Remember, God is Good!

Our Mansfield Thiots
June 29, 2009 our sweet Addison Mae Thiot joined our family.  It's hard for this Grammy to believe that tomorrow, you will be 11 years old.  She has been a delight every day of her life and I love these pictures on her very first birthday.  I'm looking forward to seeing her tomorrow and giving her a great big birthday hug.  She has been accepted into the STEM program in the Mansfield School District starting this fall.  She has an amazing mind and is going to really love the challenge that will bring to her.  She is one lucky girl to have both a big sister and a little sister who both adore her.  Have a
Happy Birthday Addie Mae!   

 Our Medford Granges
Look Mom, NO CAVITIES is what the big four were shouting as they came out of the dentist office this week after having their teeth cleaned and polished.  Way to go Tatia and Jake for teaching them great tooth care skills.  Simon sprouted his first tooth this week!  I'm sure Gracie won't be far behind. Tatia had an extra "fun" day on Thursday.  They have friends in their ward who have twins who are Charlie's age, almost three years old.  They needed a sitter for the day while the mom had a medical procedure done in Eugene Oregon which is several hours away.  Tatia volunteered to watch them, so on Thursday, thankfully, Jake's day of, they had 8 little ones 9 and under.  WHEW! she survived and everyone had a great day.  Tatia also found time this week to finish three baptism dolls for three very special little girls upcoming baptism days.  My mom started this tradition and Tatia is so kind and talented to carry it on! Thank you T!

Our Carmichael Thiots

Have you ever noticed how some crazy things seem to come in 3's?  Well this week was no exception.  Jen had two, yes two flat tires on her truck and then on Saturday, Charlie was doing some bike maintenance, and the tire he was changing, exploded and made some excitement and additional repairs needed on the rims.  Charlie is a very patient man and loves to fix things.  He's been enjoying his rubix cube in his free minutes.  He and Callum and loving challenging each other in solving it.  I loved this photo Charlie sent to Pierce on his birthday.  He thanked Pierce for making him a big brother.  What a great big brother you are Char!

 Our LA Thiots
June 27, 1986 was a very wonderful day in our family.  It was the day our Pierce Jackson Thiot joined our family.  His family has a lot of  celebrating during May and June with both Mothers Day and Fathers Day and all four of their birthday packed together too.They are having a wonderful extended stay in beautiful Utah this month.  Adelaide wanted to go for her birthday and it overflowed into Pierce's birthday. Stacy's aunt and cousins all live on a cul-de-sac in Orem and they have included them in all their fun this month.  They went to Deer Creek Reservoir on Saturday for some boating and Adelaide got to try wake boarding for the first time.  She and Pierce were on the board together and were fabulous.  Jackson learned to ride his new two wheeler with no training wheels this week.  I made him promise not to ride it on Garbage day.  Pierce and Jackson loved mowing everyone's yard in the cul-de-sac with their awesome riding mower.  When he and Stacy lived there while they were in school, he loved being the snow plow for everybody.  I can see why they like him to stay.  Have a great rest of your vacation!

Our Oak Lawn Thiots
This has been a big week for Skyler and Kara.  Kara has been involved in an  AP English training Seminary on line all week which means that Skyler and Elie need to be extra quiet or outside.  The weather was not too cooperative for outside so it was my very lucky week to have them come and spend some days with me.  I loved making play dough, making a shape book with Elie and getting to fill up the pool and even being squirted with the hose by Miss Elie.  Note to self, do NOT give a hose to a 3 year old unless you don't mind being squirted.  Skylers new t-shirt shipment arrived on Friday afternoon and as soon as Kara's class was finished, The T-shirt operation began.  I helped print labels and was not too helpful so I continued with Elie Entertainment.  I did get to help fold the 600 shirts which is my favorite part.  Graypa and I got to fold early Saturday morning and had them ready for the packaging department when they arrived later Saturday morning.  I love the variety of colors had them printed on.  We have packages galore upstairs waiting for the post office to open Monday morning!  Soooo fun!

We Plano Thiots
This week my mom and dad's 41st great grandchild arrived straight from heaven.  A sweet little baby girl gave Morgan and Chase three beautiful baby girls.  They names her Sawyer Lou and she is already home and is loving being spoiled by her big sisters Heidi and Ella.  Having 3 aunties in the hospital this week has made for some get well card making parties.  I love these three dear aunties and am hoping and praying for their recoveries.  Friday was my mom's 6th anniversary of her Heaven day.  Our family found meaningful ways to think about her and remember how much we love her and how much she taught us.(see blog entry below)  We loved getting to think of Pierce on his big day on Saturday.  What fun technology is to get to face time and get photos all day of the fun things he and his family were doing to make it a great day.  I hope you've had a week with good reasons to celebrate God's goodness too.  SLY Robynn

Today is Mom's Heaven Day 6th Anniversary

June 26, 2014 + 6 years =June 26, 2020

1. Wear something Pink and perhaps with Pearls

2. Eat a Happy Meal

3. Watch a Jeoparty Show, bonus points if you can find a Ken Jennings Rerun

4. Watch the Price is Right and see if you can bid closest without going over

5. Listen to a child you love read a book

6. Watch the last movie Gram watched, Pillow talk with Rock Hudson and Doris Day

7. Make and give away Rice Crispy Treats

8. If you are feeling brave, grab some tissues and watch Grams DVD

 What a great day it was to spend thinking about Mom on June 26th.  We had lots of people wearing pink with a string of pearls and there were lots of happy meals eaten.  Laurie made delicious cocokrispy rice krispy bears for her grandchildren to remind them that Gram loved them Beary Much. Charlie even wore his sweet pink flowered socks while Sky and PJ sported their pinkest shirts. Josh made duck toast slathered in butter just how Gram loved to make it.  I love our baby girls rocking in their rockers from Mom and Dad.  Laurie shared a picture she took at the Hogle Zoo.  She took Mom and Dad just two weeks before she went to heaven. I loved that our brand new Baby Sawyer came home from the hospital on Grams's heaven day.  I'm guessing that Sawyer had some snuggling time with Gram before she came to earth.  I loved that Cousin Pammy sent me this darling photo with Gram and her boys taken a the summer before she died.  Loved it!  Thank you all for joining your thoughts with mine.

Happy Fathers Day to you Great Dads!

 Our Mansfield Thiots
Happy Fathers Day to Ricky! Our Mansfield Thiots returned on Tuesday after a wonderful trip to the beach in Alabama.  They all got plenty of sunshine and it was so nice to be in such a beautiful part of the country,  We were glad they were back in time to have a Fathers Day Eve celebration with us on Saturday night.  We filled up the pool and made some k-bobs and had a really fun time together.  It was so good to have everyone at our home.  It had been a while and it almost felt normal again!

 Our Medford Granges
Happy Fathers Day to Jake!  What fun it will be to have six little Granges to help you have a wonderful Fathers Day! Gracie and Simon celebrated their Six Month Birthday on Saturday.  I can't believe they have been in our family for one half of a year.  They are the nicest, sweetest little babies and have been so much fun.  Penny put some finishing touches in her room this week.  She put up a gallery wall by choosing so many of her favorite things.  I love that she lined her books up like a rainbow, looks soooo pretty.  Tatia has been working on a project for my mom this week.  Before she died, she made little dolls out of clothes pins for the girls getting baptized.  Tatia is continuing her tradition by making five more for the five girls being baptized this year.  What a labor of love, thanks T! 

 Our Carmichael Thiots
Happy Fathers Day Charlie! Charlie is trying to get used to being back to work after such a wonderful week at Lake Combie last week.  So  many good memories. I have enjoyed all the pictures that Charlie has shared. It' has almost felt like I was there too. Charlies been busy making some new t-shirts.  He has got his silk screen machine working and has done some fun things.  He sent Dick a couple for Fathers Day.  Very nice work Char!

 Our LA Thiots
Happy Fathers Day Pierce! Pierce made Adelaide's Birthday wish come true this week. She was hoping to celebrate her 7th birthday in Utah.  So on Wednesday night, they loaded up their van with everything fun they could fit inside and at 6:40 pm headed east to Utah.  The kids fell asleep pretty quickly and they drove all night long.  I was praying all the deer were asleep too and not doing any sleep walking onto the high ways.  Thankfully they cooperated and they had a safe trip.  They arrived at 5:00 in the morning right before the sun started peeking over the beautiful mountains.  They had an out door movie night for Adelaide's birthday and everyone loved it.  Pierce and Stacy snuck off for some kayaking at a gorgeous lake and loved that too.  The fun isn't over  yet!  Party On!

 Our Oak Lawn Thiots
Happy Fathers Day Skyler! Skyler got a sling this week to help his broken arm be a bit more comfortable.  He's been very faithful at doing his physical therapy to try to keep his mobility in his elbow.  He is trying to learn to do things one  handed but somethings like putting on socks and tying your shoes really need both hands.  Kara has been wonderful at lending one of hers to help him.  I was quite impressed with the Pringles Ringle that he built at our Fathers Day celebration.  Pretty fun and he did it single handed.  Have you tried that yet? Elie has been so excited for her cousins to come to Grammys to play.  They had such a fun time in the pool with 100 water balloons.  Oh  my goodness, they have sure improved how to blow up water balloons. Pretty Tricky business!

We Plano Thiots
Happy Fathers Day Dick! I love this picture of him after he returned from his bike ride one day this week.  Your hair is awesome! This birthday week began with Aunt Jerry's Birthday on the 17th, and it was followed by Adelaide's on the 18th and continues with Pierce next week on the 27th followed closely behind by Addison on the 29th.  June has lots of wonderful people born then.  Dick and I loved making a birthday video for Aunt Jerry and we loved the one Stacy and Pierce made for Adelaide on her birthday.  She had soooo many people who love her wish her a special day.  I love watching it over and over! I got to make strawberry jam this week and I even loved putting tutu's on them to give away to people I love.  We loved having our Texas Thiots for dinner on Saturday night.  Dick made his famous Fathers Day k-bobs ane they did not disappoint.  Yum.  I made some ice-cream for desert and Kara brought some amazing cookies that were a HIT!  It was so good to be altogether again.  We missed our Medford, Carmichael and LA Thiots. 
My Dad's sister,  my Aunt Marie had her knee replaced on Monday.  The doctors sent her home on Tuesday and she did OK for a few days and then started to struggle.  She is back in the hospital as of Friday night and is in our prayers.  Aunt Deanne, my dad's brother Boyd's wife is still in the hosptial after suffering a bad stroke.  She is struggling.  It's so hard the visitors at hospitals are so limited.  Only one hour a day can she have anyone to be with her.  So hard.
We are going to have a ZOOM Fathers Day Family visit this afternoon.  Everyone has been invited to put something in a brown paper bag that reminds them of their dad.  Some thing he taught them, something they love about him, I'm looking forward to seeing everyone this afternoon. 
Today is our first day to get to attend church again for 3 months.  That's a long time.  I'm looking forward to seeing so many people that we love and getting to be together.  I hope you too will enjoy celebrating the fathers in your family today.  I love thinking about my dad on Fathers Day.  He was such a great Father and friend.  Happy Fathers Day in Heaven! SLY Robynn

Let Freedom Ring!

 Our Mansfield Thiots
At four o'clock on Thursday afternoon, The Mansfield Thiots headed south east for a trip to Alabama and Florida Coast.  I asked Brooklyn to send me a picture as soon as she saw water!  I love that she did.  They've had a great time at the beach and loved hunting for ghost crabs on Saturday night in the dark.  They caught one and were thrilled!  I love that Ricky is bringing back Pukka Shells.  You look great!  Have a wonderful week! We are hoping to get many Marco Polo messages telling us about your adventures this week.  Be Safe and Enjoy!

 Our Medford Granges
This was a great week in Medford.  Jake had taken the week off in hopes of fulfilling their Christmas gift of a trip to an amusement park where he had gone as a little boy, however the park is not open yet and so they decided a camp out would be a great replacement.  The three big kids packed up with Jake and had a wonderful camp out in such a pretty place.  The nights were cool, but they were prepared and stayed cozy in their sleeping backs and hats.  Charlie Boy and the Twinners stayed home with Tatia and had Charlie Camp.  Hot Dogs and S mores a plenty  One of the exciting parts of the week was Tatia's new printer arrived and as you can see, Max was the IT guy and everyone got to  pick something fun to print.  There printer didn't handle the move to well, so they have been anxious to print.  They made this whole set of Nickelodeon cubes.  They loved them.  As you can tell by Oscars face, they were a hit!  Penny has started reading the Anne of Green Gables series and just like her mama is loving them.  I love Max's wall in his bedroom.  Looks great Max!

 Our Carmichael Thiots
Every time I think about Charlie this week, I have a giant smile sweep across my face.  They have spent the week at Lake Combie and had a blast.  Jen's brother came from Utah with his three little kids and Jen's parents have been wonderful hosts in making it such a fun week for everybody.  Each day they had a different theme and just made a lot of magic happen in that beautiful place on earth.  Jen's dad grew up on Lake Combie and he loved sharing it with everybody.  Callum became quite a fisherman and Keelie and Lilly and friend were wonderful helpers in the kitchen when they weren't enjoying the lake.  What a magical week they've had.  Tonight Jen's parents are having them over for Sunday dinner and Charlie is making a slide show to share with all the pics he took during the week.  I've loved that Charlie and Jen shared photos with us all week. So glad you had a wonderful week.

 Our LA Thiots
I had the TV on one day this week and a commercial for Kroger Grocery stores came on and there was Pierce!  He was shopping at Krogers picking out tomatoes   I loved seeing him on the commercial, then I watched the Pioneer Woman Cooking show and that cute Pioneer Woman was wearing a bracelet that looked like Stacy's Bracelet shop made.  You LA Thiots are famous! Adelaide got her early birthday present with her dad building her a butterfly house.  She is so thrilled and so proud of her daddy for building it.  She also took her first bike ride to the beach this week.  WOWSERS, that's quite a ride and she did it.  Later in the week the whole family biked to the beach and had a great day there.  Adelaide is counting down the days until her 7th birthday on Thursday.  Just five more days!!! 

 Our Oak Lawn Thiots
This has been a real roller coaster week for Skyler and his family.  After having his bike stolen twice, he decided maybe it was time for a new bike.  He found exactly what he was wishing for and bought it and then two days later his shoe got stuck in then nifty pedals and he fell and landed on his elbow breaking his bone right below his elbow.  Very painful break and there isn't much they can do for it.  They don't cast it or even give him a sling but want him to keep moving it so it doesn't freeze up his elbow.  OUCH. Please keep that left elbow in your prayers for him.  Miss Elie woke up one day this week and had worn her Christmas footie PJ's to bed and when she woke up she could see her toe.  She told her dad she needed to go to Grammy's so she could fix her Jammies.  Nobody could have been happier than this Grammy to  put a heart patch on her jammies.  I'm not sure how long it will last, but we can try try again.  I love the snazzy bike rack Sky bought to store his bike in the closet where nobody can swipe it.  Sky also traded in his little black car for a newer and bigger white car.  Elie calls it Elinors car.  She has good taste!  Hope you feel better soon Sky! Thanks for taking good care of him Kara and Elie!

 We Plano Thiots
We taught our last make up lessons in Seminary this week and afterwards, Linda, my teaching buddy said she had heard about a water fall that was not too far away and wondered if I wanted to go with her to find it.  YES!!! was my reply.  We found the address and headed out.  It was only 17 minutes from our house and it was in a beautiful place that made you feel almost like you were in the mountains.  It was a shady path and we had a great time there.  I got to do a bit of ministering this week and made some bread and took jars of my yummy strawberry freezer jam to the sisters I love.  It was nice to get out of my house and think about others for the afternoon. I got to practice my chalkboard art on Saturday and loved making our home look a bit more patiriotic to let freedom ring right here.

I got a message on Wednesday that my Aunt Deanne suffered a massive stroke during the night.  Aunt Deanne is married to Uncle Boyd who is my dad's younger brother.  They are the sweetest couple who you never see apart.  This has been so hard for Uncle Boyd to not be able to be right beside her in the hospital as they have to be so careful with visitors.  We are all praying she will be able to come home soon.       I loved this picture of Tina and her Dad getting to video chat with Aunt Deanne.  They  have since moved her to a floor where they can come for short visits.  Uncle Boyd and Tina are both good medicine for Aunt Deanne.  What a hard time this is to be in the hospital.

Our new shutters arrived this week and they really made a difference in our bathroom who has been patiently waiting for 29 years for window coverings.  I love my letter press board Sister Higbee gifted me with on our last day of Seminary.  So fun!  My baby sister Lani had her birthday yesterday.  I love that gorgeous birthday cake that Jamie Cline made for her.  WOWSERS!  Five layers of deliciousness.  What talent.  She loved her Happy Birthday poster with all 40 of her grand neices and nephews who every one adore her!  She is the very best Auntie Ever! My sister Lani and Kara's mom Sherry both share the same birthday.  Special people are born in June Pierce told me.  I agree! Today is June 14th, Flag Day is celebrated on this day.  I have always loved the Flag of America.  When Ricky was a tiny boy, he loved looking for flags as we drove about.  He would always say, "Look, there is the Flag of America"  I love looking for flags to and love to remember that is symbolizes

Justice and Liberty for ALL.  I'm praying our country can remember that in their hearts and reach out in love and kindness to ALL! I'm going to put up my flag!  Sure love you, Robynn

Let There Be Peace on Earth

Our Mansfield Thiots

Our sweet Harper turned 8 years old this week. It amazes me how quickly those 8 years have passed by.  When I look at her baby pictures, it doesn't seem that long ago.  She was thrilled with all her gifts and is looking forward to her baptism next month.  Becky's parents are out of town this week and so they are house sitting and invited some friends for a pool and movie party at Nana and Papa's lovely home.  They watched Moana in the pool and loved it! Ricky had picked JAWS, but was overruled by the girls.  Smart Girls!

 Our Medford Granges
The last day of school was Wednesday and it's warming up in Medford and they are sure enjoying their swimming pool.  One of Tatia's friends had some surgery this week and so Tatia had two of her children for the day.  Penny and Max were both thrilled to have good friends with them.  Max reopened his Rock Shop and had fun selling some of his special rocks and Penny and Caroline loved playing with the babies and then did a sewing project of making masks for themselves and their dolls.  What fun! The twiners got bumbo seats this week and started trying some food.  Bananas was first on the agenda and they have now tried pears too.   YUMMY!  Everyone enjoyed National Donut Day by making blueberry muffins.   YUM!

 Our Carmichael Thiots
Jen's family invited Charlie's family at the lake house this weekend.  I'm waiting for some new pics but these from Memorial Day will hold their places. Charlie said they weren't out of the car for five minutes before the kids had launched the paddle boat and were off to explore the shoreline.  The lake is such a fun place for families.  I'm glad they are having a good time together.  Callum caught a fish and Charlie helped Jen's nephew catch a fish too.  Those California Strawberries look sooooo good Be safe!

 Our LA Thiots
As soon as Pierce got word, from his mother, that it was National Donut Day, he and the kids jumped in their clothes and headed to their favorite donut shop, Royal Donuts, and treated themselves to a fun collection of donuts.  I got to go along on Face Time and Adelaide showed me her favorite place to hide in the donut store.  The shop owners love our LA Thiots and welcome them their often.  What fun!  Adelaide is the next birthday coming up.  She is counting the days until she is seven years old!

 Our Oak Lawn Thiots
Kara took a quick day trip to Austin this weekend to see a friend who needed some cheering up.  Kara is great at that and I'm sure had a good time.  Sky and Elie came over for some shirt and hat packing up.  Graypa got to help with some orders and Elie and I got to be partners.  We blew up the swimming pool and filled it with water and turned on the bubble machine and life was good for a while.  Then she decided she "needed" to make a book.  She reminds me of Brooklyn as a little girl.  Brooklyn always remembered what we had done the last time she came to Grammy's house and wanted to do the very same things the next time.  Elie made a book last time so we made a book this time.  This time it was about how "Cousins Make the VERY BEST Friends."  We printed pictures of all her Thiot Cousins, and glued them into her book.  Oh my, she loved it and we nearly wore it our reading it.  She loved telling me all about her cousins.

We Plano Thiots
 June 3rd, 1955 was my parents wedding anniversary.  Sixty five years ago they were sealed for time and eternity in the Salt Lake Temple.  I loved thinking about them and loved putting mom's beautiful Bride doll on the table with her bridal picture. Mom made her bride doll and the dress is made from mom's wedding dress.  It's sooo beautiful and I love having it.  I picked up some bundtlets from Nothing Bundt Cake and Jeff and Jenn took me up on my offer to send one to my siblings.  So yummy!

My Dad's Mother  was born on June 5th 1898 in Provo, Utah.  She was born to John Quinney Whipple and Sarah Amanda Conrad.  She was named Minnie Maude Whipple after a beautiful river. She had 12 sisters and one brother, George.  How I love my Grandma Birks.  I used to love playing with her button jar.  Today, I have a button jar that is filled with buttons in one of her blue canning jars.  I love that I have grandchildren that love to play with my button jar, as I loved hers.  She loved to can, well I'm not sure she loved it, but she had a lovely garden and she couldn't stand to have food go to waste.  Laurie reminded me of a story when she was staying with us when we were younger, we were doing the dishes and there was a tiny bit of rice left, Laurie didn't think it was enough to even worry about saving, but Grandma was sure it would be a nice start to another meal.  Grandma was always wearing an apron and was ready to cook for whoever walked into her home.  She was loved by her many many grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  She always sent us a birthday card on our birthdays with a crisp one dollar bill inside.  What a very kind, loving and thoughtful woman. Grandma died on April 21, 1987.

Our new bathroom windows arrived this week.  Oh my goodness, they are beautiful.  The installers that came were so quick and efficient.  They did a really nice job.  I was having Seminary and was afraid it would be so noisy but it was not.  We have two students who needed to make up some seminary days and we've had a delightful week whizzing through the Book of Mormon with them.  We get to meet again this week and then they will be caught up.  My teaching partner Linda has been the teacher and she makes everything meaningful and wonderful.  I look forward to it every morning.  It's especially nice at 9:00 instead of 6;00.  Dick and I drove home from Skyler's by way of the Dallas Temple.  It's reopened for Sealing only but the parking lot was open so you could have your own Parking lot session.  I loved being on the temple grounds.  The Temple is sure my happy place.  With all the unrest and hard things happening in this world right now, it was so good to feel the peacefulness that the temple brings.  God is Good and must be so sad with all that is happening to his children.  Let's pray for peace on earth and let it begin with us.  SLY robynn