Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Orbiting Meeting

Wow, was today a great meeting or what??? A huge thanks to Corrie and Joie for finding so many fun things for us to orbit to.

Another kudos goes to the Moppet workers who brave the costume parade. It was such fun to see all the kiddos in their costumes.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

October Newsletter and Calendar...

Sorry for the delay, but here are the October newsletter and calendar links.

Don't forget to check out MOPS on Facebook and SCV Mom's Blog!

Newsletter

Calendar

Monday, September 14, 2009

September Newsletter and Calendar

Hey ladies,

You can check out the VUMC MOPS newsletter and calendar online!

Click HERE for the September newsletter (PDF version)
Click HERE for the September newsletter (issuu version)

Click HERE for the September/October 2009 calendar (PDF)

More Mentor Mom Tips...

In the newsletter you will find two Back-to-School tips from our Mentor Moms, but they had lots more to share with us. Please enjoy a few more bits of their wisdom:

Diane Schmidt from the South America table:

My favorite back to school tradition and tip has to be breakfast time. Even if I feel rushed I try to be calm on the outside. One boy just wants to eat and read the sports and doesn't talk. I try to give him the hug of welcome. I don't expect a reaction. My other son is a talker- everything about the day or sometimes important stuff. He doesn't eat as much but drinks tons- 2 tall glasses of water, 1 tall of milk and orange juice. When I run out of OJ it seems to throw him a little. He doesn't talk as much at the end of the day, focuses on homework more than events. Get to know those kids of yours and it is easier for you to adapt to them. It actually is more fun to throw a curve, especially April 1st.

Suzanne Bowman from the Australia table:
(This piece of advice is actually passed down from Suzanne's Mom!)

Write the teacher(s) - handwritten for early years, email for older grades - simply offering the teacher your support as well as sharing a teeny bit about your child's interests, learning style, idiosyncrasies or habits or anything that you think the teacher may want to know that will help your child excel in school.
Make it a light, friendly note and include your phone number and email if they ever need to get in touch with you.


Welcome back!!

Hello ladies! We are so excited that you are back to join us in sisterhood for another year. Our blog is the spot where you can find past newsletters, our event calendar, and lots of other exciting information. Check back regularly so you don't miss anything!!

Sincerely,
The MOPS Communications Team:
Lisa, Christine, Suzanne and Heather

Saturday, August 1, 2009

August newsletter


Newsletter for the MOPS Moms of VUMC

August 2009

Hello MOPS Mommies!

Summer seems to be a time for reunions, whether it’s elementary, high school, college or even a family. I was invited to attend two separate reunions, but did not have the opportunity to attend either, but just the thought of a reunion took me back to those "glorious" days. I thought of my "best" friends and how important each of them were in my life. Then I thought of my "best" friends in my life now and how I would be lost without them. I thought of how much my life has changed in the last 10 and even 20 years and how different I am as a person. A new church, a new neighborhood, MOPS and children have changed who I spend my time with. Since my children have been born, I have invested time in relationships with people who are right there with me: in church, in school and in the trenches of motherhood. I've found that the bonds I am forming with my girlfriends now are just as special as those during elementary, high school and college.

Have your circles of friends changed? Have you changed? As you reflect on how your relationships have changed, you'll think of how your physical appearance has changed, your family has grown, your home has changed, your friends have changed, even your relationship with God has changed. The foundation of being Together on Planet Mom is that God is with us and we are created for relationship with him and each other. We are created to "do life" together. The more we draw together in community, the better we are able to thrive as women and moms. This life together is underlined in our theme verse for the year, where Jesus promises: "For where two or three come together ... there am I with them." (Matthew 18:20)

Remember God did not put us on this planet to raise our children alone! He gave us our husbands, our extended family, our friends, and yes...our girlfriends! So don't spend the last days of summer trying to figure out what to do or who to do it with. Call on your fellow MOPS Mommies, it only takes two or three mommies!

Blessings to you,

Corrie and Joie

Registration

Letters with registration paperwork have been sent to all returning members and to many new Moms as well! If you haven’t received yours, please contact Amy Young at A77young@ca.rr.com.

If you have friends who would like information, please refer them to the church (VUMC) as they have extra paperwork on hand.

Photo Directory news

We will be publishing our photo directory in October, so our Communications team will be taking photos of our new moms or re-taking pictures for any of you who didnt like yours from last year. Please come to the first few meetings looking gorgeous and ready for a picture. J

We are also including the business directory in the back of the photo directory. If you are a Mommy with a home-based business, please e-mail Heather Ippolito at hippolito@gmail.com with your business information. Our members will be excited to learn about what discounts or special offers MOPS moms get from you!


Leadership Positions still Open

We are still in need of a few helpers on the leadership team. There are openings in Moppets and Communications teams. You know youve been thinking about joining a team, so now is the time!! Contact Joie or Corrie for more information about Moppets, or Heather Ippolito if you are interested in joining the communication team.


Helpers needed

We have two events that will require some Mommy power behind them. Please pray on it and see if your gift of gab or organization can be used to help our MOPS sisters.

Block Party—In an effort to encourage Mommies living near VUMC to join our MOPS group we will be participating in a block party at the church. We would like to ask some of our current and past members to help us work our booth. If you are available on Sunday, August 16 to take a shift during the 4-7 p.m. event, please contact Corrie (clilnibes@aol.com) or Joie (jroc1174@aol.com). Let's welcome some new MOPS sisters with open arms!

Antiquities-- We will once again be hosting the Antiquities photography fundraiser. It is a great fundraiser for our group where we organize time slots for darling vintage pictures of our kids. We will need many volunteers to do lots of different things—prior to and on the days of the event. This will be held Saturday and Sunday, October 16 and 17th, with the possibility of extending it to Friday the 15th if we have enough participation. If you are a great organizer—we can use your talent! Please contact either Joie or Corrie for more details.

Hospitality Wish List

We are looking for following donations for our Meetings:

Tea bags - green tea, black teas, herb teas

Sugar packets

Splenda, Equal or other non sugar sweeteners

Ball point pens

If you have any of these items please contact our hospitality chair, Lucy Beasley, at lucy_beasley@yahoo.com


Calendar of Events:

August 5—Wendy Pohl hosts a pool day at Fair Oaks Ranch Community Pool 17554 Dove Willow Street Canyon Country, CA 91387. 10 a.m. to when the kids (or the moms) get tired. Bring Swim Suits / Towels / Snacks or Lunch / Drinks / Sunscreen / etc. (FYI: It's a Jr. Olympic sized pool with a Waterplay Area & also there is playground near by.) Please call or e-mail Wendy to RSVP: wljazzi@earthlink.net or 251-8226.

Directions if needed (by freeway)

Take the I-5 SOUTH toward LOS ANGELES

Merge onto 14 Freeway NORTH towards PALMDALE

Exit VIA PRINCESSA

Turn RIGHT onto VIA PRINCESSA

Turn LEFT at LOST CANYON ROAD

Turn RIGHT at WINTER PINE WAY

Turn RIGHT at BEECH WILLOW LANE

Turn RIGHT at DOVE WILLOW STREET

Go to end of road and turn left up driveway to Fair Oaks Ranch Community Pool

August 11—Tara Johannesen is hosting a pool day. Please contact her for details at TRITCHMAN@YAHOO.COM or 263-1368.

August 27—Beach Day at Marina Park in Ventura. Colleen Rosales is inviting us to join her and Lucas for a day of fun at this beach that also has a park with a kids play area. For details or to RSVP Contact Colleen at colleen6819@sbcglobal.net or 702-0209.

Thanks to Wendy Pohl and Mindy Cope, we were also informed about some other family events around town:

Orange County Fair

Date: July 10 - August 9, 2009

Time: Friday to Sunday 10am to midnight; Tuesday to Thursday noon to midnight (closed Mondays)

KIDS FREE THURSDAYS ~ Kids 12 & under receive FREE admission every Thursday. Valid all day

Address: 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626.

Website: http://www.ocfair.com/

Ventura County Fair

Date: August 5th - August 16, 2009

Time: 11am to 10pm daily

Youth Day ~ Friday, August 7th - All Children 12 years of age & younger will be admitted free all day)
Dollar Days ~ Wed. August 5 & Wed. August 12th - Entry to the Fair is $1.00 'til 3:00pm

Address: 10 W. Harbor Blvd. Ventura, CA, 93001

Website: http://venturacountyfair.org/pages/3441/

Antelope Valley Fair

Date: August 20 - August 30, 2009

Time: Weekdays 4pm to 1am; Sat. noon to 1am/Sun noon to 12pm

Kids Day Monday ~ Aug. 24th, kids 12 & under FREE admission. Opens at 4:00pm.
Carnival Happy Hours good for ALL ages from 4pm - 7pm, ALL rides & games $1.00 each.

Address: 2551 W. Avenue H Lancaster, CA 93536

Wedsite: http://www.avfair.com/

Los Angeles County Fair

Date: September 5th - 7th then ~ September 9th - October 4, 2009

Time: Mon. - Thurs. 11am to 10pm; Fri. 11am to midnight; Sat. 10am to midnight; Sunday 10 to 10pm

Labor Day Weekend ~ Sept. 5th - 7th 10:00 am - 1:00 pm only - Admission Only $1.00

A Day for Heroes ~ Fri. Sept. 11th, Military, Police, Fire & Paramedics, with ID, along with one guest can attend the Fair for $1.00 (which will be donated to the local & national disaster relief fund)

Address: 1101 W. McKinley Ave. Pomona, CA 91768

Website: http://www.fairplex.com/2009/

Avocado Festival
Date: October 2 - October 4, 2009
Times: Fri 4-9pm; Sat 10am-9pm; Sun 10am-6pm
Address: Carpinteria & Linden Ave, Carpinteria, CA.
Website: http://www.avofest.com/
The Avocado Festival has evolved into one of the largest festivals in California with three days of fabulous food, terrific music, and great family fun.

Recess Monkey from Seattle

Date: August 15 and 16, 2009

A children’s music group (and friends of the Cope family) will be performing at the Getty on August 15 and 16. Check out the Getty website for more details http://www.getty.edu/visit/calendar/days/08152009.html


MOPS of VUMC has a blog AND we’re on Facebook….

Don’t forget to check us out on-line.

All of our summer newsletters are on our blog and as we get closer to our first meeting there will be many more exciting things posted there, so check it often! http://vumcmops.blogspot.com/

You can also find our group on Facebook—search for “MOPS of VUMC” and join the group. All of our meeting dates are in the calendar on the page, we have a marketplace for Mommy-home-based businesses, and it’s a great place to connect with your sisters!

If you need any help accessing either of these, please contact Heather Ippolito.

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Happy 4th of July!!

To all my MOPS sisters,

Have a wonderful holiday weekend! Be safe!!!

Love,
The Communications Team and all of Leadership!