Max sat in his chair.  Max is still trying to decide if he likes his hair cut.  I told him sometimes it takes me two weeks to like a hair cut.  Tatia did a Christmas card photo shoot for a friend of hers this week and also hosted Girls Night Out on Saturday night where they painted these darling peg nativities.  You are right Tatia, it was a busy week and I'm tired just typing about it.  Go take a nap!

Our Carmichael Thiots
The weather has turned crisp in Carmichael and you know what happens to trees when that happens, the leaves are falling down.  It's Autumn Time, It's Autumn time, many colors can be found.  Charlie taught Keelie how to use the leaf blower this weekend and in between acting and singing in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor coat, she was blowing leaves into a huge jumping pile.  Now to get them bagged up.  There is something WONDERFUL about having a back yard filled with trees, but they are a lot of work in the fall, but fun work.  Keelie's final performance was Saturday night and Callum got to go with Charlie.  They both loved it and Charlie was wishing he could have recorded it for us all to watch too.  He said it was so well done and was so funny.  He went to the first performance and the last and loved them both.  Keelie is exhausted but happy.  I hope she can sleep in today.  I think they are all getting excited for the new Star Wars movie coming at Christmas.  FUN!

Our L.A. Thiots
I loved Pierce's new will it beard photo with those yummy waffle fries!  You are too fun!When Stacy's bracelet company celebrated it's one year anniversary, she had a special sale and in the first few hours, sold over 300 bracelets.  Of course everyone wanted them in 2 or 3 days so she hired some girl friends to come over and had a bracelet making party. Oh how I would have loved to have been there.  Pierce said Adelaide was a really good helper too.  She can put beads onto the wires, maybe not as fast the the big girls, but she is very skilled with those little hands. Congratulations on a great sale Stacy!  Something else fun happened this week. They hired a friend who moved into their old apartment to build them some benches to go around their fire pit in the back yard.  She got them done this week and it looks awesome!  I can't wait to go again and see them in person.  Pierce is already planning youth Firesides in the back yard, real firesides around the fire pit.  I love it!

Our Dallas Thiots
While we were in Mansfield  yesterday, we got this fun idea to go to Chuys for dinner.  We knew what would make it even more fun and that would be to have Sky and Kara there too.  We were thrilled when they were available and we made plans for a party of 9 at Chuys.  Saturday nights are busy there and we were glad we were part of the early bunch.  The food was great and the company even better.  Dick and I got to be at the "kids" table and we loved every minute.  I loved Saturday morning at the temple.  I was working the early bird shift and got to be the greeter when everyone arrived.  My favorite person to arrive was Kara and I LOVED giving the "little Sister Thiot" a big hug.  I love having two Sister Thiots in the temple on the 3rd Saturday of the month.  Such a joy to serve next to her.  Sky and I went to the newly opened CANES for lunch on Friday and I was excited to see Buddy the Elf decorations. I couldn't resist taking our pictures.  Thanks for humoring me Sky! I love our lunch dates.

We Plano Thiots
I'm glad to report after a week of feeling crummy, that I am feeling much improved.  Poor Dick is several days behind the recovery and is still not feeling his best.  It didn't keep him off the golf course when he was invited to play on Friday.  Maybe that is good medicine.  Saturday morning the ham radio class he has been helping to teach, took their tests and every class participant PASSED!  That was some good teaching Dick and Bob!  and some Smart classmates.  I'm always amazed at all the things Dick is involved in doing and how he can divide his brain to do them all.
After five weeks of being closed for renovations our Dallas Temple reopened this week.  I would like to say it looks awesome, but I will have to say the temple grounds are a mess. They have a redo of the grounds underway and it's going to look lovely they say by April. Until then we will have some tractor noise and mud to deal with.  Oh well, it will be worth it come April.  It was good to be back and serving with the sisters who I have grown to love on Friday morning.  I'm still not very good at making the schedule, but I'm getting better and I'm trying not to be so thrown for a loop when sisters can't come at the last minute.  It's the Lords work and it always works out.
Saturday was the bridal shower for my nephew Chandler's fiance.  I was sad not to be there but was glad I got to help too.  It's fun when even across the country you can do things like invitations and help with games.  I loved getting to help with the quilt, caring on my mom's tradition, when I was in town last week.  I love you already Miss Tesa.  I hope you've had a good week everybody and that you are looking forward to thanksgiving and are filling up your own thankful trees with all that our Heavenly Father has blessed you with. You are all on my thankful tree for sure.  Sure love you, Robynn

Thiot Traveling Times

Our Mansfield Thiots
Ricky has been on a business trip in San Francisco this week and Becky and the Girls have been "Home Alone."  They are looking forward to Ricky's return later today.  Ricky got to stay an extra day and Becky's Parents drove to San Fran and spent the day with him doing touristy things together. They saw the house where they filmed the TV show Full House many years ago.  Ricky was quite thrilled with that. San Francisco is a  magical town.  Pierce and Stacy and Sky and Kara all loved their time they lived there.  Hurry Home Ricky!  We miss you!

Our Charlottesville Granges
It was a busy week in Charlottesville with trips to the library, a sparkley birthday party and trips to the park to play sprinkled in with a couple of lunch dates.  Penny said to Tatia one day after a trip to the library,  "Mama, I didn't know this was going to be such a great day."  I loved it.  What fun to make every day a great day for three little children.  Best job ever! They are getting excited for Thanksgiving.  They've been adding to their Thankful Tree every night at dinner time.  I love that fun way of counting your blessings!

Our Carmichael Thiots
What a delight it was to spend a few days with Charlie and  his sweet kidos.  I LOVE this picture that Charlie snapped unknown to me of us jumping Callum over the cracks in Charlie's office parking lot. Fall is in full bloom in Sacramento.  It was so fun to see the trees dressed in their best colors.  We got to take Keelie to her dress rehersal for the play she is in this month.  Opening night was Friday night and she did great.  I only wish we could have been there to cheer her on.  Way to go Keelie! Keelie also had a fun raiser at school this week where they had sponsers donate an amount for each lap Keelie could run. She ran 27 laps and raised a LOT of money for her school.  RUN KEELIE RUN!!!!

Our L.A. Thiots
Our time in Los Angeles went by way to quickly.  We enjoyed every second of our time with Pierce and Stacy and Adelaide.  She is a fun two year old and I loved that she wanted me to sit by her in the car.  When Penny was little, she always wanted me to sit by her too.  That always made me smile.  I loved getting to give Lady a tubby,  going to the beach and I loved cooking marshmallows on the fire with her, but my favorite was the morning we got to take her to the LA Temple to the visitors center, just Dick and I.  We loved our day with her.  I loved Pierce's pic as a tribute to the memory of those who lost their lives in Paris this week.  Our hearts are sure turned to them.

Our Dallas Thiots
Skyler is in Salt Lake this weekend and so Kara and I got to spend some time together on Saturday. She had a sewing project she wanted help with and I LOVE being her sewing buddy.  We made a black lace slip for her to wear with the dress she is wearing at her friends wedding next month.  She is helping her coordinate the whole event from making her cake, to arranging the flowers and even officiating the marriage.  WOWSERS!  Kara, you are amazing!  Thanks for coming over.  Kara brought me some copies of the photos they had taken last December.  I LOVE them.

We Plano Thiots
Early Saturday morning, we headed north to the soccer fields in Frisco to watch our two favorite kindergarten boys play their final soccer game of the season.  They did amazing.  It was such fun to watch them and get to cheer them on. Go Luke and Owen!  I also loved getting to sit next to Kinsley Kate and catch up with her.  She just had her tubes removed from her ears the day before and wasn't feeling her best but she is so fun.  She asked me if I could teach her sewing lessons.  She is hoping that Santa might bring her a sewing machine.  She has great plans and now I've got two little girls who want to learn to sew.  Keelie and Kinsley!  My two K girls.  And as mentioned above, I LOVED getting to sew with my other K girl, Kara yesterday.  Tatia was sewing a darling purse for one of Penny and Max's friends on Friday morning when I visited with them and she said how much she loves to sew.  That made me happy too.

Dick was invited to play golf on Saturday afternoon and he had a great time.  He left at 4:00 this morning was a quick trip to Las Vegas for a conference there.  He got some sad news on Friday that his friend a business associate Larry Wilcox passed away.  He will fly to Salt Lake on Monday morning to speak at Larry's funeral and then back to Vegas Monday evening to finish the conference. Larry was one of the most brilliant men to ever come to this earth.  He is going to be missed by all who knew and loved him.   Good Luck Dick on your busy next few days!  Sure love you, Robynn

Halloween Week

Our Mansfield Thiots
What a fun Halloween Week it has been in Mansfield.  Starting on Wednesday night when the Mansfield Wards met at their church parking lot for the annual Trunk or Treat.  The girls were so excited and each of them got the prettiest hair dues and make up from Becky who did an outstanding job.  Brooklyn was Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz and I think she fell in love with the costume because it came with a darling basket and a sweet little Todo puppy.  Addison who was Elsa last year, decided to be Anna this year and looked beautiful.  When Becky put mascara on her blond eye lashes, her eyes came to life.  WOWSERS, she has long lashes.  Miss Harper wanted to be Rapunzel and what a beautiful one she was.  Her hair is getting so long that she didn't even need to use the wig they had.  Three darling little girls.  Friday night it was Boo Fest at the Girls School.  Last year Addison had been sick and wasn't able to go so she was delighted to be healthy and get to go this year. Saturday the girls had their last soccer games and that afternoon/evening they attended the funnest Halloween Party hosted by some friends.  Last year Ricky won the costume contest, he had to return his trophy for the new winner.  This year he and Becky went as Guns and Roses.  If that wasn't enough fun, Ricky went to a Vanilla Ice concert with some friends afterwards.  That was the first cassette tape he ever owned,  Ice Ice Baby.  I hope it did not disappoint.

Our Charlottesville Granges
I spent a wonderful week with our Charlottesville Granges and returned home early Wednesday morning.  It was so fun to be with them and see how excited they were for Halloween.  They went with the family theme of Sesame Street.  Tatia and Jake wore some fun Burt and Ernie hats and Penny went as Abbie Cadabby, the darling magical fairy and Maxwell picked Cookie Monster.  He has been practicing eating like cookie monster to get into the roll really well.  I bet you can guess who Oscar was, yes he was the sweetest and nicest little Grouch in all of Virginia.  Tatia said with a name like his, this might be the only year they could pull off this theme.  She made him the cutest hat with the perfect eyes and eyebrows.  So fun.  The Library where they attend story time had a fun pumpkin contest.  You could dress up your pumpkin like a character in a favorite story book.  Penny found a great pumpkin that reminded us of Llama Llama and what fun that was.  They didn't award prizes but I think they should have won an all expense paid trip to Peru to meet some real llamas.  It was great.  The Charlottesville 2nd Ward hosted a trunk or treat fall festival on Wednesday night, then the Library had a harvest party on Friday and they had friends come to town on Saturday to spend the weekend with them.  Party on Granges!

Our Carmichael Thiots
In Preparation for the new Star Wars movie coming soon to a theatre near you, Keelie and Callum voted on dressing up as Princess Leah and R2D2.  Mackenzie is a remarkable costume lady.  She figured out just how to make them both thrilled with their ideas.  What a clever mom.  I love Keelie's pony tails twisted just right to make a perfect Princess Leah.  It was a nice day on Halloween and Callum decided he wanted to take a swim at gym pool.  Oh my it was a little coolish but he loved it.  He did not wear his costume in the pool.  Next Sunday at this time we will be waking up in Carmichael California.  I can hardly wait to see these two darling grands of mine.

Our L.A. Thiots
The movie the Nightmare Before Christmas had a special event at a lovely theatre in Los Angeles. They had snow falling in the theatre when it snowed in the  movie and lots of special effects.  Our LA Thiots were able to attend and had decided to become characters from the movie for their Halloween costumes.  Oh my goodness, they all three looked so GOOD.  If they ever do a sequel of the movie, I bet they will be knocking on your door to enlist your talent. Last weekend was their ward activity and Pierce was enlisted to help the young men with the spook alley.  He loved it and they did a really good job of spooking everybody who came through.  I can't wait to see you all on Tuesday night.  Lady, get ready for lots and lots of Grammy hugging time.

Our Dallas Thiots
Dick and I got to have lunch at the Golden Chick with Skyler on Friday.  When I picked him up and took a trick or treat to his office, I got to see their fun decorations.  I loved the bats on the door and the moon.  I can see why all these creative people love to work there.  Thanks for the lunch date Sky.  On Saturday Sky called Dick and invited him to attend the Stars Hockey Game in the afternoon.  He had WON two 2nd Row Seats to the game.  This is the view from their seats.  WOWSERS!  Dick lucked out as Kara is not so much a hockey fan.  Dick rode the train downtown and Skyler met him there.  They had a fun time and the Stars even WON!

We Plano Thiots
Dick still loves to dress up for  Halloween and this year saw a clever idea in Mansfield on Wednesday night.  Can you guess what he is?  I might have a prize for the first correct guesser.  He enjoyed passing out some treats to his work associates on Friday.  He loved the GREAT seats Sky won to the game and was sure thrilled to be invited to go.

Our Sister Missionaries were sure cute at our Ward Trunk or Treat.  Mary Poppins and a darling chimney sweep were both a hit.  We loved seeing all the cute children and passing out treats.  We had a first at our home this year, Not ONE SINGLE TRICK or TREATER came.  We were glad we had gone to the church to see so many.
It's been good to be  home and we are looking forward to Tuesday when we head West to see our kids that direction.  Have a great week and Happy November 1st! Sure Love you,  Robynn