Moms Night Out

Don't forget about our MNO this Thursday at 6:30 at El Campesino. Hope to see you there!

Fall is in the Air!

Fall is here for sure. Hope you are enjoying these chilly temperatures and the changing of seasons. Our MOPS year is underway, and we are excited to have a number of new moms in our group this year as well as welcome back many familiar faces!

Here is a link to a super easy Halloween craft that your little ones are sure to love. Here's another craft; this one will hopefully keep your older children busy.

Meeting Dates for 09-10 Announced

Just click on this image to see a larger version of our 09-10 meeting dates and summer activities. Dates are subject to change. Watch your email for more information!

Sweet Re-Treat

Our annual Spring Retreat was this past weekend at Camp Pinnacle in Clayton, and I know I speak for all the moms there when I say it was a blast! We had so much fun being together and getting to know one another.

We began with a scavenger hunt around Clayton. Not only did each team have to gather items, but they also had to capture images of certain places and things taking place. What a fun way to bond with our fellow MOPS!

One team was victorious, but gladly shared their victory with another team that was a close second...lol! We all enjoyed a wonderful meal at Mama G's. The staff was incredible to us, and the food was fabulous!

Finally, we headed back to the cabin at Camp Pinnacle for a devotion, sharing, laughing, games, snacks and lots of fun. Most of us stayed up till the wee hours of the morning...but, most managed to crawl out of their bunks for some yummy Chick-fil-A bright and early on Saturday morning.

You can see more pics from our retreat here.

Don't forget to be getting your clothes together for our annual clothes swap on Fri. April 3. See you there!

Love is in the Air

Hopefully, your fingers aren't glued together from helping your little ones assemble valentine's. We enjoyed a "love"-ly meeting last week. Carol Johnson, MOPPETs coordinator, shared a wonderful testimony. We had some great time in our discussion groups. Have you been finding ways to "show" love this week with your actions? I think I speak for everyone, when I say craft time was a lot of fun! If you need help finding a photo to grace those lovely frames, there are several on our photo site.

Several of you picked up fundraising kits for Personalized Easter Buckets. We'll again have the info available at the next meeting. Orders and money are due at our meeting on Mar. 6 & buckets must be picked up at our meeting on Mar. 20! Many thanks to those of you that have agreed to take on the challenge and help raise funds for our organization.

Continue working on your childcare/family arrangements for Fri, Mar. 20 & Sat, Mar. 21. We want every mom to join us on our retreat to Camp Pinnacle. The cost is only $20 plus the cost of your dinner Friday evening. Your registration covers lodging and breakfast. An itenirary will be announced soon. We'll be taking registration fees at our next meeting.

Speaking of the next meeting...don't forget to bring your wedding albums to share (or another family album). We'll continue with our LOVE theme. Please also be brainstorming an organizational tip you'd like to share with your fellow moms. Bring those to Laura or email her at laurag11@hotmail.com by Mar. 1st!

Sweating to (or with) the Oldies...

I don't know about you, but I felt like I was sweatin' with the oldies last Friday at MOPS. Marva Griffith of Jazzercise in Clarkesville was kind enough to join us for a demonstration. Here are a few pictures!

Oops...wrong way, Grace!

Go, Melissa & Laura!

It was so good to be back with you moms. December 5th seems so long ago! Again, please mark your calendars for our upcoming retreat at Camp Pinnacle on Fri, Mar. 20 - Sat, Mar. 21. The Steering Team will be gathering to plan more details, which will be announced very soon. In the meantime, put it on your calendar, talk to your hubby and arrange childcare, if necessary. You won't want to miss this!

Take care!

Dear Santa

Hope all you moms are enjoying your holidays. Looking forward to joining together for fellowship again at our first meeting of the Spring Semester on Friday, January 23. Also, remember our Moms Night Out on Thursday, January 10 at El Sombrero's at 6. In the meantime, here's a funny email I received:

Dear Santa,
I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled my children on demand, visited the pediatrician's office more than my own doctor, sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground. I was hoping you could spread my list out -- over several Christmases.

Since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles; and who knows when I'll find any more free time in the next 18 years, so now - -
*** Here are my Christmas wishes ***

* I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (-in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze; but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle in the grocery store.

* I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.

* If you're hauling big-ticket items this year, I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

* On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, 'Yes, Mommy' to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools.

* I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting, 'Don't eat in the living room' and 'Take your hands off your brother,' because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.

* If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

*If you don't mind, I could also use a few miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely.

*It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.

Well, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing, and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his red crayon back. Have a safe trip Santa, and remember to leave your wet boots by the door, and come in and dry off, so you don't catch cold. Help yourself to cookies on the table, but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours always with love and appreciation,
a Mom