Year's End and Summer Park Schedule

Well, another year has come and gone. Tomorrow is our last official meeting of M4M for the 2009-10 school year. Tomorrow we will be wrapping up any loose ends from the year and making sure everyone is ready to leap into summer. Snacks have NOT been assigned... so those of you who feel inspired, feel free to bring something! You know we will all appreciate it. Also, we will be having another kid's clothing swap time, so bring along any outgrown kids clothes that need new homes. You might even find a thing or two to take home. I know I have lots of things I can bring!

Here is the 2010 M4M Summer Park Schedule:

June 9th & 16th: Meeting at 9:15 AM at Kinder Park 1326 Oak St. (NO childcare provided during park meetings).
June 23, 30: 11:00 AM at Kinder Park
July 7, 14, 21, 28: 11:00 AM at Takena Park: 1101 Lawridge St.
August 4, 11, 18, 25: 11 AM at Bryant Park, 801 Bryant Way.

Bring lunch, lawn chairs, blankets, sunscreen... whatever you need in order to relax and socialize. We meet "weather permitting," so if it rains -- stay home and plan on meeting the following week. Summer meetings are a great time for new folks to join our group, so bring your friends!

Small Group Day Out

This week is our "small group day out." It's a chance for you to drop your kiddos off at the nursery and join your small group in a fun activity. I have quizzed the small group leaders as to what each group is doing and here is the information I have gleaned. (If your group leader isn't represented in this list, make sure to touch bases with them to find out where you are meeting. If your group leader has given you different information than what I have -- go with what THEY told you.)

Katie Gerig's small group will be meeting at the coffee house named "SIDE-KICKS". It's on the one-way main street down town Albany, the one-way leaving down town going toward FredMyer across from St. Mary's Catholic Church. If the weather permits, we will take a walk along the river. So ware comfortable shoes!!

Erika Snow's small group will be meeting at the Starbucks by Fred Meyers and may head over to look at sales afterward.

Amber's group is going shopping at TJ Max -meet at the school for kiddo drop off and carpool over to Corvallis.

Erika David's group will be at Lakeshore Lanes trying out their new put-put golf course. (I hope you have nice weather!)

Shannon's group was still a bit uncertain when I last spoke with her. Some will be going to Corvallis to shop at TJMaxx, but others might be meeting in town. Hopefully you are all in touch. If you are uncertain where to meet, give Shannon a call at 541-924-1346. (I hope you don't mind me giving out your number, Shannon! :)

Sabrina/Bethany's group will be meeting at Angela Miller's house for waffles and wii.

I *think* this covers everyone. If you are NOT in a small group, just pick one and meet us at one of the various locations. Or come by the nursery at dropoff time and sigh a lot while making sad puppy dog eyes. Someone will be sure to have pity on you and welcome you into their group for the rest of the year.

Next week at M4M, we will be having an end of the year party! Are you excited about summer? Don't worry, it won't be goodbye... We will meet in Albany-area parks every Wednesday around lunchtime. I will post the park schedule and details next week.
See you tomorrow!
Karen

Friendship Day

This Wednesday at M4M, we will be celebrating friendship! So, bring your friend or her photo and let's take joy in the friends that God has provided to enrich our lives. Snacks will be supplied by Erika D.'s group.

Next week we will be going on small group outings. Talk to your small group leader to find out where to meet. If you are not in a small group, talk to Chaundra. Childcare will be provided at the church like normal.
See you Wednesday!

Managing Time and Money

Tomorrow morning at M4M, we will be discussing home management, finances and coupon-clipping. Come ready for some lively discussion and tips to help you save some money and balance your budget. Snacks will be provided by Sabrina's small group.

Next week we will be celebrating friendship,so bring along your best friend (or her photo). And even though the song says that "Diamonds are a girl's best friend" -- we're talking about real people here, ladies! Snacks will be provided by Erika D.'s small group.

Don't forget to bring items for the care packages we are sending to the troops.

Healthy Limits, Guest Speaker

This week at M4M, a guest speaker will be joining us to help us learn about setting healthy limits for our children. We're going to get started right on time, because we need to vacate the room early so that the fellowship hall can be prepared for a special lunch. Snacks this week will be provided by Shannon Stephen's small group.

Next week we will be having our women's panel who will be answering questions about time organization, balancing family finances and coupon clipping. Start thinking about some questions!

We just got a special request from our friend Tina Mills with Options Pregnancy Center. I'm going to paste it below so that we can save time with announcements on Wednesday.
The new ultrasound machine is arriving next week in Albany and our nurse manager will be going through training the week of May 24-27th. We are looking for pregnant women to volunteer as models to help in our medical conversion and nurse training. The ultrasounds will be performed under the supervision of a registered ultrasonographer and medical professional. There is no charge for the ultrasound and everyone will be free pictures of their baby and even be entered into a drawing for some gift baskets! The models should be between 6 and 28 weeks pregnant at the time of the ultrasound.To schedule an appointment, please call Hollie at 541-924-0166. If anyone as any questions, please contact Patti Holland – RN at 541-758-3662.

Also, please remember to bring in items for our care packages for the troops. Here are some suggested items: Envelopes, paper, pens, small notepads, address labels, single-use cameras, small padded envelopes, postage stamps, 1 or 2 gallon zip-lock bags, decks of cards, frisbees, nerf footballs, hacky sacks, hand-held games, coffee, cocoa mix, tea, pre-sweetened drink mixes, gum, lifesavers, mints, nuts, sunflower seeds, trail mix, power bars, protein bars, beef jerky or beef summer sausage (non-perishable, labeled USDA Beef), small bags of snacks or individually wrapped snacks, poptarts, cereal bars, granola bars, cookies, candy and candy bars (chocolate will melt, so avoid). NO pork or pork by-products (including slim jims), NO fruit or yeast products. Non-perishable foods only.

Kid's clothing exchange

This Wednesday (Apr 28th) at Mornings for Moms, we are doing a kids clothing exchange. So quick... right now... run to your kids closets and find those out-grown-but-still-nice clothes. Bag-em up and bring them in tomorrow. We'll have fun trading outfits and picking out some new duds for our kiddos. If you have things left over afterwards, you can either take them back home or we'll make a group donation to the new Teen Challenge thrift-shop across the street.

Snacks provided by Erika Snow's small group.

Even if you don't have stuff to bring (and come on -- who doesn't, really???) please come and enjoy the fun time together.

Weekly Update for April 7, 2010

Now that Spring Break is over, it's time to get back into the swing of things. This week (April 7th) at M4M, we will be welcoming special guest speaker Wanda Omdahl of the Albany Fire Department. She came and spoke to us once before and she is a delight. We are excited to have her back again. Please bring along a bible and a concordance (if you have one) for an activity we will be doing during devotion time with Erika. Snacks will be provided by Amber's group.

Next week (April 14th) we will be having our annual Mornings for Moms Tea. We will discuss the details of that on Wednesday.

Here is the schedule for the next few weeks:
4/7 Wanda Omdahl, Albany Fire Dept.
4/14 Women's Tea
4/21 Chapter Discussion

Smile Time :)
Spring Fever

Four high school boys afflicted with spring fever skipped morning classes. After lunch they reported to the teacher that they had a flat tire.

Much to their relief she smiled and said, "Well, you missed a test today so take seats apart from one another and take out a piece of paper."

Still smiling, she waited for them to sit down. Then she said: "First Question: Which tire was flat?"

Personal Fitness with Dani Chance

Hello everyone!

This week (Mar. 17th) at M4M, our very own Dani Chance will be sharing with us about personal fitness. Here are some important instructions from Dani, to make sure that we come prepared.
Everyone should dress to exercise
Bring a water bottle
Bring a large beach towel or exercise mat. If some people brought 2 for those that don't bring anything, that would be great.
Also, pregnant women & those with certain health issues or injuries can still participate on some things. We will be going over lots of info also and not just exercising.

Snacks will be provided by Sabrina's group. Come ready to have some fun!

Next week (Mar. 24th) we will be taking the week off because of Spring Break. I hope everybody has fun things plannned!

We'll see you Wednesday! (Actually, I won't, because I'm driving for the 1/2nd grade field trip. But have fun, anyway!)

Karen

Smile Time! :)  I went looking for some St. Patrick's Day jokes to share with you, but most of them were about drinking and fighting... I did find this one that I thought was pretty clever. I hope you enjoy it!

An aging man lived alone in Ireland. His only son was in Long Kesh Prison, and he didn't know anyone who would spade up his potato garden. The old man wrote to his son about it, and received this reply, "For HEAVENS SAKE, don't dig up that garden, that's where I buried the GUNS!!!!!" At 4 A.M. the next morning, a dozen British soldiers showed up and dug up the entire garden, but didn't find any guns. Confused, the man wrote to his son telling him what happened and asking him what to do next.
 
His son's reply was: "Just plant your potatoes."

Celebrating the Easter Season -- Beth Lambright

Happy day, everyone!

 

I am SO looking forward to tomorrow's M4M meeting (Mar.10). We are welcoming back guest speaker, Beth Lambright, who is going to give us some new ideas for celebrating Easter (woo-hoo!) with our families. Now, the one hitch is that we do not have anyone signed up for snacks. So, if you feel like bringing something, even though it is not your official week -- please do so! I'm sure we will have plenty.

 Next week (March 17th), our very own Dani Chance will be educating us about personal fitness. I have a hunch that she will have us up and moving... so you might want to dress comfortably. Snacks will be provided by Sabrina's group.

Smile Time! :)  What is the connection beteween Easter and Personal Fitness? You got it -- chocolate!

The Rules of Chocolate

• If you get melted chocolate all over your hands, you're eating it too slowly.  
• Chocolate covered raisins, cherries, orange slices and strawberries all count as fruit, so eat as many as you want.
•  The problem: How to get two pounds of chocolate home from the store in a hot car. The solution: Eat it in the parking lot.  
• Diet tip: Eat a chocolate bar before each meal. It'll take the edge off your appetite and you'll eat less.  
• A nice box of chocolates can provide your total daily intake of calories in one place. Isn't that handy?  
• If you can't eat all your chocolate, it will keep in the freezer. But if you can't eat all your chocolate, what's wrong with you?  
• Money talks. Chocolate sings.  
• Chocolate has many preservatives. Preservatives make you look younger.  
• Why is there no such organization as Chocoholics Anonymous? Because no one wants to quit.  
• Put "eat chocolate" at the top of your list of things to do today. That way, at least you'll get one thing done.  
• Chocolate is a health food. Chocolate is derived from cacao beans. Bean = vegetable. Sugar is derived either from sugar beets or cane, both vegetables. And, of course, the milk/cream is dairy. So eat more chocolate to meet the dietary requirements for daily vegetable and dairy intake.

Weekly Update for Feb. 24, 2010

Hey everybody!

Ready to go bowling tomorrow??? Drop your kiddos off at the nursery (don't forget to leave a cell phone number) and meet our group at Lakeshore Lanes. We have lanes reserved for 9:30 am. I'm not 100% sure on prices, but I think it's $2.50 for shoes and $3.75 per game. The laughs and giggles are free. Watch out for those mysterious backwards-flying balls. Snacks are buy-it-yourself at the snack bar or coffee shop.

Next week (Mar. 3), we will be meeting back in the fellowship hall to discuss chapter 5 of Mommy Diaries. Shannon's group is bringing snacks.

See you tomorrow!

Weekly Update for Feb 17th.

Happy Fat Tuesday, everyone! How often do you get to use the words "happy" and "fat" in the same sentence?

Tomorrow (Feb 17) at M4M, we will be discussing chapter 4 of The Mommy Diaries. This is your last nagging warning to read your chapter... but even if you don't get it read, be sure to come anyway. Snacks will be provided by Erika Snow's group.

Next week (Feb. 24th) we will have our second annual M4M bowling day at Lakeshore Lanes. We'll leave our kiddos at the church with our wonderful childcare staff and have a fun morning embarassing ourselves in goofy looking bowling shoes. Hey, you can't be stylish ALL of the time, right? There will be no snacks this week, except what you purchase from the snack bar and coffee shop.

See ya' Wednesday!
Karen

Weekly Update for Feb. 10, 2010

Hi everyone!

I'm sorry this is so last-minute, but better late than never, right? Tomorrow (Feb. 10th) we will learn more about proper bra fitting with a special guest from Donna Bella Lingerie. I'm sure this will be lots of fun and I'm looking forward to all the laughs and giggles... I'm sure it will be very "uplifting." Snacks will be provided by Katie's group.

Next Wednesday (Feb. 17th) we will be discussing chapter four of The Mommy Diaries -- so get reading! Snacks will be provided by Erika S.'s group.

See you in the morning!
Karen

Weekly Update for Feb. 3, 2010

This has been a tragic day for our community as we learned of the horrific accident in Tangent that claimed the life of a two-year-old boy. All of us moms feel it keenly, whether we knew the family or not. And our community is small enough that I am positive that many of you do know them personally. We will all be praying for those involved, especially for the family.

This Wednesday (Feb 3) Pam Weygandt will be joining us. Pam is a former pre-school teacher (many of us had kids in her classes) and has a huge heart for children and families. I spoke with her today and she is looking forward to seeing us Wednesday. Snacks will be provided by Amber's group.
Next week (Feb. 10th), we will learn more about proper bra fitting with a guest from Donna Bella Lingerie. This is sure to be a fun week! Snacks will be provided by Katie's group.

Just a heads up... on Feb. 17th we will be discussing chapter four of The Mommy Diaries -- so get reading!
See you Wednesday!

Weekly Update for Jan. 13, 2010

Are you ready for another Wednesday morning? I am!

Our very own Terry Greenwood is going to share with us this week at M4M on the topic of Storm Survival. Every time I talk with Terry, I feel inspired, so I am really looking forward to hearing her talk tomorrow. Shannon's group is bringing snacks for everyone to enjoy.

Next week, Jan 20th, we will once again crack open our book, The Mommy Diaries. Be ready to discuss chapter three. This is your warning ladies, so go find that book and start reading! Snacks will be provided by Sabrina's group.

See you tomorrow!

Weekly Update for Jan. 6, 2010

Happy New Year to all of you Moms (and the occassional Dad who reads these emails)! We are looking forward to a new term at M4M and we will start it off this Wednesday (Jan 6) with our welcome back Fiesta party. Come ready to eat and have some fun together. We'll have a great time catching up with everyone. Snacks will be provided by the leadership team.

Next week (Jan 13) we will be having a special guest speaker, Terry Greenwood. She will be speaking on "Storm Survival." I am certain that many of us will face storms in the year ahead and Terry is going to teach us some ways to weather the rough days. Morning snacks will be provided by Shannon's small group.

Just a heads up -- the following week (20th) will be a chapter week. So you might want to dig out your book and start reading chapter three.

See you tomorrow!

Smile Time! :)

THE WATER PISTOL

When my three-year-old son opened the birthday gift from his grandmother, he discovered a water pistol. He squealed with delight and headed for the nearest sink.

I was not so pleased. I turned to Mom and said, "I'm surprised at you. Don't you remember how we used to drive you crazy with water guns?"

Mom smiled and then replied, "I remember."