Black Island Farms with Hayley's Playgroup

Today was Field Trip Day for Hayley's Playgroup. I was in charge of arranging the outing and I am so glad we were able to come today because the weather was perfect (originally we were going the day after the big snow storm last week and it was sooo cold that day). We went to Black Island Farms in Syracuse. I was able to call and arrange for us to get a very discounted rate but I had to find 15 kids who were over the age of 2 to come along. I was finally able to find enough people and the kids got in for $4 (instead of $10) and the adults were free (we were the CHAPERONES)!!! I found some additional friends in our neighborhood to come as well as my sister in law Liz and her friend. We had a great time!! Here are pictures of a few things we did: Brittney, Mallory, Ashley and Hayley jumping in the BIG PUMPKIN!!

Hayley

Brittney (woo-hoo I'm finally out of my stroller!)

Mallory and Hayley racing ducks



Hayley, Erin and Brittney on the Hay Ride to the pumpkin patch

Mallory, Brittney, Erin and Hayley with our pumpkins in the Pumpkin Patch

Hayley--such a cutie!!!

Mallory jumping away

Mallory and Brittney on the Cow Train (Brittney was screaming the entire ride!!)

Mallory posing for the camera

Mallory sliding down the huge slide

Emma and Brittney hanging out in their strollers

First Snowfall of the Season

Today was quite the day! We woke up early to get ready to go to Kevin's Homecoming and snow was falling everywhere! Mallory and Hayley were soooo excited for the snow! We left pretty early so we could get a SOFT seat at church in Hooper. When we arrived, there were only about 5 other families in the chapel--we totally had our pick of seats (and yes, we did get a SOFT bench)! Kevin's talk was wonderful! I especially loved it when he threw in a Spanish word or two here and there because I could totally understand him (yes, even after 12 years of being home from my mission--WOW time flies).

After Kevin's homecoming, we walked out to the truck and there was 5 or 6 inches of snow that had fallen in the 1 1/2 hours we were in the church. We went over to Larry and Dawn's and Scott helped the girls and I into the house (he then took off for his meetings with the Young Single Adults). We ate lunch and visited for awhile before I packed the girls up and we were on our way again.

We headed over to Larry and Diane Davis' home. Brother Davis was the Branch President of the Hooper 9th Branch were Scott and I met. He and his wife just returned from a mission to New Zealand. I didn't even try to go to their sacrament meeting because it was right after Kevin's. I knew my 3 little girls WOULD NOT make it happily through two sacrament meetings (and I knew Scott would not be there to help on the second one) so we just went to their house afterwards. It was still really snowy and icy and we made it to the Davis home and I was able to get all three girls and myself in the house without anyone falling (plus a bowl of Chocolate Chip Cookies). I was so glad we went!! I was able to see several friends which I have not seen for many, many years!

We loaded up again and this time we headed for home so Brittney could have her nap. Mallory and Hayley wanted to go outside sooo bad and build a snowman. I had to convince them we would go out after Brittney woke up because they (and I) needed a little quiet time. When Brittney woke up, we all got bundled up and headed outside. Brittney was not content to sit in her stroller and watch us build a snowman, she had to sit on the ice, cold cement and eat snow!!

Brittney eating snow!!! YUM! YUM!

Brittney, Mallory and Hayley eating snow! YUM! YUM!

Scott arrived home from church just as we were getting started on our snowman. He made it outside just in time to start piling our snowman together!

Mr. Snowman Ropelato

Erin, Hayley and Mallory

Hayley, Scott and Mallory

Becca, Joe and Wesley's Special Day

My youngest sister, Rebecca and her husband Joe went through the temple on October 11th and then they were sealed together and then sealed to their little boy, Wesley in the Manti Temple. It was such a special day and I am so glad I was able to go (thank you Scott for staying home with the girls and holding down the fort!!). We are so excited for you two!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

It started to snow while we were outside the temple taking pictures-so we didn't get many. Wesley, Joe, Becca and Dad

A Miraculous Photo Opportunity

David, Leslie, Aleece, Jared, Sarah, Rachael, Erin

Rebecca, Mom and Dad

Another wonderful thing happened today too! Mine entire family was all together in one room! We couldn't remember the last time all of us were together---so we had to take a picture (it has been at least a year and possibly two). We just didn't have Scott, Tera and all the grandkids and granddogs to take a complete family picture--that will be for another day!

Mallory's Preschool Field Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

Mallory's Preschool went to Black Island Farms for a field trip. I got to go along and we had a great time with the kids in her class and I got to know a few of the Moms. McKinlee and Mallory at the top of the slide. (Mallory never did go down this long slide. She did have fun standing up there and watching everyone else. I think she didn't want to get her pants wet because the slide was wet when we first got there.)

Mallory going down the bumpy little slide.

Mallory and her preschool friends on the hayride to get our pumpkins-- (left to right-starting with the green preschool shirt--Jantz, Brett, Mallory, Conner and McKinlee). Here are five of the eight kids in her class.

Brett and Mallory (Brett's dad is in the Young Single Adult Bishopric with Scott so she and Mallory have become really good friends this past year.)

Mallory and her pumpkin

Mallory on the Cow Train Ride (I guess it should be a Pig Train Ride because Mallory rode in the pig.)

Mallory Learns to Ride a Two Wheeler

Mallory never ceases to amaze me at the things she can do. Today, while we were waiting to go get her haircut, she asked, "Mom, will you take my training wheels off my bike?" I told her no(I pretend I'm not as good with a set of tools as Scott is) and she kept begging. Finally, I gave in and told her that I wouldn't be able to put them back on so she would have to wait for her dad to come home from work to put her training wheels back on. I took the training wheels off and held the seat while she climbed on her back and off she went--she totally taught herself to ride a bike. She fell once or twice but she always jumped right back on and would take off again.

Way to go Mallory!!! It's a good thing she has her elbow pads, knee pads and helmet on!!

Off she goes!!

Here she comes!!
(Hayley wanted me to take hers off too but I gave her a definate "NO"--at least for now.)

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

Hayley's First Day of Playgroup

Hayley was so excited for her first day at Playgroup. For Playgroup, she will rotate between four different houses each Monday with her three little friends from nursery. Today she went to Moses Pack's house to play with her friends: Moses, Carson and Nikia. She had to have a new backpack so she could be big like Mallory. Next week we get to have Playgroup at our house!

Brittney's 1st Birthday!!

Brittney is 1 year old already! This past year has gone by so fast! We couldn't imagine our family without sweet, little Brittney! Brittney and cake (what are toys doing on this cake???)

(I'd better take these toys off first! Who puts toys on cake anyway? Now what do I do!)

Dad showing Brittney how it is done!!!

(Ohhhh-so this is what you want me to do!!)

(Wow! This does taste good. I can't believe I get this whole cake by myself!)

Mallory and Hayley are showing Brittney how it is done!!

(I thought I got to eat this all by myself--oh well, I guess I can share!)

Everyone is helping now!

( That was GOOOOOOOD! )

(I wonder how good it will taste on my toes! Let's give it a try!

I could have a birthday everyday--bring on the next cake!!!)

Happy Birthday Little B!!!!!

Bed of Roses????? No--it's a bed of Clothes!!!!

Where's Brittney??? Can you find her??? Mallory and Hayley thought it would be funny to dump all of Brittney's clothes into her bed with her. (This is not the first time they have done this--but it was the first time I ran and grabbed the camera.) Kids find humor in everything they do--I love it! It just makes me laugh!! (Ok-so I can't get my pictures to go in order--I have to remember to post the first one last--I'm still learning!!)

Mallory's First Day of Preschool

Mallory started Preschool on September 2nd and she was so excited to be a big kid who goes to school. She attends Discovery Preschool of CLinton and Tami Pett is her teacher. Here is Mallory all ready for her first day of school-backpack and all! She was so excited to tell us all about her day (and her job of the day was to wash the table!!).