Our Mansfield Thiots in Redding
Ricky's family woke up EARLY on Christmas eve and boarded a plane to Oakland, California where they were met by Nana and Papa Jensen and the Christmas fun began. They've had a wonderful week in Redding California and have been able to see lots of family and friends. The girls have loved the four wheelers and loved the trips to the mountains and the fresh Christmas snow to play in. They have learned to shoot bb guns and Ricky even took the challenge and did a back dive into the swimming pool to win the polar bear dive award of the week. It's been a fun filled Christmas week. They will be home later this week and we are excited.
Tatia's family stayed home for Christmas this year and boy are we glad that they did as we went to Charlottesville for Christmas. We have spent Christmas in Cancun Mexico and in Salt Lake before, but this was our first Charlottesville Christmas. What a beautiful place and what perfect hosts to be with for the week of Christmas. We packed a lot of fun and made lots of good memories and mostly just enjoyed being together. We want to give a special shout out to Delta Airlines for giving us an extra night in Virginia because of delayed flights. Nothing could have made us happier!
Our Carmichael Thiots in Carmichael
Charlie has had to work a lot over the holidays but they have had a wonderful week. Mackenzie's brother Uncle Ian and her sister Keltzie and her fun hubby have been "Home for the Holidays" and they have loved getting to spend time together. Santa was very kind and the kids have been loving playing with their new Christmas toys. Keelie got a skate board and rollerskates and Callum a new train with an amazing crane. They are happy kidos. Maybe the very best news of Christmas was the news that the sellers of the home they made an offer on accepted their offer and they are now going through the process of inspecitions and loan stuff to become home owners in the next few weeks. Happy Days!!!
Our L.A. Thiots in Utah
Pierce's family stayed at home until Christmas afternoon sos they could carry on their Christmas tradition of surfing and playing on the beach on Christmas morning and then packed up their bags and headed to St. George, Utah where Stacy's family was meeting at her Grandfather's home there. They stayed there a couple of days and then traveled north to Salt Lake to spend the rest of the week. They are staying with my little sister Lani and she is loving having them there with her. She loves watching Miss Adelaide who is enchanted with Lani's beautifully decorated home. Pierce is hoping to catch some time on the slopes skiing or snow boarding and Stacy and Adelaide are looking forward to lots of cousin time.
Our Dallas Thiots in Morocco
Casa Blanca is the setting that Sky and Kara choose to celebrate their third Christmas and anniversary together. They have had an almost magical week since they left on Christmas Eve for northern Africa. I must admit, I would have been happier with a bit "safer" location but they have had a wonderful time and promised not to bring home any bugs. They return tonight at 10:30 and I can't wait to see them and hear all about their adventures together.
We Plano Thiots in Charlottesville
Saturday, Dec 20th
Arrived 9pm and Darling Tatia picked us up and took us on a
trip to Target for a little last minute shopping. Tatia has the cutest baby bump ever. We are so excited to meet this new little grandson in March!
Home to bed in a darling guest room downstairs.
Sunday, Dec 21st
Woke up early and did a project – Christmas ornaments for
the Sunbeams “Always Follow the Star”
Had delicious bagels for breakfast
Wonderful Sacrament meeting Christmas program I loved
learned more about the shepherd and wise men and Mary too.
Grammy went to Tatia’s Sunbeam’s Class Tatia is a Super Sunbeam Teacher. I loved the
chains to help them remember to do service.
Gwynnee and the backpack had a sleepover at the church
Went home and had nachos for lunch
During naptime (Max) Penny and Grammy made a mini-bow and a
little Nativity in a lunch bag
Had Chicken Fried Steak for dinner – YUM
Went to Bethlehem that night – We loved it in a little town
near Afton Virginia. The warm cider and
fig newtons were a perfect finish to a perfect evening.
Brushed teeth, put on P.J.’s, had family prayer, read
stories individually and put the kids to bed.
Monday, Dec 22nd
Laundry day – Grammy’s best!
Fixed Penny’s white dress. Now you can’t see her panties
when she wears it, Hooray!
We went to the church to do a treasure hunt to find Penny’s
penguin backpack with Gwynnee and her friends inside. YIPPEE, Tatia found it! HOORAY!
Went to the mall.
Kids played in the play area, rode the horses on the merry-go-round,
went to Red Robin for lunch best corny dogs in town, and then got to ride the
train. So much fun. You were supposed
to be four years old, but the nice lady let Max and Penny go.
Waved to Santa while we were at the mall.
During naptime we took Penny to the movie – Big Hero 6 –
what fun. Good Popcorn and a cherrie Slurpie!
YUMMY
Had Potato Crepés by Chef Jake for dinner
Tatia and Jake went to “Interstellar” movie. Very intense,
WOW
Brushed teeth, put on P.J.’s, had family prayer, read
stories individually and put the kids to bed.
Tuesday, Dec 23rd
Merry Christmas Eve eve.
Tatia went to the doctor for her blood glucose test and
Grammy and Graypa watched cartoons with Penny and Max.
Went to Sam’s Club for some shopping. Tried to go to Walmart but the parking lot
was so full decided to go early in the morning.
Lunch picnic under the Christmas tree – croissants from
Abermarle Bakery – Delicious and some apple donuts for desert. Mmmmmmmm good.
The boys went on a hike in the woods.
Went to Raisin’ Canes for dinner
Went on a Charlottesville Christmas Light tour and came home
for a yummy cup of hot cocoa. There were
lots of flavors to choose from.
Brushed teeth, put on P.J.’s, had family prayer, read
stories individually and put the kids to bed.
Watched the “Road to Morocco” with Bing Crosby and Bob Hope.
Got a few tips for Sky and Kara for their trip tomorrow.
Wednesday, Dec 24th
Merry Christmas Eve
Grammy went early to Walmart in the rain.
We made LOTs of Cinnamon toast for breakfast.
Made English Toffee with Penny. Fixed Aunt Jerry’s breakfast casserole for
Christmas morning and tucked it in the fridge.
Went Visiting Teaching to Gerry’s house.
Had Tatia’s Taco Soup for dinner.
Got ready for friends to come over for the Christmas
Nativity.
Penny was Mary, Max was a shepherd, Sophia and Charlotte
were Angels, Porter (or Quarter if you are Penny) was a somewhat distracted
shepherd. Jake and his two friends were
Kings, Joseph was the Maas boy, Miss Tess was an uncooperative, but darling
shepherd too and Graypa was the narrator.
Sang Silent Night at the end and then went upstairs and then
sangHappy Birthday to the baby Jesus and blew out the candles on the chocolate and
coconut birthday cakes.
Brushed teeth, put on P.J.’s, had family prayer, read
stories individually and put the kids to bed. We finished the Christmas
scripture puzzle. That was so fun. Penny loved pasting the baby Jesus in.
Watched “The Man Who Came To Dinner” borrowed from the U.S.
Library of Congress with Bette Davis, Jimmy Durante and others. Fun!!!!!
Thursday, Dec 25th
Merry Christmas
Woke up and put the breakfast casserole in the oven and let
the fun begin.
Santa had come!!!!!!The BIG Tonka Dump Truck and the Doc
McStuffins Doc Mobile were both hits.
The kids Exchanged gifts and spoiled us very well. What f un.
I loved that Penny loved the Chistmas puzzle we gave to her and
Maxwell. She is good at building it with
some assistance
Ate the Aunt Jerry’s breakfast casserole, very yummy.
Facetimed with lots of family; Ricky’s family in Redding,
CA., Charlie’s family in Sacramento, Pierce’s family in Santa Monica and Skyler
and Kara in Morocco! Also Jake’s family;
Jessie, Mike, Liam and Capri in Orem, Utah, Aunt Tootie in Provo, Utah Gigi and
Bumpa in the Dominican Republic. Also,
Aunt Lani and Grandpa Great Birks in Sandy, Utah.
Watched the Thiot’s Christmas In July video (over and over
and over).
Max started to get sick Tatia changed a LOT of diapers. So sorry little Maxwell.
Yummy Lasagna for Christmas dinner.
Brushed teeth, put on P.J.’s, had family prayer, read
stories individually and put the kids to bed.
Friday, Dec 26th
Merry Day after Christmas
Breakfast at the Waffle House that is only a couple of
blocks from Tatia and Jake’s house.
Went off to Shenandoah National Park where we hiked the
Appalachian Trail and threw rocks because we were the only ones there.
Back home for yummy grilled cheesers on sour dough bread, we
think.
Fixed Tatia’s Drape – Cut it in two and shortened them up.
They look awesome!
Trip to Home Goods with Grammy, Tatia, Penny and Max. found
a fun navy blue shower curtain and a new stripped throw for the couch to cozy
up in.
Dick and Jacob met us at McDonalds for a fun dinner and a
fun visit with Grandpa Great on the telephone.
Brushed teeth, put on P.J.’s, had family prayer, read
stories individually and put the kids to bed.
Graypa watched the first half of Hondo with John Wayne
Saturday, Dec 27th
Make Grammy’s Christmas Chocolate marshmallow with candy
canes sprinkled on top Cookies. What a fun mess. Penny is a great egg cracker and Max a
Marvelous Candy Cane pounder
Did a driving tour of University of Virginia including their
football stadium, the 3 Penny Café, the giant blue crane and Penny’s Ballet
Studio.
Went to Discovery Museum and renewed the Grange’s annual
membership. We loved watching Max and Penny in the new firestation, and in the
bread store and playing with the balls and scarves in the sucking machine.
Met Jake at the UVA Lawn next to the Rotunda and learned
that UVA was founded by Thomas Jefferson.
The Rotunda is under renovation.
Also saw Edgar Allen Poe’s room when he was a student at UVA. Only upper
class students can live in those special OLD dorm rooms.
Ate lunch at Bodo’s Bagels for lunch. Graypa ate a stinking salmon and white fish
spread on his bagel. Max and Penny split an egg bagel and the rest of us had
chicken salad, yummy!
Went to Mincey’s UVA gear store got Max and Penny UVA
hats. Max’s matched Jake’s and Penny’s
was pink. There were never two happier little kids.
Ate Grammy’s Christmas Chocolate Cookies – YUMMY!!
After Max’s nap, Graypa, Jake and Max went for a hike
because our flight was delayed. We went
to visit “Junior” the turtle near the dam but he wasn’t there. We did see a reddish orange bat flying
around. Got word that the flight was
delayed further and we wouldn’t make the connection in Atlanta so Delta
rebooked us for Sunday morning and we had a bonus night in Charlottesville!
Penny and I had each found a special rock in Shenandoah and
we spent some time painting them together.
We LOVE doing “Projects” together.
I need to find a special place to put mine.
We had dinner at Chili’s and got to put Max and Penny to bed
one extra time.
Brushed teeth, put on P.J.’s, had family prayer, read
stories individually and put the kids to bed.
Finished up the second half of Hondo.
Sunday, Dec 28th
Bonus Day!
Since we were already packed we slept in our clothes and
Grammy was velcroed to the mattress (you should ask her about it).
Left early for the airport and had a lovely
flight to Atlanta. When we arrived in
Atlanta, our connecting flight was quick and we were only one gate away. What a tender mercy of the Lord. We made it in plenty of time. We are now home and our Christmas in
Charlottesville will be one that I will remember for the rest of my life. I loved being there and watching what great
parents Tatia and Jacob are. They are
raising two of our little grandchildren and doing a super job. Thank you for letting us come and enjoy your
family this Christmas. Sure love ya'll Robynn
