Merry Christmas!

2019 Swinger Family Highlights In Numbers 

1 - On June 1st, Corteva (Roy’s employer) became an official independent company after a long merger.  

2 - We enjoy special outings and celebrations with our homeschool co-op group twice a month.  Emily now homeschools two students, Hudson is in 3rd grade and Greta is in Pre-K.    

3 - We took three road trips this summer: to Colorado over the 4th of July, to Okoboji with the Bomgaars family in August and to Sioux Center to attend Emily’s 20 year high school class reunion.  

4 - How many “side jobs” we have.  Roy is a basketball official, Emily is a house cleaner, after school pick up provider and a substitute librarian.  We are thankful for opportunities to use our gifts and learn new skills.   

5 - Greta turned five in November and celebrated with a musical princess party.  

6 - The number of activities the kids participated in this fall…piano lessons, Kindermusik, Lego League, Awana, gymnastics and flag football.  

7 - How many days a week Greta asks to wear a dress.  She prefers everything to be pink and fancy.  

8 - Hudson turned eight in February and celebrated with a pancakes and pajamas party. 11 - On August 11, Roy and Emily celebrated twelve years of marriage. 

12 - We painted the 12th room in our house this summer, only two bathrooms to go and it’s all done!  

25 - On the 25th of August Hudson was baptized.  We thank God for his decision to follow Christ.   

34 - We are 34 weeks pregnant (due January 8) with another Lil’ Swinger.  We are excited to meet this precious baby girl soon and are thankful for a healthy pregnancy.  

63 - How many miles we drove Hudson for his first overnight Bible Camp adventure in July.  

113 - The number of blog posts Emily did so far in 2019, which can be found at 

www.theswingerdays.blogspot.com.

825 - Roy helped his dad harvest 825 acres of corn and soybeans this fall.  We are thankful for a safe harvest.  

Blessings to you in 2020! 

First LEGO League Jr.

Hudson was invited to participate in a First LEGO League Jr. team this fall.  They met on Monday afternoons from 4:30-5:30pm during the months of Sept. October and November.  From their first meeting Hudson was in love with the experience and the project.  It was right down his alley.  The theme for the year was Boomtown Build and the project was supported by Iowa State University College of Engineering and John Deere.    

The Official Expo took place on Saturday, November 23rd.  Wendy and Jenn were the teams coaches.  We were so grateful for their leadership and them reaching out to Hudson to provide this creative learning opportunity for him.  

The Core Values of the First LEGO League are...Discovery, Innovation, Impact, Teamwork, Inclusion and Fun.  

Hudson and Grant were responsible for side 2 of the project.  They worked on making their LEGO creation accessible, durable and environmentally friendly.  

Hudson says he wants to be an Ag Engineer and work for John Deere when he grows up.  Projects like this are perfect to spur him on in his STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) development.    

Each team member was featured on the board, explaining their favorite part of the project.  

The teams "Show Me Board" and completed LEGO design.  

Telling the judges about their project.  Each member of the team had the opportunity to explain about one part of the project.  There was also a time for the judges to ask the boys questions.  I think they impressed the judges!      

A fun glimpse of how they celebrated each teams accomplishments.  

Showing off their medals following the awards ceremony.  

Thanksgiving 2019

We had a Thanksgiving celebration with our homeschool co-op friends on Friday, Nov. 22nd.  

We started things off with a feast.    

We had turkey legs, rolls, applesauce, green beans, sweet potatoes and fruit salad.  

We played Thanksgiving BINGO.  

The kids made an apple turkey craft (a Snyder family tradition of ours I shared with the group).  

I love projects that keep their hands busy.  

Making the gumdrop turkey feathers is always a favorite part.  

Gobble Gobble!  

 Hudson put together a Thanksgiving Trivia presentation on his computer.  It was his idea and he worked on it independently.  The kids got into teams and answered the questions.  He likes being the guy in charge.    

The girls colored turkey masks, one (or two) for each person.  

We headed to my parents for Thanksgiving.  My aunt and uncle and two cousins joined us and my parents for lunch.    

Mr. Mashed Potatoes, Hudson John.  

Looking forward to the feast.  

Hudson did his trivia presentation again, but this group was a  bit more competitive.  

Greta Alice gets lots of attention when we are all together.  

Silly Daddy and a Goofy Greta.  

On the home stretch of this pregnancy at 34 weeks with Little Sister.  

Uncle Ryan and Hudson 

Since my dad wasn't able to attend Greta's princess birthday party we celebrated their Nov. 1 and Nov. 2nd birthdays with pizza and a DQ ice cream cake.  

Our last Thanksgiving as a family of 4.  So thankful for these blessings in my life.  

November Days

We had Greta's well check up on Monday Nov. 4.  Her stats were 3 feet 9 inches (91%) and 45 pounds 9 ounces (81%).  

Waiting to see the pediatrician.  

Practicing holding a baby, using good support for the head.  

Hudson had three sessions of "Sewing School" with Mrs. Joyce (a friend from church).  He made this travel John Deere pillow and did a fantastic job.  

Busy at work at Joyce's sewing machine.  

We packed 5 Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes this year.  

Enjoying the Saturday sunshine and playing together outside.  

Ready to try out their new snow gear for the season.  

Greta made this turkey headband during her Pre-K Arts and Crafts time.  

 Hudson did another book club, this one with his buddies Kipton and Mason.  They each read The Whipping Boy, we met at the Pizza Ranch for dinner and they shared their final projects and discussed the book.  

Weekend morning snuggles with her Daddy.    

I am thankful for slow mornings, when we choose to take them.  

 We decorated the Christmas trees in the kids rooms early this year.  

Hudson's tree, minus the garland and tree skirt we added later.  

On Wednesdays when Hudson is at enrichment classes Greta and I usually play a game or two.  Recently she has been wanting to play Mastermind.  

My mini me.  

 Their morning cereal eating routine.  

Harvest 2019

Harvest 2019 for Swinger Farms began on October 9th and wrapped up on November 7th.  Roy was able to help out his dad again this fall and did most of the combining.  Roy and Ed harvested 825 acres.  It was a safe and productive harvest, which we are thankful for.  Hudson begged for as many opportunities as he could to get out and be with his Daddy and Papa Ed.  I did my best to accommodate and we got creative to still get in his school work.  

Papa Ed with his two grandsons, Hudson and Mylo.  

Mylo came out and rode with Roy for a bit.  

Ready for a semi ride with Papa.  

Mylo came well stocked with treats to share.  

A view of the open field...

This boy loves farming.  

Spoiled by Papa Ed with cherry slices and a Dr. Pepper.  

We got Hudson some new "work boots and work jeans" this fall and he was excited to be like the big guys.  Papa Ed lets him help with pushing the buttons and running the remotes for the traps and auger.  

Roy's view...

A couple beautiful Redfield sunsets.  

Greta got in a few combine rides with her Daddy too.  Roy texted me one time when she was along and said, "she has been talking the whole time."  We love this sweet girl and the love she has for her Daddy.    

Being 6/7 months pregnant and solo parenting for a month created long days for me, but I'm thankful for the opportunity Roy had and the blessing he could be to his parents, and they to us.