This year our family had the opportunity to be involved in our community play A Christmas Carol. As we spent many hours getting ready for our performance (it was a musical.) It was hard to think of anything else. But perhaps the three ghosts that visited Ebenezer might also help to let you know about the Cropper's at this time of year.
The Ghost of Christmas Past takes us back to February where the Cropper's were able to take a family vacation to Disneyland for Kaleb and Jacob's birthdays. We had a wonderful time riding the rides and meeting the characters. We also thought it would be fun to see Universal Studios and Sea World in the same trip. It was a wonderful trip and we all came home quiet tired. The next stop would be March where Jacob got baptized. We were blessed to have many family members who were able to come for this happy time. Jacob was so excited, and he received his own set of scriptures. They didn't leave his hands for the next two days.
Then the ghost would bring us to May where one of the best things happened to the Cropper family. After our last miscarriage we thought a lot about which way we wanted to go to see if we could add more members to our family. Well in a round about way we were introduced to Foster parenting. And on the 28th of May we were blessed to have Skyler Rain Burns join our family. We were called that day and asked if we could come to Casper and pick up a newborn baby girl. We of course accepted and had a amazing time. We had forgotten how much babies change your life and without the nine months to get ready it was quite the shock for us. But we quickly fell in love with her and she changed our lives forever.
Then comes the summer months which were full of baseball for the boys and actually mom and dad too. Kristy decided to try her hand at coaching and so many hours were spent practicing and playing games. Jacob's games were on Monday's and Wednesday's and Kaleb's game were on Tuesday's and Thursday's and practice was on Thursday's also. Also there were many hours of swimming in the city pool. We were able to travel to Utah for Kristy's family reunion and spend lots of time with family there.
At this time the Ghost of Christmas past would leave us and the Ghost of Christmas present would come. We are busy as ever this time of year. Jacob is in the 3rd grade and loving it. In Douglas 3rd grade through 5th grade is in it own school, so he has to ride the bus across town every morning. He says that the best thing about 3rd grade is that he gets to play football out at recess. We have been updated on many recesses scores, and who is headed to the championship games. Jacob is still a wonderful student and his teacher can't say enough wonderful things about him. He actually got an award from the school for being such a good kid it is called the Character Counts Award and only a few students were nominated. We are very proud of him and all his hard work.
Kaleb started kindergarten this year and is doing well. He struggled at first with the hours. I think it was really hard for him to go from three days a week preschool for 3 hours a day to all day kindergarten 5 days a week. But he has gotten used to it now and he loves to be able to see his friends and play outside for recess. Kaleb still keeps us on our toes and makes sure that we also know he is around. He loves to torture his brother and unfortunately the cat. But he is also our love bug and loves to cuddle with mom.
Bryan is busy working at the dental practice, and things are going well. We have had a few bumps lately. (our hygienist just up and quit one day) We are working around it and doing pretty well. The girls at the office are all getting along now and things are surprisingly a lot better. Bryan is also currently the Elders Quorum president. This of course keeps him very busy. He does manage to find time to be the president of the soccer league and coach soccer. He also was Ebenezer Scrooge in our community play and did a wonderful job.
Kristy is still helping at the practice some. Though the hours she worked was cut down a bit with having Skyler around. Unfortunately, Skyler's mom was transferred to Casper so on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving we had to give her to another foster family in Casper. It was very difficult for all of us, but we are grateful for the time we had with her, Kristy especially because her arms were aching so much for a baby. Kristy has been released as the Primary President and now is the chorister in the primary. She absolutely loves this new calling and hopes that they never release her. She is loving having the boys in school to get caught up on somethings shes been wanting to do.
That would bring us to the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. With this ghost we would wish you a Merry Christmas and much rejoicing in our Savior and a hope that next year will bring you much joy and happiness. May we live as Ebenezer Scrooge vowed he would do and live in the past, present and future and bring joy to those around us and “May God Bless Us Everyone.”
Love the Croppers
Bryan, Kristy, Jacob and Kaleb
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