Our Mansfield Thiots
Our Mansfield Thiots headed for New Orleans and then on to Orange Beach this week as soon as the girls had put their school year behind them. I love this picture of Brooklyn holding a baby alligator. Oh my goodness, you are brave Brooklyn.
Last Sunday morning, Addison gave her first talk in Sacrament Meeting as a youth Speaker. I'm sad that I only have a picture of the sleeve of her dress while the final speaker was giving his talk. Addison spoke about Preparation and the importance of being prepared before something happens. She shared how back in February when we had our crazy snow week that Texas really was not prepared for, how prepared her mom was with having plenty of food so they would not be hungry and how her dad knew how to keep things comfortable in their home and could even offer help to neighbors and those he ministered too. She spoke about how excited she is to attend the temple and how even when the temple wasn't opened, she had received her first limited use recommend to that when the temple reopens, she will be prepared and be able to go with her parents and Brooklyn too. Graypa and I would love to go too. It was a beautiful talk and I requested a copy which I hope to have soon. I'll keep trying to be smart enough to figure out how to get it.
I got a new air freshener and it's called Blue Ocean Waves, It reminds me of what the Mansfield and LA Thiots must be smelling this week. Fresh and Relaxing. Those are both good things.
Our Medford Granges
On Sunday afternoons, the Medford Granges love to take the time to watch a favorite family movie together. Sometimes the babies are even up for the fun and sometimes they nap during the movie. What a fun couch that fits everyone.
On the 24th of May, Tatia and Jake celebrated their 13th wedding anniversary. They actually call it their Family Birthday and Tatia bakes a cake and they make it a very special day telling their children about that wonderful day when they were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple for time and eternity. I love that tradition.
These pictures make me smile. Tatia has been organizing the kids costume boxes and thought Miss Gracie was the right size to wear Penny's Sophia the First costume that Penny loved wearing. Funny story, Miss Gracie was not interested in wearing that frock, but look at Simon's face, he thought it was quite lovely.
Tatia let him try it on and he looked quite enchanted with Sophia the first. Tatia said it didn't last long, he was ready to have it taken off. He did love all the bat man and super man costumes. What fun Tatia had playing dress ups with her three little ones.
On Wednesday, the kids talked about the lunar eclipse that would arrive in the middle of the night. Penny and Max wanted to be woken up to see it, so sure enough, they were and they were thrilled.
What great pictures they took. I loved seeing them.
When the kids got out of school on Friday, they loaded up the car and drove to Jake's family in Vancouver, Washington. I love this picture they shared of Fort Hood in Vancouver. What a fun picture of their Party of 8!
Our Folsom Thiots
Our Folsom Thiots were also enchanted with the eclipse this week. Great photos!
Jen's work puts up a big flag for Memorial Day. Charlie and Jen got to see it on their bikes.
Charlie sent this photo on Saturday afternoon and asked, "Guess where we are?
We loved that they had driven to Oakland to the temple and had a mini vacation exploring all the fun things to see in the Oakland area.
I love this Bird of Paradise flower looking over the Oakland Temple. This is where Jen and Charlie were sealed six months ago. It sure looks pretty in the summer time too.
This is a view of Alcatrazm the prison where you are not supposed to be able to escape from.
It was a very windy afternoon standing on the Golden Gate Bridge. Keelie and Charlie, you are very brave. Another bridge photo I would like to request, is a great big flag that Folsom Public Works hangs over the walking bridge. Charlie could you share the one of you and Jen looking up at it?
Our LA Thiots
Our Orem Thiots headed to LA early this week so Stacy & Pierce could get caught up on some work projects and they could have some beach time. Adelaide and Pierce went surfing one morning and had the best time. Pierce is amazed how Adelaide can pop right up on that surf board. She loves it just like her daddy. I'm glad they had such a fun week.
On Saturday afternoon, they said good bye to LA and headed back to Orem. Pierce wanted us to guess where they were when he sent this picture from a gas stop. I think it was Bakersfield, California.
Our Jackson turned 5 this week and it just made me think of these fun brothers who loved to sing together. "I'll be there" is one of my favorites and I wish I could have been there with you to celebrate being 5 Jackson. You are going to be a wonderful 5 year old. We love you so much!
Our Upstairs Thiots
This is Caper the Cat who loves to sit in the sunshine. For a little while, the sun shines in through the tree and there is always a kitty enjoying the sunshine.
We had some great news this week. Elie's flower seeds she planted back in March had their first flower blossom burst out. Oh my were so happy. She's hoping the next blossums will be pink and purple.
It stopped raining long enough this week to have a swim party in the pool. We have the craziest hose that really make it exiting to fill up the pool. Elie figured out if we got a brick and put the hose in the hole in the brick, it could stay calm long enough to fill up the pool. FUN!
Sky and Elie had a science project where to\hey take a paper towel and color the same colors about an inch long on each end. Then put each end in a cup of water and watch what happens. Our cousin Miles had shown us this science project a few years ago and when Elie talked about Rainbows in preschool, Sky and Elie wanted to try it.
We all loved watching the colors climb the bridge to form a rainbow.
Elie knew she needed to lay it on a tray to dry. It matches her rainbow on her cute dress she wore.
On one of our very rainy days this week, we headed to Safari Run which is a great place to be on a rainy day. You can run and play and have a grand time.
I was looking through my business card file, looking for a phone number of someone I had talked to years ago about refinishing my front door. I found Skyler's business card that he made in Webelos Scouts for one of his activity badges. Pretty great business card Sky!
We Plano Thiots
Last Sunday night was the Plano Stakes Seminary Graduation Devotional. It was 35 minutes and was wonderful. The names underlined are the seniors who I taught Seminary to their Freshman Year. It was so fun to see them and hear those who spoke and played the piano and lead the music and prayed. It was great to be there. Congratulations Seniors. Four years of early morning seminary is a great accomplishment! How I love those great kids.
Elie and I had a banana bread baking day. Oh how it makes your house smell so good. She knew just who she wanted to give each loaf of bread too. So sweet.
This darling card arrived in the mail this week. Emily has two little girls, Evie and Ella who Elie loves to play with. She is so fun.
Dick got a fun thank you note in the mail from his Mulch Scouts. Oh what a fun 3 Saturday mornings those were. Dick loves boy scouts and loves helping. It was great fun.
My Sister Laurie sent this beautiful picture of Mom and Dad's graves at the Cemetery. Memorial Day is a time that graves are decorated and it looks so grand at the cemeteries I love it!
Our Super Saturday project for this week was repainting the garage. A few years ago, when my dad was visiting, he did some retouching on our garage to cover up some rust spots. He's always been a great painter, but the problem was the paint I had furnished him was not the right color. It bothered him a lot and didn't bother me as much. So for 4 or 5 years, it's made me think of him whenever I drove up. A year ago, when we had the siding on the back of our house fixed, the workers left a gallon of paint and we thought we could repaint the garage. Well, we kind of forgot about it and then once we remembered, it was either too cold, or too hot or too rainy or you get the idea, it wasn't ever the perfect time until yesterday. We got up and made a list of supplies we would need and Dick headed to the home depot. We were determined to make it a one trip project. While Dick was gone, Sky and I got a bucket of soapy water and some cleaning towels and went to work washing off the dirt.
The weather was perfect for washing garage doors. When Dick got home, we had to wait a bit for it to dry before we could paint so Dick washed my car while we waited. He even cleaned the windows. My car is looking sparkly clean. By then, the garage doors were dry and Sky was the paint roller and Dick was the brush painter. They were quite a team. I was what they titled the Armchair Quarterback pointing out any helpful (or not so helpful) tips. We discovered while we were working that the past four Saturday mornings, we have had some fun projects together. We've fixed the icemaker, they spread mulch and installed a new potty and now repainted the garage door. WOWSERS! I can hardly wait for next weekend
When the missionaries came for dinner last week, They had a hard time finding our home. Our house numbers have been covered up by the leaves on the crepe myrtle trees and the painted curb had been worn off. Soooooo another project? I watched a few you tube videos and those guys could do it in 4-5 minutes. I went and got some stencil numbers and paint and got my team and my white chair to boss everyone. I don't know how much money we could make if we went into business. We did learn a few tricks that we would do differently next time. I think the elders will be able to find our house easier next time. Thanks for your help Dick and Skyler!
