Wednesday MOPS Group

2012-02-08T13:19:00.000-05:00

The exciting news (in my personal opinion) is that at our next meeting you are invited to wear your pajamas and you will not be judged (unless you plan on running a bunch of errands afterwards and then you're at your own risk) because it's a .....

that's right, a slumber party complete with pampering, hair/make-up tips, ~~pillow fights~~, and sugar scrubs! Your children are also invited to wear their pajamas that morning.

(For the record, I recommend you do NOT google "adult slumber party images" because you will most certainly feel uncomfortable and realize not everyone thinks the same way you do! Whoa, I needed a sensor...consider this your warning!)

Get these events on your books!!

2/10 Taste of Chocolate at Fair Oaks Mall. A group of MOPS moms will be meeting at Maya Riviera (or is it Riviera Maya?!?) anyway...at the Mexican restaurant around 5ish.

2/11 Graziano's Italian Fine Dining @ Grace. This is a fundraiser for the youth at Grace Lutheran and is a free will donation. Reservations are strongly suggested and space is still available for seating from 5-7:40pm. Complementary child-care is also provided while you dine. Call 372-4859 to reserve your spot!

2/15 Bible study (chapter 5 and some of 6) or free morning!

2/17 Bunco at Taylor's house ...for more information on Bunco click on the tab at the top of the page.

2/28 Chuck E. Cheese - Kathie has organized a "morning out" for moms and kids at Chuck E. Cheese at 10am (it's a Tuesday).

-Brandey is sending around an email to gauge interest in a MOPS book club. Be sure to keep an eye out for that and respond if you have even just a little bit of interest..you don't have to make a lifetime commitment, or even a commitment to read the book, just general interest is fine :)

-It's been brought to my attention that on Wednesday at Casa Del Sol (on the west side of town) kids eat free and also on Thursday at Carinos...also on Monday night at Carinos is family night- get a family platter for the price of a single portion. These are in addition to my last post when I listed a few other "kids nights" at various restaurants. So go ahead and dine out and don't feel guilty :) ... unless this is not in your budget right now (please refer to your baby steps 1-3 courtesy of our finance speakers last meeting)!

Well, in the spirit of our guest speakers...

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8

Things to look forward to...

2012-01-18T13:22:00.000-05:00

Next week we're going to have a "mix-it-up" morning during brunch. No, we didn't vote on calling it that, I just came up with it all on my own...fancy schmancy, right (insert sarcasm)?!? Okay, anyway you'll each get a number when you walk in and that will represent what table you're going to sit at for brunch. Don't worry, we'll get back to our discussion groups after the speakers are finished but this is an easy way to get a chance to talk to people you may not otherwise get a chance to talk to...or introduce yourself to, someone you haven't met! We're all creatures of habit so if given the opportunity most of us would sit in the same spots at the same tables with the same people, but next week enjoy the "mix-it-up" event!

There's a "Mom's Night Out" in the works and tentatively planned for the evening of February 10th (I know, the same night as Bunco which as a result has been moved to the 17th!). The event is "Taste of Chocolate" and it is at THE Fair Oaks Mall in Columbus. This event is from 5-8pm and advance tickets are $2.50 or $3 at the door. Taylor has offered to collect money and get the tickets for those interested in going. More information to follow...such as what you get with that ticket purchase and other things that will be at the event!

February 28th is a possible play date at Chuck E. Cheese beginning at 10am. This is your fair warning so that you can begin looking/saving coupons from your mail fliers for discounts on tokens!

We are in need of a few volunteers to work in the Moppets wing during the Tuesday meetings. This would mean spending a few hours in one of the classrooms to help the teachers out and learn more about what our children do during Moppets time. Each mom is asked to volunteer once a year and we have 5 available dates: 2/7, 2/14, 3/6, 3/13, and 4/24. You will need to find childcare for your child(ren) while you volunteer. This can be the most difficult part but some moms find it easiest to partner up with a Tuesday morning mom and switch babysitting/Moppets volunteering duties, or maybe swapping babysitting duties with a Wednesday MOPS friends. Let Laura or Jolisa know if you can help out on any of these dates!!

*I also added the dates we already have people signed up for helping in Moppets on Tuesdays, as well as who is responsible for brunch on meeting days...check out the left side bar for that info!*

-Kids eat free at Scotty's Burger Joint on Tuesdays & Sundays.

-Kids eat free at Amazing Joe's on Mondays.

-Kids eat free on the weekends at Steak n' Shake.

(that's all for the restaurant "kid free" nights but if you know of any others let me know and I'll add them)

-The Commons is closed next week for maintenance and repair.

I think that's all the wealth of knowledge one needs to know at this time! See you all next week for our speaker on "Family Finances."

Happy New Year!

2012-01-11T13:40:00.000-05:00

How 'bout that bingo marathon?!? I was shocked to find out some people at my table weren't familiar with this oh so popular game (especially with the seniors)!

Upcoming Events ... in sequential order for your calendar jotting convenience:
* Sunday, Jan. 15th Mops only event at the Kidscommons from 5-7pm with admission charge at just $5 per family!
* Next week the steering team has a meeting and everyone else can run free!
* Feb. 1st bible study resumes
*Bunco resumes in February, the 10th to be exact @ Taylor Black's house.

General Announcements:
* If you forgot your checkbook, please bring it to our next meeting (which happens to be about family finances) to pay your dues to Elisa!
* Little Seeds pre-school at Asbury United Methodist Church is having an open house for enrollment on Tuesday, Jan. 17th 7am-9am.
* March 31st Columbus Kids Re-sale event at Northside Middle School from 8am-2pm.
* Need a sitter? Kathy Osburn has a niece at IU who would love to make some money and watch your darling child/ren and is available most weekends!
* Thanks to Tammy for taking over Hospitality duties. On that note, if you would like to be on steering team or have any questions about the job titles/duties, please talk to Jolisa. Start praying about it and perhaps YOU might be called to be the next leader (apparently she's reaching the end of her term). The "jobs" are on the left sidebar if you would like to peruse.

Dues

2012-01-03T14:57:00.000-05:00

If you're thinking ahead to next week because you're excited to be around your MOPS friends and you're child is ready for something other than you're smiling face and sugar cookies, know that you aren't the only one :) Hope to see some of you tomorrow at the KidsCommons @10am! Here's the lowdown for next week as far as MOPS dues for this semester:

$45 per Mom
$45 for your first child in Moppets, $40 for your second child in Mops, and your third child and up are free. (example : 1 mom & 1child in moppets =$90 total OR 1 mom & 2 children in moppets = $130 )

Please make checks payable to Wednesday MOPS. We do have scholarships to moms who have financial limitations. Please email Elisa for an application: elisalundy@hotmail.com

* * If you're bringing your checkbook anyway, you might as well buy a few cookbooks while you're in the check writing mood! Just sayin' :)

Happy New Year!

2011-12-27T15:14:00.000-05:00

Hope you all had a wonderfully relaxing and blessed time celebrating the birth of Jesus with your little ones...and family!

Just a few reminders:

January 4 @10am meet at the Kids Commons

January 11 is our first MOPS meeting of the new year! Bring your checkbook (for dues...and ahem, cookbooks) ;) The theme is "game day" so show your support for you favorite sports team by dressing in team attire...go ahead and let your kids rock their sports apparel too, it'll be fun! {no eye black or pads necessary}

Lisa has requested a few items for MOPPETS so here are the current "needs":

LYSOL disinfecting spray - white cap, crisp linen

(just so you're not confused)

AA and D Batteries

Happy New Year!

Christmas Brunch

2011-12-09T13:38:00.000-05:00

Moms busy at work putting together paper Christmas bows...

I'm sure we were all super thrilled with the fabulous, quality gifts we came home with; I know that my Elvis cd has been playing non stop around my house! I just hope the Billy Blanks Bootcamp dvd that I sadly parted with is getting as much use!

How cute are these munchkins?!? And how fabulous are their teachers?!? I'm so thankful for such a wonderful group of Christian women who care and teach our children while we get to hang out!

I believe they are "rocking" baby Jesus in the above picture and I'm not sure what song corresponds with the hand motions in the below picture...use your imagination!

On to some important reminders (most of these you can find under the activities tab under the blog header):

Donuts with Santa: Dec. 10th 10:30-Noon

Moppets and bible study next week and the first meeting/moppets date of the new is Jan. 11th (bring your checkbook for dues).

No open gym Dec. 16th-Jan. 6th

Kidscommons play date Jan. 4th

If you enjoyed Marianne Miller's talk last week you have the opportunity to hear her speak again along with other fabulous moms at the Hearts at Home Conference March 16th and 17th. A group of 10 get $10 off registration fee!

Yep, another ~~areyoukiddingme~~ cookbook plug! Okay, I had a genius idea (I know, gasp)....do you have a group of women you work with, go to church with, are in a bookclub with, cooking club? scrapbooking club?? Whatever, you get the idea, another circle of women besides MOPS? Why not ask if they want a cookbook? I actually sold 4 cookbooks by doing this exact thing without even giving a sales pitch. I just told the ladies about it and they flew out of my hands...which means I need to replenish my supply next week since I was planning on giving those as gifts. Give it a try ;) I promise this is my last cookbook pitch, actually, that's a lie, I won't promise because it's good blog material!

Merry CHRISTmas (as Lisa reminded us)! Til' next year....

Super, Duper Deal!!

2011-11-30T12:55:00.000-05:00

MOPS COOKBOOKS now on sale for just $5!!! That's right folks, you can get your hot little hands on a cookbook created by your fellow MOPS moms for this once in a lifetime low cost! Just think of all the possibilities...maybe a gift for yourself, teachers gift, co-worker, friends, mothers, aunts, newlyweds, or just cooking enthusiasts! Everyone wants a cookbook this season :)

and here's a sneak preview...

Seriously, get yours (or 5 or 10) today because Carrie reports that they are fffffllllyyying of the shelves!

Next MOPS meeting is next Wednesday, the 7th and it is our Christmas Brunch.
Here is the list of things to bring:
- One dish to share (everyone except steering team)
- One (or a few if you have them) white elephant gift (more explanation in my previous post) - WRAPPED!
- Colored sheets of paper to make paper gift bows

Other items of business:
Check out the "activities" tab and the "b&b" tab to find out the latest and greatest in upcoming events! You'll also want to head on over to Northside Middle School this Saturday from 9am-1pm to check out the Kids re-sale "Santa Sale". They will be selling toys, books, games, DVD's, video games, holiday clothing, and snow gear all at affordable prices! Word on the street is that there will also be some pretty cool vendors there too ;) Every Wednesday at Grace they are having an Advent service with a meal at 5:45 and service at 6:30; all are invited to attend!

That's a wrap, people! Enjoy the sunshine...and start making a list of people who need cookbooks this Christmas :)

Here's what you missed...

2011-11-09T13:09:00.000-05:00

MOPS gives back and give we did....

Operation Christmas Child

Donations for the hospital.

Collected loose change.

Collected items for domestic violence shelter.

"for I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord." (2 Cor. 8:1-4, 8)

And here's what you missed in the way of announcements:

Bunco on Friday at Tammy's and word on the street is that they need a few more people and apparently it requires zero brain activity to play and have a good time!

Please check out the activities tab to find out about upcoming happenings and note a time change for "Donuts with Santa."

Hey! Guess what? MOPS has cookbooks for sale! I know, you wish I told you sooner, but if you missed the memo here don't worry there is still time to get your hands on one of these. Perfect for teachers, parents, friends, and great to have on hand as a gift for someone that surprises you with a gift...wahlah, don't worry because you have a copy of the MOPS cookbook on hand tied all nicely with some twine and ready to give!

Get your kids to scribble! I know, it should be really hard but see what you can come up with. 8 1/2 x 11 piece of paper with your child's markings on it will transform into a gift bow for that ~~cookbook you're going to buy~~ special present. Get as many pieces of paper as you want bows. We're going to be doing this craft at our December 7th MOPS meeting so you have some time to get some great artwork!

Need a family picture? How about a free one? Duh, who wouldn't! Call Russell @ Grace (372-4859) to schedule your portrait shoot on Nov. 29th from 3-9pm. LifeTouch is going to be at Grace taking photos for their church directory and they have extended the invitation to MOPS moms/families to get their professional pictures done as well. Just for getting your picture taken you will receive a free 8 x 10 photo!

Steering Team Re-Cap

2011-11-02T13:16:00.001-04:00

Steering team met this morning and here's the latest and greatest I have for you lovely ladies!

Don't forget to look back at the previous post for all the exciting "giving back" we'll be doing at next week's meeting. There are several ideas of things to bring for various groups so check them out and bring your goods to the next Wednesday!

"Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go." Mother Teresa

Oh, you've got to check out the activities tab at the top of this page to see upcoming events you won't want to miss. You might also notice that "Breakfast with Santa" is actually going to happen because we found a jolly guy to wear the suit (we even have a back-up...yea, we're that good).

If you're not busy on Friday night (Nov. 4th) and you're lookin' for some good food (catered by Piepers Gourmet Catering) by Southside Elementary and check out their chili supper from 5-7:30pm. Here's some info on what you can look forward to by clicking here! You could also just come if you want to see Carrie Martin ~~attempting to sell~~ selling our fabulous MOPS cookbooks. Yes, those same cook books I mentioned here, will be for sale at the chili supper...go on, tell all your friends!

Also, be scouring your house for some fabulous "white elephant gifts" for our Christmas brunch which is scheduled for December 7th. If you've never done a "white elephant gift" exchange here's what you need to know:

Traditionally, a "White Elephant" is something lying around the house that you don't want (some horridly ugly item that someone gave you as a gift or some other item unwanted for some reason). It should most certainly be considered a gag gift and not something genuinely useful or desirable.

Enjoy the sunshine!

A whole lotta info...

2011-10-26T18:59:00.000-04:00

If you didn't have your calendar at the meeting today, here's the re-cap (or atleast what I heard/remember):

THURSDAY, OCT. 27th 6-8pm: Trick-or-treat at Silver Oaks and Willow Crossing.

MONDAY, OCT. 31st: Trick-or-treat in Columbus from 5-8pm or for a safe alternative go to Grace and participate in their "trunk or treat" from 5-8pm. They will also have hot cider and other goodies.

TUESDAY, NOV. 1ST: Book club at Brandey's house @ 6:30 (please RSVP by this FRIDAY).

NEXT MOPS MEETING: "MOPS Gives Back"

We will be participating in Operation Christmas Child again this year. Each small group will fill a container for a boy and a girl ages 2-4. Click here and scroll to the bottom for a list of ideas of things to bring. Each person needs to bring 2 items each. Also, please remember to bring $2 cash so that we can pay to ship and follow the box. A Turning Point (domestic violence services) representative will be at our meeting to discuss some of their needs and answer any questions. Click here to find a list of current items needed and bring a few things along. We will also be collecting loose change for the Boaz Project at our next meeting so clean out your couch cushions and car and bring in all those coins! It's a morning chalked full of giving :)

NOVEMBER 11th: Bunco at Tammy's, email her or sign-up at the next MOPS meeting!

DECEMBER 10th 9-11am: Donuts with Santa (hopefully, or if we don't find a Santa I guess it's just donuts with your MOPS friends in your Christmas best).

In other news....

Don't forget to bring in coupons for the coupon box which will also be available to look through during the MOPS "off" weeks.

Phew, I'm all out of info at this moment, if I missed something let me (Traci) know and I'll be sure to add it!

Moppets Dates

2011-10-19T19:31:00.000-04:00

If you haven't signed up yet to help in the Moppets room on a Tuesday here are the dates to choose from:

January 31

February 7

February 14

March 6

March 13

April 24

Email Jolisa to snag one of these spots!

Meeting Re-cap

2011-10-19T13:12:00.000-04:00

Aubrey giving us the cupcake demo!

Wasn't that fun? Table decorations/flower arrangements, party crafts, and cupcake decorating...makes me want to have a party! Thanks ladies for providing us with some helpful tips to having a successful party!

----Rain, rain, go away, come again another day----

Well, APPLE WORKS trip is planned for this Friday! Keep your fingers crossed for better weather! Please give your money (5 big ones for those of apple-eating age) to Kathie when when we meet on Friday at 9am at Ruby Tuesdays.

Table Topics Info

2011-10-10T10:26:00.000-04:00

At Wednesdays meeting the theme is "party"...or "planning a party" ...you get the idea, it's a paarrrtay! Sooo what you need to know is that you're invited (duh) but also that it would be helpful for you to bring a small tupperware container because each of you will be decorating a cupcake (with expertise and guidance from Aubrey) and taking one home for your child(ren).

On a side note, from my own "research" on party ideas, etc. in the blog world...THIS is an awesome website!! So, go check it out and get pumped up for the party on Wednesday :)

And because I promised I would do better with putting pictures on this blog, I took a few pics at the free Music & More demo class by Robin Knorr. If you didn't get a chance to go it was fabulous and you should definitely take your kiddos to atleast give it a try! If you need more information her business card is on the left sidebar of this blog page so check her out.

Another reminder about Apple Works. It's scheduled for Friday, October 21st @ 9:30am. Cost is $5 for apple-eating kiddos so bring your money on Wednesday to give to Kathie! Bunco is this Friday night so bring your money to pay Tammy for that as well. Oh heck, just go ahead and bring all the cash you have just incase you need to pay someone for something! Might as well get it all done at once!

Also, don't forget to bring that baby swing sitting around your house, some goldfish (preferably not the ones all crushed up on your car floor...or maybe that's just mine), and some of those fabulous, colorful baby DVD's.

Book Club Info & Moppets Needs

2011-10-02T21:48:00.000-04:00

Book clubbers: check out the B & B tab for info on the NOVEMBER book club book. Brandey has changed the date of the 1st book club meeting to give everyone a chance to get a copy of the book...and to get it read! I promise, it's a quick read with short chapters! The 1st meeting is going to be NOVEMBER 1st @ 6pm @ Brandey's house (she'll email you directions when you rsvp). The book club will still tentatively be scheduled to meet the first Tuesday of the month so put that on your calendars now! **If you are planning on attending the 1st book club meeting please email Brandey so she has an idea of how many people will be there. Her email address is BKendall@CRH.org ** I think I can speak for Brandey on this (hopefully) but it's a pretty flexible book club so if you can read the book for this month but maybe not the next, it's no big deal, come anyway! It's not too late to buy the book, you can definitely get it read in a month and it's only $4 on Amazon!

The Moppets still:

SWINGS

DVD's (baby mozart, bach, baby einsteins, etc. for the infant rooms, you know the ones with the psychedelic backgrounds and crazy colors with music in the background..yes, those..bring them in!)

PEPPERIDGE FARM GOLD FISH

What they do NOT need is cheerios! Ha...apparently everyone brought a box and they are set for awhile so I guess we can lay off those for a bit!

Thanks for all your donations, they are greatly appreciated!

I also put information about the Apple Works "field trip" under the activities tab so check that out if you need a re-cap.

(I promise the pictures won't always be this lame but this is all I got for ya this time!)

OH! If you signed up for the Music & More class with Robin Knorr you're on for Tuesday, Oct. 4th @ 9:30am. If you signed up (last week on the sign-up sheet) please make sure to be there! She could only

take a certain amount of kids for that session so unless you got an email from Elisa you are scheduled for Tuesday at 9:30am. Robin was kind enough to set up an additional time slot for those who were at the bottom of the sign-up sheet (again, you would know because Elisa sent you an email). Also, while you're there please thank her for sponsoring our MOPS group this semester!

Also, don't forget that bible study meets this week. And if you're not going to bible study feel free to kick up your heels and enjoy a pumpkin spice latte. Just sayin'! Well, you could also get one before you go to bible study, your call...just a suggestion :) Either way, enjoy your "kid free" morning!

The Lord make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you...

Numbers 6:25

Forgot to mention {oops}

2011-09-25T23:11:00.000-04:00

I meant to include this in the previous post but I forgot. I updated some things under the "bunco & book club" tab as well as the "activities" tab. Be sure to check those out for a little "heads up" about a few things coming your way!

Cookbooks & Sponsors

2011-09-23T13:54:00.001-04:00

Cookbooks for sale....get your cookbooks!

JUST REDUCED....$7 or 3 for $20.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, last year the Wednesday MOPS group put together a cookbook to sell as a fundraiser. As it turns out, we happen to have a few left and would love to sell them to some aspiring chefs (aka moms). So, if you missed out on getting one last year or you know people who would love to receive them as gifts (family members, neighbors, your dog walker, teachers, you get the idea) you should snatch one (or 3 or 10) up as quick as you can because when they're gone...they.are.gone. Sigh! If you are interested in getting one in your hot little hands asap, Carrie Martin is your gal...or Jolisa.
Here's a little preview:

Now let's take a look in side, shall we?!?

Oh, and it doesn't stop at just recipes it also has helpful information in the back such as how to fold a napkin into a fan or a rosette. I'm kidding...well it does have that information but I'm not sure how many of you actually fold cloth napkins into fans for your family each night but I certainly don't! I mean, but maybe for guests or Thanksgiving dinner or something like that. I digress...oh yes, helpful information like measurements, conversions, substitutions, cooking terms...now those are useful and this cookbook has it!

<------------------------- look that way
and then scroll down the left sidebar of this blog
and then come back and continue reading!

Do you own a business? Does your husband? Do you have friends or other family members who own their own business, starting a business, or just want more business?

Well, we have just the answer! Sponsor Wednesday MOPS!

We would love to bring them some business by displaying them on our blog, in our directory, and on our table displays each meeting. If you have someone in mind you can talk to Elisa Lundy and she will give you all the information to send to that person or you can just give her the name and she'll do all the work :)

Happy weekend! See everyone on Wednesday for "Loving the Child You Have Been Given" presented by Melinda Chew.

American Girl Fashion Show

2011-09-19T14:22:00.000-04:00

Beth has asked me to post some additional information about the American Girl Fashion Show benefiting the American Cancer Society.

1.) VOLUNTEERS are needed on Oct. 2nd (the day of the event) to help strip table coverings from the first show and set up/decorate for the second show. The time commitment would be from 3:15-4:30. Volunteers can sign up at: http://americangirlfscentralin.qlubb.com/events/181157 and enter your email address along with the password "childhoodcancer" without the quotation marks.

2.) MOPS moms can support this fundraiser by purchasing a "star" in honor or in memory of someone you know who has been affected by cancer. The stars will be used around the ballroom as decorations! They are offering red, pink, or gold stars and they are a $5.00 donation. They can be ordered through this website: https://www.agfscentralin.com/Donate_and_Support.php

** Don't forget to sign up at the bottom of this website under the "follow by email" label to receive an email when the blog is updated! You wouldn't want to miss anything important!!**

1st meeting wrap-up

2011-09-15T13:48:00.000-04:00

Well that was just a fabulous meeting now wasn't it ladies?!? Laughter, friends, food (lots of yummy and delicious ~~low cal~~ food), prayer, fellowship...sigh...good times! Okay, on to the business:

-First bunco will be on Oct. 14th at YOUR house (no really, someone needs to host so consider having the ladies over). Contact Tammy if you want to play or host (tammy@stmaddox.net)

- Kids re-sale is at Northside Middle School this Saturday from 8-2pm. Click here for more information!

-Oct. 2nd is the American Girl Fashion show and Beth is still in need of some volunteers for the day of the event! If you are interested in tickets she is also your lady! Also, if you are able to stay next week after dropping your kid(s) off at Moppets she would love to have your assistance in filling souvenir bags for the show. As a reminder, this is a fundraising event for the American Cancer Society!
-First bible study meeting is set for Oct 5th and the book is $10 (see earlier post if you can't remember the book). If you're interested, Carol is your lady!
-Don't forget about those items Lisa needs for the Moppets...I listed them in the last post if you can't remember! Happy donating!

If I forgot anything just let me know and I'll get it posted! Again, if you have anything you would like to share please let me know...otherwise you're just stuck with whatever I come up with (could be scary)!

I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house. So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air.
Nathaniel Hawthorne

Enjoy the weather :)

Almost Wednesday...

2011-09-12T13:52:00.000-04:00

Thought I would send around some helpful reminders (that someone else reminded me of) to make your Wednesday morning bright and sunny before you even get to drop off your kiddies and hang out with your fellow MOPS mamas.

General Announcement:
-Central Ave. is closed on the south side of the street or on the west side of Kroger. You can still get to Central from 31 and go north to Grace. Does that make sense? If not, phone a friend on the east side of town...they've probably ran into the construction and can explain it better!

Moppets Needs:
-Lisa, our Moppets leader is still ~~begging~~ kindly asking and praying for new swings for the nurseries. She is also looking for infant DVDs such as Baby Bach or Baby Einstein. If these items are sitting around your home (most likely collecting dust or taking up precious space) please consider donating them to our Moppets program. You may even get to be first in line for brunch one morning (behind those that are expecting...of course!)
-Lisa is also collecting plastic lids of any kind (water, sport drink, cottage cheese, milk, etc.) Just give them to her when you have a collection!
-Speaking of collections...here is a reminder of some of the items you can bring in for the Moppets program any old time you want...or all the time:

Pepperidge Farm cheddar goldfish crackers
Gerber veggie puffs
Plain cheerios
napkins
Germ-X
Lysol disinfecting spray - white cap - crisp linen
Batteries - D, C, & AA

Search your homes high and low for some of these treasured things and bring 'em on in!

See ya on Wednesday!

Welcome Back!

2011-08-23T13:30:00.000-04:00

Hi MOPS Moms!

The 2011-2012 steering team has met and we have some exciting things planned for the upcoming MOPS year! Our "welcome back" picnic is scheduled for September 7th at 11am at the Grace playground. We hope you can join us with your kiddos and lunches in hand! The first meeting is September 14th and the steering team will be bringing some delicious food to enjoy while we go over all the "first day" fun items of business.

The idea behind this years theme, "MomSense: Bold.Loving.Sensible" is the idea that developing a mothering strategy is similar to playing a game. Just as in real-life, sometimes in games, unexpected, "chance" events occur, abruptly changing our paths. Teaming together with other moms is a great strategy. Relying on a spouse or mentor can help us play more effectively. And, most of all, developing a strong God-sense is essential for mothering. Growing as a mom through the analogy of game playing assures every mom gains confidence in her abilities as a mom (taken from mopsguide.com). You can re-live playing your favorite childhood games by embracing your new discussion team names which will include: Monopoly Mommas, Hopscotch Hotties, Candy Land Queens, Twister Sisters, and Checker Chicas. At our first meeting we will also introduce new moms, meet the new steering team members, and talk about exciting things happening this year!

Mom Intuition + Common Sense = MomSense

Bunco is back so if you're interested check out the "bunco" tab and email Tammy if you would like to host! Any readers out there? You can also look forward to a book club starting in the fall! Be thinking of a book you might like to suggest for the book club. We will also have bible study again this year and Carol will be leading a study of the book, "Becoming a Woman of Excellence" by Cynthia Heald. More information on when that begins is coming soon...

image from amazon.com

On the kid front, the Moppets program is in need of new(er) swings. If you have a swing sitting around your house that you no longer use/need please consider donating it to the Moppets program. They would greatly appreciate it!

I will continue to update the blog as new information is passed on to me so check back for updates on schedules, sponsors, and upcoming activities! See everyone soon!

Week of April 4th

2011-04-04T08:49:00.000-04:00

Hello Moms,

Just a few reminders this week....

1) This week is a Moppets week. Have a great morning moms.

2) Steering Team meeting from 9 - 11:15 in community room.

3) Next week is "Bring a Friend" Day at Mops. Please encourage any mommy friends you have who might be interested in joining our group next year to join us at our meeting next week. Childcare will be provided. Look for an electronic invite in your inbox soon.

4) Congratulations to Marie P. and Angie F. who welcomed a new baby girl and baby boy to their families.

5) I will be collecting cookbook money at our next meeting. We owe our last installment to Morris Cookbooks at the end of this month, If you have monies to turn in, please see Aubrey next week. Also, the school year will soon be coming to an end (can you believe it?). Wouldn't a Mops cookbook be a perfect gift for your little ones, or big ones teacher? Mother's Day is soon approaching us as well. Another perfect gift,. I'm just saying..... :)

Have a wonderful week everyone. See you all on Wednesday.

Many Blessings,
Your Steering Team

"Even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast". Psalm 139:10

Firestation Field Trip

2011-03-21T09:41:00.000-04:00

Here are a few of the kids that attended the Washington Street Firestation field trip last Thursday.

As you can see from both pictures, it's kinda hard to get them all to look at the camera at the same time.

Thanks to Jolisa for arranging this trip for us.

Predictions for 2011

2011-01-31T11:12:00.000-05:00

ENCOURAGING PREDICTIONS FOR 2011

Top 10 Predictions for 2011

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still be the most powerful thing on Earth.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still honor the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross .
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.

Isn't It Great To Remember Who Is Really In Control , and that; "the Word of the Lord endures forever." ( 1 Peter 1:25 )

Week of Jan 24

2011-01-24T11:46:00.000-05:00

Hello Moms,

Here is to hoping that the weather holds out for us and we have a meeting this week.

This week is a Mops meeting week. Melinda Chew will be our speaker and she will be talking about "The Christian Woman". Melinda is always a great speaker. We look forward to having her with us each year.

The Beaker Babes (Julianne VandeWater's group) is responsbile for brunch and Moppets donations this week.

Kathie Kaufman will be collecting dues for the spring semester this week. Please refer to your Mops Handbook for info regarding dues.

I wanted to say a big thank you to all of you who sent recipes in for the Mops cookbook. Jolisa and I were able to enter in 204 recipes for the book. The arrival date for the cookbook will be approx. March 15th. Can't wait to see all of our hardwork in cookbook form.

Newsletter

I will have a January newsletter for you at our meeting this week. If you have any info you would like to share in our upcoming newsletters, please let me know. A special event happening in Columbus, a great website you found, something you would like to sell, etc... Email me at aubasmif@att.net

Coupons

If you have coupons you don't use and would like to share, please bring these to the meetings with you. Kathy Osburn does such a great job at keeping our coupon box organized & the expiration dates on the coupons up to date.

Magazines

How about magazines too. Do you have a ton of magazines you have read over and over and they are just laying around? Bring those to Mops to share with other moms. Or bring them and recycle at Grace.

FYI

Did you know that Columbus offers Clover Buds and Mini 4-H for children ages 3 - 2nd grade. Clover Buds are for ages 3 - K and Mini 4-H is for 1st and 2nd graders. There is no cost for Clover Buds and Mini 4-H is $2 per project manual. You can contact the Bartholomew County Extension Office for info or go to http://www.ag.purdue.edu/ for info online. Dates for Clover Buds and Mini 4-H are -

Feb 12th

March 26th

April 16th

May 7th

June 11th

July 13th - Carnival 10am to noon @ David Boll Theather - Fairgrounds

Oct 8th

Nov 13th

Dec 3rd

All activities are held at the Extension Office Large Meeting Room at 1971 State Street unless otherwise stated.

Looking forward to seeing everyone this week.

Many Blessings,

Your Steering Team

Happy New Year

2011-01-05T14:20:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year to you and your families. We hope that everyone had a great holiday spent with family and friends. Now it is time to get back to our routines with no husbands on vacation to help us out. :(

A new year brings a new semester at Mops. Our first meeting of the new year will be on Wednesday, January 12th. Hope to see everyone there.

I received an email from Samaritans Purse/Operation Christmas Child over the holiday stating that our shoeboxes were sent to Honduras and Uganda. Our God is so GREAT! Thank you to all of you again for helping supply toys and goodies for the children in Honduras and Uganda. Because of you, 5 girls and 5 boys had a Christmas to remember.

I am working on getting the recipe book done. If you have not submitted any recipes, please do so by Jan 13th. There is still time to get a few recipes in the book. If you can only submit one or two recipes, we will take it. If you can not submit via email, bring your hand written recipes to me at our next meeting, Jan 12th. Thank you!

Again, Happy New Year to you.

Sincerely,

Your Steering Team

Columbus Wednesday Mops

Mops Gives Back 2010

2010-11-28T21:49:00.000-05:00

Operation Christmas Child Shoebox

5 for girls

5 for boys

Can't wait to hear where our boxes end up.

Baby Blankets for the local birthing center.

Celebrate plates for our families.

Thankful

2010-11-24T08:49:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving to Wednesday Mops!

We hope that everyone have a wonderful & safe day with your families.

Operation Christams Child (OCC)

2010-10-27T13:24:00.000-04:00

Here is a list of details for completing the Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes at our November 10th meeting.

Each discussion group will fill two boxes, one for a girl, and one for a boy, age 2-4 years old.
Mops will provide the boxes & take care of dropping them off at an official OCC drop location.
Each discussion group member will bring 2 small gifts both for a boy and a girl, along with $2 for shipping the box.
Mops will provide a group picture (taken at our first mtg) to be included in each box, along with a special note for the child.
Gift suggestions are, school supplies, small toys, hygiene items, t-shirts, socks, underwear, hair clips, sunglassess, flashlights w/extra batteries, etc..
Items NOT include would be used or damaged items, war-related toys, guns, knives or military figures, chocolate, liquids, lotions, and breakable items.

If you wish to have more information about Operation Christmas Child, you can visit http://www.samaritanspurse.org/. Think about starting a family tradition this year, and doing a box or two as a family. This is a wonderful opportunity to teach our children about giving to others, especially those less fortunate than us.

If you have any questions, please let me know. Thank you all in advance for your generous support.

Aubrey

FYI...

2010-10-03T10:22:00.001-04:00

Hello Moms,

Below is a link of recent recalls. Please click on the link to access.

http://www.parentdish.com/2010/09/29warning-stop-using-infant-sleep-positioners-immediately-or-risk/
http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=10&e=recalls#products

Also, please mark your calendar for our October 13th meeting. This will be "Bring a Book Day". You may bring a new, used, childrens, or adult book to be donated to a great cause. If you have questions regarding this, please contact Jolisa at jovickous@yahoo.com

Have a great week everyone,
Your Mops Steering Team

First Meeting of the 2010-2011 Year

2010-09-12T20:26:00.000-04:00

Hello Moms,

Can you believe in only 3 days, Mops will start again? Yippee! The Steering Team has planned alot of great things for this year. We do hope you will enjoy all of the great speakers and activities planned for the year.

Just a couple of reminders for Wednesday.

**Drop off of your children will be at 9:00 am in the MOPPETS wing. Please wait patiently for Lisa to open the doors, the teachers will be praying to get ready for the day. Please attach your childs nametag to the back of their shirt prior to entering their classroom.

**Please remember to mark all of your children's belongings such as diaper bags, sippy cups, jackets, etc...

**Please bring a donation for Moppets. This can be Cheddar Goldfish Crackers, Gerber Puffs, Clorox Anywhere Cleaner, batteries of any size, or baby wipes. Please use name brands only.

**Please remember your checkbooks. Dues for the first semester are due at the first meeting. If you have questions regarding your dues, please contact Kathie Kaufman at jkaufman@live.com .

**When you arrive in the community room after dropping off your children, please look for your nametag and folder. Your folder will indicate which discussion group you have been placed in. We will be sitting with our discussion groups during the first meeting and throughout the first semester of Mops. There will be a centerpiece at each table with the discussion groups name on it.

**Also, the first meeting is usually jam packed with information and a lot of paperwork. Please take a few minutes to fill out any paperwork at your table. This will allow for more social time during the meeting if the paperwork if filled out as soon as you find your seat. Thank you!

Have a great week everyone. Looking forward to seeing you all.

Many Blessings,

The 2020-2011 Steering Team

Week of July19th

2010-07-21T14:10:00.000-04:00

Hello Moms,

I hope everyone is having a great summer. I can’t believe how fast it is flying by. There are only 4 weeks or so until school starts and then it will be time again for Mops. Yeah!!!

As most of you know, I have decided to step down in the role as coordinator. I have enjoyed my time as coordinator and will treasure the relationships I have made during that time. I have never been part of a group that means so much to me. Having no family in Columbus, you all are my family. Thank you all for your never-ending love and support. With that being said, it gives me great pleasure to announce the Steering Team for the upcoming year.

===================================================================================
Jolisa Vickous – Coordinator
Amy Bugert – Discussion Group Chairperson
Kathie Kaufman – Finance Chairperson
Andrea Scheffee – Hospitality Chairperson
Tammy Maddox – Craft Chairperson
Aubrey Smith – Publicity Chairperson
Jamie Dye – Scrapbook

The position of Co-Coordinator is still open at this time. If you would be interested and willing to join the ST as Co-Coordinator, please contact Jolisa or Pat Probst. Being a part of the ST is a great way to get to know Mops inside and out, a great way to forge relationships for a lifetime and to give your support to a wonderful group.

Upcoming Events

1. Tuesday, July 27th @ 11:00am at Not Just Popcorn in Edinburgh. The cost is $2 a person which covers the cost of the tour and a small sample bag of popcorn. If you plan on attending this event, please RSVP to me by this Friday, July 23rd.

2. Wednesday’s @ Donner Park
Picnic & Playtime
11:00am
The BCSC Book Express will be there to handout free books for all of the children.

3. Friday’s @ The FFY
9:30 – 10:30 am
$3 per child

4. Columbus IN Resale – The Fall Sale will be held on Saturday, Sept. 18th. Please mark your calendar for this event and to help raise money for our group. We will have a concession stand at this event again selling, baked goods, hot dogs, beverages, etc. A signup sheet will be emailed in late August for the donation of baked goods and to volunteer for 1 hour shifts during the sale to man the concession stand.

5. Wednesday, September 15th is the first Mops meeting of the year. Please mark your calendars.

Have a wonderful rest of the summer moms. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jolisa at jovickous@yahoo.com or me at aubasmif@att.net.

Many Blessings,
Aubrey

Week of June 21st

2010-06-21T20:37:00.000-04:00

Hello Moms,

Happy first day of summer!! It feels like summer for sure with these crazy 90 degree days and all of the rain. I hope all of the Mops dad's had a wonderful Father's Day.

Reminders for the next two weeks:

1) Picnic time at Donner Park continues on all through the summer - Wednesday's @ 11:30. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy some mom time and let the kiddo's play.

2) We only had a small response for the Indianapolis Indians game for this coming Sunday. So... I am cancelling the event. For those of you that contacted me about the game, it is this Sunday @ Victory Field at 2pm. I cancelled the event for Mops but you are still welcome to attend on your own.

3) On Thursday, July 1st is the 2nd Annual Mops 4th of July Bike Parade. This will be at my home @ 10:30am. We will parade around my neighborhood starting at 10:45am, return to picnic in the backyard and their will be swimming and a waterslide for the kids to enjoy. (email will be sent next week with directions to my home)

Items you may want to bring with you -

1) Decorated bike, wagon, stroller, etc...

2) Picnic blanket and/or chairs for you and your children

3) Picnic lunch

4) Swim suits, towels, sun screen, etc...

5) I will provide lemonade and a dessert

Have a wonderful week and looking forward to seeing you all at the park or at the Bike Parade.

Many Blessings,

Aubrey

Week of May 31st

2010-05-31T22:56:00.000-04:00

Hello Moms,

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. We certainly had great weather for some fun outdoor activities. It was great to spend time with family and friends and reflect about what Memorial Day is all about.

Here are reminders for this week:

1) Wednesday's @ Donner Park at 11:00am. Bring a picnic or just come to play.

2) Friday's @ the FFY continue this week @ 9:30am. Cost is $3 per child.

3) Don't forget that on Sunday, June 27th is the Indianapolis Indians game @ 2pm. If you plan on attending, please RSVP to me June 23rd.

4) If you see these Mops moms this month please wish them a very Happy Birthday - Amy Redlin, Brittany Boezeman and Jenny Stark.

Have a wonderful week everyone.

Many Blessings,
Aubrey

Week of May 24th

2010-05-24T21:04:00.000-04:00

Hello Moms,

I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful and warm weather we are having.

Reminders for this week are as follows:

1) Our spring picnic will be this Wednesday, May 26th @ Grace Lutheran play ground @ 11:30am. As of now, the weather looks great so hopefully we won't have to cancel again. Please bring a picnic lunch for yourself and your children and a chair/blanket to sit on. See you there!

2) Mom's Night Out is this Thursday, May 27th @ Simply Pottery @ 6pm. If you plan on attending, please RSVP to me no later than noon that day.

3) There will be NO Mops @ the FFY this week. The Gymnastics Center will be closed for maintenance. They will reopen on June 1st. If you did not know, the FFY offers open swimming on Tuesdays and Thursday from 1 - 3pm. The cost is $3 per person. This could be a fun activity to do this week since there is no open gym.

Have a wonderful week everyone and hope to see you all at the picnic.

Many Blessings,

Aubrey

Week of May 17th

2010-05-17T19:21:00.000-04:00

Hello Moms,

I hope everyone had a great weekend. Too bad we had such rainy weather, but sometimes it is just nice to hang out at home with your family.

Reminders for this week are as follows:

1) Spring picnic at Grace Lutheran playground @ 11:30 this Wednesday. Please bring a packed lunch, blanket or chair for you and your children. As of this afternoon, http://www.weather.com/ says no rain for Wednesday. Hopefully that holds true. If not, I will schedule a rain date for the following Wednesday at the playground.

2) During last week's meeting, a forgot to mention the hospitality group while recognizing all the wonderful women who volunteer their time to make Mops so great for everyone. Debbie Peters and her team are the heart of Mops. They show up early to the meetings and make sure we all have warm coffee, juice and tea. They make sure we have clean tablecloths, handouts at the tables, plates and napkins and prepare the brunch table for everyone. I thank you for all of your time and efforts to make Mops so wonderful. You guys are great!!

3) Mark your calendar for next Thursday, May 27th @ 6pm. We will have Mom's Night Out at Simply Pottery. If you plan on attending, please send me an rsvp via email by Wednesday, May 26th.

Have a wonderful week everyone and hope to see you at the picnic.

Many Blessings,

Aubrey

"Where two or three come together...there I am with them" Matthew 18:20

Week of May 10th - Final Meeting

2010-05-09T22:42:00.000-04:00

Hello Moms,

Happy Mother’s Day!

I can’t believe it, but this will be our final meeting of the 2009-2010 Mops year. I am so sad, but we have planned a lot of great summer activities to keep everyone in touch.

Reminders for this week are as follows:

• This is our final brunch and everyone should bring a dish to share and a Moppets donation.

• We will be collecting Mops International dues ($21.95) at our final meeting on Wednesday. This is totally optional for you to pay now and a chance to save $2 off until May 31st. Here is what your Mops International Membership includes:

• MomSense Magazine

• Mom E-mail

• Mops logo reuseable “Friends don’t let friends mother alone” shopping bag.

• “I’m A Mops Mom” bumper sticker

• Mops Around the World 2-in-1 fridge magnet

• A brightly colored bag tag

• Momology Book

• A huge thank you to Debbie Peters and her volunteers for supplying food and/or time to the Teacher’s Luncheon last week. I have heard nothing but great feedback from the teachers who attended. Great job everyone!!

• Don’t forget that this Wednesday is “Power of Purple” day to support the Columbus Relay for Life. Let’s all wear purple to support such a great cause.

• Please wish these moms a Happy Birthday for the month of May – Laura Voll and Julianne VandeWater.

• FYI…The Columbus Public Library is having their Literacy Festival this Saturday, May 15th from noon until 3pm @ Central Middle School.

Have a wonderful week everyone.

Many Blessings,

Aubrey

"Where two or three come together...there I am with them" Matthew 18:20

Week of April 26th

2010-04-25T18:31:00.000-04:00

Hello Moms,

Just one little reminder this week:

1) The Milky Way Mama's (Jeni Smith's group) are responsible for brunch and Moppets donations this week.

FYI... until the end of April, kids eat for free (w/the purchase of an adult meal) at IHOP from 4 - 10 pm.
I love breakfast for dinner, maybe we will do this one night. Who doesn't love a free meal. Enjoy!

Have a great week everyone.

Many Blessings,
Aubrey

"Where two or three come together...there I am with them". Matthew 18:20

Week of April 19th

2010-04-19T11:41:00.000-04:00

Hello Moms,

Just a few reminders and updates to share with you this week.

1) Moppets only this week.

2) For those in Bible Study, we will be covering chapters 9 & 10 this Wednesday.

3) From all of your generosity, we now have $131 to put towards new mulch at the church playground. Thank you all!!

4) FYI... this week marks the 25th anniversary of the DQ Blizzard. During this week only, DQ is offering buy one blizzard at regular price and get one for .25 cents. Sounds like a great afternoon treat to me.

Have a wonderful week everyone.

Many blessings,
Aubrey

"Where two or three come together...there I am with them." Matthew 18:20

Week of April 12th

2010-04-11T22:37:00.000-04:00

Hello Moms,

What a beautiful weekend we had! I love this time of year. God is so good!!!

Reminders for this week are ....

1) Steering Team is responsible for brunch and Moppets donations this week.

2) Moppets needs are: Lysol disinfecting spray - ***White cap please***

Napkins, Pepperidge Farm Cheddar Goldfish crackers (Please check freshness date and

try to get October 2010 or later so if we don't use them all up this year, they will keep until the fall) Thank you!

3) Jody Harter will be joining us this week as our speaker. She will be speaking about marriage.

4) Please mark your calendar. The two added make up dates for Mops are May 5th, which is a Moppets day. May 12th, which will be our final brunch and May 19th will be our spring picnic.

5) Lastly, Lisa Brunni had recently contacted about a big Moppets need. I learned that years ago, the playground at the church was put in with Mops funds and that the church would not be responsible for the up keep. The playground is in need of new mulch. My idea to help raise funds to purchase mulch for the playground is to hold a raffle. We will be raffling off a Pampered Chef, Simple Additons Small Bowl Caddy. Tickets will be sold at $1 a ticket. Hopefully, someone will go home with a cool new Pampered Chef item and the playground will get some new mulch. Thank you for your support.

Have a great week everyone. Looking forward to seeing you all and our new friends for "Bring a Friend Day".

Many Blessings,

Aubrey

"Where two or three come together...there I am with them" Matthew 18:20

Week of April 5th

2010-04-04T19:11:00.000-04:00

Hello Moms,

Happy Easter to all of you! I do hope you all had a joyous weekend spent with your families.

Reminders for this week...

1) This week is Moppets only.

2) For those in bible study, we will be reviewing chapters 8 & 9. See you there on Wednesday.

3) After a little break for Good Friday, the FFY will be open for Mops Open Gym on Friday the 9th from 9:30 am to 10:30am. Cost is $3 per child.

4) Please remember that if you have a friend that will be joining us for "Bring A Friend Day", have them contact me at aubasmif@att.net or kmfinke@comcast.net to make arrangements for childcare.

5) Please keep Julie K. in your prayers this week. She will be admitted to the hospital on Wednesday to welcome their newest addition.

Have a wonderful week everyone.

Many Blessings,
Aubrey

"Where two or three come together... there I am with them" Matthew 18:20

Week of March 29th

2010-03-28T14:25:00.000-04:00

Hello Moms,

I hope you all had a great weekend with your families. Too bad it has rained most of today. But remember... April showers bring May flowers. Yeah for Spring!!!

Reminders for this week are as follows:

1) The Solar Sisters (Jessica Steven's group) are responsible for brunch and Moppets items.

2) Melinda Chew will be our speaker this week. She will be speaking about Forgiving Yourself.

3) There will be NO Mops at the FFY this week due to Good Friday.

4) If you volunteered to sew baby hats for me, we will be doing that craft this week. Please remember to bring your hats with you. Thank you!

5) Mark your calendars for April 14th. This is our annual "Bring a Friend Day" to Mops. I will have handouts for you to take to your friends to invite them to a meeting on the 14th. If you have someone interested in joining us that day, please let me or Lisa Brunni know so we can arrange childcare for their children.

6) Please wish these Mops moms a Happy Birthday for the month of April - Luz Elena, Kristi G. and Tammy M.

Looking forward to seeing you on Wednesday.

Many Blessings,
Aubrey

"Where two or three come together....there I am with them" Matthew 18:20

Week of March 22nd

2010-03-22T14:40:00.000-04:00

Hello Moms,

I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe spring break. I am so thankful we had wonderful weather here in Columbus. God blessed us with beautiful sunny days!

Reminders for this week are as follows:

1) Moppets only this week.

2) For those in bible study, we will be going over chapters 6 & 7 this Wednesday.

3) Reminder also that Ladies' Night Out is this Saturday, March 27th @ 6pm at Dance Street. (1003 Washington Street) Remember to bring your Ladies' Night Out Card from Carrie @ Time and Sand Jewelry to receive a 20% discount.

Have a wonderful week everyone.

Many Blessings,
Aubrey

"Where two or three come together...there I am with them" Matthew 18:20

Week of March 8th

2010-03-07T15:09:00.002-05:00

Hello Moms,

I hope everyone has had a great week. Isn't it nice to see the sun shining? It's about time!!!

Reminders and updates for this week are as follow:

1) Laura Cottrill's group, the Cosmic Chicks are responsible for brunch and clean-up this week.

2) Please mark your calendars, we have added two additional days to our schedule to make up for the snow cancellations we had in February. These dates are May 5th -Moppets and May 12th Mops/Final Brunch.

Kristen, Laura, Amanda and Julie working the Mops Concession Area

at the Columbus Kids Resale on March 6, 2010.

All of the donated baked goods. All but 6 bags sold - way to go ladies!!!

3) A huge thank you to all who provided a baked good and volunteered their time to work the Mops concession stand at the Columbus Kids Resale this past weekend. It was a huge success. A thank you goes out to Brittany and Lindsey too for allowing us to have booth space & allowing us to raise funds for our group.

4) Mops @ the FFY this Friday, March 12th from 9:30 - 10:30am. Cost is $3. Also, the FFY will be open to us on our regular day during spring break. The date will be Friday, March 19th at our regular time 9:30am.

DID YOU KNOW.... The Kidscommons is now offering a $99 Family Membership (yearly). This is a change from previous years and quite a discount. Check out http://www.kidscommons.org/ for more info.

Have a great week and see you all on Wednesday.

Many Blessings,

Aubrey

"Where two or three come together...there I am with them." Matthew 18:20

Week of March 1st

2010-03-01T13:45:00.001-05:00

Hello Moms,

I have heard alot of great feedback about our speaker last week. So glad you all enjoyed her. Maybe we could invite her back for next year & extend the time she speaks. I know alot of you would have liked to hear her other tips on raising our children.

Here are the reminders & updates for this week -

1) Moppets only this week.

2) Steering Team meeting from 9:15am to 10:15am this Wednesday, March 3rd.

3) If you see these moms, please wish them a very Happy Birthday this month - Kathie K., Stephanie C., Amanda S., & Aubrey S.

4) Thank you to those who volunteered to help me sew the baby blankets for our next service project. I will have four bags filled with material ready to be taken home for sewing available at the Moppets table on Wednesday. I will include instructions in each bag. Thanks again for your help.

5) Lastly, the Columbus Kids Resale is this weekend. Please remember that if you are donating a baked good, they will need to be dropped off at Northside Middle School between 5:15pm & 7:15pm. I will have a tote near the registration table for these items to be placed in. Please label, but do NOT price your items. Also, if you are volunteering your time on Saturday for the concession area, I will be sending out an email with more info for you all. Thank you!

Many Blessings,

Aubrey

"Where two or three come together... there I am with them" Matthew 18:20

Something to make you laugh

2010-02-28T21:48:00.000-05:00

Kids Are Quick

TEACHER: Maria, go to the map and find North America .

MARIA: Here it is.

TEACHER: Correct. Now class, who discovered America ?

CLASS: Maria.

____________________________________

TEACHER: J ohn, why are you doing your math multiplication on the floor?

J OHN: You told me to do it without using tables.

__________________________________________

TEACHER: Glenn, how do you spell 'crocodile?'

GLENN: K-R-O-K-O-D-I-A-L'

TEACHER: No, that's wrong

GLENN: Maybe it is wrong, but you asked me how I spell it.

(I Love this kid)

_____________________________________

TEACHER: Donald, what is the chemical formula for water?

DONALD: H I J K L M N O.

TEACHER: What are you talking about?

DONALD: Yesterday you said it's H to O.

__________________________________

TEACHER: Winnie, name one important thing we have today that we didn't have ten years ago.

WINNIE: Me!

__________________________________________

TEACHER: Glen, why do you always get so dirty?

GLEN: Well, I'm a lot closer to the ground than you are.

_______________________________________

TEACHER: Millie, give me a sentence starting with ' I. '

MILLIE: I is..

TEACHER: No, Millie..... Always say, 'I am.'

MILLIE: All right... 'I am the ninth lett er of the alphabet.'

________________________________

TEACHER: George Washington not only chopped down his father's cherry tree, but also admitted it. Now, Louie, do you know why his father didn't punish him?

LOUIS: Because George still had the axe in his hand.

______________________________________

TEACHER: Now, Simon, tell me frankly, do you say prayers before eating?

SIMON: No sir, I don't have to, my Mom is a good cook.

______________________________

TEACHER: Clyde , your composition on 'My Dog' is exactly the same as your brother's. Did you copy his?

CLYDE : No, sir. It's the same dog.

___________________________________

TEACHER: Harold, what do you call a person who keeps on talking when people are no longer interested?

HAROLD: A teacher

Week of Feb 22nd

2010-02-21T20:32:00.000-05:00

Hello Moms,

I hope everyone has had a wonderful week. I am sure you are all looking forward to our meeting this week. Let's all pray for NO snow!!!!

Reminders & updates for this week are as follows:

1) The Lunar Ladies (Kimberly Stile's group) are responsible for brunch and Moppets items this week.

2) Marianne Miller will be our speaker this week. Her topic will be - "How To Talk So Kids Will Listen".

3) On Wednesday we will have our "free sit" . This will give everyone a chance to catch up with other moms not in their discussion group. Starting at our March 10th meeting we will use table questions for a fun way to get to know eachother.

4) For those who have children in the Ducks, Turtles, Frogs & Lions, they will do their Valentine Exchange this week.

Have a wonderful week. Looking forward to seeing everyone on Wednesday.

Many Blessings,
Aubrey

"Where two or three come together...there I am with them". Matthew 18:20

Week of February 15th

2010-02-15T11:22:00.000-05:00

Hello Moms,

I hope everyone had a sweet Valentine's Day.

The snow keeps falling and falling and falling. Is there any end in sight? I am hoping the snow stops for us to be able to take our children to Moppets on Wednesday.

Updates and Reminders for this week are as follows -

1) Moppets ONLY this week. For those who have children in the Ducks, Turtles, Frogs & Lions, they will do their Valentine Exchange this week.

2) Bible Study this week.

3) Just for fun... on Tuesday, February 23, IHOP is giving away a free short stack of pancakes to everyone who dines with them from 7am - 10pm. To see more details go to http://www.ihoppancakeday.com/ Who doesn't like pancakes, especially if they are FREE.

Have a wonderful everyone. Hope to see you on Wednesday.

Many Blessings,
Aubrey

"Where two or three come together...there I am with them". Matthew 18:20

Week of February 8th

2010-02-08T17:51:00.002-05:00

Hello Moms,

I am sending this blog update with high hopes that we will be meeting on Wednesday. The forecast calls for more snow tomorrow - possibley 4 to 8 more inches. Hopefully the southern part of Indiana will be spared. We can only hope...

Reminders & Requests for this week -

1) The Milky Way Mamas (Jeni Smith's group) are responsible for brunch and Moppets items this week.

2) On Wednesday we will have a "free sit" during the meeting where you can sit where you choose. This will give everyone a chance to catch up with other moms not in their discussion group. Starting at our February 24th meeting we will use table questions for a fun way to get to know eachother.

3) We are looking for a Moppets volunteer for Tuesday, March 23rd. This is the only date not filled up on the volunteer list. If you are able to volunteer, please contact Brittany Boezeman.

4) There are 4 spots still available to volunteer at the Columbus Kids Resale/Mops Concession Stand. The time slots availabe are 10:30-12:30 and 12:30 - 2:30pm. If you are able to help with this event, please contact Aubrey.

5) Thank you to all who were able to contribute for a gas card for Jeannie Long. Please continue to keep Jeannie and her family in your prayers as they have had another death in the family.

Looking forward to seeing you all on Wednesday.

Many Blessings,

Aubrey

"Where two or three come together....there I am with them." Matthew 18:20

Week of February 1st

2010-02-01T18:48:00.000-05:00

Hello Moms,

Reminders and updates for this week are as follows:

1) Moppets ONLY this week.

2) Steering Team meeting for those on the Wednesday Mops Steering Team starting at 9:15am on Feb 3rd.

3) Please note - Wee Care Childcare information is now available on the blog. Please see left-hand side under sponsors.

4) Please wish these Mops moms a very Happy Birthday during the month of February - Jeni Smith, Julie Kirr and Melisa Chapman.

5) Thank to you all who signed up to volunteer and/or bring a baked good to the Columbus Kids Resale Concessions on March 6th. We do still have 3 volunteer spots left open if you are able to volunteer your time. Those time slots are 10:30am - 12:30pm and 12:30pm - 2:30pm. Please contact me at your convenience if you are able to help. Thank you!

Have a great week everyone.

Many Blessings,
Aubrey

"Where two or three come together... there I am with them" Matthew 18:20

Week of January 25th

2010-01-24T17:34:00.000-05:00

Hello Moms,

Reminders and updates for the week of January 25th....

1) Kristi Guse's group The Galaxy Gals are responsible for brunch and Moppets donations this week.

2) Kathie Kaufman will be collecting fees for the spring semester again at the January 27th meeting. If you have questions regarding the fees or have scholarship questions please contact Kathie @ jkaufman@live.com.

3) Moppets is in need of the following items:
     a) AA & C batteries
     b) Wet Ones - for diaper changes
     c) Lysol with the white cap - Crisp Linen scent
     d) Animal Crackers
     e) Pretzels
Lisa has also asked me to remind everyone that if you have any changes such as address, phone, doctor, allergies, etc... to please see her to fill out a new Moppets form for your child.

4) Pastor Armstrong will be our speaker this week.

5) On a personal note, I wanted to thank everyone for your phone calls, emails, cards and prayers for Makeznie this past week. She has been recovering at home and will have her stints removed on Wednesday afternoon. She and I are anxious to get back to Mops and see everyone on Wednesday.

6) Jeannie Long lost her father unexpectedly on Thursday evening. Please keep Jeannie and her entire family in your thoughts and prayers. If you can, please send Jeannie your love through an email. I am sure she would love to hear from her Mops family.

Have a great week and see you all on Wednesday.

Many Blessings,
Aubrey

"Where two or three come together... there I am with them" Matthew 18:20

Week of Jan 11th, 2010

2010-01-10T21:07:00.000-05:00

Hello Moms,

It's been a cold few days. I hope everyone is staying warm & cozy.

Here are updates & reminders for this week:

1) Jessica Steven's group the Solar Sisters are responsible for brunch and Moppets donations this week.

2) Fees for the spring 2010 semester will be due on the 13th. The fees are as follows - $45 per mom & $45 per child. There is a $5 reduction in fees for each addtional child that is in Moppets. If this your first semester & first time joining Mops, there is also a $25 Mops International fee. If you have any questions regarding the fees, you can contact me or Kathie Kaufman. There is also scholarship monies in the budget if you require assistant. You will need to contact Kathie Kaufman for a scholarship application.

3) If you have a friend, neighbor or family member that is interest in joining our Mops group, we do have a few spaces available in our Moppets program. Availability for Mops is based upon enrollment in our Moppets program. As of right now, we have 6 spots available in the nursery, 1 spot in the 2-yr old room, 1 spot in the 3-yr old room and 4 spots in the 4&5 year old room.

4) Beth Hardesty is looking to put together a team for the upcoming Relay for Life event happening in June. This is such a great cause and avgreat opportunity to raise funds and awareness of cancer. Here is a brief survey Beth has asked me to share with you. Please take a few moments to share your thoughts. Thank you. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LCK6B6N

Looking foward to seeing you all on Wednesday.

Many Blessings,

Aubrey

"Where two or three come together...there I am with them" Matthew 18:20

Week of Jan 4, 2010

2010-01-04T18:58:00.000-05:00

Hello Moms and Happy New Year!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday spent with family and friends. It's back to our routines with school, preschool and yes, Mops. Yeah!! I am looking forward to seeing all of you and catching up.

Here are some reminders & updates for this week:

1) Our first meeting of the new year will be Wednesday, January 13th @ 9am.

2) Anne Gillium from American Profile Magazine will be joining us again to observe our meeting to obtain more information for her upcoming Mothers Day article.

3) Mops Friday's at the FFY will begin again this week. Friday, Jan 8th from 9:30am to 10:30am. Cost is $3 per child.

4) I received an email from Operation Christmas Child the day before Christmas and the 12 shoeboxes we packed were delivered to children in Mali, Africa. How awesome is our God!! I wish we all could have seen the children's faces when they opened their boxes. Thanks to your generosity, we were able to show the love of God to children many, many miles away.

Looking foward to seeing all of you next week. Take care, be safe and stay healthly.

Many Blessings,

Aubrey

"Where two or three come together.... there I am with them." Matthew 18:20

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T21:44:00.002-05:00

From my family to yours... Happy New Year!!!

Many Blessings,

Aubrey

"Where two or three come together... there I am with them." Matthew 18:20

Week of Dec 14th

2009-12-14T12:50:00.002-05:00

Hello Moms,

Thank you to all who attended our first annual "Donuts with Santa" on Saturday. I hope everyone enjoyed themselves and that the kids where able to have their wishes heard by our fantastic Santa. Debbie, your brother did such a wonderful job. I loved his voice. He sounds just like the "real" Santa. :)

A huge thank you to Debbie Peters and her wonderful group of volunteers for putting this event together for the Grace Mops groups, ESL and Grace Lutheran families. Thanks goes out to Debbie Peters, Kathie Kaufman, Jeni Smith, Carrie Martin, Angie Revell, Amy Warren, Russell and Carrie Davies, Lorie Moses and many of the children and staff of Grace Lutheran church.

Only one reminder for this week:

1) Mops at the FFY. 9:30 - 10:30am. Cost is $3 per child. This will be our last FFY date until after the new year.

Have a wonderful week everyone.

Many Blessings,

Aubrey

"Where two or three come together...there I am with them". Matthew 18:20

Week of Dec 7th

2009-12-07T13:13:00.003-05:00

Hello Moms,

Brrrr, it's cold outside. I hope everyone is staying warm and cozy.

This is our last week of the fall semester for Mops. I can't believe how fast the time has gone since September.

Our next Mops meeting is January 13, 2010.

Reminders for the week:

1) Moppets only.

2) There will be no bible study this week. Carol and her family will be heading out of town.

3) "Donuts with Santa" is this Saturday, December 12th from 9:30 -11:30am. Bring your entire family and your camera to capture the kids with santa. Enjoy donuts and orange juice, a craft project and hear the story of baby Jesus. This event is free. Freewill donations will be accepted.

4) Lisa Brunni's birthday is December 22nd if you want to wish her a very Happy Birthday.

Have a wonderful week everyone.

Many Blessings to you & your families this holiday season.

Aubrey

"Where two or three come together...there I am with them". Matthew 18:20

Week of Nov 30th

2009-11-29T20:16:00.005-05:00

Hello Moms,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and was able to spend time with family and friends and maybe get a little holiday shopping done on Black Friday.

Here are a few reminders and updates for this week:

1) This week is our Christmas Brunch and our last Mops meeting of the year. Everyone is to please bring one brunch item to share. Pastor Armstrong will be sharing Christmas reflections with all of us.

2) If you took a Boaz Project bank home for your family to contribute spare change to, please return your box to Jeni Smith on Wednesday morning.

3) If you would like to participate in our "White Elephant" gift exchange, please bring a small, wrapped "gag" gift to be exchanged with a fellow mom.

4) Please wish our December birthday mom's a Happy Birthday this month. They are...Lindsey B., Beth H., Debbie G., Karen H., Christina H., and Andrea S.

5) Lindsey B. and her husband welcomed a son, Grady Paul on Tuesday, November 24th @ 5:21pm. He weighed in at 6 pounds and 15 oucnes and was 20 inches long. Congratulations to Lindsey and her family.

6) Jamie D. and her family will be welcoming a new additon to their family on Tuesday, December 1st. Please keep Jamie in your prayers for a safe delivery.

Looking forward to seeing everyone on Wednesday. Have a great week.

Many Blessings,

Aubrey

"Where two or three come together...there I am with them." Matthew 18:20

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-25T20:36:00.001-05:00

Mops Gives Back 2009

2009-11-17T18:39:00.002-05:00

Week of Nov 16th

2009-11-16T14:02:00.003-05:00

Hello Moms,

I hope you had a wonderful weekend. We had another great weekend of beautiful weather.

Thanks to your generosity I will be delivering 12 shoe boxes full of goodies and love to First Christian Church on Wednesday evening. What a wonderful way to show God's love by giving to those less fortunate than us. Thank you all again for your participation in "Mops Gives Back".

Reminders for this week:

1) Moppets only. For those in Bible Study, see you at 9:00am in the community room.

2) Mops at the FFY. Friday at 9:30am. Cost is $3 per child.

Have a wonderful week everyone.

Many Blessings,

Aubrey

"Where two or three come together....there I am with them". Matthew 18:20

Week of Nov 9th

2009-11-07T21:24:00.001-05:00

Hello Moms,

The weather has been absolutely beautiful this weekend. I do hope you were able to get out and enjoy the Indian summer.

Reminders for the week:
1) The Cosmic Chicks (Laura Cottrill’s group) are responsible for brunch and Moppets donations this week.

2) Please wish these Mops Moms a Happy Birthday this month: Ji Youn Lee, Jeannie Long, Kathy Osburn, and Jolisa Vickous.

3) This Wednesday is “Mops Gives Back”. Please remember that each mom should bring (if you are able) 2 gifts for a boy, 2 gifts for a girl and $1 for shipping the Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes. If you have any questions regarding this event, please email your discussion group leader. Also, don’t forget your spare change for the Boaz Project boxes. Thank you!! We will also be completing fleece blankets and hats for the Columbus Regional Hospital Birthing Center.

4) There still is plenty of room left for the Washington Street Fire station field trip on Monday, November 9th. The fun begins at 9:30am.

Have a wonderful week everyone. I am looking forward to seeing you all on Wednesday.

Many blessings,
Aubrey

“Where two or three come together…there I am with them”. Matthew 18:20

October Newsletter

2009-11-02T13:10:00.001-05:00

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Week of November 2nd

2009-11-01T14:37:00.002-05:00

Hello Moms,

I hope everyone had a great day with the kids Trick -or- Treating. We made it around just one block of our neighborhood before Makenzie started eating her candy. She loves her sweets, just like her mommy. :) They loved handing out the candy more than receiving it this year. The doorbell would ring and they would run like a bull was running after them. Ha!!

Here are reminders for this week:

1. Moppets only this week.

2. No Bible Study.

3. Mops @ The FFY. Friday's at 9:30am. Cost is $3 per child.

4. Washington Street Fire Station Tour is on Monday, November 9th @ 9:30am. This is a free event. There was only one person signed up as of last Wednesday. If you would like to attend this event, please send me an email at aubasmif@att.net no later than Sunday, Nov 8th.

Have a wonderful week everyone.

Many Blessings,

Aubrey

"Where two or three come together...there I am with them." Matthew 18:20

Week of October 26

2009-10-25T20:39:00.004-04:00

Hello Moms,

I hope that everyone had a great weekend and my prayer for everyone is that you are all healthy. It has been a rough couple of weeks for our Mops family with sick little ones. I want to take this opportunity to remind everyone that we are a family of mothers who are more than willing to help each other in a time of need. Please don't ever hesitate to ask for help or assistance. It could be something so small as a phone call just to check in, a quick run to the grocery store for milk & bread, a play date or a meal. My hope is that everyone stays healthy this fall and winter season.

Reminders for this week:

1) Kimberly Stiles" group, The Lunar Ladies are responsible for brunch and Moppets donations.

2) This is the week the reporter from American Profile magazine will be visiting. She has three moms that will be interviewed during the meeting. Anne and her husband, will be observing the meeting and taking a few photos. Anne asks that NO holiday attire be worn by the moms or the children. The article will be featured in the Mother's Day issue for 2010, so Halloween attire won't be appropriate.

3) This week is Fun & Games Week. We will have several tables set up with board games & cards. If you wish not to play games, you may bring a project from home to work on, such as scrapbooking, knitting, etc... If anyone has a Scrabble game they would be willing to share with the game, that would be fantastic.

4) Friday, October 30th is our trip to Apple Works. Details to come at our meeting.

5) Mops at the FFY. Every Friday at 9:30am. Cost is $3 per child.

Have a great week.

Many Blessings,

Aubrey

"Where two or three come together... there I am with them." Matthew 18:20

Week of October 19th

2009-10-20T14:14:00.002-04:00

Hello Moms,

Here are a few reminders and updates for this week:

1) This week is Moppets only and Bible Study. Bible Studiers, please read Chapter 2, Stepping into the Light for discussion.

2) Our Apple Works trip has been rescheduled for next Friday, October 30th at 1:00pm. This is the only time they had left open for the pumpkin/apple season. The cost will still be $6 per person, cash only. I will pass along a sign-up sheet at our next meeting.

Have a great week everyone.

Many Blessings,

Aubrey

"Where two or three come together...there I am with them." Matthew 18:20

Dad's Panel from October 14th

2009-10-15T11:16:00.002-04:00

Here are the questions that were given to our dad's for our October 14th Mops meeting.

1) What is your favorite thing to do with your children/grandchildren at home?

2) Where is your favorite place to take the kids?

3) What can moms do to help dads be more successful at parenting?

4) What do you do to support your wife regarding taking care of the kids, including giving her time to get out of the house?

5) What is mom's biggest misconception about dads?

6) Is there something your wife does with the kids that you wish she would let you do more often (bath time, reading, bedtime routine, etc)?

7) How do you incorporate faith and God into your family?

8) What is your greatest fear as a father?

9) What are the things moms do that make it harder to be a good dad?

10) What is your biggest challenge as a dad?

11) What events have been the "highlights" of your experience as a dad so far?

12) What are some intentional ways you are preparing your kids for leaving your home as a Godly man/woman?

Week of October 12th

2009-10-11T12:48:00.003-04:00

Hello Moms,

Happy Fall!!! The cool weather has arrived. This is my favorite time of year, sweatshirts, warm apple cider, hayrides and lots of pumpkins. I hope you and your family have a great fall season.

Here are reminders for this week:

1) This week's topic at Mops is "Invasion from Plant Dad: Dad's Panel".

2) Jeni Smith's group The Milky Way Mama's are responsible for brunch and Moppets donations.

3) Please wish these Mops Moms a Happy Birthday for October - Carrie Martin, Jessica Stevens & Petra Pfau.

4) Mops at the FFY - Friday's at 9:30am. Cost is $3 per child.

5) Our outing to Apple Works is this Friday, October 16th. Please note there has been a slight change. A representative from Apple Works has asked if we could start our trip at 10:30am instead of 10:00am. Here are the details:

Apple Works

Friday October 16, 2009

10:30am (arrive at 10:15am)

$6 person - CASH ONLY

We will be riding the wagon to the apple orchard to pick an apple, have a snack & beverage, hear a talk from an Apple Works employee & receive a Baby Bear pumpkin.

We will caravan to Apple Works - please meet at the Edinburgh McDonald's at 9:50am to depart at 9:55am. You can also print off directions at www.apple-works.com.

Have a great week.

Many Blessings,

Aubrey

"Where two or three come together....there I am with them" Matthew 18:20

Week of October 5th

2009-10-04T20:52:00.005-04:00

Hello Moms,

I hope you had an enjoyable weekend with family. A lot of great things happening in and around Columbus. Maybe you made it to Oktoberfest, Whipkers Pumpkin Fest or the Drive-In movie at Mill Race Park. We took the girls to Whipkers. They had a ball.

Here are a few reminders for this week:

1) This week is Moppets only. The cooler weather is here so please remember to bring a jacket for your child with their name labeled on the inside.

2) This Wednesday is also Mom's Morning Out brunch at The Hanger, located at the airport. Hope to see you there.

3) Also, Wednesday night we will be gathering at Mexico Viejo at 6:30 to wish Carmen farewell and good luck as she and her family will be moving back home to Tennessee this weekend. If you are planning on attending, please contact Tammy Maddox at 372-2526 to RSVP.

4) I spoke with Anne Gillium again, from American Profile Magazine and she stressed getting at least 4 to 5 moms who would be willing to share their stories about being in Mops. She indicated to me that if she and I have this lined up before she arrives, it will make things go a lot smoother for her and her husband. So... if you are willing to share with Anne your story about Mops, please contact me by October 16th at aubasmif@att.net. Also, if you would like your picture taken for the article as well, please let me know. Thank you!!

5) If you missed our meeting last week, we are planning an outing to Apple Works on Friday, October 16th at 10:00am. The cost will be $6 per person (cash only please). We will be taking a wagon ride to the apple orchard to pick an apple, have a snack & beverage and everyone will receive a "Baby Bear Pumpkin". Apple Works also has additional activities such as a train ride and pony rides and these are not included in the $6 price. If you were not able to sign up last week, please send me an email and I will get you added to the list. As of right now, we have 57 people attending. :)

Have a wonderful week everyone. Hope to see you at a Wednesday activity.

Many Blessings,

Aubrey

"Where two or three come together... there I am with them" Matthew 18:20

Week of September 28th

2009-09-28T21:29:00.003-04:00

Hello Moms,

I hope everyone had a great weekend. Laura, Carrie, Debbie and I had a wonderful time at convention and I hear things went very well at the Columbus Kids Resale, both at the sale and selling concessions. A huge thank you to everyone who volunteered their time and those of you who made baked goods. It was a great success.

1) Kristi Guse's group, The Galaxy Gals are responsible for brunch and a Moppets donation this week.

2) This week's speaker is Melinda Shank. She will be sharing her ideas for hosting fun & budget friendly children's birthday parties.

3) Remember, we will be sitting with our discussion groups this week. Please look for the table with your groups name on it. We will start the meeting promptly at 9:10am.

Have a great evening everyone. See you on Wednesday.

Many Blessing to you,

Aubrey

"Where two or three come together... there I am with them." Matthew 18:20

Week of Sept 21st

2009-09-20T21:13:00.004-04:00

Hello Moms,

I do hope you all enjoyed our first meeting of the year. It was filled with a lot of information, but my wish is that you did get to visit with old friends and make new ones.

What's happening this week?

1) Wednesday, September 23rd is Moppets and Bible Study. If you would like to join Wednesday Bible Study and you were not able to sign up last week, please send Carol an email at RonandCarolK@comcast.net to join the group. This year's topic will be forgiveness and we will be reading from the book - Women of Faith Embracing Forgiveness, Does God really forgive me?

2) The Columbus Kids Resale is this weekend, Saturday, September 26th. I still have two spots open for volunteering at our concession tables. We need two volunteers for the 6:30 -8:30am shift. This will be our busiest time and we will need quite a few women to run this shift. If you can volunteer please contact me as soon as possible. Also, if you have volunteered to donate a baked good, please drop your items off at Northside Middle School between 5:15 - 7:15pm on Friday, September 25th. Thank you!!

3) A message from Lisa Brunni at Moppets. She wants to thank everyone for the donations they rec'd last week for the Moppets program. She wanted to let you know that she rec'd a large number of baby wipes so those items won't be needed for awhile. :) Also, Lisa is looking to purchase one of those little green neon men that hold the orange flag that says... Caution, Children at Play. If you know where she might purchase one or if anyone has one they were thinking of getting rid of, please let Lisa know.

Have a great week everyone. Looking forward to seeing you at drop-off & Bible Study on Wednesday.

Aubrey

"Where two or three come together...there I am with them" Matthew 18:20

First Mtg of 2009-2010

2009-09-16T14:28:00.002-04:00

What a great looking

bunch of moms!!!

First Meeting Reminder

2009-09-13T17:30:00.002-04:00

Hello Moms,

It’s finally here - our first meeting of the 2009/2010 Mops year. The steering team has been working hard this summer to make sure we have a great first meeting and a great year together.

Here are a few reminders before we meet on Wednesday.

**Please remember to mark all of your children's belongings such as diaper bags, sippy cups, jackets, etc...

**Please bring a donation for Moppets. This can be Cheddar Goldfish Crackers, Gerber Puffs, Clorox Anywhere Cleaner, batteries of any size, or baby wipes. Please use name brands only.

**Please remember your checkbooks. Dues for the first semester are due at the first meeting. If you have questions regarding your dues, please contact Kathie Kaufman at jkaufman@live.com or myself anytime.

Also, we still have 5 spots left to fill for the concession stand at the Columbus Kids Resale on Saturday, Sept 26th. I have 4 openings for the 6:30-8:30am time slot (this will be our busiest time of the day) and one spot for the 10:30-12:30pm slot. Please get with me if you can help with any of these openings. It would be wonderful if we have 100% participation from our group.

Looking forward to seeing everyone on Wednesday morning. If you have any questions prior to our meeting please feel free to contact me anytime.

Have a wonderful evening,
Aubrey Smith
Wednesday Mops Coordinator
314-0951

Hello

2009-09-02T15:53:00.002-04:00

Hello Moms,

We are down to just two weeks for the start of the 2009/2010 Mops year. Yeah!! I am really excited to get started and to see everyone again.

I hope you have all received your "Welcome Packets". If you have not, please let Brittany Boezeman or myself know as soon as possible and we will get one in the mail for you today. Your packet should have contained a 2009/2010 Mops Handbook, Scholarship Application and Fall Picnic Invite.

Our Mops Fall Picnic will be held next Wednesday, September 9th @ 11:30am at the Grace Lutheran Playground. Please bring a picnic lunch for yourself and your child(ren) and a blanket and/or chair to sit on. Please join us and catch up with moms you have missed this summer and meet some new friends as well.

Help Please!!! On October 14th we have a "Dad's Panel" scheduled as our topic of the day. If you know of a "Dad, Grandfather, Pastor, Friend, or Mentor" that would be willing to share his story of raising children, and raising them in a Christian environment, please let me know. As of now, we only have one participate. Any suggestions you have, would be greatly appreciated.

Also, please pray for the MOPPET's staff. They are still in need of another teacher for the 3 year old class. This class is very full, with 14! Lisa Brunni has asked me to please pass this need on to any and all as word of mouth is the best way to find someone at this time. For further information regarding a Moppets position, such as pay, time involved, etc.. please contact me anytime for further information. Thank you.

Have a great week moms. See you next week at the picnic.

Many blessings to you and your family.

Aubrey

"Where two or three come together... there I am with them." Matthew 18:20

Week of August 17th

2009-08-17T10:28:00.002-04:00

Hello Moms,

I hope everyone had a great weekend and that all of the older children had a wonderful first day of school. Wow!! I can't believe the summer is over and we are talking about school already. That means Mops is just around the corner. Yeah!! The Steering Team has been working hard this summer to ensure we have another great year. I have posted the 2009-2010 Mops schedule on the left-hand side of the blog for you to see.

Just a few reminders, updates, etc... to share this week.

1) Mops at the FFY resumes again this Friday, August 21st @ 9:30am. Cost is $3 per child.

2) If you see any of these Mops moms out and about, please wish them a Happy, Happy Birthday.

Julie Knight
Amy Bugert
Cindy Howell
Susan Yosida

3) If any of you are scrapbookers, I have a huge lot of "Chipboard" letters, shapes and tags I am giving away. There are probably close to 200 pieces included. If you are interested in having these, please send me an email. Thank you.

Have a great week everyone.

Aubrey

"Where two or three come together...there I am with them..." Matthew 18:20

Week of August 10th

2009-08-09T19:31:00.002-04:00

Hello Moms,

Just a few reminders and updates for this week.

1) Our last "Summer" Mops at the FFY will be held tomorrow morning from 9:00am to 10:00am. Starting Friday, August 21st we will return to Fridays at the FFY beginning at 9:30am until 10:30am. Cost will remain $3 per child.

2) Our Wednesday's at Donner Park will remain until Mops starts back up on September 16th. Hope to see you there.

3) Karen Hohn is looking to borrow a "Jumperoo" for Ethan. If anyone can help Karen please email her at khohn2@yahoo.com. Thank you!

Have a wonderful week ladies. Looking forward to seeing all of you.

Aubrey

"Where two or three come together... there I am with them." Matthew 18:20

Week of August 3rd

2009-08-04T11:56:00.003-04:00

Hello Moms,

How about that storm system today? My goodness. That was a big one.

Just a few updates and reminders for this week.

1) Please take a few moments to fill out our "Poll" regarding Moms Night Out. The poll is located to the left of this message. Thank you for your time & opinion.

2) Kathy Osburn is looking to borrow or purchase a gently used swing for her newborn Cassie. If you are able to help Kathy, please email her at kathy.osburn@yahoo.com. Thank you.

3) Our last summer Mops at the FFY will be held next Monday, August 10 at 9:00am. More info to come. Please stay tuned.

Have a wonderful week everyone. Hope to see you at Donner Park on Wednesday.

Take care,
Aubrey

"Where two or three come together...there I am with them." Matthew 18:20

Updates for the last week of July 2009

2009-07-27T09:52:00.002-04:00

Hello Moms,

The stork has been busy the past few weeks here in Columbus, Indiana. We have two new members of the Moppets family to announce.

Alyssa Jalyn Maddox was born on July 23rd at 7:59am. The proud parents are Stan & Tammy Maddox and big sister, Amelia. Alyssa weighed 6 lbs, 13 ounces and was 19 inches long. Mommy & baby are doing great. Congratulations to the Maddox family.

Montserrat Valencia was born on July 14th. The proud parents are Arturo and Maribel Valencia and big brother, AJ. Montserrat weighed 8 lbs, 10 ounces and was 21 inches long. I am sure a lot of you remember Maribel from Mops. She we will joining us again in the fall. Congratulations to the Valencia family.

If anyone has a play mat or gym mat that they would be willing to loan out, please contact Karen Hohn at khohn2@yahoo.com. Little Ethan is looking for some new entertainment. :)

The girls and I hope to see you at Donner Park this Wednesday. The weather man hasn't been very good at keeping it sunny & warm on Wednesday's. Hopefully this will be a good week.

Take care,
Aubrey

"Where two or three come together...there I am with them." Matthew 18:20

Updates & Reminders

2009-07-17T10:31:00.003-04:00

Hello Moms,

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July, even though it was a wet one. The Mops Bike Parade was a huge success. What fun we had!! The kids looked so adorable in their matching t-shirts and decorated bikes.

Here are reminders & updates for the next few weeks:

1) Grace Lutheran Church will be hosting their VBS, Gadget’s Garage on July 27-31, 2009. Kids aged 3-12 are welcome. There is no registration fee required, however, space is limited. You can obtain a registration from at www.gracecolumbus.org or call the church at 372-4859 with any question you may have.

2) For those of you who paid your Mops International fees for 2009-2010, you should have received your membership benefits in the mail last week. This would include the book “Life on Planet Mom” a welcome letter from Mops and a special offers pamphlet. If you paid your dues and did not receive this package, please let me know.

3) Tammy Maddox is schedule to be induced next week, Thursday, July 23rd. Please keep Tammy, baby Maddox and her entire family in your thoughts and prayers.

4) If you see any of these Mops Moms out and about, please wish them a Happy Birthday. July Birthday Moms are – Billie Barashak, Kelly Edwards, Suzanne Lammert and Kimberly Stiles.

5) Kristi Guse asked me share this most recent recall with all of you. Please see below:

Kroger Recalls Three Seasonings Due to Possible Health Risk

Kroger Recalls Three Seasonings Due to Possible Health Risk Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:15:00 -0500
The Kroger Co. is recalling Kroger Popcorn Seasoning Movie Theater Butter Flavored, Kroger Popcorn Seasoning White Cheddar Flavored, and Kroger Fat Free Butter Flavored Sprinkles sold in some of its retail stores because the Company has been made aware by a supplier that an ingredient in the product may have been contaminated with Salmonella.
Manage your FDA Subscriptions:
· Update your preferences or unsubscribe
· Questions about this service? support@govdelivery.com
· Other inquiries? webmail@oc.fda.gov
GovDelivery, Inc. sending on behalf of U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) · 5600 Fishers Lane · Rockville MD 20857 · 800-439-1420

6) FYI… mark your calendars. Our first meeting for the 2009-2010 Mops year will be September 16, 2009.

7) Mops @ the FFY.
Mondays from 9:00 to 10:00 am
Cost is $3 per child.

Picnic at Donner Park
Wednesday’s starting at 11:00am
If it does rain, our second alternative for meeting together is at Chuck E. Cheese.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Aubrey

"Where two or three come together... there I am with them" Matthew 18:20

MOPS 4th of July Bike Parade

2009-07-02T23:36:00.016-04:00

Hello MOPS Mommas! I want to let everyone know what a blast we had at Aubrey's today for our first ever MOPS 4th of July Bike Parade! What a treat to see all the kids with their cute bikes, trikes and wagons decorated in celebration of this wonderful holiday! We missed those who couldn't make it, but I hope these pictures help you feel included in this super fun day! A HUGE thanks to Aubrey for opening up her home and 'playground' for all of us to celebrate! I have to admit, I took almost 200 pictures...I know, ridiculous, but I just can't help but try and capture every single moment of fun! I think I edited them down to about 60...what a pleasure to see the excitement on everyone's faces! Have a safe and happy 4th of July weekend! Enjoy!

Week of June 29th

2009-06-28T21:00:00.002-04:00

Hello Moms,

I hope you have all had a great week/weekend. I hear it was a hot one while we were gone. I can’t believe we are already into the last week of June. The 4th of July is vastly approaching us. Yeah!! This is one of my favorite holidays to celebrate. I am also excited for our first annual “4th of July Bike Parade”. I hope you all can join us.

Here are the reminders for the week:

1) Mops Mondays at the FFY
9:00am to 10:00am
Cost is $3 per child

2) Mops Wednesday’s at Donner Park
11:00am to ????
Bring a picnic lunch

3) Thursday July 2nd Bike Parade at Aubrey’s house.
10:30am to ????
o Bring your decorated bicycles, wagons & strollers. We will parade through the neighborhood starting at 11:00am.
o Bring a picnic lunch for yourself and your children, a blanket and/or chairs. We will picnic in the backyard. I will also have the sprinkler (hopefully the waterslide, if it arrives) ready to go so bring suits and towels for the little ones.
o Don’t forget to wear your firecracker t-shirts we made at Carmen’s. A BIG, BIG thank to Carmen for so graciously opening her home and pool to us last Friday for craft day. What a wonderful treat for all of us.
o If anyone has any patriotic music, would you mind bringing it for the parade? Thank you!

Have a great everyone. Hope to see you all soon.

Aubrey

“Where two or three come together… there I am with them.” Matthew 18:20

Week of June 22nd

2009-06-20T08:01:00.003-04:00

Hello Moms,

It was great seeing alot of you this week at Donner Park. We finally had a great day for a picnic and some playtime.

Reminders for the week:

1) Mops Mondays at the FFY.
9:00am to 10:00am
$3 per child

2) Mops Wednesday's at Donner Park
11:00am to ????
Bring a picnic lunch

3) Craft Day at Carmen's. We will be making 4th of July t-shirts for the bike parade on July 2nd. Please RSVP to Carmen by June 24th at carmen_collier@msn.com or 314-0054. Please see post below for more information.

Have a wonderful week everyone.

Aubrey

Week of June 15th

2009-06-14T20:20:00.002-04:00

Hello Moms,

Rain, rain go away. Come again another day. Is this the song you have all been singing lately? I am amazed at the amount of rain we have had. I am hoping for a day at Donner Park, but it just seems to keep raining on Wednesday’s.

Here is what is happening this week:

1) Mops @ The FFY.
Mondays from 9:00am to 10:00am. Cost is $3

2) Picnic at Donner Park
Wednesday’s starting at 11:00am.
If it does rain, our second alternative for meeting together is at Chuck E. Cheese.

3) Kathy Osburn is scheduled to be induced on Thursday, June 18th. Please keep Kathy and baby Osburn in your thoughts and prayers.

4) If you see any of these moms, please wish them a Happy Birthday.
Birthdays for June are:
Wendi Bartholomew
Carmen Collier
Brittany Boezeman
Jenny Stark.

5) Lastly, Carmen Collier has so graciously agreed to do a Craft Day at her house on Friday, June 26th @ 10:30am. Carmen has done these in the past during the holidays and I have heard they are always a big hit with the kids and moms. We will be decorating 4th of July T-shirts for our bike parade on July 2nd. The t-shirts will be made with pipe cleaners to look like 4th of July fireworks.

Info you need to know:
a) Please bring a t-shirt for each child. Any color, red, blue, or white. Walgreens currently has their cotton t-shirts on sale for 5 for $5
b) A donation of $3 to $4 to help cover the cost of supplies.
c) Carmen stated she would open her pool for everyone to enjoy while others are doing their t-shirts. Please bring swimwear, towels, floaties and a packed lunch for yourself and your children.
d) Please RSVP to Carmen by June 24th at Carmen_collier@msn.com or 314-0054.
e) Here are some links to Family Fun magazine for additional t-shirt ideas and decorations for your children’s bike for the bike parade.
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=10189
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=12002
http://jas.familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=10184

http://jas.familyfun.go.com/crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=12001

Have a wonderful week everyone. Hope to see you at a Mops function soon.

Take care,
Aubrey

Week of June 8, 2009

2009-06-08T14:40:00.004-04:00

Hello Moms,

It was great seeing a lot of you this morning at the FFY. We had a large group today and it was great seeing all of the older children there as well.

I was glad to hear that you all had a great time at the the Indianapolis Zoo last week. I'm thrilled you had a sunny day. If you have any pictures you would like to share, send them to me via email and I can post them on the blog. We would love to see them!!

Don't forget our Wednesday play date at Donner Park. Bring a picnic lunch for yourself and your kids and enjoy visiting with other moms while the kids play. See you there between 11:00 and 11:30am.

Be sure your calendar is marked for our 1st Annual 4th of July Parade at my house on July 2nd @ 10:30am. More information to come soon.

Have a wonderful week everyone. Hope to see you all really soon.

Take care,

Aubrey

Week of May 25th

2009-05-24T06:22:00.006-04:00

Hello Moms,

We have been blessed with wonderful weather. I do hope that you are out enjoying the sunshine and spending time with family and friends during Memorial Day weekend.

Here are the updates and reminders for this week...

1) Park & Picnic this Wednesday at 11:00am at Donner Park.

2) There will be NO Mops @ the FFY this week. The summer schedule for our Mops playdates at the FFY begins on Monday, June 1st. They will be from 9:00am to 10:00am. The cost is $3.

3) The early bird special for spring membership for Mops International ends this Friday, May 29th. To receive the discounted price of $22, please send a check to Kathie Kaufman no later than May 28th. Kathie's address is 8102 N Harvest Lane, Columbus, IN 47201. After the 29th, the registration fee goes up to $24. Again, your membership includes the following:

MomSense Magazine - bi-monthly
Life on Planet Mom - book
Weekly Mom E-mail to inspire and encourage you

4) Mops International Convention will be held September 24 - 26, 2009 in Nashville, Tennessee at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. This convention is open to any mother to attend. I have not had the opportunity to attend this convention, but have heard so many great things about it. At this time, we have four mothers from the Wednesday group planning on going. If you have interest in attending, please see the attached web link to view the on-line convention brochure. http://www.mops.org/page.php?pageid=560&srctype=body&src=647&PHPSESSID=00f5bb52e4e7f8feabde9f1148dacca7

Early bird registration for the convention ends on June 22nd. The online brochure lists all the information you will need for the convention. If you are interested in attending, please let me know so that we can all register together. There are group discounts available. I would like to have us registered by June 10th. Thank you!!

5) Indianapolis Zoo Mops Playdate

Tuesday, June 2nd
$7 per person - First Tuesday Community Days
$5 per car parking fee
If you like, you can bring a picnic lunch for you & your children. I know that eating at the zoo can be a little expensive. There are several grassy areas & picnic tables outside the zoo entrance where we can eat.

A lot of you showed interest in meeting at the church and doing a caravan to the zoo. If you would like to do so, please meet in the Grace Lutheran parking lot at 9:15am to leave at 9:30am.

If you would like to attend and have not signed up, please let me know so that I know how many cars, moms & kids to expect. :)

Have a wonderful weekend everyone. Looking forward to seeing all of you soon.

Aubrey

Week of May 18th

2009-05-18T09:45:00.002-04:00

Hello Moms,

I do hope that everyone had a wonderful weekend and you were able to get out and about and enjoy some of the activities going on around Columbus. We attended the Library's Literacy Fair and I saw a few of you there.

Just a few items this week...

1) Please keep Carmen Collier in your thoughts and prayers today. She is having hernia surgery today at 10:20am. Please pray for Carmen and the surgeons doing the procedure and for a quick recovery for Carmen. You can send well wishes to Carmen at carmen_collier@msn.com

2) Park & Picnic this Wednesday at Donner Park @ 11:00am.

3) Mops @ the FFY this Friday from 9:30 - 10:30am. Cost is $3.

Have a wonderful week moms.

Aubrey

Things To Do Around Columbus

2009-05-15T11:16:00.002-04:00

Hello Moms,

After a few days of rain, I bet you are all ready to get out and about. Here are a few things going on around town on Saturday, May 16th.

Central Middle School is hosting a Wellness Fair from 10:00am to 1:00pm. Please see www.columbus.in.us/calendar for more information and a list of other activities.

The library is hosting their Literacy Festival on Saturday as well. This is being held at the library from 12:00pm to 3:00pm. Please see www.barth.lib.in.us/LiteracyFestival for further information.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

Aubrey

Important information for Women

2009-05-15T11:11:00.002-04:00

Billie Barushak was kind enough to forward this information on to us. Please read below.

====================================================================

Proposed Mastectomy Law Change(written by a surgeon)

I'll never forget the look in m y patients eyes when I had to tell them they had to go home with the drains, new exercises and no breast. I remember begging the doctors to keep these women in the hospital longer, only to hear that they would, but their hands were tied by the insurance companies.So there I sat with my patient giving them the instructions they needed to take care of themselves, knowing full well they didn't grasp half of what I was saying, because the glazed, hopeless, frightened look spoke louder than the quiet 'Thank you' they muttered.

A mastectomy is when a woman's breast is removed in order to remove cancerous breast cells/tissue. If you know anyone who has had a mastectomy, you may know that there is a lot of discomfort and pain afterwards. Insurance companies are trying to make mastectomies an outpatient procedure. Let's give women the chance to recover properly in the hospital for 2 days after surgery.

This Mastectomy Bill is in Congress now. It takes 2 seconds to do this and is very important. Please take the time and do it really quick! The Breast Cancer Hospitalization Bill is important legislation for all women.

Please send this to everyone in your address book. If there was ever a time when our voices and choices should be heard, this is one of those times. If you're receiving this, it's because I think you will take the 30 seconds to go to vote on this issue and send it on to others you know who will do the same.

There's a bill called the20Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act which will require insurance companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital stay for patients undergoing a mastectomy. It's about eliminating the 'drive-through mastectomy' where women are forced to go home just a few hours after surgery, against the wishes of their doctor, still groggy from anesthesia and sometimes with drainage tubes still attached.Lifetime Television has put this bill on their web page with a petition drive to show your support.. Last year over half the House signed on.

PLEASE! Sign the petition by clicking on the web site below. You need not give more than your name and zip code number.http://www.mylifetime.com/community/my-lifetime-commitment/breast-cancer/petition/breast-cancer-petition

FDA Alert

2009-05-14T20:32:00.003-04:00

Hello Moms,

Kristi Guse was kind enough to forward on some information regarding a recent FDA Alert. Please see below for further information.

Thank you Kristi for sharing this important information with all of us. It is nice to be aware of such things.

FDA Alerts Consumers to Recall of Water-Based Face Paints (May 12)Tue, 12 May 2009 11:43:00 -0500
The Food and Drug Administration is advising consumers to stop using certain cosmetic "Face Paint" items labeled as distributed by Oriental Trading Co., Omaha , Neb. , due to adverse event reports of skin reactions in children. These items were distributed nationwide.

If any of you have something you would like to share on the Mops Blog, please let me know.

Have a great day,
Aubrey

If You Give a Mom a Muffin

2009-05-14T20:24:00.002-04:00

If you give a mom a muffin,
She'll want a cup of coffee to go with it.
She'll pour herself some.
The coffee will get spilled by her three year old.
She'll wipe it up.

Wiping the floor, she will find some dirty socks.
She'll remember she has to do some laundry.
When she puts the laundry in the washer,
She'll trip over some snow boots and bump into the freezer,
Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan supper for tonight.

She will get out a pound of hamburger,
She'll look for her cookbook. (101 Things to Make With A Pound of Hamburger.)
The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail.
She will see the phone bill which is due tomorrow.
She will look for her checkbook.

The checkbook is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two year old.
She'll smell something funny.
She'll change the two year old.
While she is changing the two year old the phone will ring. (Of course!)
Her five year old will answer it and hang up.

She remembers that she wants to phone a friend to come for coffee on Friday.
Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup.
She will pour herself some.
And chances are,
If she has a cup of coffee,
Her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.

Written by Kathy Fictorie, Based on the book If you Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff.

Week of May 4th

2009-05-04T09:35:00.002-04:00

Hello Moms,

What a beautiful weekend. God is good! I do hope you were all able to enjoy the warm, sunny days with family and friends. I am glad the warm weather has decided to finally stick around.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the picnic on Wednesday. I do hope you all can attend.

Reminders for this week:

1) Picnic at Grace this Wednesday @ 11:30am. Please bring a picnic lunch, blanket or chairs for yourself and your children. If the weather does not hold up, Stefanie Shepherd-Cooper has so kindly offered to host the picnic at her home. Stefanie or myself will send out directions Wednesday morning if it looks like rain is possible.

2) If you were not able to complete your Mops End-of-Year survey last week, please bring those with you to the picnic and return to me or a current steering team member. If you were not at the meeting last week, please email me and I will get a survey to you to complete. Thank you!

3) Tammy Maddox will be collecting Pampered Chef orders at the picnic as well. Pampered Chef is pairing up with the American Cancer Society for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Any sales that Tammy collects on Wednesday will benefit the ACS for Breast Cancer Prevention and Education. It will also benefit our local Wednesday Mops chapter. Here is how it works - 25% will go to ACS and 15% of the proceeds will go to our Mops group. Also, anything purchased from their exclusive pink product line, a $1 will go to the ACS and 15% to our group. If you would like to look browse through the Pamper Chef catalog prior to Wednesday, you can visit Tammy's website at www.pamperedchef.biz/tammyspc.

4) Lastly, Mom's Night Out is this Thursday evening at 7:00 pm at the Columbus Bowling Center on State Street. We have plenty of spots open, if you can join us. Please email me if you can attend. Hope to see you there.

Have a wonderful week everyone. Looking forward to seeing you all.

Aubrey

"...how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ..." EPH 3:18

Week of April 27, 2009

2009-04-27T09:46:00.002-04:00

Hello Moms,

What a beautiful weekend we had. I hope everyone was able to enjoy some time outside and feel the warm sun on your face. Thank goodness the warm temperatures have finally arrived. I don't know about you, but I don't think I could stand anymore cold days.

Reminders for this week:

1) This is our final brunch. All moms are to bring a brunch item to share and a Moppets donation. Items that Moppets are in need of - Puff or Kleenex brand tissues, baby wipes and refills, napkins and paper towels.

2) We will be collecting the Mops International dues for next year. The cost is $22 so please bring your checkbook or cash. If you have any questions regarding the dues, please feel free to contact Kristi Guse or myself.

3) Are you looking for a great Mother's Day gift and a way to help a great cause? Tammy Maddox will have catalogs and order forms available on Wednesday for Pampered Chef products. Pampered Chef is pairing up with the American Cancer Society for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Any sales that Tammy collects on Wednesday will benefit the ACS for Breast Cancer Prevention and Education. It will also benefit our local Wednesday Mops chapter. Here is how it works - 25% will go to ACS and 15% of the proceeds will go to our Mops group. Also, anything purchased from their exclusive pink product line, a $1 will go to the ACS and 15% to our group. If you would like to look browse through the Pamper Chef catalog prior to Wednesday, you can visit Tammy's website at www.pamperedchef.biz/tammyspc.

Looking forward to seeing you all on Wednesday. It's hard to believe our year is over. The time passed so quickly.

Have a wonderful week,

Aubrey

"...how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ..." EPH 3:18

Calendar Problems

2009-04-21T11:38:00.002-04:00

Hello Moms,

I am having trouble running the calendar on the blog at this time. It has been removed and will be replaced at a later date. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Also, please note the Mom's Night Out at the Columbus Bowling Center has been moved to Thursday May 7th. More info to come.

Have a wonderful day.

Aubrey

Week of April 20th

2009-04-20T13:14:00.002-04:00

Hello Moms,

I do hope that everyone enjoyed the sun on Saturday - it sure was a beautiful day.

I hear that one of our Mops Mom's has added a new branch to their family tree. Congratulations to Karen Hohn and her family for the birth of their new son, Ethan. Both mommy and baby are doing great.

Just a few reminders for this week -

1) The Elephant Ears (Carmen Collier's group) are responsible for brunch and Moppets items.

2) Dr. McAleese from Columbus Pediatrics will be joining us this week as our speaker. This will be a question and answer session. If you have any specific questions for Dr. McAleese, please email me with those and I will make sure she has those prior to our meeting. Thank you.

3) Mark your calendars for an upcoming Mom's Night Out at The Columbus Bowling Center on Thursday night, April 30th at 7pm. More info to come.

Lastly, I wanted to thank everyone that donated a food item and/or donated your time to help make the Teacher Luncheon wonderful. I heard some great feedback and the teachers really enjoyed their lunch and fellowship time together.

Looking forward to seeing all of you on Wednesday. Have a wonderful day.

Aubrey

Don't forget to check the calendar to your left for upcoming Mops events.

"how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ..." EPH 3:18

Week of March 30th

2009-03-30T16:11:00.004-04:00

Hello Moms,

I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend. It just goes by so fast doesn’t it? I am anxious to see everyone again on Wednesday. I have a few reminders for this week and our upcoming events on April 8th and 15th.

1) This week – Wednesday, April 1st is Moppets only and Bible Study. Jody has asked that all bible study moms read and be ready to discuss chapter 9.

2) Next Wednesday, April 8th is “Bring a Friend Day”. Please remember to pass out as many of your invitations as you can. Also, if you do have a friend joining you next week, please let Lisa Brunni or myself know how many children will be attending. We want to make sure we have enough childcare assistants, crafts and food.
a. The Candy Apples (Jeni Smith’s group) are responsible for brunch and Moppets items.
b. Our topic from next week’s speaker will be “Managing the Big Top – House Tips” with Jeff Baker.

3) The sign-up sheet for the Teacher Appreciation Luncheon filled up completely with the exception of childcare assistant. This is an important spot we need filled. The childcare is for the teacher’s children and it is only for 1 hour and 15 minutes. If you are able to volunteer your time, please let me know as soon as possible. This would be much appreciated.

Have a wonderful week.

Aubrey

“how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ…” EPH 3:18

Welcome

2009-03-06T22:47:00.005-05:00

Hello Moms,

Welcome to the Wednesday Mops Blog. I have created this blog for all of you to have a fun way to stay in touch with all of the happenings of our group.

Here are some of the things you will find on our blog to help you stay connected :

1) A calendar to keep track of our meetings, bible studies and Moppet days. (the calendar tab is located to your left)

2) Pictures from Mops events such as play dates and Bunco. (will always be located at the bottom of the blog)

3) Weekly updates about upcoming meetings, speakers, events & Mops news.

4) Inspirational stories from our very own Mops mothers and other Mops moms from around the country.

5) Birthdays, Pregnancy & Birth Announcements

My intention is to update the blog every Monday so that you can check it at your leisure. You can bookmark the blog on your computer with this link - www.columbuswedmops.blogspot.com

If you have any questions or suggestions please leave a comment or send me an email at aubasmif@att.net.

Have a great day everyone & see you at Mops.

Aubrey

"...how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ..." EPH 3:18