A Colorado Thanksgiving :: Part 2

Part 2 of our Colorado Thanksgiving coming up now...

Roy blessed us with his homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast on Black Friday.  We didn't have a rolling pin but a water bottle got the job done.    

The rolls didn't last long! 

Another day, more puzzle fixing!  

Looking cute and waiting patiently for family pictures to happen.  

Thanks to Roy's help with the camera, we got some good photos!  

We played games, lots of games.  

On Saturday we took a drive and explored Grand Lake.  

It was beautiful!  

So thankful for my parents and their willingness to make this special Colorado Thanksgiving happen.  

I always enjoy checking out all the little local shops.  

Greta insisted on buying this hat.  I thought she wouldn't wear it so compromised and said I would pay half and she could pay half, which she went for.  To our surprise she has been wearing it often.  

Days with my favorite guy are always good days.  

Snack trays for dinner, yes please!  

We finished the puzzle!  

Ivy and my Dad played together a lot.  It's just precious to see the special bond they share.  

Greta got this Make Your Own Unicorn Sewing Kit for her birthday.  It ended up being pretty involved and Mimi did most of the work (bless her heart).  Greta was so proud and excited with her new magical furry friend.  

Roy did 100% of the driving on our trip.  What a guy!  

On Saturday we traveled to Colorado Springs to see Roy's extended family members, including his Grandma Mary.  It was a blessed afternoon hanging out and catching up.  

Ivy and Grandma Mary share a birthday, December 28th.  They are exactly 89 years apart.  Mary came to Iowa last Thanksgiving (we had Covid so couldn't spend time together) so we were thrilled to finally have the Birthday Buddies "officially" meet.  

Ivy wouldn't sit on her lap, but she did interact with her, which was sweet.  

Hudson and GG Mary 

Greta Alice and Mary Alice 

I pray our kids remember seeing GG Mary, being with her and spending time with the older generations.  

We spent Saturday evening over night at my sister Angela's house in Denver.  We played Ticket to Ride with Hudson while Ang and Greta were out.  Playing games are one of his love languages.  

Angela took Greta out for a belated birthday date.  They browsed around the mall and got dessert at a fancy place.

Buddies!  

One on one time speaks to Greta's heart.  

Sunday we traveled all the way home.  Ivy took a 2.5+ hour nap, which was such a blessing. 

 

Merry Christmas 2022

SWINGER FAMILY SNAPSHOT OF SEASONS

WINTER

Roy officiated many basketball games.  

We cheered on Hudson at swim meets. 

Ivy turned 2 and amazed us with her understanding and attention to detail.     

Emily facilitated more learning lessons and activities than she can count.  

Hudson turned 11 and played games with friends to celebrate.   

We enjoyed lots of books at bedtime, especially on those cozy winter nights.

SPRING

We wrapped up our homeschool year with some sweet celebrations, performances and a family weekend in Omaha to the zoo and air space museum.    

We found a new church home, Redemption Hill Church.  

We bought a new mini van.   

Emily soaked up the sunshine on a belated birthday trip with her sister to 

Anna Maria Island in Florida.  

SUMMER

We savored the sweetness of summer with park outings, adventures with cousins, swimming, puzzles, picnics, pickle ball and a 15-year anniversary.  

Emily worked shifts at the public library while the kids spent extra time with Nana.

Ivy kept us laughing and running with her silly personality and fast legs.  

We went on Sunday afternoon bike rides, ate pizza and watched movies.  

The girls did lots of dancing and flipping in the living room.  

We closed out summer with a week at Lake Ida in Minnesota with Emily’s family.

FALL

We started the school year with a 6th and 2nd grader.  

Hudson and Greta joined the homeschool choir, continued playing the piano, had parts in drama performances and participated in Lego League.  

Ivy showed us how she can do big girl things and was successfully potty trained.

Roy started making sourdough.    

Roy and Hudson helped with another Swinger Farms harvest.  

The fall weather was perfect for walks along the trail.  

Greta turned 8 and celebrated with all things art.    

We traveled to Colorado for Thanksgiving where we enjoyed the mountain air and breathtaking views of creation.    

 

A Colorado Thanksgiving :: Part 1

We made the trip to Colorado to spend Thanksgiving with my family.  My mom found a beautiful house to rent in Granby (near Rocky Mountain National Park).  After being super sick with Covid last Thanksgiving we were excited for this adventure.  We traveled all the way out on Tuesday.  It was over a 12 hour trek including stops.  Besides Ivy not napping, the kids did well and the parents survived.  So thankful for our reliable mini van (which the kids have named Jane) and the blessing of a comfortable and safe ride.  

We stopped for Chick-fil-a near Denver before making the final miles up through the mountain pass to Granby.  

Chick-fil-a never disappoints.  

Tuesday night Ivy woke up about an hour after she had gone asleep and was not feeling well and had a fever.  I was not prepared with all my "necessities" so Roy made a store run.  We didn't sleep much that night and she snuggled and slept in our arms for most of Wednesday but Thursday morning woke up feeling more like herself.  We think she may have gotten altitude sickness.  

Not feeling well calls for pjs and snuggles all day!  Thankful for this time with Aung Ang.    

The morning mountain view from the deck.  

Lazy slow days are a blessing.  

Starting to feel better!  

Uncle Ryan was in charge of carving the Thanksgiving turkey.  

We put together a delicious Thanksgiving feast.  

My brother is a gem and great with our kids.  He keeps us all laughing.  

Mom provided the ham, turkey and cranberry fluff.  

Angela made the homemade rolls and mashed potatoes.  

I contributed the corn, carrots and stuffing.  

We woke Ivy up from her nap to join us for Thanksgiving dinner.  She was grumpy and didn't really eat much.  I should have known better.  Ha!  

We spent lots of time hanging out on this giant couch.  It was huge, comfortable and fit lots of people.  

I am so very thankful this handsome son of mine, Hudson John.  

Ivy lived on popsicles for several days.  Roy bought some when she was sick and she wouldn't stop until the box was gone.  

A family photo to remember the day and the location, Thanksgiving 2022.  

I took along the supplies for apple turkeys. It's a Thanksgiving tradition for our family.  

Mimi got in on the fun this year.  

Gobble...Gobble...Gobble...

We closed out the day with some pie eating 

and puzzle fixing.