Christmas Singing at Church

The weekend before Christmas seems to be children's Christmas program weekend everywhere and it was no different for us.  Hudson and Greta sang in church on Sunday, December 16th.  They had been practicing their two songs (Joy to the World and O Holy Night) since September and were eager for their turn in the spotlight on stage.  

I snapped a photo before they started.  Hudson was in the back row (can just see his profile in this picture) and Greta was in the front row.  

They learned sign language for O Holy Night.  

We are so thankful for our QuestKids program and their vision to train children in Bible truths and equip them with the gospel.  

Greta girl, singing her heart out.  

A video of the kids crew in action.

Celebrating Roy's Birthday

On Monday, December 17th my hubby and Hudson and Greta's Daddy turned 37.  We are so thankful for him and the countless ways he blesses and loves our family.  Its pretty safe to say that he is our favorite.   

We celebrated a few days early with my mom and Roy's parents on Friday night after Hudson's drama performance.  I made dinner, we opened gifts and enjoyed birthday treats (peppermint stick ice cream and Christmas goodies).  

A new drill, some spending money, wool socks and a book for the birthday boy.  

Monday morning Hudson and Roy picked up Panera bagels for breakfast and Roy cashed in on his free Starbucks Eggnog Latte.  

He was showered with cards and gifts from the kids.  

Monday afternoon we went to The Grinch movie with my mom and the kids.  Monday evening we went on a limo ride to look at Christmas lights.  The limo driver picked us up at 5:30 and the kids were delighted when they realized that he was picking us up and he was dressed like Santa.  What a surprise this was!  

Mimi, Nana Sue and Hudson's friend Evie and her mom joined in on the fun.  

 It was hard to take any pictures inside the limo because it was so dark.  

We packed snacks to enjoy during the ride and the kids wore their Christmas pjs.  

 So thankful we could spend most of the day together.  Happy Birthday, Roy!    

Merry Christmas!

Swinger Family 2018 To Do List

_X_ celebrate turning seven with an outer space birthday party in February (Hudson)
_X_ continue as small group leaders at church (Roy & Emily) 
_X_ spend a week in Puerto Rico for work, doing training and research for Dupont Pioneer (Roy)

_X_ teach second grade and preschool (Emily)

_X_ play in first piano recital (Hudson) 

_X_ spend countless hours playing pretend, dress up, singing and dancing (Greta) 

_X_ learn new handy man skills while completing house projects (Roy) 
_X_ set up a play grocery store in the basement for shopping entertainment (Hudson & Greta) 
_X_ become a certified basketball official (Roy)
_X_ learn to ride a balance bike (Greta) 
_X_ experience the sun, waves and sand at the beach for the first time at Lake Michigan (Hudson & Greta)
_X_ go on a family summer vacation to the Black Hills in South Dakota with the Bomgaars (Roy, Emily, Hudson & Greta)
_X_ celebrate eleven years of marriage on August 11 (Roy & Emily)
_X_ paint, shop for and decorate our home (Emily) 
_X_ help Swinger Farms with combining for fall harvest (Roy)

_X_ celebrate turning four with a Pinkalicious birthday party in November (Greta) 
_X_ keep the family blog updated with pictures and highlights (Emily)
_X_ host a Pop-Up Sweet Shop as a homeschool project and fundraiser (Hudson & Emily)
_X_ accept new opportunities for small part time jobs…librarian, house cleaner and after school pick up provider (Emily)

_X_ enjoy a girls weekend trip to Denver, Colorado with mom and sister (Emily) 

_X_ go on nature hikes around our neighborhood (Emily, Hudson & Greta) 

    

We are thankful for the many blessings of this year and excited for the what our list will entail in 2019.      

Casey Jones Drama Performance

 One of the elective classes Hudson goes to at HSAP (Homeschool Assistance Program) on Wednesdays is Drama.  It begins at 2nd grade so this has been his first experience with the class and he has loved it.  They work all semester long on becoming familiar with the theater and learning their lines.  Performance night was Friday, December 14 at his school.  Mimi, Papa Ed, Nana and his buddy Thomas all came to watch and cheer him on.  His class did a choral reading on the children's book Casey Jones by Allan Drummond.  It was a train story and Hudson was the role of Wallace Sanders, the Engine Wiper.  Casey Jones is an American folk hero who was an engineer during the time of the American railroad.  He is best known for his courage, sacrificing his life by keeping one hand on the brake to slow the train and one hand on the whistle to warn others who might be near the train, as well as for his tenacity in keeping trains on schedule and his famous "whippoorwill whistle."  He died in 1900 in Vaughan, Mississippi, when he collided with another train.    

Hudson was 3rd in line (from the left) on the train. 

Here is a short video clip from their performance.  

Hudson spoke his lines with confidence and didn't even seem nervous.  

So proud of Hudson and his classmates on their first performance.  It will be exciting to see the growth they make before their spring performance in May.   

A Homeschool Coop Christmas

We gathered with our homeschool coop friends for an evening of Christmas food, games and gifts.  The tables were set all fancy, the girls at one and the boys at the other.  

They kids ate reindeer sandwiches while the adults dined on soup and salad.  

We did a book exchange and Ryan and Hudson had each others names.  

The crew of kids showing off their new books.  

We wrapped up the evening with some dancing and Christmas goodies.  We are so thankful for this group and the blessing of their friendship and partnership in learning.     

Celebrating The Season

In an attempt to get up to date on the happenings here before Christmas, I'm dumping a bunch of pictures together from the past month, including several of the holiday activities.  

We had Papa Ed over for dinner on his birthday, pork tacos and all the fixings.  He brought the birthday cake and Hudson put the candles in place.  We love you, Papa Ed!    

A Saturday at Mimi's house involved plenty of reading.  

Roy earned himself "Best Son-in-law Award" for putting up my moms Christmas lights.  

Hudson and Greta enjoyed time outside to play in the snow.  

There is something so beautiful about snow in the wide open spaces on the farm.  

Playing Minnie Mouse Yahtzee with her favorite guy.  

On a "Girls Day" (every Wednesday when Hudson is at school) we took Mrs. Irene out for a birthday lunch at Panera.  She is a sweet blessing to our family.  

We had a LEGO morning with the Scherer family.  Hudson made Santa and his sleigh and Thomas made a Christmas tree with a family.  The possibilities and creativity are endless with LEGOs.    

While the boys built with LEGOS these two cuties kept us all entertained.  

The kids and I did plenty of holiday baking the first two weeks in December.  

I love this sweet profile picture, her attention to detail and her interest in helping.  

Mimi surprised Greta with an Christmas activity for during her quiet time.  

The whole process of making, cutting, baking and decorating cut out sugar cookies is an entire days event and it makes so much mess, but they taste oh so good.  

Greta participated in the cookie decorating this year.  She used lots of frosting and lots of sprinkles so you know exactly which ones she decorated.  

Hudson is pretty much a professional cookie decorator at the age of 7.  

Roy requests Christmas cookies for his birthday dessert every year so that is what he gets.  

We have done lots of Christmas crafts (thank you Hobby Lobby), including these sun catchers that we painted when Z & B came over after school.  

I made 3 batches of Mimi's Monster Cookies and put them in treat bags and we delivered to neighbors.  Another tradition completed.   

We rode the Christmas train at the mall with Z & B.  

Afterwards we enjoyed a Christmas donut together.  

Happy Christmas smiles.  

Disney On Ice

We surprised the kids by getting tickets to Disney on Ice in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  We visited my parents the first weekend in December so Mimi joined in on the fun too.  We had tickets for the Saturday morning show but a big snowstorm was passing through so thankfully they let us change our tickets to the Friday night show.  It made for a lot of driving and a late night for the kids, but we are so glad it all worked out.  

Greta wore her Minnie Mouse costume and got glitter all over the place.  

Minnie/Mimi and Greta girl.  

Excited for the show to start.  

Anna and Elsa skating on the ice, how fitting!  

A clip from the Mulan scene, which was one of my favorites.

This was Greta for most of the show, along with talking nonstop telling Mimi about all of the different Disney characters and stories.  

A group photo at intermission.  

For the grand finale all the characters were out on the ice.  Their costumes were amazing and their skating was impressive.  

So much fun!  

It was a fantastic show and I can see why people go every year.  Maybe we have started a new holiday tradition.