Daddy's Little Helper

As I've mentioned before Hudson loves to help.  Last week a package arrived on our front step and lots of pieces inside needed putting together.  It was a step stool to have by the bathroom sink for our big boy to stand on and wash his hands.  Here are a few pictures of Mr. Swinger and Lil' Swinger working together.  Daddy even let him stay up past his bedtime to help.  :)  We were both quite impressed with how well he attended to the task and showed interest for being involved.  

"Daddy, I'm looking for the next piece you need."  

"I'm pretty good at helping with these kinds of projects.  My Daddy teaches me lots of new things.  I hope to someday be a good worker just like he is."  

"Look Hudson, the directions show us what we have to do next."  

Smiling about the finished product.  Hudson with screwdriver in hand.  

fall leaves

Last week (yes I'm FINALLY up to date on our blog...3 cheers for me) Hudson and I had a BLAST playing in the leaves in our front yard.  It was a perfect afternoon to enjoy the colors, crunching leaves, and thrill of new adventures.  In the middle of play time our favorite person in the whole world came home from work to join the FUN!

Have I mentioned before that Hudson is a fabulous helper?  He will help me with anything, including raking the leaves.  I put this little man to work.  Even at a young age he is learning that serving one another is a key component in family.    

Working with Daddy to get the leaves in a big pile.  

"These leaves are so cool!  I'm nearly covered in them.  So fun!"   

Profile picture.  Look at those cheeks!  They probably get 100 kisses a day (just from me)!  

"Where did my Daddy go?"  

"I've got you!" - words said by Daddy several times a day.  

"What do you think Mommy?  Can we play some more?"  

10K = 6.2 miles

On Saturday, October 6th, Allison and I completed a 10K race together.  In all honestly, I have done very little running since Hudson was born.  No good excuses, I just hadn't really had the incentive or motivation to do so.  I much prefer a good walk!  Yet, Allison and I both wanted to encourage each other to get out there, train hard, and RUN!  So we did.  I seemed to get right back into the swing of things and it came back to me fairly easily.  Plus, I have my own personal running coach at home (thanks Roy) so that extra support and encouragement helps out too.  It was a COLD morning so we had to bundle up and we didn't start to warm up until a mile or two into the race.  The hour of running went fast as we were uninterrupted (no toddler boys to distract us) and had lots of time to chat.  Loved it!        

And something fun to add...Allison and I were the top finishers in our age bracket!  We are still not sure if we were the only two running the 10K that were 30-39 years old, but that doesn't really matter right?!  Ha!  I got a medal out of the deal and some fond memories to take home with us.  

The race was right here in Waukee, and put on by Katie's Crusaders.  Its a non-profit that supports local families who have been affected by breast cancer.  One of the "Crusaders" is Nicole, a mother to Paige, who I tutor on a weekly basis.  Here is Paige and I on the medal stand.  It made the hard training and cold weather totally worth it to support a cause and a family who I care about.  

I'm grateful for the strength, time, ability, stamina, and health to run - all gifts from God.  Thanks Allison for the encouragement, training, the run, and your friendship.  I may still need a little extra motivation as I have yet to go on another run since the race, nearly 3 weeks ago.  Ha!     

twenty months

On Oct. 3rd Hudson turned 20 months.  What a big boy!  Where has the time gone?  

A few of "Hudson's Happenings" are...

...being a content rider on road trips (for the most part)

...fixing puzzles with greater independence

...saying many animal sounds

...repeating words after us (constantly)

...starting "Bible Class" (BSF) in the Green Class and adjusting well

...signing more words (water, thank you, hat, play, amen) and using them independently

...continues to have an afternoon "rest time" in bed (its been a long transition to 1 nap)

...getting all 4 molars at one time

...getting random red bumps on his skin that come and go (seasonal allergies we think)

...holds on to his last piece of food or snack and saves it for later

...has become independent with going down slides at the park

...went to the church nursery for the first time (at Central Church in Sioux Center)

...helps Mommy and Daddy with jobs around the house and is good at cleaning up

...attending Kindermusik class on Friday mornings 

...adjusting well to the care of others in different environments

We Love You Hudson John!  You Are The Best Son Ever!  

  

Oct. 3 (part 2)

A quick birthday recap...

*In the morning Hudson and I went for a long walk, enjoying the beautiful fall colors.  

*Gma Sue had offered to care for Hudson so Roy and I could have a lunch date, which we did.  What a treat!  After lunch I also had some time to myself at a coffee shop to read, journal, and relax.  

*I was given a "Burley Bee" as a gift so Hudson and I can "go out on the town" together.  We are hoping for a few more warm fall days so we can try it out.  

 *Roy surprised me with ordering a Dairy Queen ice cream cake.  My favorite!  We got several night time treats out of it.  And yes, even Hudson enjoyed a few bites.  

*On the evening of my birthday I cashed in on a gift card I was given for a massage.  Relaxed and refreshed!  Oh yes!  

 *On Friday night Roy and I had a date night.  A big thanks to Gma Sue for caring for Hudson (again) so we could go out.  We enjoyed a delicious dinner at The Bonefish Grill, complete with swordfish with pumpkin ravioli and 2 desserts.  Thanks Nic and Allison for joining us for dinner.  We are blessed by your friendship.  After dinner we had a few hours of worship in concert by Phillips, Craig, and Dean.  Friday night fun!  

God is good.  I am thankful for His amazing gifts, daily.  His blessings are abundant and His love is unending.  Life is worth celebrating, each and every day.  Year #32 here I come!  :)    

Oct. 3 (part 1)

On the afternoon of October 3rd, which also happened to be my 32nd birthday, (more to come on that a bit later) Hudson and I had a play date at the park with Allison and Thomas.  It was a beautiful day, perfect in so many ways.  Here is a picture recap of our time together...

1. We checked out the "diggers."  These boys are in love with big machines that do big work!     

2. We watched the skate boarders do tricks.

3.  We explored on the bridge, watching the water go by below.  

4. We welcomed adventure on the bridge, slide, and climbing tower.  

 5. We pretended in the play houses.  

6. We tossed leaves in the air with our hands and crunched them under our feet.  

 

7. We tried to get a few pictures of "our boys."  

8. We checked out the ducks and threw lots of rocks in the water.  

I thank God for...another year of life, friends so dear, fall colors, the eager eyes and adventure of a small child, laughter, memories, rocks, water, and even "diggers" too.  

Fall Harvest

On Saturday, September 29th, the Swinger family and the Scherer family enjoyed the beautiful fall day and took in some fall harvest fun (thanks to Ed and "his gang").  After rescheduling twice, we were grateful that it worked out for all the parties involved.  It was the first time in a combine for Nic, Allison, and Thomas (hopefully the beginning of many more rides in the years to come).  We made new memories and captured lots of great pictures of the boys, and the machinery, (thanks to Nic and Allison for getting all these and sharing them with us).    

Thomas and I, enjoying the gift of nature.  

This picture of Thomas checking out the chickens was too cute, I just had to post it.  

Papa Ed and Hudson by his "big rig."  

Proud to be wearing our Pioneer green.  

The Daddy's and their boys.  Thomas couldn't keep his eyes off of that big machine.  

"This truck is pretty cool isn't it Thomas?  Do you think we will get to really drive it someday?"  

"These tires are about as big as we are.  Wow!"  

"This truck is so much cooler in person.  I usually just see them in books.  I can't believe my Papa Ed actually has one of these things?!"  

Papa Ed let Hudson take his turn at driving the tractor.  

Coming to drop off a full load.  

"I've got lots to learn before I'm ready to start farming.  Good thing I'm starting when I'm so young."  

A ride on the Gator at Gma Sue and Papa Ed's house made the day complete.  

A few "gifts" from our day...

...lots of time to talk in the car driving to and from the field

...delicious dinner with Sue and her beautiful hospitality

...a full moon on the ride home

...lots to explore and room for adventure

...God's provision through harvest

...eyes of interest and anticipation

...2 toddlers in blue jean overalls

...blowing dandelion seeds

...chickens on the go

...the stillness and peace of the country 

...big machines

...relaxing

...making memories with friends and family

PUMPKINLAND

When Hudson and I were home in Sioux Center for several days (because of my Thirty-One parties) we took advantage of our extra time there and headed over to Pumpkinland.  A trip to Sioux County just isn't complete without stopping at Pumpkinland.  :)  Ha!  I remember going on field trips here when I was in college working as an assistant teacher at a preschool in town.  How fun to take my little guy to join in the fall fun.  

  

Checking out all the pumpkins.  

Posing for the traditional Pumpkinland picture.  

How tall this fall?  Almost 3 feet!  

Hudson's favorite thing was all the little houses they had.  He loved going in and out of them, opening and closing the doors, and picking up rocks and putting them in piles.  He kept busy!    

With Grammy B.'s help we picked out pumpkins for our outside fall displays.  

My "31 Adventure"

I wanted to share with you, and also document, a new adventure I am taking.  As of September 6th I am a Thirty-One Consultant.  For those of you who haven't heard of Thirty-One before, it is a Christian based company whose mission is to Celebrate, Encourage, and Reward women.  They believe in recognizing others for who they are.  Through God's strength, they've built a family of individuals who feel women deserve to treat themselves to something special.  The company is committed to providing women with a fulfilling, enjoyable, and rewarding experience.  This mission is basically me in a nutshell and sums up many of the things I am most passionate and excited about doing.  Thirty-One sells bags, totes, purses, and accessories for women of all ages and seasons of life, to both use and enjoy.  

My story of how I got started (my "why") goes something like this...my mom attended a Thirty-One party last fall in my hometown.  Soon afterwards she told me about it and knew I would be interested in the products.  She encouraged me to have a Thirty-One party to celebrate my thirty-first year (I turned 31 last October).  Without knowing much of anything about the company or the products I decided to "go for it" and host a party (even though I told myself "I'm not really a party person").  Ha!  I had a great turnout and ended up getting lots of great bags for free and at a discounted price.  I quickly fell in love with everything and started using them on a daily basis for shopping, errands, travel, daily outings with Hudson, etc.  I had several people tell me I should consider selling Thirty-One after they heard how much I enjoyed the products.  Through much time processing and praying I decided "sure, why not" and enrolled as a consultant.  

My mom was generous enough to host two of my first three parties in her home on the weekend of Sept. 22nd.  They were a huge success and I learned so much.  Here are a few pictures from the parties.  

    

Door prizes!  

My "presentation" featured my "Top Ten Items."  It was hard to pick just ten.  ;)  

My creative touches were incorporated as a part of the product display.  

And of course we had lots of yummy sweet treats.  

Joy De Jager is my "sponsor" and has been such a blessing with helping me "learn the ropes" and get started.  She has answered countless questions that I have sent her way and let me use lots of her products for my first shows.  Thanks Joy!    

If you are interested in learning more about Thirty-One products and/or the company checkout my website http://www.mythirtyone.com/emilyswinger/ or send me an email (emily.swinger@gmail.com).