RSS

Our MOPS group is a dynamic, inviting environment where moms can come just as they are to build friendships, be encouraged, and gain practical parenting strategies. All while their children are lovingly cared for in the MOPPETS program.

Friday, October 30, 2009

BABY NEWS!




OCTOBER 30,2009

Heather Smith

Braxton Kyle Smith @ 2:58 AM.
 Braxton weighed 6 lbs 10 ounces and was 20 1/2" long.
Heather and Braxton are doing great.

OCTOBER 28, 2009

Jennifer Calderone

 Anden Jayce on Wednesday morning.
He weighed 8 lbs 2 oz and is 20 inches long.
Jennifer and Anden are doing great!!

Tiffany Archambalt
Briana Gayle has arrived!
Wednesday at 6:45 p.m.
6 lbs 14 oz    20 inches


Congrats from your family at...

Friday Fun!


I am pretty sure us women come out of the womb this way!
She is so ready to join us at MOPS!! :o)
Have a great weekend!
See you Nov. 3rd!!
Oh... and don't forget to send in your pictures for the costume contest!! Details here!!




Friday, October 23, 2009

Getting rid of the pacifier


I know for many moms the thought of this can be terrifying! But where there is a will there is a way right? I know with my first child the pacifier was probably something that helped me more than her, so getting rid of it was not something I looked forward to. As with anything else that involves children the time for each one to do this is different. For us it was when my daughter turned 2 and I found out we were expecting. Whatever the reason or time, it can still be something that is daunting. So in starting to think about how I was going to go about getting rid of it I started to look at some "alternative" options. Some of the ones I found where as follows:

1) Using a "paci fairy" thanks to Supernanny! This is where you have the child "mail" their pacifiers to the paci fairy, in return the paci fairy leaves them a small gift and/or a letter thanking them. (they also left glitter, feathers, etc. around the mailbox to make it seem as though she had really been there.)

2) Finding a baby that "needs" them and having the child give their pacifiers to the baby.


3) Make a "paci bear." You take the child to Build-a-Bear and have the child put their favorite pacifier in a bear. This is the option we chose and it worked wonderfully. We even put a recording of her saying "bye-bye paci" in the hand of the bear. This way they still have the pacifier, just not in hand.


4) Snipping the ends or poking a hole in the pacifier, this way when the child goes to suck on it, it won't work. This will make them less appealing resulting in the child not wanting them anymore.


These are just a few of the ideas I found, and there are many more. Whatever you decide to do just know that you are not alone. There is an end in sight and always remember they won't go to school with one..... or will they!!:)

Here are some more resources:

If you have a an idea to help other moms out in this area, leave a comment with your idea or encouragement!!
Blessings and good luck!



Friday Fun!!

It's that time again!!  Hope you all enjoyed your week!!  Here is some "funny" to usher in the weekend!!
(thanks to www.corsinet.com)

You Know You're a Mother When ...

  1. You count the sprinkles on each kid's cupcake to make sure they're equal.
  2. You have time to shave only one leg at a time.
  3. You hide in the bathroom to be alone.
  4. Your kid throws-up and you catch it.
  5. Someone else's kid throws up at a party. You keep eating.
  6. As you cling to the high moral ground on toy weapons; your child chews his toast into the shape of a gun.
  7. You hope ketchup is a vegetable, since it's the only one your child eats.
  8. You find yourself cutting your husband's sandwiches into cute shapes.
  9. You hear your mother's voice coming out of your mouth when you say, "NOT in your good clothes!"
  10. You stop criticizing the way your mother raised you.
  11. You donate to charities in the hope that your child won't get that disease.
  12. You hire a sitter because you haven't been out with your husband in ages, then spend half the night checking on the kids.
  13. You use your own saliva to clean your child's face.
  14. You say at least once a day, "I'm not cut out for this job", but you know you wouldn't trade it for anything". 
SEE YOU ALL TUESDAY Nov.3 rd!!!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Meeting Re-cap- Oct. 20th


I have really been enjoying this beautiful weather!!  Windows open... fresh air in ... cute fall outfits on... :o)  It was a great day for MOPS!!  It was great to see everyone!!  If you couldn't make for one reason or another...  WE MISSED YOU!! 

 

Today's Baby news:

Pregnant:  Mindy C.  (Congrats!)

As our icebreaker today... we played our own version of Family Feud!!
Remember that survey we sent out last month... well this was the purpose!
The "wind" table took home the title and won the feud!!  Hooray!!

One the same thought as "family feuds" we watched a video about dealing with our extended families!  How to make a choice to "be on the same team"!  Seeing each other's differences and not letting the little things come between us. 
This is such a challenge!!  One worth engaging in!!
I think we all had some great group time discussing this issue, and how we can "make that choice"!

Can't wait to meet back together on November 3rd when we move to the main auditorium!!  So exciting!! Keep inviting your friends... we will have lots of room!
Next week's topic:
To Infinity and Beyond!!
LOVE YOU ALL!!







Tuesday, October 13, 2009

UPDATE ON Costume Contest!

Hey all...  due to only receiving 2 photos for the contest, we will be extending the deadline to Nov. 1st !!  That way you can dress up those cuties, do your "halloween or fall festival thing", and snap a cute picture!!  Your kiddo will be dressed up anyway, so snap a picture and send it to the MOPS email address!!  We will post the pics a long with voting instructions on Nov. 2nd and announce the winner at our Nov. 3rd meeting!!  So COME ON!!!  You will have 48 hours to get your vote in!!  We know you have cuties!!  Send them in!  Check the blog for contest updates!!

Have a great one!!


Friday, October 9, 2009

Friday Fun!!

Friday Fun is a place weekly that you can come for a little fun to end your week and start your weekend!! You won't want to miss it! Come back each Friday to join in on the Fun!! Laughter IS the best medicine ya know!! :o)

Today it is this adorably cute and hysterically funny video of a baby watching his dad play gold on the Wii!! I know I have seen this many times, but I roll on the floor laughing every time I see it! Enjoy!



Have a great weekend!


Tuesday, October 6, 2009

October 6th meeting re-cap!

Cutting Corners!
We had a great meeting today!  We added two more tables and they were all full!!  Awesome!!  Keep inviting people!!   Thanks everyone who brought food and paper products!!  Yummy!!!!  If couldn't make it today... we MISSED YOU!!



Today's Baby News:

EXPECTING:  Amanda McKnatt!! 
HAVING A GIRL:  Rebecca Godsil!!




Today our creative craft was decorating our toilet paper rolls to look like cute little pumpkins!!  If you want information on the "how to", shoot an email to MOPSATREALLIFE@YAHOO.COM  

We had three panel members talk to us about cutting corners in our quest for financial harmony!!
Keri Elam talked on how she and her husband paid off thousands of dollars in debt, and are now teaching and helping others do the same!!

Kelly Gooch talked about the importance in her life that coupons have played in her quest for cutting corners!  She has walked out with $147.00 in groceries and only paid $42.00 OOP! 


Tanya Naugler shared about menu planning and using coupons in her daily life.  Planning can equal savings!
Bottom line:  We have been  blessed us with many resources to aid us in being  financially responsible and cut corners!
We just need to tap in and use it!!

Thanks girls for sharing your experiences with us!
If you have questions for any of these three ladies, send an email to mopsatreallife@yahoo.com!!

Can't wait to see you all at the next meeting!!
OCTOBER 20th!!
TOPIC:  Growing with Extended Family
(don't forget to send in your cute halloween costume cuties!)





Children's Halloween Costume Contest


image by : bestofweb.com

It's finally fall ya'll, which means halloween is almost here!! This year MOPS is going to host a children's halloween costume (no scary ones pls!)  contest here on our blog. So start sending in your entries!! The entry deadline will be 7pm Sunday, October 11th so get your pictures in soon! You can send your entries to our email address at mopsatreallife@yahoo.com (please make sure you put that it is an entry to the costume contest in the subject line). We are only accepting pictures of your kiddies (no adults please) and they must be recent pictures (please send us their names and ages too). We will open the voting at 9am Monday, October 12th. The winner will be announced at the October 20th meeting!

Can't wait to see all your cuties!!



Thursday, October 1, 2009

How do I use this blog?


image by: gabesguide.com

 So glad you asked!
The purpose of this blog is to:

INFORM:  you can find general information or announcements pertaining to our MOPS group!
For example... meeting dates, wellness policy, steering team members, etc.

INSPIRE:  we will have devotionals and inspirational writings periodically to uplift you in this journey we call motherhood!!

ENGAGE:  we want you to communicate with us.  You can email MOPS at Real Life directly from the blog.  You can also share your thoughts by posting comments after a post you read!  (you don't have to sign up for anything to comment)  You can also sign up in the left side bar to receive posts directly in your email in-box so you won't miss a thing!

ENLIGHTEN:  we at MOPS love to laugh, share, and support!!  We will have some weekly "memes" you can look forward to each week.  One of my favorite will be FUN FRIDAY!!  Each friday stop back and we will have some sort of "funny" for you to giggle inyour weekend with!  We will have guest "posters" who will share nuggets of wisdom with us and have TOPICS of interest where we can explore common mothering issues or questions!! 

Your left sidebar is where you will find most of your links:
CONTACT-- via email
LINKS TO USE--  general information
JUMP TO IT--  posts are labeled into a category so that you can find what you are looking for easier.
IN NEED--  Classifieds MOPS style
SUBSCRIBE--  You can get each post emailed to you as it is posted

Within a post you will also find "you might also like" at the bottom.  These are "related" posts from the past that you can jump around and explore!!

We will be adding new things throughout the year and growing with our group, so check back often!!
Please, if you have any suggestions on how to make this blog EVEN better... let us know!!
Play around, explore, and have fun!!