Many Hands For Haiti Thrift Market

The theme for our October Kindergarten Co-op was SERVICE.  When we gathered for our first meeting we read the book The Giving Tree, did a service obstacle course (donated money, shopped for groceries, cleaned up toys, gave a hug), learned a fun Service Chant that goes like this..."What are we going to do?  Give...Help...Love!"  We also made treat bags to deliver to people in our community who serve.  Hudson chose to give one bag to his Papa Ed, because he is a farmer and Greta gave hers to our pediatrician, via Hudson's suggestion.  :)  The following week we enjoyed a field trip to a new Thrift Market in Grimes, called Many Hands for Haiti.  Their vision is for a world where people transform together, through the presence of Jesus Christ, to be called people, living with purpose, unleashing God-given talents and resources to bring Good News in a broken world.  The store even has a frozen yogurt shop in house, called The Mango Tree, whose proceeds also benefit the organization.  Our group first met with the store manager and he gave us some information about the store, their history, ministry, the work they do, and the people whose lives they influence.  

One of their ministries is making these PET (Personal Energy Transportation) carts for ease of transportation for the Haitian people.  This vehicle was the highlight of the field trip for Hudson.  

Our first opportunity for service was cleaning the frozen yogurt shop.  We swept the floor, dusted the furniture, and wiped off whatever we could find.  

Thankfully, all the kids knew how to use the cleaning tools.  :)  

Even Greta girl did some cleaning.  

Then they let us into the back room and showed us where they keep all of the donations that come in. They gave us a crash course on going through items, what to keep and what to too, and pricing them appropirately.  The boys were the most eager to work the pricing guns and it gave them a little math practice too.  

Our co-op group always packs lunches and we eat together, providing a fun opportunity to build relationships.  Greta makes friends quickly and enjoys sitting with the other girls.    

The store manager treated us to free frozen yogurt for working hard and serving.  

More time to ride the PET cart before heading home.  

This morning is another example of why we have chosen to homeschool.  Opportunities like this, with like minded families, is such a blessing.  I am thankful to be a part of it with my children, and not just hear bits and pieces about it later that day.  Serving together, learning together, growing together, and loving together...what a blessing!  

Soccer Season #2

This fall Hudson participated in Soccer Season #2 with the same coaches and many of the same kids as he did in the spring.  If you remember, Soccer Season #1 was cut short because of his broken arm.  It was a 5 week season, they met for 45 minutes each week and played games that work on introducing and improving their soccer skills.  It was free and we know and trust the coaches, which is so wonderful.  Hudson enjoyed going each week yet I think he was most excited about the time he had running around with his other buddies.  Staying active and being involved in activities to build teamwork and encourage relationships with others are all blessings he received by being involved.  Here are a few pictures from his last week of practice...

Fall Family Birthday Party

After the fun at Wills Family Orchard we headed over to Nana Sue and Papa Ed's house for more birthday activities.  I put the tables together pretty inexpensively...reusing stuff I already had, buying a few crafting items at Hobby Lobby, using extra pumpkins from the wedding the day before, and purchasing fall napkins and stickers.    

A student at our church who enjoys calligraphy/writing made these placemats for me.  She did an excellent job and I'm guessing I will be able to find another project for her.    

Mason jars with ribbon and some sticks Roy collected from our yard with paper leaves made for some easy centerpieces.  

In order to be an "official party" I felt like we needed a birthday banner, which I put together a few minutes before walking out the door.  :)  

It was great to be able to reuse some of the unusual pumpkins from the wedding.  

Ready for the guests to arrive and for the fun to begin.  

I had stickers and crayons for the kids to decorate their placemats, while we got dinner together.  

Greta always has a silly face to share, she loves to be funny and make people laugh.  

Hudson got really into this placemat project.  He took his home and it has now been added to the "poster wall" in his room.  

Roy and I bought this bounce house on Amazon this past summer when it was on sale and had been saving to "reveal it" until just the right time.  Sharing it with cousins at a birthday party seemed like the perfect opportunity.   It was a HIT!   

Greta was a little hesitant when everyone was bouncing, but gained confidence when she could jump by herself.  

For dinner we had potato soup, chili soup, cornbread muffins, cheeses, and veggies with dressing.  

Hudson, Cousin Milly, Auntie Lynn and Nana Sue sat at the "fun table."  

Mr. Mylo enjoying his dinner.  

Once it came time for the gift opening, Hudson got a hold of the camera and he filled the camera's memory card with pictures of nearly every item, small and big, that were gifted.  There were also several extreme closeup face shots, but I won't share those with everyone.  :)  Here is an example of what he photographed.  

A Wellness Mat for my (hopefully someday) new house.  

I had the most beautifully wrapped gift from Clara and Ellsy!  

Ellsy Lue, being a good sport, even though there were not presents for her to open at this party.  

Greta Girl, taking in all the activity.  

Nana and Papa gave Greta a sleeping bag...perfect for sleepovers and camping adventures in the years to come.  Greta has always been so fond of her Uncle Ben, which is sweet to see.   

We gave Uncle Ben a random collection of things.  Since he lives in Kansas, and is married to a Kansas State fan, we find it important to always give him something ISU related.  

Clara, super excited about getting a sleeping bag too.  

For our birthday desserts we had pumpkin bars and apple crisp, along with a few frozen desserts Lynn brought.  There are always lots of food options with this group.  :)   

Roy and Hudson made a double batch of caramel popcorn and we bagged it up to hand out for take home treats.  

I believe our mission was accomplished.  We made memories, enjoyed time together, took lots of pictures, celebrated birthdays, ate and laughed.  So much life and so many blessings...so much to celebrate and give thanks for.    

Fall Family Birthday Party @ Wills Family Orchard

There are NINE fall birthdays in the Swinger family between my birthday and Roy's birthday.  A December birthday doesn't feel much like fall, but technically it is.  Plus, there was no guarantee that we would all be together again before Christmas so we just went for it.  :)  Here is the lineup of who we celebrated...

Oct. 3 - Emily 

Oct. 11 - Ben

Oct. 12 - Clara 

Oct. 29 - Milly

Nov. 1 - Greta

Nov. 19 - Lynn

Nov. 28 - Ed

Dec. 9 - Jacy

Dec. 17 - Roy 

Instead of having individual parties we went for a more simple approach and planned a Fall Family Birthday Party.  I love the whole birthday party thing and would have preferred to host a party just for Greta, but I went with the flow to accommodate the larger group.  Plus, its fun to celebrate with cousins!  We gathered at Wills Family Orchard near Adel on Sunday afternoon.  It was a picture perfect fall day and we savored it up and made some fun memories with those we love.  

   

 Feeding the goats with Cousin Clara...

Hudson was excited about taking pictures of everyone, including this one of Papa Ed.  

Hudson driving the tractor and pulling Clara, Greta and Ellsy behind.  

 

Have I mentioned before that this kid loves farming?!  He tells me..."you know Mommy, farming is my thing?!"  

The little ones exploring in the corn maze.  

I took Ellsy, Greta and Milly for a wagon ride through the pumpkin patch.  

These three cuties were all born within a year and 2 days of each other.  

Our "little" boy is not so little anymore.  Its such a joy to watch him grow up, learn new things and gain independence.  This is my current "favorite picture" of Hudson.  He is a handsome little guy, we think.  :)    

Greta girl, wearing her "two shirt" from Mimi even though she is not quite two yet.  :)  

Cousins hanging out and waiting for the tractor to arrive for the hay ride.  

Roy and Milly enjoying the sunshine and the hay rack ride.  

The Swinger gang all together in one picture...

Papa Ed and Nana Sue with their crew of grandkids.  

Carter & Elisa's Wedding

Roy's cousin Elisa got married to Carter on Saturday, October 7th.  It was a picture perfect fall day, outside of the pesky tiny black bugs, for an outdoor wedding at The Iowa Arboretum.  We are thankful for the opportunity to celebrate with them and pray God's blessings over their marriage.  

Handsome Hudson exploring around the grounds of the Arboretum, while waiting for the wedding to begin.    

Greta girl, curious and spunky, just like she always is.  

Cousins!  

Anticipating the ceremony...

Cousin Mylo and Hudson....these boys need to stick together when the family is together.  So far, the girl to boy cousin ratio is 5 girls to 2 boys.  

The fall decorations were lovely...

Uncle Tom walking Elisa down the aisle...

After the ceremony, and before dinner was served, they had outside lawn games to keep the guests busy and entertained.  We had the most fun with the giant Scrabble board.  

Hudson played croquet with Cousin Bethany from Missouri.  

They served tacos for dinner with pies for dessert.  Following dinner there was a dance, which ended up mostly being our kids tearing up the dance floor.  They also had a bonfire with s'mores.  

And this wraps up our 6th and final wedding of the "wedding season."