HAPPY CHRISTMA - CHANU - KWANZA - KAH!!!!!

We hope that this Holiday Newsletter finds you healthy, happy and whole this Holiday Season.

Sending our greetings via BLOG is a family experiment. We hope you enjoy the photos, the news and the ability to read whichever parts interest you.

We'd love to hear from you. Most of us are on FACEBOOK, so please send a friend request. All of us are on e-mail as follows:

Ted: edward.h.roper@gmail.com

Paula: paularoper143@gmail.com

Caitlyn: sapphire.dachshund@gmail.com

Eric: johnericroper@gmail.com

Will: william.c.roper@gmail.com

If you are going to be in the greater NYC area this year, please give us a call, we'd love to get together!

MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH AND IN OUR HEARTS.

Ted, Paula, Caitlyn, Eric & Will

Paula & Ted Roper

What a year it has been - with lots of ups and downs! In February we spent several days at the Von Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vt. We figured that even if Caitlyn did not like the great outdoors, she would go if there was a musical tie-in. We had a blast. Ted, Eric & Will all loved cross country skiing. Caitlyn & Paula went snow shoeing (after taking a cross country lesson). We toured the Ben & Jerry Factory (too much fun) and enjoyed great puppeteers, and watching The Sound Of Music (shown every Thursday evening at the lodge).

In March we got Bob - our second dog, from our favorite breeder in Minnesota. Bob is beautiful, loving and dumb as a post. But he has been a huge help in getting Buster to settle down.

In May, Ted found himself without a job, and launched into a very busy couple of months, interviewing, sending resumes and moving forward. He started with Avanade in July, and is pleased with his new company. In July he also appeared in the RLO production of HMS Pinafore at Somerset County Plays in the Park (as Dead Eye Dick - photo above).

Paula officiated at weddings in May and June, and created some terrific custom scrapbooks for her customers. She still teaches one card class a month, holds a scrapbook group every week, and is about to start teaching a religious literacy class at Grace Episcopal Church. She is also hosting an organic food co-op at our house four times per month. It's been great to be a bigger part of the food chain, and eat the best food available from mostly local farmers.

In September we attended Ted's 25th College Reunion and caught up with old friends. Ted auditioned for and joined Harmonium Choral Society - which just had a huge concert weekend (Dec 13 & 14).

All in all - it has been a good year!

William Cobb Roper

Will is enjoying his last year in Elementary School as a 6th grader at Allen W. Roberts Elementary School. In the photo on the left (taken at Easter) he is wearing his favority London Fog trench coat, and a hat that belonged to his grandfather Bud Roper.

Will plays Violin, and both Alto and Baritone Saxophones. He is the only sixth grader to participate in Band, Orchestra, Jazz Band and Chorus. Needless to say - the Holiday Concert was a marathon for Will.

Will has begun a small career as a page turner. He handled this job for Eric's spring production of Dear Edwina Jr., and for HMS Pinafore at Plays in the Park.

In addition, Eric was in the children's choir for RLOs September Song production which included Hansel & Gretel (see photo) and Ravel's L'Enfant Et Les Sortileges. He loved doing the shows.

The highlight of Will's year was an opportunity to sing at Carneigie Hall in June with the Intermediate Choir of the New Jersey Youth Chorus. There is a photo (below) of Will standing at the stage door.

The other photo (red hair) is Will as a rock musican for Halloween. He continues to surprise us with his awesome sense of humor. Will enjoys reading, making music and going to Tae Kwon Do!

John Eric Roper

Eric has had a terrific year. He just turned 14 this past weekend (Dec 13), is an 8th grader at New Providence Middle School, plays piano whenever he can find one, and is dedicated to earning his second dan Black Belt in March of 2009.

He enjoys playing piano in the NPMS jazz band (photo left is of his solo in the Holiday concert, with Mr. Gerald Polci conducting).

Eric had an opportunity to participate in Marching band for one game this fall (it was a trial for 8th graders who might want to participate) and I have to tell you that I see football games in my future. My only question is - am I going to be the only parent who attends football games for the music?

Eric has been involved in some acting this year. He was cast as Scott in Dear Edwina Jr. which was performed this past May. In the show, Scott is geeky boy who is in love with Edwinda. His big number is near the end of the show when he magically transforms into a cool dude with a leather jacket and sunglasses as he sings a do wap song about his love for Edwina.

In July he was part of the crew for HMS Pinafore (a Ridge Light Opera production) - his job was to be on top of a telephone pole and managae a spotlight.

In the fall, he sang in the children's chorus for Ravels' L'Enfant Et Les Sortileges, and for Hansel & Gretel (also a Ridge Light Opera production). He loved singing with Dr. Matlack so much, that he joined her choir for young men with changed voices - THE GARGOYLES. They had their first concert in October, performing with Cadence. If you would like to see what they can do, there are two videos available on YouTube at the following locations:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn5O8vTt0l4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOUGzb3NBaQ

Photo left: Eric as Scott in Dear Edwina Jr.

Photo Above: Eric is to the right as the children (part of a ripped up math book) sing about improbably math problems.

Caitlyn Marie Roper

At 17, and a Junior in High School, Caitlyn is one of the busiest, most driven people I know. At New Providence High School she is currently taking a full load of classes, plus zero period P.E. which means that school starts before 7am every day. She chose to take Zero Period P.E. (no, she is not a morning person) in order to accomodate her schedule of 3 honors classes (Language Arts, Physics and Algebra II), AP US History and Latin 3.

In addition to her academics, Caitlyn sings in the Women's Chorale at High School, takes voice lessons, and earned a place in the Harmonium Choral Society (by audition) - which she totally loves, and they just performed their holiday concert this past weekend (Dec. 13 and 14). Caitlyn also earned a seat in the New Jersey All State Chorus which gave her an opportunity to work with Dr. Z. Randall Stroop for six months. "It was the best choral experience of my life." They performed in Atlantic City in November and at NJPAC.

Caitlyn is driving these days, and we cannot wait until she gets her full license. For those of you outside of New Jersey - you cannot get a learners permit until you are 16 and have taken drivers ed, and then you drive with a permit for at least six months, before taking a test that will allow you to have a restricted license. It's quite complicated. However, I can assure you that every 17 year old in NJ knows the rules.

Caitlyn has also had some terrific acting opportunities this year. She was a Who down in Whoville in Seusical the Musical back in March, then in the chorus of HMS Pinafore in Somerset County Plays in the Park with Ridge Light Opera in July, in September Song she was heard in L'Enfant Et Les Sortileges, Hansel & Gretel, and singing Cole Porter hits, she headed the team of foley artists for It's A Wonderful Life: A Radio Play at NPHS in November, and has been cast in the chorus and as a Cab Driver in Kiss Me Kate - the spring Musical.

And if that is not enough, she still goes to Tae Kwon Do twice a week. She is progressing through her black belt curriculum, and might even become a second dan Black Belt in 2009.

Next on her list - choosing which colleges to visit this spring.

PHOTOS:

top - Anything Goes by Cole Porter (Caitlyn, Claire and Julie)

middle - Performing HMS Pinafore for the G&S Society of NYC

bottom - Headed to a Medieval Birthday party

Allison Aukerman Update

Allison, Daron, Elizabeth (3) and Ashleigh(2) moved to Pennsylvania last week. They have gone from being about 30 hours away by car to being about 4 hours away. They moved into a house that was built by Daron's grandfather, and are in the process of getting jobs squared away, unpacking boxes,

and getting the girls into a pre-school program. Daron is going to work for the sheriff's department, while Allison is looking into home health care.

In June, Ted & I got to spend a few hours with them in Pennsylvania - it was actually on Elizabeth's 3rd birthday (Ashleigh turned 2 the next day). Here are some photos from that visit.

Above Left: Daron Aukerman

Above Right: Allison & Ashleigh Aukerman

Left: Elizabeth Aukerman