The Gift of a "New" Piano

Last week Nana and Papa purchased a new piano.  With that, they were going to trade their old one in to the music store.  I inquired about getting it from them instead, for our home and for our kids to learn to play on.  Nana was excited about that idea so we took a few measurements to make sure it would fit downstairs and rearranged a few things to make space for it.  I hadn't told Hudson what was being delivered, just that it was something new for our whole family to enjoy, and that it was coming from Nana and Papa's house.  It was so fun to hear and watch him put the pieces together and ask questions when the guys with the "piano truck" pulled onto our driveway.  After they left he said, "I'm really glad we got Nana's piano."  We are so grateful for this generous gift and are excited about making music with it in our home for the months and years to come.    

  

RaNdOm

I have several random photos to share in this post, nothing super cute or cohesive, just the happenings of life at the Swinger home.  January means lots of time indoors and more pj days than we could probably count.  But most importantly, a great opportunity to spend time together snuggling, playing, and making memories together.  

Greta girl is excited about eating her bananas the "big girl way" now and has the craziest hair at times.  

For Christmas Hudson received a pair of "just right for kids headphones" (as he calls them) and they are perfect for listening to music and watching shows on the iPad.  

A Starbucks date with Mommy on a Saturday morning was a fun treat for both of us.  

We made a trip to Grundy Center to visit the Steenboks.  The girls went for an afternoon stroll in the snow.

Hudson's wild dinosaur park...

They love to play peek-a-boo in the curtains.  

This is Hudson's 1st birthday shirt and now it fits Greta.  I love it to pieces.   

 

This picture is proof that we spend lots of cold winter days in our pajamas.  

She likes to watch for Daddy to come home from work and squeals with delight when his car pulls on to the driveway.  

A playdate with his buddy Evie.  Evie was Hudson's first friend.  

Hudson showing off the "Lego City" he created.   

Looking cute while sitting in her pink chair and eating animal crackers while Mommy gets ready.  

Its snack time (again) for our little Cyclone fan!  

"Most people say I look like my Mommy.  What do you think?"  

Swingers Love Snow

Our kids have had so much fun in the snow this winter.  Hudson gets outside in it almost daily, for as long as I will let him.  And then little sister insists she go outside too...I mean finding her coat, screaming until I take it off the hook and dragging it to me and pointing at the door.  There appears to be no other option but for the girls to join the fun too.  To be totally honest, I think its probably the first winter as a mom that I have enjoyed having the snow because its given us something to do in the later afternoon hours of the day.  Plus, Hudson is pretty independent and can play outside on his own for awhile.  We have had the most fun pulling the two sleds, side by side, around the yard, over and over again.  We also took in the local sledding hill and lasted for a full 30 minutes, which we considered a success.  Yes, its true...the Swingers love snow!    

  

NYE

We celebrated the last hours of 2015 with friends.  It was a hoppin' party with 8 kids and 8 adults.  :)  We started at one home for appetizers and then went to another home for soup and cinnamon rolls.  There were party hats and blowers for the kids and plenty of different toys to keep them all entertained.  It was a fun evening and we are grateful for God's many blessings to our family in 2015.  

Trying our best to get a group picture of the little ones...

Hudson with two of his preschool buddies.  This picture just cracks me up.  

Milk and cookies to ring in the new year.

Christmas in Sioux Center

After a short 20 hours at home to rest up, do laundry, and repack our overnight bags, we traveled to NW Iowa to celebrate Christmas with my parents and siblings.  He headed out a day early to beat the snowstorm.  It was a blessed week and we are grateful for the family memories, delicious meals, laughter shared, and fun times together.  

  

Hudson got in plenty of piano practice at Mimi's house.

Aunt Angela is so great with our kids and is very hands on with them, helping and serving.  

Hudson was given a book about combines, which was "exactly what he was hoping for."  

Greta girl was super excited about her new trike.  This face says it all...

We had Angela's name and gave her just what she asked for, and a book that I thought she would enjoy too.  

Our handsome little guy, jamming out with his cool new headphones.  

These farming buddies are showing off their matching Case IH tractor shirts for the camera.  

I told Roy to give me his most manly pose with his new power tool, and this is what I got.  

Mom got a sewing machine...oh the possibilities.   

Hudson and Mimi played some intense games of Old Maid and really got to laughing.  

We picked out this 100 piece puzzle last summer when we were on vacation and waited until Christmas to fix it.  It was all different vintage cereal boxes and I had so much fun, which I usually don't say about fixing a puzzle.  We completed it in less than 24 hours.    

Angela spends HOURS in the kitchen every Christmas preparing the most amazing food for all of us.  Her gift of cooking is one that we all appreciate and enjoy.  A Christmas post wouldn't be complete without her at work in the kitchen.    

Ready to enjoy our Christmas breakfast.  

It was a winter wonderland at Bapa and Mimi's house and this little guy loved the snow.  

We took the kids swimming and Hudson accomplished the lily pads independently for the first time while Greta was chilly, but super cute in her new bathing suit.  

 Roy and I helped my sister make a batch of Dutch saucijsjes, also known as pigs in a blanket.  They are a bit labor intensive, but Ang did most of the work and these boys are delicious.  We look forward to grabbing them out of the freezer and baking them up in the months to come.    

And a "kids picture" to wrap up our time together...

STRIKE!

We took in a little post Christmas family fun with Ben, Jenna, Clara and Ellsy at Warrior Lanes in Waukee.  It was Clara's first time bowling and she was all smiles.  Besides me having the worst score on record, it was a fun time for all.  

Clara, super excited to get started...

Greta has always gone right to Uncle Ben, but don't tell her grandpas because she won't let either of them hold her for more than 5 seconds.  

Clara got some coaching on her bowling skills from her Daddy.  

Greta girl was curious to touch all of the colorful bowling balls.  

Hudson and Roy giving the ball a strong push down the lane.  

Nice job boys!  

12.25.15

We celebrated Christmas with the Swingers on Christmas Eve and day this year.  Roy's parents recently moved into their beautiful new home so it was a perfect opportunity to gather together and enjoy their new space.  When we are together its usually a busy time with all the kids, but such a blessing to have cousins the same age and be in this season of life alongside each other.  It was a blessed time and memorable holiday.  

Greta and I showing off our Christmas morning bedhead.    

Hudson and Roy building with Lincoln Logs on a relaxing Christmas morning.  

A hot chocolate in a John Deere mug makes for an extra special day.  

Ellsy and Greta were found in this position quite often.  A few different times we caught Ellsy being a very generous cousin, sharing her partially eaten food with Greta.  Ha!      

Ellsy is our youngest niece and I like to refer to her as "little Ben."  

Nana and Clara enjoying a Christmas morning breakfast together.  

"May I please have this candy cane, Aunt Emily?"  

Aunt Jenna had the fun idea of getting the kids coordinating Christmas pjs and she ordered them for everyone.  The boys wore reindeer shirts with plaid bottoms and the girls wore brown Rudolf pajamas.   This picture of Hudson and Mylo is definitely a treasure...big smiles and two happy dudes.     

The 6 cousins in their Christmas pajamas...

Our two little reindeer...

We took some time for a Christmas craft.  The kids decorated a large Christmas tree with lots of glue and some colorful decorations of every shape and size.  

Hudson enjoyed the art project, as he always does.  

Milly was all about the glue, the more the better she thought.  

We drew Milly's name for the gift exchange and gave her a sleeping bag, which she clearly was excited about.  

Hudson got an ISU sweatshirt from Nana and Papa.  He likes to wear his Cyclones gear, just like his Daddy does.  

Hudson received a remote control drone, which proved to a fun surprise gift (exactly what he said after opening).  

Enjoying the princess tent with the big girl cousins.  

Roy snuggling the babies, who were more interested in their paci's than the gifts, after their morning naps.