Ropelato Family Christmas Party

Tonight was the annual Ropelato Christmas Party. This year the party was held inside Jerry's new business building, White Clouds, in Ogden. It was the perfect venue with lots of space. We had our traditional lasagna with rolls, salads, and doughnuts for dinner. The kids played until it was time to get ready for the Nativity. Darinda has a huge assortment of costumes so everyone can dress up. The adults had great seating while Nate read the Christmas story from Luke 2 and Matthew 2. Soon after we finished with the Nativity-- the kids sang "Santa Clause is coming to town" and then Santa came. Santa always hands out fun Christmas socks to all the kids (no pictures of the socks ;(  -- I'll need to take one). We had a great night!

Everyone getting ready for the Nativity

A few angels-- Jordyn, Mallory, Sadie and Ivy

Shepherds waiting in their fields by night - Sarah, Parker, Brittney and Mya

Joseph and Mary with the Director-- Darinda, Zayden and Hayley

Angels appearing to the Shepherds

Shepherds went with haste to see the Christ Child-- Brittney, Parker, Mya, Hayley

Shepherds Parker, Mya, and Brittney

Wisewomen came to visit Jesus Christ-- Zayden, Hayley, Mickel, Jasmin, Katelyn

Angels- Mallory with Ivy and Sadie plus Zoey, Abby, Jordyn and Kamryn in the background

Santa and Mallory (Santa always hands out Christmas socks)

Santa and Hayley

Santa and Brittney

It snowed all day today so it's a two hour late start tomorrow for our girls-- they don't have to be to school until 10:45 a.m.! I was really glad since we were at the party until 10:30 p.m.  We love getting together with family!

A little post written by our Sister-in-Law Dawn Ropelato

Today, I read my sister-in-law's blog post on her blog. She entitled it "Feeling the Spirit". She wrote about Brittney's baptism on Saturday and I wanted to preserve the memory on my own blog so I totally cut and pasted what she wrote (I asked permission first).

FEELING THE SPIRIT

I know I don't always post about everyone's baptism but I had many thoughts today and wanted to share.  Today Brittney was the only child being baptized but the Chapel was almost as full as it is on Sundays.  There were so many family and friends there to show their love and support to Brittney and her family.  I felt the spirit so strong just walking in the Chapel.  Most of my kids were there and the few that weren't were working.  I love how supportive our family is...even extended family.  I felt the spirit a few more times before Brittney was actually baptized....I love feeling the spirit and having it testify to me that things are true and right.  When Scott was ready to baptize his baby the spirit over came him and filled the entire room where everyone was tightly together.  It was awesome watching Scott perform this sacred ordinance.

I had been thinking of Scott lately and a few times I was able to be there for him.  One time when Scott was single and lived by himself he got really sick.  I can't remember what was wrong but he came and stayed at our house so that I could help him.  I know I didn't do much for him but it sure made me feel good that he trusted me to come to our house.  I do remember him calling my name during one of the nights because he was experiencing heart burn or something like that.  I do think I knew what to do and how to help him that time.  It was a privilege to me to take care of Scott.  Then when Scott and Erin were married he asked me if I would sit in the "mother" chair that was reserved for his mom since Donna hadn't been endowed.  I was so honored to be there for him.  I love Scott and his darling little family.  I met Scott when he was still little and have watched him grown into an awesome man.

Scott was just called to serve as the Bishop of his ward a few weeks ago.  That calling says a lot about a person and I will have him and his family in my prayers because it is not an easy calling at all. I know Erin and his girls will be very supportive because they are all so wonderful.  Erin has had many leadership callings and has been prepared to support her hubby.  They will all do a good job because they always strive to do what is right and they are a close family. 

Our family sure does love this family.  We enjoyed camping with them at Cherry Hills a few years back and we also enjoy having them join us for our Thanksgiving Celebrations.   I love their cute girls who all love taking care of the little babies and are really good at sports.  Fun Family!

***there was a little discussion in Scott's back yard of the proper way to say Ropelato.  I have always thought it was funny that it is pronounced differently by the family. ☺

Family Pictures

Scott surprised me with a photo session with our good friend and neighbor, Emily Bailey as an anniversary/Christmas gift! I was very excited to have Emily take our pictures because it has been a long time since we've had family pictures! We had a fun time together and sooo many pictures came back that we really liked. Here are a few of our favorites of all of us together!

Dinosaur Park with Grandpa Ropelato

Grandpa Ropelato called us this morning and invited us to go with him to the Dinosaur Park in Ogden with the little Ropelato Great-Grandkids (our kids are the only Grandkids and they are close to the same ages of his Great-Grandkids). It was an ALL GIRL EVENT and was sooo much fun! Mallory, Hayley and Brittney have never been to the Dinosaur Park so this was a new adventure for them. We met at the dinosaur park, ate lunch (Grandpa brought Kentucky Fried Chicken for everyone), let the kids play on the playground and we walked around and saw the dinosaurs.

THANK YOU GRANDPA!!

We had such a fun time!!!All the little girls (minus Hayley--she would NOT get in the picture). Here is Sara, McKell, Ivy, Katelyn, Brittney and Mallory
Hayley covering her ears (this is how Hayley looked the majority of the day at the Dinosaur Park--she did NOT like the sounds of the dinosaurs coming from the speakers around the park--I even showed her they were speakers and just coming from a radio--obviously, my explanations did NOT help!!!)

Paleontologist Mallory


Grandpa Ropelato, Hayley, Mallory and Brittney

Erin, Brittney, Mallory and Hayley (oh--Hayley's hands are off her ears)

Brittney eating the flowers all the little girls picked at the Dinosaur Park while we were eating a snack (oops! I guess we weren't watching them as closely as we should have--they picked A LOT of the pretty flowers to give to us mommy's)

Ropelato Girl's Picnic

Stacey (Scott's niece who lives in California) came into town for a few days. She organized a Ropelato Girl's Picnic at a park in Ogden. It was so fun to go and let the girls play with their cousins and to be together. Thank you Stacey for organizing our little get together!! We really ought to do this more often!! We had a wonderful time!!! Hayley

Brittney and the wood chips (I really don't know how many she tried to eat!!)

Dawn, Mya, Trichell, Erin and Brittney

Darinda, Jasmin, Katelyn, Stacey, Sara and Grandma Donna

Erin and Brittney (Yum! Smarties from Grandma Donna)

Mallory

Stacey, Sara, Trichelle, Mya, Erin and Brittney