FCF Mops

New Meetings!

2011-08-11T08:28:00.000-07:00

If you were like me my summer was filled with, I will do this, I will get that done, If only....I am proud to say that time has slipped away and what I remember most about this summer is playing with my kids! My oldest found Barbies, my middle loves Polly Pockets, and my youngest loves trucks and trains. I have been on the floor alot surrounded by my children - and man it has been blessed. My house is not as organized as I would like,and many projects have remained undone. Ask me a week ago - and I would not have been ok with this outcome. I should have been able to do it all. But now, I think my summer unfolded exactly as it should. What changed? Perspective! I spent last week at the Annual MOPS convention with 4 other MOPS moms from Flagstaff. In four days we were loved on and guided by this years theme. MOMSENSE - Three keys of this year will be to guide you as well in to being bold, loving, and sensible in your mothering. It is going to be great!Join us for our first meeting September 15th - where we will all gain a little more perspective!

Here is a list of the meeting dates:
September 15th
October 6th
October 20th
November 3rd
November 17th
December 1st
December 15th

Put these dates on your calendar! We will see you then!

MOPS 2010-2011 Slideshow Video

2011-06-12T14:17:00.000-07:00

Hi Ladies--

Here's the end-of-the-year slideshow (complete with the silly songs at the beginning). I edited it and changed it to the way I had wished it had been at the MOPS meeting...you probably won't notice the changes but I'm a perfectionist that way, so here it is, enjoy! BTW, when I played the silly songs for my husband, he said "Aren't you embarrassed to be watching this?" Not sure what that's supposed to mean...but we sure had fun being foolish in front of all of you this year! Thanks for being a great audience...it was worth every minute (except for the minutes that Christy's daughter had to wait to be picked up from school because we took to long making the video :)) (Oh, and there's another video I posted with outtakes from our silly songs).

We might make copies of all the skits/videos for this year...so let us know if you want one!

Kaci

MOPS Meeting: May 5th

2011-06-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

Our first meeting in May happened to fall on Cinco de Mayo, so we decided to celebrate by having breakfast burritos! MOPS provided tortillas, eggs, and drinks, while the tables brought their own toppings to add at their tables. (And some moms--okay, one mom--brought their own unique source of caffeine)
It seemed to be a fun way to have breakfast as a table instead of standing in line at the back of the room (though some tables--yes, Parakeets, I'm talking about you) shameless "borrowed" toppings from other tables.

We played a purse/diaper bag "Scavenger Hunt"--we had to come up items from a list solely from the combined contents of our table's purses and diaper bags. It was fun hearing ladies proudly shout, "Oh! I have some old french fries somewhere in here!" or "Here's a tampon!"

The theme of the meeting (all the meetings have had themes, didn't you know?) was "Simply New," so potted flowers were given as door prizes...representing new life and the newness of spring. So deep, I know.

We shared around the tables about times in our lives where we wish we could have had a "Do-over." People shared about silly things they did in high school and many ladies at our table had things they wished they could do over from their wedding days.

We also talked about our lives' highest and lowest points. So many ladies shared openly about struggling with the consequences of bad decisions or suffering with depression...thank you for being so open and honest, ladies! One table leader pointed out her observation that many of the highest points went with each lady's lowest point...how often in life, something bad can turn into us recognizing our greatest blessings.

Then we got to hear stories from the lives of some of our MOPS moms. Sandy, one of our mentors, shared about how she and her family became isolated and disillusioned through their involvement in a cult. She expressed thankfulness to God for bringing her (and her family) back into community through church and MOPS.

We then listened to Sarah, one of our MOPS moms and a former MOPS coordinator, tell about what happened in her life and to her faith when her father died. She was just 16 and said that despite her grief, she knew that she had to choose to live and to not become bitter. Through God's help and the surprise encouragement she received in a card from her father mysteriously after his death, she became strong in her faith and character.

The third story we had the privilege of hearing was from Nicole, who is a MOPS mom living in Poland. She challenged us through her story of how she struggled with unforgiveness towards the Polish people after she almost died giving birth to her first child in Poland. She and her husband both found such relief from the grouchiness they had been experiencing for years when they both let God change their hearts and forgive the doctors, the hospital staff, and even themselves.

These 3 sweet stories were followed by more glimpses into the lives of our MOPS leaders as they silently shared pieces of their lives and how they had been made new by God.

This meeting was the last one that Kaci and Misti would lead together due to Kaci being out of town for a wedding at the last MOPS meeting. What fun we had together leading you this year! We hoped you enjoyed it as much as we did!

MOPS Meeting: April 21 Speaker Rotation Day

2011-05-09T13:21:00.000-07:00

We had a great MOPS meeting...we had fun meeting new visitors, seeing a video from Nicole Beger about a Day in the Life of a MOP in Poland, and got to choose 2 out of 3 great speakers.

Nicole's video, sent to us via Skpe:

Here's Melisa, greeting the moms at the MOPPETS check-in table:

Two brand new babies and two proud mommies (both Felicia and Maribeth now have 3 children--can you believe they even made it to MOPS?)!

Brandy (I think) signing up for the Great MOMS Walk (May 21st) with Lori. Yeah Brandy!

Soon-to-be-first-time-mommy Jenn Soare (who since has given birth to baby Filip) with Rachel and Anita who didn't seem to time their smiles right with my photo-taking. Oh well!

Marlene (mentor mom) being her usual friendly self and making one of our guest speakers (Sally Craven) feel welcome. Sally shared about activities and age-appropriate ideas to do with your preschoolers.

Dan and Patti Barton were in the Bethany House talking about Marriage and Money and Money and Marriage and anything else that came up :) Don't forget about the Dave Ramsey class starting on May 17th with Dan and Patti--you can contact FCF's front office for more info.

Our own MOPS mom Sarah Tomich shared some fun "recipes" for homemade household projects that are safe and economical...and it sounds like they work great also! We will hopefully post the recipe on here soon!

And here's the 3 slackers that sat in the library instead of listening to the speakers--tsk tsk :)

Our sweet and helpful mentor Sharon Reynolds reads a book to Conner Trout so his momma can enjoy Sarah's presentation...

I checked in on Sally's presentation

where she held Molly, Merry, and Melisa's attention very well, it seems...

...and came back out to find that Sharon had comforted Conner so well that he fell asleep! (I think she's ready to be a grandma :)

Sugar Scrub and Bath Salts

2011-04-09T07:38:00.000-07:00

Hey Everybody !! The recipe for the sugar scrub and the bath salts are pretty easy. You should have most of the stuff you need at home. I am guessing that the only items you will need to purchase will be the epsom salt and the essential oils.

I went to a workshop that a friend did before Christmas, which is where I first learned to make this. I checked out a couple websites this week and figured out the easiest, simplest recipe.

BATH SALTS

16 oz of epsom salt (can be purchased at drugstore or grocery store)
15-30 drops of essential oils (we bought ours at New Frontiers)
3-5 drops of food coloring

mix in a sandwich bag to spread the color and scent

best stored in a glass jar with a lid

NOTE: You can use a mixture of epsom salt and dead sea salts in a 2 to 1 ratio

SUGAR SCRUB
1 cup sugar 1 cup olive oil 5 drops essential oils Mix Well - you might need to add a little more sugar like we did at MOPS

best stored in a glass jar with a lid

I actually think I am going to make some sugar scrub next week. I currently have a bottle of sweet orange and sandalwood plus a little bit of eucalyptus. I should have smooth heels and elbows by the time I can put my flip flops back on !

Spa Day

2011-04-08T17:54:00.000-07:00

Of all days to have camera malfunctions, MOPS Spa Day was not a good one! But, I managed to get a few photos on my phone...which I prefer because in blurry images, my wrinkles don't show as much! We were busy having so much fun that it was hard to find time to document it, but here it goes! Thanks to P.J. Chilcottage, Flagstaff Athletic Club, Melissa Wilson (coffee roaster), Misti Welker (for the haircuts), Anita Porter (for the styling), Audra Slusher (for the yummy drinks), Bethany from Mary Kay, Shauna (facials), Jane Scott (massage), Jeannie May (massage, foot baths and parafin wax), Sarah T. and Hope G. (henna), Esther Osgood (nails), Marlene and Sharon (foot baths), Dianne and Courtney (homemade scrubs/bath salts), Heather Richardson (Pilates), and all our childcare workers (especially Tammy Cupp, our mentor who stayed in the ones class). We were pretty maxed out in the classrooms!

Yeah, Elaine, I told you I wouldn't post it but you were the stinker
who moved when I was taking the picture :)

Gina looked SOOO relaxed after her massage!

Two babies named Hannah just chillin' at MOPS Spa Day
(along with their cute moms, Lisa and Kendra)

Our barista with the cute new haircut, Audra.

Henna!

Oh, this is the close-up of the new haircut on Audra. Thanks, Misti!

Now you can make your own scrub with stuff from your pantry
(we'll post the recipe soon!)

The essence of MOPS Spa Day...a new baby in a baby carrier
while his/her mommy gets a massage. Ahhh.

Activity Day

2011-04-06T08:07:00.001-07:00

Here's some photos from our Activity Day last Thursday. It was a really fun day!

Some of the ladies hung out inside and chatted, a few did the Easter Egg craft, and I think maybe only Anita and Elaine did any actually crafting. No one played any games, despite my best efforts at persuasion...most seemed content to sit inside and just relax and talk...

...though an energetic group lead by Molly and Christy went outside to play volleyball.

At one point, the ball went over the neighbors' back fence (which I had worried about in the middle of the night before...what will we do if the ball goes over the fence?). Well, here's the answer:

Bridget runs and jumps up to look over, okay, no dog can be seen, though the back door is open...could someone come out wielding a shotgun?

Without thinking twice, she decides to go for it...Sarena casually picks on the fence while Molly barks out orders.

"I can't believe she did it!" they all say and giggle, while Jane keeps vigilant watch over Bridget's safety.

Okay, she's back over! Run away! Run away!

And then resume play as if no trespassing ever happened.

Great job, girls!

Pajama Bunco & Announcements

2011-03-29T07:22:00.000-07:00

Pajama Bunco was a night of fun, yummy treats, and making new friends. Thanks to all who came and to those who couldn't, we hope to see you next time! I (Kaci) had the pleasure of eating all the leftover snacks for the next few days...and Amber said she submitted the recipe for her dessert to Misti for the MOPS cookbook (the dessert she said was too sweet and I thought was so healthy and fed to my kids for breakfast :)). Don't forget to submit your recipes as well--it's going to be good! (send them to mistiwelker@gmail.com) See you tomorrow at MOPS 5th Thursday Activity Day--9-11:15am at FCF, bring projects or crafts to work on or just come hang out and play games or volleyball or just relax and chat. The only rule is that you stay at FCF if your kids are in childcare there. And if we don't see you tomorrow (March 31st), we'll see you next Thursday (April 7th) for Spa Day!

Peter Piper Fundraiser

2011-03-10T14:35:00.000-08:00

On Thursday, March 3rd, 15% of all food, beverage and token sales benefited MOPS when the flyer was presented to a cashier. I am not sure on the totals, but I know that after the meeting there were plenty of MOPS members over at Peter Piper for lunch. I think I even spied a few dads...

The kids had fun, the moms got to talk, and everybody got to eat some yummy pizza !

Here are some pictures:

Simply Housekeeping - March 3rd Meeting

2011-03-10T12:26:00.000-08:00

Our first meeting for March was all about housekeeping or "home-making" as our speaker Jane Scott called it. We talked about how to make the big job of keeping the house clean with preschoolers a little bit easier. She quoted Proverbs 31 and called each one of us a manager of the home.

Proverbs 31
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:

man·ag·er [man-i-jer] –noun
1. a person who has control or direction of an institution, business, etc., or of a part, division, or phase of it.
2. a person who manages: the manager of our track team.
3. a person who controls and manipulates resources and expenditures, as of a household.

We are to control our home (and the little people in it). Sometimes we need to reach out and ask for help. Misti and Liane Shrable did a Q&A with Kaci. They both mentioned how they love the website and the tips she gives. The website helps you to break your home into zones and each day you focus on a zone. She also has a monthly focus. For March, she tells you to get dressed to the shoes. For a stay-at-home mom taking care of the children and the home is our JOB ! If you wake up in the morning, brush your teeth, fix your hair (maybe even a little make-up) and get dressed - then you are ready for work. Just because we don't leave the house, we still need to dress the part. Trust me, there are days when I don't get out of my pajamas. There is nothing wrong with that, we all have "those days" (or weeks). However, I have been much more productive this past week when I get up, shower, dress and start my day.

Here are some tips:
clean while the kids are watching a movie or favorite tv show
clean smart - while cooking - put away ingredients, clean counters, wash dishes
load of laundry every day keeps the chaos away
clorox wipes for every room int he house
ziploc bags can have many uses - small pieces - leftovers - coupons - etc
15 minutes in a room is better than nothing !
shine your sink - just try it
menu plan - even one week out will help simplify your day
make a LAUNCH PAD - a place near the door for your purse, keys, diaper bag, kid stuff
lay out clothes the night before - for you and for the kids
sweep and vacuum every day
keep a basket for homeless items - then put them away before bed
make your bed every day
have a weekly schedule
set a timer, when it *dings* you are done

MOPS Meeting: February 17th

2011-03-07T10:12:00.000-08:00

At our MOPS meeting on February 17th, we had a Quarter Auction that was a lot of fun...and we made $300 for FCF MOPS! Thanks to everybody for participating and being good sports :) We played a ridiculous game, compliments of Kaci and Allison. Luckily, we cleaned the Cheerios up off of the floor before we got in trouble. It has been fun to see all you ladies getting to know each other at your tables and welcoming the 3-5 new moms we seem to have each week! We will post the Community Resources somewhere permanently on this blog so that you always have them to easily reference...probably on the sidebar somewhere. Thanks to all of you, especially Rachel and Christy who shared fun and delicious ideas with us that are cheap or free around town. Here's some photos for you to enjoy!

Snowboarding!

2011-02-20T16:28:00.000-08:00

Hi ladies, at our last meeting, we talked about going snowboarding/skiing this week and IT IS SNOWING....YAY!!!!!!!! I think the day has to be Tues. as it is supposed to snow again starting Wed.

Now, I am hoping we can get 10+ people to go because I signed us up for the group rate of $30/person, plus 10% off all food! So if you know anyone else who wants to hop on board that would be great so we can have at least 10.

I wanted to let you know as soon as possible so you could get childcare worked out. Beth Jensen said she would be willing to watch kids and I'm sure there's a few others as well. I am leaving this up to you all to figure it out by yourselves or with each other. Some of you were considering bringing kids up and swapping?(Gina, Janel?).

Anyway, I will call you all this afternoon to make sure you got the message. Unless it is super windy or yucky let's plan on going for sure on Tuesday! It would be great to go for $30 instead of $49 so let me know asap! :)

Christy joenchristy at hotmail dot com

Men's Panel & Giveaway

2011-02-11T08:29:00.000-08:00

If you weren't at MOPS last week, here's some of what you missed out on:

--A silly performance of Summer Nights (from Grease) turned into "Sleepless Nights"

--A glimpse into the mind of men...including a description of us being the "delicate flower with a manscape all around", TMI about how Sarah C.'s husband likes to be kissed, Kaci's husband getting a jab in there about how Kaci leaves her "stuff" laying around the house, and a reoccurring theme of how our guys want respect and for us to trust them.

--a giveaway that was worth $20--2 Free tickets to FCF Youth's Valentine's Dinner (with free babysitting during the meal) this Saturday (Feb. 12). Hope was the lucky winner, but unfortunately, will not be able to make it because her husband is out of town. Sooo...(drumroll, please), the first person to comment on here can win those tickets! The dinner is pork tacos and pizookie for dessert and seating is from 5-7:30 (come when you want between those times) in the Fireside Room at FCF.

Latest Pictures and Info

2011-01-18T07:17:00.000-08:00

Hi Ladies-- (If you already received this info, scroll down for more pictures of MOPS taking over the mall playplace last week!)

We can't wait to see all of you at MOPS this Thursday, January 20th! It's been a long time and it's going to be great to be together! Our theme for the meeting is "Simply Imperfect" and we're hoping to have a fun time talking about stuff we didn't know about each other. There will be a breakfast, a game, a short speaker, and time to catch up. We're also going to let you all help us plan some things for this coming semester if you want! Wear your MOPS t-shirt if you have one (or buy one at the meeting and put it on!). We are going to start our MOPS Exchange table at this meeting, so bring any unwanted (but still usable) baby/kid/maternity items/coupons to put out. Come by and see if there's anything you want, even if you don't bring anything. Each week, all the leftovers will go to a charity in town (TBD).

Here's some specific news from some of your leaders to get you ready for Thursday's meeting:

**MOPPETS: MOPPETS would love to have the old toys you are cleaning out of closets because of the new toys your kids got for Christmas! Bring them to the tub at the registration table on Thursday. Also, don't forget to bring any items you signed up for at the beginning of the year, and if you didn't sign up or you forgot, MOPPETS always needs "peanut-free" snacks like pretzels and dried fruit (they have a lot of animal crackers already)

**HOSPITALITY: Chickadees and Sparrows are bringing food to this week's meeting

**FINANCE/REGISTRATION: Don't forget to pay your dues or fill out the scholarship application form. Take care of it this week so you don't have to think about it again! You (or someone you invite) can always fill out the paperwork online at fcfmops.com

**PUBLICITY: Always be on the lookout for moms who need MOPS (that's EVERY mom, in our opinion!) Check the blog for the semester's meeting information, upcoming events, and any other interesting info. If you ever want to share one of your parenting successes (or failures) on the blog, contact Sarah at sbcraven@aol.com

See you all on Thursday!

Your MOPS leadership team

MOPS December 2, 2010

2010-12-19T15:10:00.001-08:00

Christmas Boutique & Craft Announcement

2010-11-29T10:34:00.001-08:00

Hi Ladies!

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! Here's the scoop on our last two meetings of the semester:

--Dec. 2nd (this Thursday) is going to be fun. We are going to talk about parenting and hear from one of our mentor moms, Sharon Reynolds. We are also going to have our Christmas Boutique, so bring some money if you can. If you don't bring money, we encourage you to browse and enjoy it anyway! We will have a station that has free crafts that you can make for Christmas gifts if you want. The boutique will stay open until 12:30, so if you want to invite someone to come check it out, please do!

--Dec. 16th is our last MOPS meeting of the semester. We will be enjoying some holiday entertainment and will have 3 craft stations. There will hopefully be time for everyone to make 2 out of the 3 crafts. We will show examples of the crafts this Thursday at the meeting. One of the crafts is a cute decoration that uses a photo...it is a great way to display a photo of your family or would make a special, personalized gift for someone else. So, be thinking of a photo or two that you could bring to that meeting to use in the craft. We will also have 2 other crafts that day. If you want to make more than 2 crafts, there won't be time, but you can purchase leftover craft kits for the specific craft you wanted for $1. So, if you wanted to make a photo gift for both grandparents and yourself, you could bring the supplies home to make extras after the meeting, just don't forget to bring a dollar or two. This meeting will be POTLUCK so bring a fun dish to share--it can be anything you want to bring! And don't worry if you can't bring food, come anyway!

Coming Soon: We are going to start a free exchange table at each MOPS meeting. If you have baby/kids clothes or supplies or coupons or whatever you think others would want that you can't use, you can bring them to MOPS and put them on a table to be browsed through before or after the meeting. The leftover stuff will be taken to a charity after the meeting. We will start the exchange table at our Jan. 20th meeting.

Don't forget to bring toys for MOPPETS if you have any to spare as you clean out and get ready for the new toys that your kids might get.

We really hope the next 2 meetings are fun and encouraging for you!

See you Thursday!

MOPS Meeting--Thurs., November 18

2010-11-22T11:52:00.000-08:00

We had a great meeting on Thursday. We heard about dealing with anxiety and worry from one of our own MOPS moms, Anita. We had a silly song (Don't Worry Be Happy) and played speed friendship. We put our Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes together and hope they make some kids very happy!

Fall "Getaway"

2010-11-22T11:49:00.001-08:00

We had so much fun at the Fall "Getaway" (Mom's Night Out). Over 20 moms showed up and we had lots of good food and conversation. Some moms made jewelry and keychains--and we decided to have the supplies out at our next meeting so more people can make Christmas gifts. Thanks to all who came and for Allison and Melisa for planning it! (And for all the family members who stayed home with the kids so we could enjoy some relaxing time with just the girls)

Quote from Family Circle Magazine

2010-11-20T15:29:00.000-08:00

Here's a quote from Family Circle Magazine that certainly justifies our existence! (Though we didn't need Family Circle or a doctor to tell us what we already know) :)

A chat a day may keep the doctor away. According to new research, people who talk with their husband, wife, or friends on a daily basis are 50% more likely to live longer than those who don't. "When you're connected to people, chances are you'll take better care of yourself and be less likely to participate in risky behavior," says Julianne Holt-Lunstad, associate professor of psychology at Brigham Young University and the study's lead author. Talk may be cheap, but it's good for your health.

Recipes from Cooking Day

2010-11-08T15:54:00.000-08:00

THE APPLE DUMPLING RECIPE THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN BUT SHOULD HAVE:
2 large tart apples, peeled cored and sliced into 8 sections each
1 package crescent rolls, opened and each roll unrolled and cut into two wedges (to make 16 rolls)
cinnamon/sugar mixture
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup orange juice

Shake apple wedges in a bag with cinn/sugar mixture. Lay crescent roll wedge out and sprinkle with cinn./sugar. Roll apple wedge in crescent roll and place in greased 9x9 pan. Repeat until 16 apple wedges are rolled and tucked in pan. Drizzle with melted butter and pour orange juice evenly over. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until rolls are thoroughly baked. Heavenly! Can serve for breakfast or dessert--tastes like apple pie!

Here are Hope's recipes from "You Can Cook Almost Anything in a Crockpot"

APPETIZERS
Superbowl Dip
1 roll of Jimmy Dean Sausage 1 pkg cream cheese
1 can Rotel (diced tomatoes w/ green chilis)
Cook up sausage, drain fat. Dump everything in a crockpot and stir. Serve with tortilla chips

Queso Dip
1 pkg Velveeta cheese
1 jar salsa
Melt and mix together. Serve with tortilla chips.

BREAD
Crockpot Banana Bread
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/3 cup butter or margarine
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs, well beaten
2 tbsp dark corn syrup
3 ripe bananas, well mashed

Grease and flour a 4 1/2 quart crockpot. Mix flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda together in a small bowl, set aside. Cream butter with an electric mixer until fluffy. Slowly add sugar, eggs, corn syrup, and mashed bananas. Beat until smooth. Gradually add flour mixture to creamed mixture. Pour into crockpot, cover and cook in high for 1 1/4 to 1/2 hours or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool, then invert bread onto serving platter.
*My bread actually took about 2 hours to cook/bake
**You can also add 1/2 cup chopped walnuts if you like

My Christmas Morning Stuff (french toast-ish)
1 loaf bread (I buy the cheapest loaf)
1 dozen eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup syrup
butter
nuts
Grease the crockpot. Tear bread into pieces and throw into pot. Beat the eggs adding the vanilla, milk and cinnamon. Pour over bread. Add nuts. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Pour melted butter and syrup over the top before serving.

ENTREES
Lasagna

1 lb ground beef
1 block mozzarella
1 15oz tub of ricotta cheese
1 package lasagna noodles
1 jar spaghetti sauce
onion
garlic

Brown meat with onion and garlic, drain. Place uncooked noodles in greased crockpot. Lay down a layer of ricotta cheese, top with beef and sauce. Sprinkle with cheese. Add additional layers until you run out of ingredients. Top with cheese. Cover, cook on high 1 hour and then reduce heat to low and cook for another 3-5.

Meatloaf
1 pound ground beef or turkey
1 egg
1 onion chopped
1 cup milk
1 cup dried bread crumbs (cereal, crackers)
salt and pepper to taste
2 tbs brown sugar
1/4 cup ketchup

Mix ingredients together. Grease crockpot. Dump in, pat down and cook 6-8 hours on low or 3-5 hours on high. You will know when it’s done when the top is brown and it starts to pull away from sides.

DESSERTS
Chocolate Peanut Butter Crock Pot Pudding Cake
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup peanut butter flavored pieces
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
2 cups boiling water
1/2 cup peanut butter, creamy or chunky
In a mixing bowl, stir together flour, the 1/2 cup sugar, the 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, and baking powder. Add the milk, oil, and vanilla; stir until batter is smooth. Stir in peanut butter pieces. Spread batter evenly in bottom of a greased 3 1/2-4 qt crock pot. In another mixing bowl, combine the 3/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup cocoa. Stir together boiling water and peanut butter; stir into cocoa mixture. Pour evenly over batter in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 2 to 2 1/2 hours or until toothpick inserted near center of cake comes out clean. Uncover and let cool slightly, about 30 minutes. To serve, spoon warm pudding cake into dessert dishes, and serve with ice cream or whipped topping.

Turtle Pudding

1 (16-ounce) box brownie mix
1 large egg
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup water (room temp, or slightly warm)
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
20 wrapped soft caramels (unwrapped)
whipped cream or vanilla ice cream for serving (optional)

Use a 4 or 6 quart slow cooker with an inserted oven safe dish. I used a round 4-quart cooker with a 2-quart inserted casserole dish. You can just make it in the crockpot but serving is a little trickier.
In a mixing bowl, combine the brownie mix, egg, oil, and water. When batter has formed, stir in the chocolate chips and walnuts. Pour batter into your casserole dish. I didn't spray the inside of the dish with cooking spray, but you can if you'd like (it would probably be easier to clean up!). Unwrap all of the caramel candies and press them into your brownie batter.
Add 1/2 to 1 cup of water into the bottom of your slow cooker, then lower in the brownie dish. Be careful not to slosh water into your turtle pudding!

Cover and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours, or until the edges have pulled away from the sides and the center has set.
Unplug your cooker, and let the dish set in it for 1 hour with the lid off before removing. Serve warm with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Sugared Cinnamon Almonds

cooking spray
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 tablespoons cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 egg white
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 1/4 cups whole raw almonds (1 package)
aluminum foil or parchment paper

Use a 4-quart slow cooker. Spray the stoneware well with cooking spray. In a mixing bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Set this bowl aside.
In a larger mixing bowl, whisk together the egg white and vanilla extract. Pour the almonds into this bowl and stir well to coat. Add your cinnamon mixture to the top of the nuts and toss with spoons to fully coat (too many nuts to do the plastic bag toss---you'd have to do batches).
Put the almonds into the slow cooker and cover. Cook on high for 2 hours, stirring every 20-30 minutes or so to keep the almonds on the side of the crock from getting too crispy.

When the nuts are all hot and toasty, let them cool fully on a length of foil or parchment paper. When fully cool, store in an air-tight container.

OTHER

Grits
1 cup grits
5 cups of water
1/4 cup butter
1/2 t kosher salt

Combine all of the ingredients. I didn't spray the stoneware, or bother to melt the butter. Just throw it all in (butter floats!).

Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

* add cheese (even blue cheese is great!)

OTHER RECIPES

Energy Balls:
1/2 cup Peanut Butter, 1/2 cup honey, 3/4 cup dry milk, 3/4 cup wheat germ, 1/3 cup mini choc. chips
Mix all ingredients together. Shape into balls and store in fridge.

Individual Brownie Delivery:
4T. Brownie Mix, 2T. your favorite low fat yogurt
Mix ingredients in a coffee mug. Cook in microwave for 1.5 minutes. Let cool for a minute or more depending on your love for hotness.

Salsa (Enchiladas):
1 can diced tomatoes, 1 can corn, 1 can black beans, 7 oz Herdez Salsa Verde, 7 oz Herdez salsa cadets, 1 bunch cilantro, chopped red onion
Mix together and serve with chips. Add chicken, cheese, sour cream and tortillas topped with green enchilada sauce and cheese and bake for 30 min. to make enchiladas!

Sugar Cookie Pie Dessert:
Roll of sugar cookie dough, 1 package cream cheese (softened), 2 1/3-3 cups powdered sugar (to taste), strawberries, kiwis (and other fruit to taste).
Roll out sugar cookie dough on cookie sheet. Bake as indicated on label. Cool completely, Beat cream cheese and pow. sugar to creamy consistency. Spread cream cheese mixture on cookie crust, place fruit on top. Chill until served.

Oreo Truffles:
1 lb. package Oreos, 16 oz. cream cheese (softened), 16 oz. semi-sweet choc. chips (or more--optional), (add instant coffee crystals or mint extract or use nutter-butters instead for variations)

Pulverize Oreos in food processor or with a roller until powdery. Mix well with softened cream cheese (and coffee or extract). Form bite sized balls and chill in fridge. Melt choc. chips over stove or microwave (gradually or they will burn). Roll cookie balls in melted choc. to coat. Lay on wax paper to set. Store in fridge till ready to serve.

Hot Cocoa (Makes 100 servings. You can reduce the ratios for smaller amounts):
8 quart box instant nonfat dry milk, 16 oz. box powdered creamer, 12 oz. choc. malt ovaltine, 21 oz. choc. Nestle nesquik, 1 lb. powdered sugar
Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Add 1/3 cup mix to 8 oz. mug of hot water. More or less mix to taste.

Taco in a Bag:
1 lb. lean ground beef, 1 package taco seasoning mix, 1 chopped fresh tomato, 1 C. shredded cheddar cheese, 1/3 c. salsa, 2 c. shredded lettuce, 1 can refried beans, 1/2 c. sour cream, 4 2.5 oz pkgs corn chips.
Brown beef in skillet. Drain fat, mix taco seasoning in. With bags unopened, gently crush corn chips. Snip corners off bag and slit bags along the side edge. Spoon equal amounts of all other ingredients (as desired) into the bags on top of the crushed chips. Eat out of the bag using a fork, or scoop mixture out with chips.

Simply Delicious--MOPS Cooking Day 2010

2010-11-08T11:07:00.000-08:00

On November 4th, we had a cooking day! We watched videos of MOPS moms in their kitchens and shared cooking tips. We handed out favorite kitchen gadgets and then went into the Fireside room for 8 cooking demos. Thank you to Megan, Christy, Tammy, Brooke, Glynis, Esther, Alysa, and Hope for sharing with us, and to Misti for putting such a fun day together. We'll put the recipes on here as soon as we can. Here's some pictures from the day. If you weren't there, we missed you and you missed out!

Megan's demo: Chunky Salsa/Enchiladas

Hope's demo: Everything in a Crockpot

Glynis' Demo: Energy Balls (courtesy of Kris Miller)

Tammy's demo: Walking Tacos

Brooke's demo: Hot Cocoa (with Variations)

Esther's Demo: Individual Brownie Delivery

Christy's demo: Oreo Truffles

Even the babies get into the cooking action!

Alysa's Demo: Sugar Cookie Pie Dessert

"Ooh, delicious!" they said in unison.

Sometimes moms hang out afterwards on the playground, because let's face it: Sometimes it's hard to go home after all the fun at a MOPS meeting!

Celebrating 20 Years of FCF MOPS

2010-11-08T10:50:00.000-08:00

On October 21st, we celebrated 20 years of MOPS at FCF. Many of us dressed in styles from 1990, we had a surprise performance by Vanilla Ice (see video below) and heard from 5 of the founders of MOPS at FCF. It was a fun day!

You've Gotta Read This

2010-10-23T09:00:00.001-07:00

I stumbled upon this blog post on another blog I follow...you've gotta read it. Don't worry, it has a happy ending. It's stuff like this that makes me do MOPS!

www.kellehampton.com/2010/01/nella-cordelia-birth-story.html

Have a great day, friends! Go kiss those kiddos of yours.

First Meeting of the Year!

2010-09-23T15:14:00.001-07:00

Sarah Faith Richardson

2010-09-04T06:27:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, our FCF MOPS mom, Heather Richardson, had her baby this week. Heather and her husband Paul knew from ultrasounds and doctor visits that their baby would be special and might not be with them for long, and they have been very open about their trust in God and His plan for Sarah Faith. Please keep the Richardson family in your prayers. Here is her obituary.

Sarah Faith Richardson
(September 1, 2010 - September 2, 2010)

Sarah Faith Richardson, 1 day old, of Flagstaff went to be with the Lord on September 2, 2010. She was born at Flagstaff Medical Center September 1, 2010 to Paul and Heather Richardson.
Sarah was a valiant fighter. Her time here on earth was brief; she was made for Heaven not for earth.

Sarah is survived by her parents Paul and Heather, sisters, April, Haleigh, and Janie and her brother Oliver. She is also survived by her grandparents Sam and Hanna Drago, Charles McFatter, Joyce Richardson and Frederick and Marcia Richardson and a number of extended family members all who love her very much.

Her family will be celebrating her one day on earth with a visitation and gathering Monday from 6 to 8 pm at the Norvel Owens Mortuary, Graveside celebration will be Tuesday 10 am at the Citizens Cemetery.

Family has requested in lieu of flowers donations be sent to the JLB Project, P.O. Box 537, Flagstaff, AZ 86002. The JLB project is making the journey easier for families who have lost a baby.

Here is a little excerpt from an email Heather wrote before Sarah was born:

From the start, we acknowledged Sarah Faith as belonging to God and that He is in control of her life. The word we have had for Sarah is "Shalom"- most know that this means "peace", but it also means, "nothing broken, nothing missing". (our little Janie puts her hands on my tummy everyday and says, "Shalom, Sarah, nothing missing, nothing broken")

Some of the scriptures we have held onto.....

Ehp. 3:20 " He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us."
Psalm 103:2-3 "Praise the Lord, O my soul and forget not all His benefits--who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases"
Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever"
Matt. 7:7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you"
Hebrews 4:16 "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
Matt. 19:14-15 "Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and don't hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
Psalm 34:4 "For I cried to him and he answered me! He freed me from all my fears."
Psalm 139:13-16 "You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body, and knit them together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous--and how well I know it. You were there while
I was being formed in utter seclusion! You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your Book!"

I can't describe the peace and joy that fills my heart everyday.....I thank you all for your continued prayers....they mean more than you know!!!!

Upcoming Events

2010-04-23T08:18:00.000-07:00

We have a lot of events coming up from now to the end of the year--write them on your calendar so that you don't miss out!

Thursday, May 6th--Next MOPS meeting. 9 am at FCF. Topic is "Marriage and Money" with speakers Dan and Patti Barton. There will be a great craft, too. Also happening is the Clothing Exchange...bring some children's clothing items that you don't need anymore to trade for ones that you do need! You will sort your clothes when you first arrive, and then the exchange will happen at the end of the meeting.

Thursday, May 6th--MOM'S NIGHT OUT Progressive Dinner. 6:30 pm. Meeting place TBD. We will go to 3 ladies' houses for appetizers, salad/main course, and desserts. There will be fun, games, and hi-jinks along the way. Don't miss out! Email Christy at joenchristy@hotmail.com if you haven't signed up yet.

Tuesday, May 11th--Fundraiser at Scott's Chicago Pizza. Come to the Whistle Stop Gas Station (location of Scott's Pizza) for some DELICIOUS! pizza with your family. Many people consider this the best pizza in town and it is owned and operated by a former MOPS family! MOPS will get a percentage of the night's earnings.

Sunday, May 16th--MOPS Bake Sale at FCF. Sign up with Kaci to bring a baked good to help raise money and awareness for MOPS. You don't have to attend FCF to help--we need lots of goodies!

Thursday, May 20th--Last MOPS Meeting of the school year! Bring a little thank-you gift for your childrens MOPPETS workers (lists of names will be provided at the next meeting). Summer events will be announced.

Saturday, May 22nd--GREAT MOMS WALK! 9 am at FCF. Come to this fun family event and bring your husbands, too! We will walk along Route 66 together with strollers, bikes, and scooters galore. We will return to FCF for kids' games, a BBQ, door prizes and a general celebration of the year. Sign up with your table leader or at the next MOPS meeting. Registration is $20 for your family, which includes a t-shirt, lunch, and a goody bag. We are also encouraging moms to ask for sponsors to raise awareness of MOPS and raise money for next year! Tell people what MOPS has meant to you!

MOPS GARAGE SALE--(Sometime in June at some location) Save your stuff to bring to the MOPS Garage Sale! Plan to help work at it, too, if you can! It's lots of fun and an important fundraiser!

4th of July Parade--Let's walk in it as a group (or even make a float!) and spread the joy of MOPS to the community. More details to come.

We will be having Summer Play Dates (like going to parks or the creek). Dates will be announced at the last meeting and posted here as well.

Thanks for coming to MOPS this year and come back next year!

Pictures from SPA DAY!

2010-04-16T08:39:00.001-07:00

Thanks for coming, ladies! It was a real success!

SPA DAY! (Take 2)

2010-03-31T14:06:00.000-07:00

Because of a teeny tiny bit of snow, (which caused a FUSD late start) Spa Day was cancelled. BUT, we will have it on April 15th, instead!

Here are some pictures from previous spa days to get you ready...

Don't forget to be getting Great Mom's Walk sponsors for the table competition (and fundraiser)!

Monday Morning 3/8

2010-03-08T09:47:00.000-08:00

It's Monday morning, and you're a mom.

Here's something to make you laugh:

Here's something to make you smile:

--Nicole B. was at MOPS last Thursday, looking beautiful like always and went home and had baby Samuel 3 hours later! Way to go, Momma! I think she is the second mom this year to come to MOPS and go home and have a baby the same day (I think the other was Beth J.--am I right?)

Here's something to make you think:

--After reading this blog, consider turning off the computer for the rest of the day, or even better, chose one day a week with no computer at all! Maggie encouraged us to reduce the clutter in our lives so we have more time with our kids, but what if we reduced the mental clutter and distractions as well. Just a thought.

Here's something to make you save money:

--Okay, some of you might think this is gross, but oh well. I hate how expensive swim diapers are, and the other day, I looked at one that had been used and dried and it looked just the same as it did when it was new. In my mind, if they don't poop in it, the pee just washes away in the water (gross, I know, but it is a reality), so the diaper is reusable. If you disagree with me, then keep spending almost $1 per diaper and don't be sick to your stomach. But if you want to try it, I say go for it! (I only reuse mine a few times before throwing away)

Happy Monday! Comment below with any other money-saving tips for us!

Harmony in the Home

2010-03-05T06:23:00.000-08:00

Here's the video from yesterday's MOPS meeting:

Here's our speaker, Maggie Taylor, talking about harmony in the home, tying our children's hearts to ours, and figuring out how to make things work best in our homes to avoid clutter and chaos.

Here's Vanessa asking Maggie if she can hire her.

(Maggie graciously declined :) Good idea, though, Vanessa!)

When asked where they go for peace in their house, I heard women say things like:

"I go to my friend's house because it's clean. Otherwise, if I stay home, I might lose it."

"I go sit in the car. I can even watch a movie out there."

"I don't have a lot, so when I have one special thing for me, I feel like a 2-year-old saying 'That's MINE!'"

"I have my spot on my couch. It's the only thing that's really mine. I like to sit there when it is quiet at night."

"I go where the sun is for 15 min. to recharge."

"I have a chair I like to sit in. I can see the window, and if the neighbor doesn't park his truck in my way, I can even see a tree."

"We sound like inmates in a prison. :)"

"I sit on a swing in my yard and look at the flowers. But I can't do that in the winter!"

"I have my own sewing table, and even if it is a mess, I just throw a blanket over it and can't see the mess."

"I reduced the number of toys each of my children had so that we can control the clutter. It has really helped."

Where do you go for peace in your house? What solutions have worked for you to avoid the clutter so you have more time with your kids? Share them with us here...click on the comments or post in the comment box. It's okay for you to post anonymously if you don't have a Google identity/account, just be sure to put your name at the end of the comment if you want.

2010-03-02T07:10:00.000-08:00

It's Tuesday morning and you're a mom. Yesterday was Monday, and you were a mom then, too. I just didn't get this posted until today. It's because being a mom gives me a lot to blog about, but being a mom keeps me from blogging. You understand.

I invited friends over for dinner on Thursday. Mostly so that I could visit with them, but partly so that I would finally clean most of my house. And partly so that I wouldn't eat the whole chocolate cake myself. I didn't get MOST of the house clean, I just got SOME of it clean. I had to explain to my guests that I didn't have time to get it all done because I was prying marbles and beads out of the vacuum cleaner. That's when you know a preschooler lives in your house. Then, when I should have been clearing laundry off of the couches, I saw that there was dried saliva on the glass of the big picture frames I have hanging on the wall behind the couches. My husband taught my boys to lick the suction cups of their nerf bullets before they shoot them so that they will stick better. He did not teach them to clean up the spit splat they leave behind.

My inability to get the house finished before the guests arrived reminded me of my lifelong fantasy of being able to make time stand still (but I would still be able to move around and I could unfreeze other people if I wanted to spend time with them--kind of like Evie in the t.v. show "Out of This World" when I was a kid). Then I could FINISH a task without being interrupted or get myself together for the day before everyone needed me. Or, I could train for that marathon I probably will never get around to doing.

While I was cleaning, I found this
which makes me want to stop time for other reasons...so I can hug and snuggle and enjoy these kiddos for as long as possible.

What's your "Mom Fantasy"? Write a comment to share it with us!

By the way, if your fantasy is shopping in warm weather without children, then MOPS is ready to grant your wish! On Sat., March 27th, MOPS is planning a kid-free shopping day in Anthem. Hear more details at our meeting on Thursday.

Monday Morning 2/22

2010-02-22T08:33:00.000-08:00

It's Monday morning, and you're a mom.

And it's snowing. Again. I think the mothers with school-aged kids are experiencing the upheaval of another FUSD snow day more than those of us whose mornings still consist of little ones in footsie pajamas watching cartoons while we sip coffee and check facebook and try to figure out what we're going to do all day. I really admire you mommas who get your clan ready and out the door each day, mostly on time for school.

So in honor of this snowy day, I propose we play a game. It's called, "What will I find when the snow melts." It was inspired by Tomie, who is moving and won't be able to collect all the random goodies her family left in their former yard because of the fact that they are covered by 2 feet of melting snow/ice and now by 6 more inches of fresh powder. I asked her what the new residents might find come spring and she said, "Who knows what toys are under all that snow. Some junk, I think. And there are definitely a couple pairs of underwear out there!"

This made me think about what I might find under the snow in my yard. (I actually googled "What I found under the snow" to see if there were funny things out there in internet-land, but the results were a little...grotesque, so never mind on that). Here's what we found last week when the snow did start to melt:

If you can't tell, it is the broken glass from our formerly glass-topped patio table. That will be fun to clean up. Good thing the snow is covering it back up so I don't have to think about it for a while (I think it broke under the weight of the snow during the epic snowstorms in January). I saw the handlebars of my kids' bikes that we forgot to put away...I hope they are not rusted to the fence.

What do you think you might find under the snow? Have you had to go digging for something you needed? Have you had any snow related losses like my picnic table?

Before I go, let me share this idea, in conjunction with snow, winter Olympics, etc. You can play Olympics with your kids today! I found some old medals from my swimming/soccer days (I know, one of the benefits of being somewhat of a sentimental packrat). I gave the kids "events" to compete in, like who could jump the most times in a row or balance, or even clean up their toys the fastest. Then we would have a medal ceremony. If you don't have your old medals from elementary school (it means you are more sane than I am), you can make them using foil or jar lids or just paper cutouts. The kids will love it, I promise!

Looking forward to hearing from you! Don't forget about babysitting this Friday night from 5-8. Oh, and here are some pictures from our Bunco Night. And yes, there was line dancing and lots of chocolate.

Quarter Auction & Bunco

2010-02-19T10:48:00.001-08:00

Hi Ladies!

I know it's been awhile since this blog has been written on, but don't give up on it! I will be trying to write more often, and plan to post as many announcements and helpful tips as I can. On Mondays, I hope to start posting "It's Monday morning and you are a mother..." which will hopefully contain something to think or laugh about and of course, leave a comment about!

We had a great meeting yesterday...we were sorry to miss some of our regular friends but excited to meet new moms--Sarah, Shyla, and Andrea (I think). Remember that you are always welcome to invite new friends!

We had our 2nd Annual Quarter Auction and made $276! Many ladies said they had fun, and if you didn't, then at least know it was a successful fundraiser. We promise that we didn't plant Dianne and Tammy in the crowd to make the bids go higher. Thanks for putting up with an airheaded auctioneer who likes to talk a lot. I brought my camera but didn't take any pictures...to busy being airheady and talking a lot.

We hope the discussion topics at the tables were fun or even helpful. Those who led are welcome to email me with any follow-up info you want to share on this blog. I talked with 2 working moms and learned about their jobs, but then we ended up talking about Bountiful Baskets (a fresh produce co-op) and I think I might sign up! Be looking for a review in a few months after I have tried it!

We're hoping to see many of you tomorrow night for Outlaw Bunco at 7 pm at FCF! It's easy to learn Bunco and lots of fun to play! The cost is $5 and there will be snacks and prizes. Yee haw! (Don't worry, you can still come even if you don't have awesome boots like mine. And for those of you who are new to MOPS--it isn't usually so country-y...we just happened to have the Quarter Auction and Outlaw Bunco the same week. We know how some of you feel about country music :))

Calling All Snowed-In Mommies

2010-01-22T07:56:00.000-08:00

So I'm gettin' the feeling from being on Facebook that we are all out there enjoying the forced family fun time of being snowed in, yet I'm percieving a little bit of despair or cabin fever setting in. Let's lift each others's spirits (or just create a little diversion) by posting stuff on this blog today. Send me pics of what you are doing...snow forts, games, horrible messes, how cute your baby looks all dressed up with no place to go, whatever. No bragging, just encouraging others...you know you have ideas that others haven't thought of and vice versa, or just report what your kids are doing while you watch old movies and eat sugar cereal out of the box. Here's some good, easy ideas from a friend that she did with her kids while they had a "rain day" in Southern California.

--Let your kids write with dry erase markers on cleanable surfaces--fridge, windows, shower walls (test the surface first!)

--Do a workout video from youtube together. Here's one--totally cheesy, but do it!

--Set up a pet hospital with stuffed animals and let the kids cut pieces of tape to put on the animals' owies

I'm thinking of letting my kids build a ramp and tunnels for their Hot Wheels cars out of cardboard (because the recycle is piling up since I can't even open my trash cans outside). Here's some stuff I posted on my blog of what we've been doing. Playing with shaving cream
Butter box puppets
Cinnamon Applesauce Ornaments (Google it)

Email: kaci_mae13@hotmail.com if you want to send a photo, or just post a comment below!

Can't wait to hear from you all! (nudge, nudge)

Snot in Your Coffee

2010-01-14T11:40:00.001-08:00

The other day, I was reading in this years' book-gift from MOPS International, called "Life on Planet Mom". I stopped short when I read this sentence (highlighted for your convenience):

What? After throwing up a little in my mouth at the visual image, I started to laugh. I realized that I didn't continue reading the next line which added the important word "napkin" to the end of the sentence. Even though I saw that it was a normal sentence, I couldn't get that image out of my head all morning...and my freshly brewed coffee lost all appeal to me, even though it was secured with a spill-proof lid. Today, it is all just humorous to me, especially with the line underneath being taken out of context as well--"Stephanie blew her nose into the small coffee. Her friends offered theirs as backup." What good friends, to offer their coffees for her to continue putting snot into in case hers was full.

That same morning, I tried to do some fun things with my kids, but the ripple effects of little sleep, clumsy children, cold weather, and lack of caffeine (due to above story) collided to cause me to almost lose my temper and kick something on Lockett Rd. (the only thing stopping me was that people were driving by and might have seen me). I could have never predicted how things would turn out, and I felt robbed of my good intentions by things outside of my control. But, with some time passed, I can recall the events of that day and smile instead of scream, and retelling it to friends actually can make me laugh instead of wanting to cry. Lisa T. Bergen (the author of "Life on Planet Mom") had good intentions with the opening chapter of her book, but because of how it was printed (which was outside of her control), it ended up causing distraction (now I can't even remember what the rest of the chapter was about), nausea, and eventually, laughter (which I'm sure she would ultimately appreciate). And hey, at MOPS, I have friends that really would let me blow snot into their coffee if that's what I needed.

Silly analogies aside, we really do seem to be having some good times this year at MOPS. Here's some photos from our last meeting, which was all about having a good time!

See you on January 21st!

The Perfect Mother

2009-12-18T09:37:00.000-08:00

Recently, one of our mentor moms, Marlene, was sharing about the year her son Nathaniel was born. Nathaniel has Down Syndrome and had some problems as a baby. There was another baby boy born at their church around the same time as Nathaniel, and he was chosen to play baby Jesus in the Christmas Pageant. Marlene cried and cried about it, feeling that her baby wasn't good enough or that she wasn't a good mother for him. She found comfort in the story of Mary from the Bible, who was chosen by God to be Jesus' mother. Mary probably didn't feel "good enough" to be his mother, and who knows how overwhelmed she was by the prospect of all that it would mean to mother such a special baby. Marlene reminded some of us that we are the perfect mothers for our kids, and that our kids are the perfect kids for us. She smiled and spoke of what a joy Nathaniel is to her.

These words were encouraging, and I think they come at a good time. I was just watching my son in the rehearsal for his Christmas Pageant, and feeling self-concious about his behavior, and even wishing he could sing as well as some of the other kids. I was jealous of one boy who stood still on his spot and followed all the directions (or maybe I was jealous of his mother, actually--"Surely her life must be so much EASIER than mine"). I was reminded in that moment of Marlene's words and of the time at MOPS that we all had to build tall structures using different materials. The speaker pointed out that we were all given unique "materials" (personalities, temperments, abilities, support, etc.) for our mothering, so it isn't fair to compare ourselves to others. So, I am preparing to go to tonight's performance and be proud of my little singer, even if he shoots imaginary bad guys during "Away in a Manger" or eats things off the carpet. I will be proud to be his mother and enjoy the moment with him. We can talk about self-control tomorrow. :)

This post reminds me of this book:
If you've never read it, I highly recommend it--I read it many, many times at Christmas. It is about a family of not-so-perfect kids who decide to participate in the Christmas Pageant...I won't tell you more because I don't want to ruin the story. But believe me, it's a funny and sweet one.

Dress 'Em Extra Cute Today

2009-12-15T07:33:00.000-08:00

Here's a funny post that I read from a blog I follow. I could relate!

Even God himself rested on the seventh day...

and then there are days where I think this lack of sleep will kill me. KILL ME DEAD.

Last night went exactly like this:

8-9:30pm, Thunderstorm deeply upsets Calum (he was never afraid of thunder until three little girls in his preschool class repeatedly freaked out during storms (<-- it's a stereotype, I KNOW, but in this case it is TRUE) and it rubbed off on him), keeping him up way past his bedtime.

11pm- Emmett wakes up crying because he cannot find Snoopy.

11:25pm- It hails.

11:30pm- Calum wanders in our room, gets 6 inches from Brett's face and whispers, "Daddy, I'm scared." Brett nearly dies of a heart attack.

12 midnight- Emmett wakes up crying again, asking to come in our bed. We refuse, so I sing him back to sleep.

1-1:30am- Willa wakes up to eat.

2:30am- Calum wakes up and needs to change his pants.

4-4:30am- Willa wakes up to eat again.

5:30am- Willa wakes up again to start her day. This wakes up Calum, who shortly wakes up Emmett and WE ARE OPEN AGAIN FOR BUSINESS.

On days like this, you have to make sure you dress your kids EXTRA CUTE because... well... it's for their own good.

Mothering Metaphors

2009-12-04T07:21:00.001-08:00

If you were at yesterday's meeting, you might have enjoyed some tasty holiday drinks...

...ate a homemade breakfast...
...watched your kids perform some holiday songs...

...listened to an encouraging talk (sorry Keri, no picture--I was nursing), and made a festive craft...
...not to mention watching a cute video parody of "It's a Wonderful Life". I think we have a pretty good time every other Thursday morning, don't we?

If you were there, you might have gotten a newsletter that shared a cute story from Sarah T.'s blog. She shared a "metaphor" from mothering--comparing mothering to trying to direct an orchestra. A mother I know said having another baby was like someone took all the pieces of her life and threw them up in the air and they landed in a pile and it took her months to sort them out and get them orgnaized again. What's your mothering metaphor? "Mothering is like..." Share it with us! Don't forget about Christmas babysitting tomorrow! :)

Add a Caption

2009-12-02T10:57:00.000-08:00

This happened to me yesterday.

I am not sure why I took a picture of it, except that I heard the sound of something falling and thought I had dropped a toy but looked down and found this instead. And this happened after my daughter had already pooped on my lap. Throughout the rest of the day, I entertained myself with thinking of captions for this photo. One of my favorites was: "I gave birth to you in great pain and this is what I get in return?"

Can you come up with a caption for this picture? Put yourself in my place--I'm sure you've literally been there before! Post your caption as a comment below for our entertainment.

Don't forget our meeting tomorrow and bring little gifts for your childrens' MOPPETS workers. The gifts don't have to be wrapped, they will go into gift bags with everyone else's gifts for each worker. Also, we have our Christmas babysitting fundraiser at Lamb of God Church on Saturday. Bring your kids for some quality babysitting while you shop or have coffee, or sign up to help. See "Upcoming Events" for more info.

For This I am Thankful

2009-11-19T20:12:00.000-08:00

We had another great meeting today (we try not to evaluate the quality of the meeting by how many people reach for tissues at any given point, but we do take it as a good sign :)). We put together our shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, complete with the wrapping paper our kiddos made in MOPPETS (good idea, Lisa H!). What a great strategy that Samaritan's Purse has come up with...such an easy way to be a part of sharing with others at Christmas. Did anyone have their own children help shop for the boxes? What were their reactions? I watched the promo video a couple times (because we can never watch anything just once at our house) with my kids before coming to MOPS and got all weepy about it. Sigh. If you want to get weepy like me, here is the thanksgiving slideshow that Sarah made. If anyone didn't get a chance to share at the meeting about what they are thankful for, do it here! Post a comment! And then go hug your kids. Or your mother-in-law. :)

Handprint Snowmen & Fall Craft

2009-11-12T17:21:00.001-08:00

I promised to post the link to the handprint snowmen ornaments I showed at the last meeting. Here it is. Just scroll down the page until you find it on the right side. There is a link on that page of a printable copy of the poem--just choose 2009 as the year.

Here's an easy fall craft to do with your kids:

Just get some dried beans, peas, rice, and corn...or whatever you have in the cupboard. Draw a design on a paper plate with a black pen (older kids don't need this step). Depending on your child's age, they can trace the design with a thick line of glue, or you can do it for them. They place the beans however they want and wait for it to dry. It helps to do the gluing a little at a time so it doesn't dry too fast. Here are some other designs:

This is a great activity for them to do at the kitchen table while you are preparing dinner...maybe you could make bean soup with the leftovers!

Forgot the Camera

2009-11-12T16:45:00.000-08:00

Well, after I harassed everyone about checking this blog, I didn't write on it for a week. Sorry! I forgot my camera last meeting--I looked at it sitting forlornly (is that a word?) there on the kitchen table and then left it behind. I got to MOPS and saw all the wonderful Home Business Show displays and hung my head in shame. So, I have nothing to show from the last meeting except a laundry basket full of tin can robots and photo books STILL in the passenger seat of my car.

I heard that some of you have been inspired to be crafty since our last meeting. Here's the product of Sarah C.'s craftiness:

There have been lots of new MOPS babies being born lately. I don't have a picture of AudreyAnn Sullivan, but here is Matthew Eis (proud Mommy is Felicia).

There are also lots of our friends who are having a rough time lately...so be sure to reach out to a friend this next week! We need each other, that's for sure.

It was fun seeing many of you at our Peter Piper Pizza Fundraiser this afternoon. If you are reading this and it is still Thursday, November 12, and Peter Piper Pizza (or "Peeper Pie-zza" as one 5-year-old I know likes to call it) is still open, then head over with your flier or mention MOPS at the counter so we can get 15% of the sales.

And, I promise to never leave home without my camera again. But I am sure I will forget my purse or a size 2 diaper from time to time.

Photo Opportunity

2009-10-30T14:42:00.001-07:00

Happy Halloweiner!

The battery in my camera just went dead, and normally I wouldn't do anything about it until I needed it a week from now and then would kick myself for not being prepared--but not today! I realized that tomorrow is Halloween and I better be ready for all the costume-y cuteness that is bound to happen. I think there will be a Spiderman, a cowboy, and a frog accompanying me around the neighborhood tomorrow. And I am sure there will be sugar-induced hyperactivity, costume malfunctions, and tears over smeared facepaint at some point, but we will carry on this great American tradition nonetheless...snapping pictures all along the way.

Ladies, this is where you come in! I want you to send me your Halloween anecdotes. Send me the cute quotes from your kids, retell the sweet moments, or make us laugh with the mishaps. Send pictures of your little monsters (or whatever you are dressing them as) too! Send them to kaci_mae13@hotmail.com or write a comment at the bottom of this post.

Now I'm off to concoct a plan as to how to steal all the Reese's peanut butter cups from my kids' bags tomorrow after they are asleep...Mwah hah hah!

Tomorrow's Special Event Cancelled

2009-10-28T07:53:00.001-07:00

We just wanted to make sure that everybody heard that tomorrow's Mom's Day Out has been cancelled, but you should hang out with your MOPS friends anyway! Call someone and go to the library or Aquaplex (they won't laugh at you in your swimsuit, we promise) or go for a walk (brrr). We'll see you on November 5th for a fun meeting about planning Special Occasions on a budget and the Home Business Show. Bring your checkbook if you want to buy Christmas gifts from some talented MOPS moms! Or just plan to browse and get some ideas for later. GALAXY GALS and MERCURY MAMAS are bringing food.

Hooray!

2009-10-20T14:05:00.000-07:00

Comments are now working!!!!!! In order to celebrate, you must write a comment on any of the posts or just say something random in response to this quote. I think a mysterious guy named Edward must have snuck in and fixed it last night while I slept. (That's not me but that's how I felt when I saw that the comments worked) Now back to potty-training. Or a nap.

Trouble with Comments & Underwear

2009-10-19T11:59:00.000-07:00

To the FCF MOPS blog followers:

It has been brought to my attention that we can't post comments on this template...no wonder I am not hearing from anyone (you were all dying to post comments, weren't you? :)) I am working on fixing the problem, but am also chasing a potty-training 2 year old around the house trying to keep him from pooping his pants so I don't know when the problem will be solved. Beware that the format and background could totally change or be messed up for a few days...but we'll get it figured out! Thanks for reading!

The Moderator (aka "The Poopy Laundry Queen" for now)

Thursday's meeting: 10/15

2009-10-16T13:36:00.001-07:00

Yesterday's meeting was good...despite attempts by the swine flu to keep everyone at home. It still feels silly to call it swine flu...I picture everyone's noses turning into pig snouts or something. And H1N1 sounds like it's from outer space or something. Anyways, I guess the swine flu is a sort of crisis--especially if you are like some of the people I have heard from that have had children vomiting on them all night--and the topic of our meeting was about handling crisis or crises or crisises (as Sarah liked to say). Katie's mom, Bonnie, was our speaker.

She shared about losing her son in an accident when he was 13, and gave us some helpful advice and encouragement. I know that our table had a great discussion...mostly about going through miscarriages, and it seemed good to share about them and learn to relate better. Rhonda shared about a hard period of time in her family's life and reminded everyone that she is still standing after all of it, so others will survive, too.

We did a craft--here are some good examples:

And here, not so much
(it's mine...I'm allowed to make fun of it--I'll fix it later when I am not holding a sleeping baby). And here is Krista, who, when invited by Misti to MOPS, said, "Do we have to do crafts? I don't want to do crafts."

Yes, I caught her in the act of actually seeming to enjoy the craft, and goodness, she single-handedly put moss into everyone at our table's vase AND tied some rafia, I think. (Her baby is due by C-section on Nov. 2nd, just so you know)

80's Bunco Night was a hit...Whose outfit do you like best?

I'm still waiting to hear from all you mommies about your "Accidental Mothering" moments. I know you have them--inspire us! (see previous post for more info) Here's one that happened to me the other day...

My oldest son drew this and was about to have a meltdown because his little brother was scuffing it up. I suggested they walk on it as a path, and they started playing Moses and Pharoah...Evan says, "Wet my people go" and Sam shouts, "NEVER!" a few times (he really likes that part) and then finally relents. Evan walks along the path to the Red Sea (the blue blob in the picture) and Sam starts chasing him...you can imagine the rest. See how easy it is? Post yours today!

Accidental Mothering

2009-10-12T20:40:00.000-07:00

Even though I usually leave MOPS meetings feeling encouraged to be intentional about mothering, I never seem to get my act together to do all the good things I know I could with my kids. I see pretty fall leaves and THINK about all the cool art projects we could make, but my refrigerator still is only decorated with sloppily-torn-out, slightly-yellowed coloring book pages from 3 months ago. Can anyone relate?

But, the other day, I decided to give myself credit for the good activities we do, even if by accident. For example, we had to take the bus twice when my car randomly wouldn't start--and my kids thought it was the coolest thing, especially since they weren't the ones who had to lug the carseat (while pregnant) 5 blocks ("Hurry up or we'll miss the bus!") so that we could legally drive home with Daddy later. Or the time I let them splash in the rushing gutter after a rainstorm, even though I only let them because they had already gotten their shoes soaking wet.

Last week, in a quest to get DVDs that I could actually stand to watch with the kids, I happened to grab "The Absent-Minded Professor" as we were leaving the library. The kids liked it okay, mostly the basketball scene where the players are bouncing up to the ceiling, not so much the talking parts. The next day, we were outside and found that their favorite bouncy ball mysteriously broken into pieces. In an effort to keep the tears at bay, I said, "Look, it's flubber!" and watched the different sized pieces bounce crazily around the driveway.

Disaster averted, and hey, that was actually pretty fun, too! Another day, I realized we were out of bread AND chicken nuggets, so I wondered how to make lunch like a meal instead of just the snacks we had been eating all morning (like the kids can tell the difference, anyway). I was inspired by our speaker last week and came up with this for lunch:
So, what have you done by accident that turned out to be a pretty good activity? Maybe you ate by candlelight because the power was out or made up a silly song about not tattling. Post a comment telling us your "accidental mothering" story...I know you all have them! And while you are thinking of them, enjoy pictures of the healthy snack creations our tables made at the last MOPS meeting. I can't wait to hear from you!