Roper Family Christmas: December 2011

JANUARY: Kim and I took a weekend trip to Colorado to visit my parents. I finished a long term sub for another reading recovery teacher. YEAH! Back to part time. I'm really spoiled.
FEBRUARY: We spent 3 short days with Annie and her family in Arizona. We sure miss them being so far away.

MARCH: Kim surprised me with a trip to Disneyland for my birthday. We drove there with Abbie. Annie and her family met us there. It was so much fun!!! Came home and got a new granddaughter 10 days later--Esme Kate O'Neil! I was so afraid she would be born while we were gone.

I love Tower of Terror!

Esme Kate, March 16

APRIL: Easter

MAY: I finished my 20th year of teaching and my first year at Mt. Mahogany. Kim finished his 33rd year and his 2nd year at North Point. We always look forward to summer break.
JUNE: We flew to Barcelona, Spain and went on a 12 day Mediterranean Cruise. I could write a whole page on this one but I'll spare you. We spent 1 day at the following cities: Barcelona, Monte Carlo Monaco, Florence & Pisa, Rome, Naples & Pompeii, Nafplion Greece, Katakolon & Olympia Greece, Corfu Greece, Dubrovnik Croatia and Venice Italy. The train we planned on taking back to the ship in Rome didn't exist and we thought we were in BIG trouble. We kind of were. But another passenger on the ship had the same plans as us so we ended up sharing a ride back to the boat. If we hadn't found him I don't know what we would have done since we didn't have enough money on our own to pay for the ride. (that's the very short version of that experience!) We hiked Mt. Vesuvius, the volcano that erupted and covered Pompeii. We swam in the Mediterranean Sea. We ate amazing food. And walked our legs off. It was the best trip ever. It's unbelievable that we actually did it.

Touring Barcelona in a GO Car

Park Guell in Barcelona

Monte Carlo was beautiful!

Florence

Pushing leaning tower of Pisa back up!

Colosseum in Rome

Pompeii with Mt. Vesuvius in background

Napflion Greece was beautiful! It was my favorite.

Olympia Greece

Korfu Greece

Dubrovnik Croatia was Kim's favorite place.

Our hotel in Venice Italy

Venice

The houses were all painted with bright colors in Burano, Italy

JULY: Annie and her family came and spent a week with us. Brinley and Meggie stayed a week longer. Our family did something we have never done before, we all ran the Freedom Festival 5K. We had so much fun we may make it a family tradition.

AUGUST: This month proved to be the busiest month of the year. Kim was sustained as the new Bishop of the Provo YSA 251st ward. We are happy to serve and get to know these great kids. WIth a new school year starting he was busy organizing the ward as he started his 3rd year at North Point and his 34th year in education. Because of district budget cuts, my position at Mt. Mahogany was eliminated and I was transferred to Cascade Elementary. I am the only reading recovery teacher there. I have always shared my room with at least one other teacher so I was a little worried about it, but have found that I quite enjoy my tiny kiln room all to myself.

Katie's Dirty Thirty Birthday Party

SEPTEMBER: Not too much happened this month!

OCTOBER: Celebrated another birthday for Kim. Had great fun with the family dressing up on Halloween.

NOVEMBER: Our long awaited family vacation finally arrived. We have had a count down for this trip for the past 600 days. We enjoyed 6 days in Disney World and then a 3 day Disney Cruise. The highlight was Cast Away Cay (Disney's private island) which was our last day. Spent the day on the beach enjoying the sun and each other.

Robi, Meggie & Ellery w/ Lady at Pop Century

Magic Kingdom

Meggie, Aayla, Brinley & Ellery @ Epcot

It's Brinley & Meggie being Norwegian Vikings defending against the trolls!

Family Shirts!

Annie, Robi, Katie & Abbie starting the cruise

Kim & Ellery

Rhonda & Kim

Rhonda & Robi on Castaway Cay

5 of the 6 granddaughters: Aayla, Ellery, Robi, Brinley & Esme

The whole family

DECEMBER: Kim had cataract surgery on both eyes. After each surgery he kept saying, "Wow! It's so bright!" I think it worked. He's very happy to get his eye sight back.

This is the best time of the year when we get to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. "For unto you is born this day, a Savior which is Christ the Lord." We hope you all enjoy the holidays. We have testimonies of Him who was born, atoned, died and was resurrected for us. We love Him and try to live our lives as He lived His. We love our family and are grateful for the good choices they make in their lives. We love our callings and love serving others. May you all have a very Merry Christmas and may the new year be every thing you want it to be.