Cranberry Monkey Bread by Amy Lannigan

When I was growing up, we would often have Monkey Bread on Christmas morning. It’s a simple recipe, but it always reminds me of Christmas. I thought I would put a spin on this recipe for you.  This makes a lightly spiced glaze that is a little different than the usual!


I like the fact that this can be made the night before and baked first thing in the morning, for an early breakfast.

Cranberry Monkey Bread

• 1 1/2 lbs. frozen dinner roll dough
• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• 3/4 – 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp. ginger
• 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 1/2 cup butter, melted

Grease a fluted tube pan. Mix sugar and spices together, then add orange juice and mix to form a
paste. Place one ­third of cranberries in pan, then continue to layer ingredients in pan as follows:

• Half of frozen rolls
• Half of sugar mixture
• One ­third of cranberries
• Half of butter
• Repeat layers once more.

Allow to rise at room temperature overnight. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 min. Turn out onto
plate. (Be careful; these can be messy!) Serve warm.


Copyright CookingWithoutCorn 2014.

Hope this bread brightens your holidays!  Amy Lannigan

Cookie Decorating Playdate!

Join us this Tuesday December 16th at 10:00 for our cookie decorating playdate at Kim Mowat's home,  Her address is 1131 Petras St, Erie CO.   Kids of all ages are welcome, even if they are too little to decorate :)

If your last name begins with A-M, please bring a plate of cookies to decorate.  N-Z please bring frosting.

Hope to see everyone there!

Tuesday, Dec 9: Christmas Brunch!

MEETING TOPIC: Courage To Celebrate With Meaning

WHEN: Tuesday, Dec 9th from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Fellowship Hall at Calvary Bible Church (3245 Kalmia Ave., Boulder, CO 80301)

FOOD will be provided by Jen & Lindsay's tables

Our speaker is John Mullis, the Children's Director at Calvary's Boulder campus.  He'll be speaking about how to make Christmas real to our kids.  We'll have an extra special brunch as well, and have a really cute Christmas craft - get excited!!

Hope to see you all on Tuesday!

Random Thoughts From Today's Meeting...

So...  there were a lot of fun little tidbits from today I thought I'd post...  Loved seeing you all today!

• DIY dry-shampoo (thank you Jen Bishop).  Here is a link to the recipe she uses.  
• If you'd like to help bless our MOPPETs volunteers with a financial gift, don't forget to paypal Kelly (kelly.nishi@gmail.com)
• LicketySplit App - Great idea from Amy's table to help kids get ready in a timely manner 
• JustOneClubCard - Combine all of your reward cards into one!
• MyGroceries App - Grocery shopping app
• If you want to volunteer to help with Operation Christmas Child on Dec 3rd, contact Kelly.

Post any other ideas you found helpful!

Tuesday, Nov 18: Courage to Be Intentional

MEETING TOPIC: Courage To Be Intentional: Time Management

WHEN: Tuesday, Nov 18th from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Fellowship Hall at Calvary Bible Church (3245 Kalmia Ave., Boulder, CO 80301)

FOOD will be provided by Catherine's table (thank you!)

Our speaker for this week is Lori Wurth and the topic is "Tips to Manage Your Life & Home".  Lori is a speaker, trainer,  coach and has been an adjunct professor at Colorado Christian University for the past 15 years.  I think she'll have some really great tips to share with us!

Hope to see you all on Tuesday!  

Mom's Night Out!

Ready for a Mom's Night Out?  Hope you can all join us!

WHEN: Saturday November 15th at 6pm

WHERE: Lisa Gaskin's Home  (2134 Madison Way, Erie CO 80516)

FOOD: Please bring an appetizer or dessert to share!

Stay warm and hope to see you all on Saturday!  

Courage To Be A Neighbor

MEETING TOPIC: Courage To Be A Neighbor

WHEN: Tuesday, Oct 28th from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Fellowship Hall at Calvary Bible Church (3245 Kalmia Ave., Boulder, CO 80301)

FOOD will be provided by Amy's table (thank you!)

Our speaker for this week is Colleen Johnson and she'll be speaking about hospitality.  If you know her, you would probably agree, but there must be a picture of Colleen next to the definition of "hospitable" in the dictionary.  This will be great timing too as the holidays are approaching!  There is a super cute craft for Tuesday as well - get excited...

Don't forget to register for the year as well! Hope to see you all Tuesday!

Coffee with Rebecca Cores

Interested in learning more from Rebecca & picking her brain?  Join us for coffee & a chat on Monday, October 27th from 6:00-7:30pm at Starbucks at I-25 & 144thin the Orchard, Broomfield (West of I-25 and North of 144th).  Then we'll see you the next morning for MOPS - more info to come ;)

Have a great weekend!

Tuesday, Oct 21: Pumpkin Patch!!

Hi Ladies,

Hope everyone can join us for my personal favorite playdate of the year - Cottonwood Farms Pumpkin Patch!  The picture is of my daughter at Cottonwood when she was 16 months - couldn't resist the preciousness :)

Where:  Cottonwood Farms - 1535 N 75th St, Boulder, CO 80303.  

When:  Tuesday October 21st at 10:00am

Cottonwood Farms is super fun pumpkin farm for toddlers. They have a small hay maze, farm animals, corn maze, steam engine, hay rides, and farm stand.  Everything is free unless you decide you want to buy a pumpkin.  We will meet at the entrance around 10:00 am.  We will leave from the farm to eat lunch at Joanna's house (please pack a lunch).  Please note in the comments if you think you might make it to lunch.  We are looking forward to a fun morning. 

Joanna's House - 4754 Tanglewood Trail , Boulder, CO 80301, Cell: 720 260 9193

Hope to see you there!  Best, Stephanie

Date Ideas!!

Hey ladies!

Whether you're a single mom taking your kids out on the town or married for 14 years (shout out to Jen), we've got some GREAT date night ideas for you! We came up with these at our meeting today and wanted to share them so we could all enjoy the fruits of our collective experience. Enjoy!!

Overnight Dates
The Quality Inn in Louisville has rooms with two-person hot tubs ;)
Look for a deal on Travelzoo
Get a hotel in downtown Denver and walk to brunch the next day (try Jelly)
Bed and Breakfast (Highland Haven is a great one)
Cabin in the mountains (try VRBO, Home Away, or AirBnB)
Estes Park for the weekend: Got to the shops and Rocky Mtn. National Park. It's close, but not TOO close.
Hotel Teatro in Denver
Go camping
Telluride, CO-- Worth the drive!!
Vail Cascade Resort and Spa-- they have $99 deals

Cheap (or Free) Dates
Take a drive to see the fall leaves
Bring a board game to Starbucks
Check out Groupon and see what deals they have
Go to Barnes and Nobel and read, grab a Starbucks
Bingo night!
Free concerts-- mostly in the summer, but most malls and shopping centers host these (Flatirons, 29th Street, Orchards, etc.). Check their calendar for year-round free events.
Take a blanket and a sack lunch to the park
Do your own "book club." Pick a book to read or listen to; discuss.
Free admission 2x per year to national parks
Take a night bike ride around the town/parks
Get a Red Box move and "theater candy" from Walgreens
Window shop
Netflix TV show binge
Bass Pro Shop (they have a shooting game inside)
Sit by a fire pit

Romantic Dates
Stroll through Denver Botanic Gardens
Get a couples massage
Go to a drive-in movie and sit on the hood of your car for a picnic
Color Me Mine
A bottle of wine, two glasses and a blanket
Go to the hot springs (Strawberry Park Hot Springs in Steamboat isn't too far away, but, also good for an overnight)
Go to a nice bed and breakfast
Visit the places you went when you were first dating
Chautauqua Dining Hall has a heated porch adn incredible views
Drive up Flagstaff and enjoy the view. Panorama Point is awesome at night.

Dates with your Daughter
Let her dress up in a princess dress and go out to tea
Go to the American Girl Store
Check out the Carousel of Happiness
Dushanbe Tea House (probably for ages 6+, Tea is M-F 3-5pm)
Cheese Importers in Longmont
Paint Pottery (Crackpots in Longmont)
Get pedicures
Whimsy
Take her to the mall and have a free "makeover" at Macy's or Dillards or Bare Mineral and then do a "photo shoot"

Dates with your Son
Rocket Fizz
Grand Rabbits
Rockies Game
Bowling night
Menchie's
Sweet Cow Ice Cream
Soccer in the backyard
Valmont bike park
The rec center (many have climbing walls)
A museum (Firefighters Museum or Colorado History Museum are good ones)
Laser tag
Boondocks or Gateway
Six Flags
Coffee shop and card games
Music class
(Free) Zoo Day
Children's Garden at Botanic Gardens
Georgetown City Park

Special Occasion Dates
Go back to the place you got engaged and rewalk all the steps from the night
Flagstaff House
Frasca
Melting Pot in Louisville
Camping or Cabin
Get drinks at the Peak Lounge
Climb a 14er
Go happy hour hopping
Showshoe and fondue (in Estes Park- Apexex)
Return to the restaurant of your first date
Gold Hill Inn in the summer

At-Home Dates
Put the kids to bed and make a candlelit dinner together
Game night/XBox/Wii
Fire in the fireplace
Read a book aloud together
Vacation daydream
Take a long walk
Do a puzzle
Drop the kids at grandma's, go home for a peaceful, kid-free dinner and night (way cheaper than a hotel)
Get a babysitter and stay home all night!
Get takeout (no dishes!), rent a special movie and drop the kids at grandmas
Build a grown-up fort in your room and watch a movie

Dates Your Husband will Love
Georgetown Loop Railroad has Oktoberfest beer tasting included
Rockies/Broncos game (or watch the game at Buffalo Wild Wings). For a Rockies game, get a reservation at the "Bar Top" in the Mountain Ranch Club.
Mountain biking
Soccer game
Progressive dinner (go to a different restaurant for each course)
Brewery (or several!)
Mountain getaway (try vailonsale)
Dave and Buster's
MadCap Comedy Club
4-Wheeling in Pike National Forest
Snowmobiling in Estes
CU Buffs basketball (or CSU!)
Rock climbing
Motorcycle trip

What ideas would you add to this list? Any creative ideas for babysitters?? Please continue posting your ideas and suggestions!

Tuesday, Oct 14: Courage in Marriage

"Mawwiage has brought us together..."  "Princess Bride" anyone?  Maybe I'm dating myself.  Well, that is our topic for Tuesday - marriage that is - not "The Princess Bride". 

MEETING TOPIC: Courage in Marriage

WHEN: Tuesday, Oct 14th from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Fellowship Hall at Calvary Bible Church (3245 Kalmia Ave., Boulder, CO 80301)

FOOD will be provided by Jen's table (thank you!)


Our speaker for this week is Andrea Binder.  She is going to speaking on cultivating a healthy marriage, especially during a chaotic season - such as having preschoolers at home!  Andrea is a counselor, author and speaker - check out her website! 

Don't forget to register for the year as well!  On Tuesday we'll have the next drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card for all those that have registered!  Hope to see you all Tuesday!

Crock-tober

Hey Mamma,
I think cooking dinner is my least favorite "mommy job".  It is inevitable, that by 4:30 when its time to get dinner started, the baby is crying, the 3 year old needs help putting doll clothes on, the dog vomits, so it takes me about 20 minutes to chop an onion.  Thus, my love for crockpot dinners!  They involve little prep, are generally super yummy, the house smells so good, and the hubs is welcomed home to a much more peaceful environment.

I though I'd post a few of my favorite crockpot recipes (not created by me- I am no Martha Stewart) and would love if people comment with their favorite slow cooker recipes as well.  Let's make 4:30 better for us all :)

Pulled Pork Tacos (Kate Walsh)

• 2.5 lbs boneless pork butt or shoulder (or 2 lbs chicken)
• 2 cups salsa
• 2 TBS chili powder
• 2 TBS unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 TBS dried oregano
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• Corn Tortillas
• Fixin's for tacos (sour cream, cheese, guac)

In the slow cooker, combine salsa, chili powder, oregano, cocoa, and salt.  Add meat and turn to coat.  Cover and cook until meat is tender (4-5 hours on high or 7-8 hours on low).  Shred the meat with 2 forks in cooking liquid.  

Chicken Cacciatore

• 1.5 lb chicken breasts
• 1 red pepper cut into strips
• 1 onion chopped
• 1-2 jars pasta sauce
• 1 pkg portobello mushrooms sliced

In the slow cooker, put chicken breasts on the bottom then layer with veggies.  Top with pasta sauce. Sprinkle with dried oregano.  Cover and coon on low 8 hours or high for 4 hours.  Shred the chicken.  Serve over egg noodles and top with Parmesan cheese.  

Tuesday, Sept 23: Courage To Be A Sticky Faith Mom!

Hey Ladies,
Hope you are all enjoying the weekend and the beautiful weather!  And hoping everyone can join us for the 2nd MOPS meeting of the year...

MEETING TOPIC: Courage To Be A Sticky Faith Mom

WHEN: Tuesday, Sept 23rd from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Fellowship Hall at Calvary Bible Church (3245 Kalmia Ave., Boulder, CO 80301)

FOOD will be provided by Lindsay's table (thank you!)



Our speaker for this week is Rebecca Cores.  Rebecca lives on a small farm in Loveland with her husband and six children.  Her first four children are all boys and then she had a little girl and they adopted another little girl of similar age.  She home-schools all of her children, oh my!  Rebecca will be answering questions related to our topic "Courage To Be A Sticky Faith Mom".  

Don't forget to register for the year as well!  On Tuesday we'll have the first drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card for all those that have registered!  Hope to see you all Tuesday!

MOPS Annual Fall BBQ

Come one, come all to our MOPS Annual Fall BBQ!  Bring your hubs, kiddos and a side dish, drink, or dessert to share!

What:  MOPS Annual Fall BBQ

When:  Saturday, September 27th at 4:00 pm

Where:  Jacqui Reddick's Home - 36 S Gay Dr, Longmont CO 80501.  Her number is 303-817-5520.

RSVP:  Click Here

Tuesday, September 16th: Playdate at Erie Communicty Park

Tuesday is forecasted to be 84 degrees, so we're hitting the playground!  

Where:  Erie Commons Park, 450 Powers St, Erie

When: 9:30-11:30am

Hope everyone can join us!  Let's enjoy the sunshine - before we know it we'll be covered in snow!

Tuesday, Sept 9: Be You Bravely!

The weather this morning proves that fall is just around the corner, and you know what that means - time for MOPS!!  Hope you can join us Tuesday for the first meeting of the year.

Our theme this year is "Be You Bravely!"  This year, we'll be exploring what it means to break out of our ruts and live courageously!

MEETING TOPIC: "Courage to Fave Your Mom Fears"

WHEN: Tuesday, September 9, 2014 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Fellowship Hall at Calvary Boulder Church (3245 Kalmia, Boulder, CO 80301)

Food will be provided by the Steering Team.

For our first meeting of the year, we'll be hearing from our mentor moms on facing our mom fears and emotions. 

Don't forget to take the Three Mom Challenge as well - if you invite three moms to MOPS, you'll be entered into a drawing :)

We look forward to seeing each and every one of you at MOPS on Tuesday! Please contact us if you have any questions.

Stephanie

Time to get out of the house?

Well good!  Only 29 days until we kick off MOPS 2014-2015!

Our theme for this year is "Be You Bravely" with our theme verse from Isaiah 43:18-19, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."

Please mark your calendars and plan to join us at Calvary Bible's Boulder campus on Tuesday, September 9, 2014 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.  Below is this years schedule:

• Sept. 9
• Sept. 23
• Oct. 14
• Oct. 28
• Nov. 18 (This is the 3rd Tues because the 2nd Tues is Veterans Day and the 4th is Thanksgiving week)
• Dec. 9
• Jan 13
• Jan 27
• Feb 10
• Feb 24
• Mar 10
• April 14
• April 28
• May 12

Can't wait to see everyone, and don't forget to invite your friends!  

Tuesday, May 13: Spring Brunch!

In this ever-changing season of life, some of the transitions we face are easier than others, and MOPS has been the perfect outlet to talk about all of them. But, I'm sure that we're all excited about the next big transition coming: summer vacation! Personally, I am excited to ditch the alarm clock in the morning and the strict bedtime routine at night. But, even before I had school-aged kids, summertime was an exciting time to plan and execute a whole host of fun activities with my littles, like pop-jet fountains, concerts in the park, gardening, and bike rides to the ice cream shop (heck, we still do those things!).

Please join us at our final MOPS meeting of the year to share your plans for transitioning to Summertime. 

MEETING TOPIC: Spring Brunch

WHEN: Tuesday, 5/13 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Fellowship Hall at Calvary Bible Church (3245 Kalmia Ave., Boulder, CO 80301)

FOOD: Steering will be preparing a special spread for everyone to enjoy.

This will be our final opportunity to play "High/Low," and we hope you found it to be an effective tool for getting to know the ladies at your table throughout the year! After eating and catching up, Steering has a fun relay game to get us into that Summertime spirit (***hint*** you might want to wear a good pair of running shoes). 

Then, former Mentor Mom Colleen Johnson will guide us through her favorite steps for making the most out of summer with our children. Her talk will include the "ingredients" for her favorite tool kit to keep kiddos happy and well regulated when on-the-go.

We will share information about the theme for next year's MOPS, discuss ways to stay connected over the summer through Bible study and play dates, and reflect upon our past 9 months together. 

We hope to see you on Tuesday!
~Sheryl

Saturday, May 10: Mom's Night Out!

If you plan to stick around over Mother's Day weekend, then we hope you will join us for Mom's Night Out to see the movie "Mom's Night Out." :-)

WHAT: MOPS Mom's Night Out with a movie followed by dessert/coffee

WHEN: Saturday, May 10, around 7 p.m.

WHERE: AMC Flatiron Crossing 14, 61 West Flatiron Crossing Drive, Broomfield, CO 80021

R.S.V.P. to Allie Franklin: alliemfranklin@yahoo.com She will contact everyone about the specific start time for the movie as well as plans for dessert/coffee afterward.

Welcome to MOPS, Tessa Brielle!

Isn't she lovely?? :-)

Hannah Prismon's baby girl is finally here! Tessa Brielle was born on April 28th. She weighed 9 pounds 11 ounces and measured 21.5 inches long. Hannah and her husband Josh shared that her name was carefully chosen; it means "Beloved by God; He is my Strength."

Everyone is doing well, and they are spending lots of quality time at home with Tessa's two big brothers. 

Tuesday, April 22: Why Hide the Mess?

So, if you haven't caught on by now, the theme for MOPS this year is "A Beautiful Mess." We've had both serious and fun discussions about the beautiful, crazy, messy micro-world we live in with our little families. As we wind down the year, we wanted to bring in a very special guest to help us remember how very important it is to reach out and connect with other moms who are "in season" with you. Motherhood is not a solo endeavor, nor was it ever meant to be. Please join us and share your story, no matter how messy it may be. 

MEETING TOPIC: Why Hide the Mess?

WHEN: Tuesday, 2/25 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Fellowship Hall at Calvary Bible Church (3245 Kalmia Ave., Boulder, CO 80301)

FOOD will be provided by Jen Bishop's table (thank you!)

Back by popular demand, Robbie Iobst will give a special talk entitled, "Why Hide the Mess? A Call to Vulnerability and Community Among Moms." My main take-away from her talk last year was "Safety Fourth." I can't wait to learn more from this passionate follower of Jesus who seeks to live a life of Joy Dancing! If you haven't already done so, I would encourage you to sign up for her weekly devotionals, which she affectionately calls "Joyvotions." 

Before her talk, though, come prepared to play a fun game: "Two Truths and a Lie." This fun game is great for big groups, so we'll play elimination rounds based on others' ability to detect which of three statements you share is bogus. 

See you on Tuesday!
Sheryl

Tuesday, April 15: Play date at the Denver Zoo!

Weather permitting, we'll hit the zoo this coming Tuesday for our monthly play date. Pack your hats and sunscreen, and maybe a picnic lunch, and join us for some fun walking around with the kiddos. There are plenty of new arrivals to scope out, so there should be something for everyone!

WHAT: Denver Zoo

WHEN: Tuesday, April 15 at 9:30 a.m.

WHERE: 2300 Steele Street, Denver, CO 80205
** Meet near the giraffe statues at the entrance **

COST: Adults: $15; Children 3-11: $10; Children under 3 are FREE
** If cost is an issue, please let us know! Many moms have annual memberships and can get you in for free.
** Also, for a limited time, you can find coupons to the Zoo at participating Wendy's restaurants.

R.S.V.P. to Allie Franklin: alliemfranklin@yahoo.com

Susan Cawley's Granola Recipe

Our Mentor Moms are the best, and here's one more reason to prove it. Susan Cawley whipped up a batch of her favorite homemade granola for our most recent MOPS meeting. Some of you (ok, it was me) were asking for the recipe, and she has graciously provided it for all of us! She swears that the maple syrup is the key ingredient here.

GRANOLA

~Susan Cawley

4 cups rolled oats  (not 1 minute) 

½ cup sunflower or sesame seeds or chopped nuts  (I usually use whole nuts) 

A little coconut and/or wheat germ

Salt

¼ cup honey

2 Tbsp maple syrup

¼ c corn or canola oil

2 tsp vanilla

Pour wet ingredients over dry in baking pan.  Bake at 325 degrees  for 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.

Add raisins and/or cranberries after cooking.

Note:  It is less messy if you put the oil into a glass measuring cup, then add the honey.  

Enjoy!!  

Saturday, May 10: Women's Retreat at Calvary

Ladies, I want to remind everyone about the information that Theresa Sherard shared with us at our most recent MOPS meeting. Calvary Bible Church will host a Women's Retreat on Saturday, May 10, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Boulder campus. "Beautiful" will feature Shari Braendel, a sought after women's Christian speaker, for a day centered around taking good care of ourselves, dressing fashionably, and radiating our inner beauty! 

Bring your daughters (age 13 & up), sisters, mothers, friends! Lunch is included. 

"The King is enthralled by your inner beauty." (Psalm 45:11) 

Sign up at calvarybible.com/rsvp.

Tuesday, April 8: Having a Mess-Free Vacation

Spring has sprung, and that means my favorite season is right around the corner: camping season, that is! Have you had the chance to take a camping trip with your family, to immerse your children in all of God's wonderous creation? 

I can still remember when I purchased my first "official" camping book after high school. We didn't camp much growing up, but the few times we did go were more than enough to spark my interest. Those first few times weren't always easy, but I learned a lot, and I have continued to learn to make the most of my time outdoors and in campgrounds now that I have a family in tow. 

For example, keeping a little potty chair inside the tent/camper for the kids is great for those cold mornings when you don't want to go outside *just yet.* I also leave out snacks and quiet activities for my early risers so that I can catch even a few minutes' more shut-eye before taking on the day. We always pack a short 2x4 and a rope, you know, in case there's a tree around that would be perfect for swinging from. And, I keep a bucket of water sitting in the sun to make quick work out of cleaning dirty feet and hands before going inside. 

Even if camping isn't on your agenda this year, no doubt the longer, warmer days have you thinking about summer vacation and traveling of some sort (staycations included!). If so, you're in the right frame of mind to join us at our next MOPS meeting. 

MEETING TOPIC: Having a Mess-Free Vacation

WHEN: Tuesday, 2/25 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
WHERE: Fellowship Hall at Calvary Bible Church (3245 Kalmia Ave., Boulder, CO 80301)
FOOD will be provided by Destiny's table (thank you!)

Our special guest speaker will be Laura Perdew, a Boulder mom and author of the book, Kids on the Move! Colorado. She will help us sort through the messy details of traveling with our children. We will then break out into groups in order to share our travel plans as well as tips and tricks for ensuring that our journeys are just as enjoyable as the destination. 

Discussion topics include:

* What trips do you have planned in the near future?
* What problems do you foresee?
* How can you be proactive to minimize common trip issues?
* How can you turn a trip into a vacation for you and your trip mates?
* What was the best trip you ever took?
* Do you have any trips you take annually?
* Where would you like to go someday?

We will pair this talk/discussion with a fun craft, felt flowers similar to the darling bouquets that have adorned our tables this year. 

See you on Tuesday!
Sheryl

It's Not Easy Being Green

"Greening" Your Parenting!

Join us tomorrow, March 11th at 9am for a meeting focused on being "green"!

Michael from the Flower Bin will speak to us about “Gardening Tips for Colorado”-- with tips on everything from starting a garden for the first time to taking your garden to the next level.

Then, we will have a short discussion break before we hear from Julie Rogers, Owner of Teenie Greenies, Inc. on “How to ‘Green’ Your Parenting Experience”.

We will also be enjoying a lovely brunch and plenty of kid-free time!

See you tomorrow!!

Loving on our Kids: Rene Rankin

Hmm... who wants to bring along some tunes and challenge Rene to a dance-off at our next MOPS meeting? 

NAME: Rene Rankin

MOPPETS Title: Nursery helper

BIRTHDAY: August 8th

HOMETOWN: Rene grew up in Sugar Hill, Georgia, which is NE of Atlanta

CHILDCARE EXPERIENCE: Rene volunteers in the nursery at The Well Church here in Boulder. She is also the mama of a sweet baby boy named Royal!

FAVORITE THINGS: Rene loves to sew, knit, paint...pretty much everything crafty! 

FUN FACT: Rene likes to sing and dance and act like a fool with her baby boy at home, but if you ever ask her to do so in public, she'll definitely hide!

Thank you for your service, Rene!

Welcome to MOPS, Emmy Joy!

Mamas:

Since Heather isn't on Facebook, you may not have heard the wonderful news that her third baby girl was born last Saturday, February 15. Emmy Joy weighed 6 pounds 4 ounces; she is healthy and beautiful and her big sisters are in love!

Unfortunately, Heather is back in the hospital, likely due to complications from her C-section. Please pray for a speedy recovery so that she can get home to her girls!

Tuesday, February 25: Cultivating Compassion

In our last meeting, we discussed ways to bring new and old traditions into the routine of our little families. For me, I have always wondered how to incorporate charity into our family's daily habits. This goes beyond encouraging my children to treat each other with kindness. How can I extend that to those less fortunate around us? Should we participate in Operation Christmas Child? Should we give money to every homeless person we meet? Should we volunteer at a local shelter or food bank? 

Young children are naturally egocentric, so when is the right time to start? If I start "now," when they are young, will they even understand the concepts, or will it be better to wait until they are "ready?" When will that be?

My fellow mamas, the time is now. It is always now. Please join us to learn the many ways how. 

MEETING TOPIC: Cultivating Compassion

WHEN: Tuesday, 2/25 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Fellowship Hall at Calvary Bible Church (3245 Kalmia Ave., Boulder, CO 80301)

FOOD will be provided by Joanna's table (thank you!)

As always, we will start with a prayer and welcome message before we settle in to play "High/Low" at our tables while enjoying our meal.

After watching a short video honoring the hard work of stay-at-home moms (all moms, really), we will get to work on a compassion/craft project for the single moms served by Real Choices. 

Then, Kirsty Sarris will give a talk called, "Cultivating Compassion in Young Kids." Kirsty attends Calvary Bible Church's Erie campus and is the homeschooling mom of two young boys (ages 7 and 4). She will share the story of how she has executed "Missions from our Couch," in which her family explores ways to help the poor of the earth without leaving home. One of the biggest impacts on her family has been the ministry of Compassion International in terms of engaging her kids with other children that live in poverty. This is blog post explains a little part of her journey with this ministry. Kirsty is excited to share how this small change has blessed and changed her family in ways that she never expected.

We will finish our day with discussion time and brief announcements for our next meeting. 

See you on Tuesday!
Sheryl

Loving on our Kids: Sue Palmer

If your toddler tries to run away from MOPS, this Boulder native will have no trouble finding him/her...

NAME: Sue Palmer

MOPPETS Title: Helper for the 2's and 3's

BIRTHDAY: July 7th

HOMETOWN: Sue was born and raised right here in Boulder, CO 

CHILDCARE EXPERIENCE: Sue's parents operated a 60-child-capacity preschool for 45 years (Jack & Jill Preschool), and her home was attached to the preschool. Needless to say, Sue grew up surrounded by small children. She also handled all of her grown son's childcare needs when he was young.

FAVORITE THINGS: Sue loves playing volleyball, hiking, healing/toning with sound, biographical movies and books, and art.

FUN FACT: In her 30's and 40's, Sue continually attempted to move away from Boulder, only to return after one year (firmly under Niwot's curse!). She did, however, manage to move to Kauai for 6 years, but returned again in the Fall of 2012. We're glad to have you home!

Thank you for your service, Sue!

Photography Information!

Photographer Contact List:

Kim Jones Photography
www.kimjonesphotography.com
www.facebook.com/kimjonesphotography
971-218-5101

Jennifer Bishop Photography
www.jennifer-bishop.com
info@jennifer-bishop.com
402-671-8427

Jessica Lee Photography
www.jessica-lee-photography.com
Jessica@jessica-lee-photography.com OR jsilver1234@gmail.com
502-396-2833

As we mentioned at MOPS, we are all more than happy to answer any specific questions that you may have about your camera or how to take great photos of your children. So just send us an email if there is anything else we can do for you!


Suggested consumer photo lab: www.mpix.com
Labs to avoid if you want quality prints for your portraits: Walgreens, Walmart, Shutterfly (these labs print from your uploaded thumbnail and not from the digital file's encoded information)

February Playdate with Your Table

Mamas:

The play date for this month is yours to plan with your tables. Your DGLs will take the lead on organizing. You can do it any time that works for your group and anywhere you like. It can be a playdate or Mom's Night Out, whatever your group feels is needed. The purpose is to meet together outside of MOPS to better get to know the ladies in your group.

Enjoy!

Welcome to MOPS, Jeannette Autumn!

There is no doubt that the lovely moms from our MOPS group are keeping the local Obstetricians gainfully employed! Ladies, we have another beautiful baby to welcome to our group! Amy Greenip gave birth to Jeannette Autumn on February 1st, weighing in at 7 pounds 6 ounces.

Amy, we hope that you, Noel, Aletheia and Jeannette are resting well and spending lots of time snuggling together as a family of FOUR! We look forward to seeing you at MOPS again soon.

Tuesday, February 11: Preserving Your Family's Story

What do you hope you’ll remember about your life now 10 or 20 years from now? What do you want your kids to remember? What are you doing to make that happen?

Do you want to learn how to tell great stories to your kids? Do you love to take pictures, but yearn to learn how to better capture life's little moments? Do you want to get over that feeling of intimidation when considering online scrap booking? What family traditions (aside from the holidays) did you bring to your new family from your childhood, and where do your husband's traditions fit into the mix?

Please join us to discuss all of this, and more, this Tuesday. 

MEETING TOPIC: Preserving Your Family's Story

WHEN: Tuesday, 2/11 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Fellowship Hall at Calvary Bible Church (3245 Kalmia Ave., Boulder, CO 80301)

FOOD will be provided by Jessica's table (thank you!)

As always, we will start with a prayer and welcome message before we settle in to play "High/Low" at our tables while enjoying our meal.

We will have a Real Mom Moment about the importance of preserving your family's story. As an FYI, these RMM's are not just for members of the Steering Team. If you have a story to share, please let us know!

kelly.nishi@gmail.com
jacqui.reddick@gmail.com

Then, we will break away from our tables in order to mingle around different "memory stations" in the Fellowship Hall. There will be plenty of time to mingle and talk to our in-house experts about story telling, photography, scrapbooking, family traditions, and more. 

Finally, we will regroup for discussion time. 

See you on Tuesday!
Sheryl

Welcome to MOPS, Addison Grace!

We have another baby to celebrate! Stephanie Sullivan gave birth to her second daughter, Addison Grace, on January 24 at 8:48 a.m. Addison measured 6 pounds 12 ounces and 19-3/4" long. Stephanie own birthday is just two days prior, and she calls Addison her best birthday gift ever! Everyone is adjusting well, and Stephanie looks forward to joining us at MOPS again soon.

Congratulations, Stephanie and family!