Sista Party

This year Carla hosted our Sista's Christmas Party.  She is a great hostess and has everything perfect.  I love this crazy group of ladies...they make me smile!  I love being silly with them and I think most of them love being silly with the rest of us.  I of course brought a few props to make the pictures sillier.  I have so many I might as well use them when I remember right?  Today was also the "Angelversary" for Tyson..Jodi's son.  It hit me hard this year and I was really glad that Jodi came to the party to be with us all.  Jodi is such a remarkable lady...I admire the crud out of her!  Life goes on even when we are not whole...we can smile when we want to cry...we can laugh even though we're sad...we can enjoy although we are broken...we are so much more than we sometimes realize!

Carla made yummy chicken and rice with gravy.  I think she must also of been the one who made the relish tray.  She asked the rest of us to bring treats to share with everyone.  We had plenty of good eats.  

We got silly and every now and then we decided to just be cute. ☺  I always enjoy looking at our pictures because they make me smile all over again.

We had a gift exchange and Carla decided since she was the Hostess she should hand out the gifts.  It is always fun to see what others bring.  It is always fun to go home with something else.  I thought the gift Patty brought was clever....a BIG Peppermint Patty from Patty.  I thought the gift Jolene brought was the most thoughtful and it was given to Jodi which I thought was perfect.  It was a darling Nativity picture with a poem that Jolene wrote...very fitting today.  The other gifts were wonderful, yummy and cute!

 I played around with some Christmas Frames and a few of my favorite pictures.  Friends must certainly be a "symbol" of Christmas because they add so much to this wonderful season.

 I'm glad that when we said be silly I wasn't the only one being silly.  They all crack me up!

a few more just because...

I love love love this time of the year!  It really is the most wonderful!

Celebrating Susan

I wanted to take Susan to lunch for her birthday this year and so we went a day early since she works in the Temple on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  I was happy that she agreed and that Kathy was able to join us.  We have so many fun memories together.  I have learned so much from these two and I love them to pieces.  They are both so talented.

While we were eating I got a text from Kimleighel saying that Fremont High was on Lock-down because there was a gunman at the school.  There was a 16 year old with a gun and they weren't sure if there were more.  The swat team and police had the place covered...there were even snipers on the roof.  Every student had to be patted down and my kids though that was strange.  It all turned out okay but sure changed the mood of our lunch.  Maybe we didn't laugh as much as usual but we still enjoyed each other and celebrated Susan!

Christmas Card and letter

WOW….another Year is coming to an end…I feel like it went fast.  It was hectic, fun and wonderful.  We experienced a lot and were extremely blessed.

January- started off with a "POP" that is Larry's Achilles  popped and needed to be reattached. (OUCH)   TJ had a birthday and Macie Marie was born to Justin and Natalie. Mya turned 6 and is in first grade.  Natalie also had a birthday!

February -was a great month.  Jaydan turned 23 and Kamryn was legally adopted by Kevin and is officially a Ropelato.

March- we celebrated Kimleighel's  (18) and Kelsi's birthdays.  Kimi is a senior this year and ready to be done with High School.

April- Macie had surgery to repair her cleft lip.  She has truly been blessed and many prayers in her behalf have been answered. We celebrated the births of Braxton (25), Kamryn (6) and Justin. (31) Kamryn is in first grade in a Spanish emersion program.

May-Braxton and Kelsi were Married & Sealed in the Bountiful Temple.  Trichelle graduated from the U of U. Woo Hoo on both those events. We celebrated the birth of Parker (4).  Larry and I went on a cruise to Alaska which was beautiful and much needed.

June- Ivy turned 9 and is in 4th grade. (she speaks fluent Spanish) Our Stake split and Larry was called to serve on the High Council. It took him awhile to adjust since he wasn't quite ready to be released from his 11 year old primary class. I'm still serving in the Special Needs Mutual and loving it!

July-Baby Jordyn Jo was born to Kevin and Julie.  Larry had a kidney stone that ended up being surgically removed.  We learned that even when you think you have reached your deductible there will always be more that you owe. (insurance is not a happy subject at our house) I celebrated my birthday as much as I could.  The last picture of my parents and siblings was taken.

August-we camped a few times and celebrated the births of Kevin (27) and Trichelle. (33)

September-Jared (16) Woo Hoo, and Julie both had birthdays.  We found out the doctors couldn't help my daddy anymore. (his heart and kidney's were failing)

October-I was able to serve my daddy as he prepared to pass from this life.  My brothers were both here and so our little family was together for a few weeks which was really nice.  I was by my daddy's side when he left this world.  His entire family was with him that day along with Jaydan and Braxton. Everyone (grandchildren and family) had a chance to say their "See Ya Laters" . It seems so strange to have him gone.  No matter how prepared you might be to say good-bye it's never enough. My mom is doing as well as anyone could.  She's truly an inspiration.

November- Zaden turned 6 and is in kindergarten.  Larry and I celebrated our 34th Anniversary. Macie had her second surgery where her soft palate was repaired, tubes put in her ears and another appliance put in the top of her mouth.  Again it was obvious the power of prayer!  Macie has truly been blessed and exceeds the doctors' expectations.  Each surgery she has come home the very next day instead of staying in the Hospital for 2-3.  She's an Angel…surrounded by Angels!

December-We celebrate the Birth of our Savior.  I love this time of year and the "Magic" that fills the air!  We close the year by celebrating Larry's birthday.

Our family is truly blessed!  We enjoy spending time together and carrying on family traditions.

Life is busy and fun and we are living and loving it!

We hope that every one of our extended family and friends will be blessed this upcoming year!  We pray for you all!

Happiness is a Choice….Choose to be Happy and recognize all that we do have!  We are all very blessed!

Love, the Ropelato Family

Weekly Tidbits

*Monday and Tuesday I actually was able to get some things done at home.  I did pick Ivy up from school Monday but didn't have to leave until 2:00.  Some times it is nice to be home and get things done.

Monday Night we invited Connor over to watch Elf with us.  I might or might not be able to steer a wheel chair.  Getting Connor over the little ridge by his door I thought fast would be good and nearly flung poor Connor out.  The next try I popped a wheelie and that was the correct approach to getting over a ledge.  Connor was really excited to hang out with us.  I spoiled him with his favorite treats. (butterfingers and pop)  We had lots of treats and had fun watching Elf.  (Elf is my favorite...oh wait...Smiling is My Favorite) ☺  I think Connor might invite Jared over to his house so they can hang out and he thinks Kimleighel is "hot".  The kid makes me smile!

Jared got his permit.  I was leaving it up to Larry to help with the last two kids and it wasn't working out too well.  Jared is already 16 and he might be 18 if I wait for Larry.  Larry is a great dad but he isn't in a hurry to have these last two grow up I guess.  (really he doesn't want to pay for their insurance)  There are some perks to being the last and some down falls.....the fall was long enough. The smile on his face made me so happy!  It's funny how a mom can feel the joys and pains of her kids...we are so connected always.

Every year for Thanksgiving the Day Care that my grands go to have a special Thanksgiving Lunch and the parents and grandparents are invited to share it with them. (our's was Wednesday)  It's always yummy and fun to go be with them.  This year Gramps came too but I guess I didn't get a picture with him.  I got to sit with Zaden and watch him eat his rolls.  He ate his, mine and two more after that.  That was all. (Kevin ate the other food for him)  He did get a piece of pumpkin pie and had a little of the whip cream.  The kid makes me laugh.  He's always been picky and will only try something when he is ready.

Baby Jordyn tried mashed potatoes and was so funny.  She doesn't quite open her mouth and kept sticking out her tongue to taste them.  She is such a cute baby.  I love being invited to the grands things....Grands are such a blessing and I am so thankful for each of mine!

Larry and the kids cleaned the yard on Saturday and I cleaned up the Thanksgiving Decorations and got out the Christmas ones.  I didn't get the tree up yet so I'm hoping to get that up on Monday.  I still have some big things under the stairs I need to get out too.  It's okay...I feel good about what I got done.  It's beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.....and I'm Lovin It!

Fun with the Coy Family

Sherwood Hills can be sold but our tradition of getting together with the Coy Family continues. Instead of going out for Breakfast I volunteered to have it at our house.  Breakfast is cheap and easy to make and I like the idea of visiting with each other and it's more likely to happen at my house.  I was right....we did a lot of visiting and the kids did a lot of playing.  (it was even nice outside and so they ran around and played on the playground...aka Ropelato Park)

We had french toast, sausage and breakfast burrito's and Natalie surprised us with yummy cinnamon rolls.  So the breakfast was good too but the company and visiting was better.  I think it's funny how my grands and Tonya's grands take a minute to remember each other from year to year.  We really need to start another tradition in the summer.  I'm thinking around Father's Day.

Tonya reserved her Church and we went there for Nerf Gun Wars!  My family got Nerf Guns a few years ago for Christmas and Tonya liked the idea so much that she got her family Nerf Guns last year.

 We played "Capture the Flag" a few times and went all around the church.  The Missionaries stopped by the church to have a meeting and ended up joining our fun.  It was fun having them.  I saw one Elder slide a few times and thought he might put a hole in his slacks but I think they survived.  We shot each other for a few hours.  I played the first round of Capture the Flag but retired since I can't stop myself from cheating.  If you get hit you are suppose to go to a room until someone free's you.  I would go to the room and free people and forget to stay there.  The rules were that no little's under the age of 8 could get shot except by the other little's under 8.  Well....my grand shot me and without thinking I shot him back....at gun level which was his face.  He didn't cry or act like it hurt him which I was glad about but I figured the only shooting I'd better do was with my camera.  Zaden told his mom after the games that Gramma was a "Cheater Cheater, Pumpkin Eater". ☺

After a few games of Capture the Flag we went into the gym and had another war.  This time if you got shot you were out and the winner was the last guy standing.  I think I could have handled that game a little better but still just shot others with my camera.

We didn't end up bowling this year.  Instead we went to the movies.  In years past we would go to the movie on Saturday on our way home. It was a fun filled day!  I'm so thankful for my family and for the Coy Family.  It was so much fun seeing everyone enjoy themselves.  I love traditions even if they have to be "tweaked" every now and then.

Thanksgiving

I loved Thanksgiving this year!  I wasn't hurried or stressed.  I did part of the preparing on Wednesday which really helped.   In the morning we put the turkey in and made the rolls and left while they rose to visit my mom.  My mom was making deviled eggs so she could take them to Susan's family dinner.  We had a great visit.  I think we were all missing my daddy. (it happens all the time)  We just know my mom will spend the Holiday with Susan's family.  It's been that way for over 20 years.  It works...we all know what to plan on.

Scott and Erin's family joined us this year as well and the sister missionaries.  I'm so glad they did.  Thanksgiving memories for me always include cousins, aunts, and uncles.  A few of my kids were with the other families but we enjoyed those that were here.  The Sister's were fun and we all enjoyed having them here.  I loved seeing Sister Frazier guzzle the soda from the bottle.  (she had never done that before and had always wanted to....it was funny)

I cooked the Turkey in a Roaster Oven and it was delicious.  The meat fell right off the bones.  Everything was wonderful.  Everyone brought a dish or two and so it made it easy on me and it was all yummy!  Scott had said that this was one of the best dinners he could remember.  

The guys enjoyed football, we played games, the kids took care of Jordyn and played games.  Julie took Kimi shopping and they had a good time and weren't really gone too long.  Sister Hansen ate a fourth of the lemon meringue pie...I didn't think she would be able to but she did.  The clean up was fast and simple.  It was a fun and wonderful day!  I'm thankful for this day that we have to celebrate our families and all our many blessings!  We are so Blessed!

Weekly Tidbits

Sunday I got the kids back from their dads.  I sure do like my grands dads.  They are good guys and my grands came back very happy.

Since it was our last night with the grands (on Monday) we took them to get treats for Family Home Evening.  They were so excited and cute we let them get two.  I think Zaden ended up picking three but wouldn't take the mini m&m's when we got because he knew he already had two.  These littles were so much fun to have and we really enjoyed them this last week.  

Tuesday T-J Trailers had their Christmas Party at Maddox.  Really we just go out to eat together and the employee's get a Christmas Card with a little extra $$$.  I think it's nice that they go before Thanksgiving so the employees have a little extra money to do their shopping.  I really like all the employees at T-J Trailers.  They are all good people!

Wednesday started out great.  My visiting teachers came and I had time to do things at home.  The only other thing on my calendar was piano and tending cute Jordyn. (I borrowed the pic since I didn't take one)  Well...I got distracted and forgot piano.  Larry sometimes puts me in the middle of the kids, or at least I feel responsible to make sure they do the things he wants them to do.  I made sure Jared fed the cows right after school.  I let Kimi take my car to work while I stayed home to quiz Jared on driving. (Larry said he was going to every night...I think he might have forgot)  I got a text from Natalie asking if we were coming.  For some reason I get really bugged with myself when I forget things like this...especially since I was planning on it and then forget.  It really bothers me...I have done it with ortho appointments too.  UGH!  I jumped in Larry's truck and took Jared and then we picked up Jordyn.  Larry called and teased me about forgetting and mentioned that maybe I should write it on my calendar by the sink.  I didn't think it was funny and I was still stressed about it.  So, Larry came home with a bad attitude.  I was sure he was mad at me for not thinking his teasing was funny.  Welcome Home!

The night got better because we had cute little Jordyn.  At first she was smiling and then just started crying.  I thought she was still tired since we had woke her up to bring her.  We tried getting her to sleep but that wasn't working and so even though I thought it was a little early to feed her I did anyway.  That was what she wanted.  She was hungry.  She is a cute baby and interacts with everyone.  It was fun having her and snuggling her.  I'm so thankful for my little grands!

***Thursday after bowling Larry wanted to go Christmas Shopping.  What's up with that?  The guy never wants to go shopping. We just went to a few stores and called it good.  I got the wood I need for the grands temple pictures.  We got Kimi and Jaydan each an outfit and Jared a shirt.  He's tall and thin and the store we were at didn't have his size pant.  We got Larry a pair of tennis shoes and that's about it.  I also get Larry to go in Joann's Craft store with me to pick up some beads for SNAP..I am over a craft in a few weeks.