See What Happened at the First Meeting

Hi! Wow! Who had as much fun as I did at the MOPs kick off of the new year?! 

Wednesday morning we had our first meeting of the 2013/14 year! We were so excited to see some new faces, new kids, and new mommies at the meeting. We also welcomed back several mommies that have been a member of the MOPs program for years! How exciting!!

Our next meeting is one of our night meetings on September 19th at 7:30 and we will be playing BUNKO!!! Last year at MOPs was my first time to ever play and it is too much fun! Plus, you have a chance to win some cash prizes! It costs $3 to play and all you have to do is just show up ready to have some fun! So come check us out and invite your mommy friends to join us!

I wanted to share with you a few pictures to show you what we did at our first meeting! But don't worry if you missed it, we will have many more meetings through out the year and you can join us at anytime. 

Erica and Melissa are making sure everything is ready to greet our new moms! This is where you will check in, get your name tag and sign your kids in. We also have new member packets where you can see what MOPs is all about. Don't forget to invite your friends.

Candy! Yes, please! This is our HAPPY BIRTHDAY bowl. Make sure you don't miss out on your birthday month which is always a good excuse to have a treat! We celebrated 3 mommies' birthdays yesterday.

Every meeting we have a door prize question and give away a couple prizes! Yesterday we gave 2 moms a brand new Grove Gameday T-shirt. (Prizes change every month)

Come hungry!! We rotate a few moms each month to bring breakfast for the group! At our first meeting we had fruit, casserole, and muffins! And don't forget the coffee! 

Our coordinator, Melissa, is greeting one of our favorite new moms, Michelle who just had a baby a few weeks ago!

Time to get started! At this meeting Melissa let us know what all MOPs is about and what to expect of the new year. She gave us a sneak peek of all the fun meeting topics to come each month!

Melissa is a great coordinator who loves MOPs and fellowshipping with other moms! She's just like one of us!

18 beautiful women gathered together.

Our children were playing just up the hallway in the kids' wing with some dedicated, fun childcare workers!

What mom doesn't love a 2 hour "me time" with other women?

Stacy is our TLC lady. If you need a hug or someone to pray for you she is definitely someone you can go to! She gave us a great devotional about how we are ALL beautiful messes! She doesn't have it all together and neither do I. My guess is you don't either. So this group is a great place to be among other moms/women who understand exactly what you are going through. There is no judgement, just support and love... and laughter.  

I loved this picture of Stacy and the happiness she has even though she is going through a beautiful mess! 

Next up CRAFTS!!!

Vanessa is our creative arts gal! She sat the bar high for crafts this year and everyone loved this project! 

Look how beautiful these are!! Magnet Boards! 

We love doing crafts at MOPs because it's a great time to be creative without any tiny little helpers, but also to get to visit and chat with the other moms in the group. 

Thank you to everyone who came to our first meeting and making it such a wonderful, fun, successful time! We are looking forward to seeing you in a couple weeks for BUNKO. 

Make sure to follow us on Facebook at MOPs of Grove and if you have any questions you can contact us there or on our email at mopsofgrove@gmail.com

Thanks for stopping by and we hope to see you soon!

2013-2014 Kick-Off Meeting

Hi ladies!! I hope that you all had a fabulous weekend with your families! 

This week is our official kick-off meeting for the new MOPS year, HOORAY! So invite a friend, and join us tomorrow, WED, SEPT 4 from 9:30-11:30am @ COS (1600 W. HarBer Rd.). Breakfast will be served for the mamas, and childcare is provided through MOPPETS program (cost is covered in annual membership fee), and they will receive snack. Your first meeting is free, so please come visit us!

If  this will be your first time joining us, here are a few helpful tips for you and your children - Plan to arrive a few minutes early so that you can get everyone signed in and to their age appropriate classrooms. Make sure all items (diaper bags, cups, etc.) are clearly labeled. Have an extra change of clothes (no matter what age) and plenty of diapers - everyone has extra wet days. Slather on some sunscreen, the children will spend some playtime outside. And lastly, prepare yourselves for some great fun and look forward to an awesome nap in the afternoon when you leave us - our MOPPETS workers are the BEST!!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• 2013-2014 MOPS of Grove Annual Membership fee = $55, however your first meeting is free, so please come visit us! Scholarships (full and partial) are available and kept anonymous.
• Reminder: childcare is provided through our MOPPETS program, for A.M. meetings only, and the cost is covered in your annual membership fee.
• Reminder: be sure to visit us on FACEBOOK and our website:  http://mopsofgroveok.blogspot.com

CALENDAR:

• THURS, SEPT 19: MOPS Night Out: BUNKO! 7:30-9:30pm @ COS (1600 W. HarBer Rd.). Invite your friends! $3 buy-in with cash prizes! Please note: No childcare is provided for night meetings.
• WED, OCT 2: 9:30-11:30am @ COS (1600 W. HarBer Rd.). Breakfast will be served for the mamas, childcare is provided by MOPPETS (the cost is covered in your annual membership fees).
• THURS, OCT 24: MOPS Night Out 7:30-9:30pm @ COS (1600 W. HarBer Rd.). $3 buy-in with cash prizes! Please note: No childcare is provided for night meetings. *Please note change in date due to Fall Break.

Can't wait to see you all again!

~Erica

WELCOME BACK!

Hi ladies!! I hope that you all had a fabulous summer! And that those of you with children who started school last week, have been able to find a rhythm!

It's time to start a new year of MOPS, HOORAY! We've had some changes to leadership and the Steering Team, and everyone is just so excited... We have a really fun year planned for y'all!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• 2013-2014 MOPS of Grove Annual Membership fee = $55, however your first meeting is free, so please come visit us! Scholarships (full and partial) are available and kept anonymous.
• Reminder: childcare is provided through our MOPPETS program, for A.M. meetings only, and the cost is covered in your annual membership fee.
• Reminder: be sure to visit us on FACEBOOK and our website: http://mopsofgroveok.blogspot.com

CALENDAR:

• WED, AUG 28: OPEN HOUSE, 10-11am @ COS (1600 W. HarBer Rd.)! Come meet your Steering Team and MOPPETS childcare workers while giving your children a chance to explore the amazing facilities prior to our first official meeting. We'll have registration forms and New Member packets available.
• WED, SEPT 4: KICK-OFF Meeting! 9:30-11:30am @ COS (1600 W. HarBer Rd.). Breakfast will be served for the mamas, childcare is provided by MOPPETS (the cost is covered in your annual membership fees).
• THURS, SEPT 19: BUNKO! 7:30-9:30pm @ COS (1600 W. HarBer Rd.). $3 buy-in with cash prizes! Please note: No childcare is provided for night meetings.

Hope to see you all soon!!
~Erica

MOPs Steering Team Retreat 2013-2014

 MOPS of Grove Steering Team retreat

This past weekend your 2013-2014 Steering Team snuck away to a cabin on the lake for a 2 day meeting to make all the fun plans for this coming MOPs of Grove year.

Let me introduce to you the team:

Stacy - TLC, Brenda - Moppetts Coordinator, Melissa - our Leader/Coordinator, Laura- Finances

(and Rachel - she was our leader last year and brought a lot of great stuff to the meeting, but unfortunately will not be able to be here this year.)

Katie - assistant Coordinator and service, Erica- Publicity and Secretary, Lynn - Hospitatlity, KC - Social Media

(Not pictured) Vanessa - Creative Activities

There are 3 new members to the team this year so of course we had to get started with an ice breaker! Be prepared for ice breakers during our MOPs meetings. What a fun way to share a little something about yourself and to get to know each other better.

Then it was time to get down to business. We shared our hopes for this coming year for MOPs. We discussed everyone's positions and responsiblities. Asking questions and getting things organized. We talked about last year and the things that we thought went great and a few things that had room for improvement.

Anytime you have a big group of women you're going to have different opinions. But it is exciting that everyone there felt they could open up and share and discuss. We worked together and came up with what we think is a successful plan for the Mops of Grove 2013-2014 year! You've got a great group leading you this year! This is a group of women, of momma's, that are excited to serve you and give you a great year of making relationships with other moms who support you and understand what it's like to be raising toddlers/preschoolers. You will be learning some important information on various topics to help you be the best mom you can be all the while having some fun "me" time and growing as a woman and a mom.

We are excited for MOPs and we hope you are too.

We woke up Saturday morning to a beautiful day! (Did I mention how rested these 10 women were after a night of no kids waking up hungry or needing to go potty? Very thankful for our families for watching the kiddos while we were away for the retreat!) I believe it was 68 degrees so we were able to have our meeting outdoors next to the lake!

This day we planned out what each meeting would be. We will have 1 morning meeting each month on the first Wednesday and 1 evening meeting the 3rd Thursday of each month. I am excited for all of the different topics this year! We think you will love them too! We listened to your requests from the last meeting last year of topics you were interested in and put them on the calendar!

MOPs of Grove will begin at the end of next month with an open house (SAVE the DATE: Aug 28th at 10am, more info to follow) so make sure you go like our Facebook page, MOPs of Grove, to stay up to date with information. And please invite your friends and other mothers that have little ones to join us! This group is for moms of kids from ages baby to Kindergarten!

We enjoyed this retreat of friends, fun, food, and relaxing. We bonded as a team that is going to work hard and work together to make this year the best one yet!

** KC, blog/social media steering team member, mother of 2 little girls

Meeting - LOVE is in the air ladies!

Hi ladies! Hope everyone is doing well, your households are staying healthy, and that you enjoyed the beautiful weather this weekend!

LOVE is in the air ladies...! Personally, I was never a fan of Valentine's Day. My husband and I don't really 'celebrate' the day in any form. I would rather be surprised with flowers, etc. on any other random day of the year! But then came our kids, and craft time, and homemade creations for daddy became a tradition that is very dear to my heart! Having said that, if Andrew thought it would be a great day to shower me with diamonds, I think I would not oppose. ;)

Anyway... Come on out and join us this Wednesday, Feb 6 @ 9:30-11:30am @ COS (1600 W. 13th St.) for some fun, food, and fellowship! Breakfast will be served for the mamas, and childcare is provided by our MOPPETS program (cost is covered in your annual membership fees). However, please let us know if you plan to utilize childcare, so that we can ensure enough childcare workers. Thank you for your consideration; but if you do forget to RSVP, please come anyway!!

Ladies assigned to bring a breakfast item...Katie Jackson, Brenda Sheffield, Amanda Raper. If you are unable to bring something, no worries, just let us know thanks!

We'll be discussing 'The Five Love Language's' by Gary Chapman. If you have never heard of, or never read the book before, I would highly encourage you to pop on over to their site before Wednesday, and take the short quiz to find out your love language! You could also have your spouse/significant other take it, and there is even a quiz to find out your child(ren)'s love language.... http://www.5lovelanguages.com/profile/   Also, if you happen to have an empty shoe box laying around the house, please bring it on Wednesday!

Upcoming Events

THURS, Feb 21 @ 7:30pm - A 'New' Me - Spa Night!! This has become an annual favorite that you won't want to miss! What better way to end the month of love, than by loving yourself with a MOPS night out with girlfriends! details to follow...(but I promise its super fun!!)

Mar 6 @ 9:30am - Kelly's Korner, the world of mommyhood and blogging, you can read about her here: http://www.kellyskornerblog.com/

Mar 28 @ 7:30pm - Crafts Galore (Please note change in date due to Spring Break!)

April 3 @ 9:30am - Gardening 101

April 18 @ 7:30pm - Sweet & Savory

May 1 @ 9:30am - Tea & Testimony

May 16 - End of the Year Family BBQ

~Erica

Tiny Tot Tuesday: Number Edition

Hey everyone, here is another installment of Tiny Tot Tuesday!  Today includes different ideas for using a deck of cards to practice numbers, so grab a deck and get started!

1. Go Fish: Everyone knows how to play this game, but it's a good one!  It helps kids practice number recognition skills!

2. War: Another oldie but goodie!  This game helps kids compare numbers.

3. Number Sets: Flip over a card and have your child make a group of that number using a small item (such as stickers, cheerios, beads). 

4. Matching Sets: Create groups of small objects.  Then give your child the cards and have him match the number to the set.

5. Ordering Numbers: Give your child a set of cards, one of each number.  Have them put the numbers in order (the best way to do this is to count and put down the corresponding card).

6. Guess the number: Cover the number on each card.  Have kids guess the number by counting the pictures and saying the number (ex: 5, count the 5 hearts).

7. Name that Number: Flip over one card at a time and have your child call out the number, then give them the card if they get it correct!

8. Movement: Turn over a card and have your child do a large motor activity (dkip, hop, jump, turn around) that many times.

9. Missing Number: Lay out cards in sequence, turning some face down.  Have your child guess the missing number.

10. Writing: Place a card under a blank piece of paper and have child trace the number!

~Melissa McMinn, Coordinator, mother of 3 boys

Meeting - Let's Get Physical!

Hello ladies! I hope that you all had a very Merry Christmas and a safe, Happy New Year!

With the new year, comes talk of 'resolutions', or trying new things, or creating new habits...and at MOPS, we want to help kick start 2013 with what we would like to call "LET's GET PHYSICAL!" with Kim Wiles, so you will want to wear some comfy clothes/shoes! Join us this WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9 @ 9:30am - 11:30am @ COS (1600 W. 13th St. in Grove). Breakfast will be served for the mamas, and childcare is provided by our MOPPETS program (cost is covered in your annual membership fees). However, please let us know if you plan to utilize childcare, so that we can ensure enough childcare workers. Thank you for your consideration!

Mamas assigned to bring a breakfast item for Wednesday...Corrine Sikes, Cindy Cole, Katie Johnson, and Stacy Clark. If you unable to be there or can not bring something, no worries, just let Lynn Hassleman know. Thanks!

Upcoming Events...

THURS, JAN 17th @ 7:30-9:30pm: BUNKO!! What better way to welcome in the new year, than a 'friendly' game of Bunko with girlfriends! (warning: this game is not for the faint of heart, these girls can be ruthless! j/k y'all!!) Snacks/drinks will be served, but friendly reminder that childcare is not provided for our evening meetings. There will be a $3 buy-in on the game, with cash prizes to win! This is the perfect opportunity to invite all your friends to share what MOPS is all about!

Feb 6 @ 9:30am - I Love You!

Feb 21 @ 7:30pm - A 'New' Me - Spa Night!

Mar 6 @ 9:30am - Traveling with Toddlers 101

Mar 28 @ 7:30pm - Movie Madness

April 3 @ 9:30am - Gardening 101

April 18 @ 7:30pm - Sweet & Savory

May 1 @ 9:30am - Tea & Testimony

May 16 - End of the Year Family BBQ

Looking forward to a super blessed 2013 MOPS year!

~Erica