Fun Things To Do Round the Rock

Round the Rock blogger Rebecca Darling had so many great ideas to share with our group.  I don't know about you but, I cannot wait to explore Round Rock with my kiddos.  I'm so thankful for some     fresh ideas.  It's so easy to get into a rut and do the same old thing again and again.  If you were not able to attend don't sweat... we would never let you miss out.  Below, you will find links to Rebecca's handouts.  Now go do something fun with your families!

101 Preschool Dates
50 Fun Things To Do With Your Kids In Round Rock

Have a blessed Easter!

Easter Celebration

Please do not forget to RSVP for the Easter Celebration.  It's this Saturday, April 12th. Festivities begin at 10:30 a.m. There will be FREE Family Photos, games and an egg hunt for the kiddos. Don't miss our!!! 

Olson Meadow Park

4200 Brushy Creek Road

Round Rock TX  

Next Meeting is Monday, April 14th

Hi Mamas, Our next meeting will be Monday, April 14th. Don't forget to bring a friend. Monday's meeting will be very relaxed and informal so it's a perfect night to bring a guest.  Rebecca Darling will be the guest speaker for the evening.

Rebecca is the owner & editor of Round the Rock, a website dedicated to activities & events in Round Rock. A resident of almost 6 years to Round Rock, she is wife to Matt and Mom to Morganne (13), and Jack (11), and Ian (4). But in her spare time, she writes and promotes stories on R We There Yet Mom? and Round the Rock

Her background is in Biology, worked in the Pharmaceutical Industry for 13 years before God blessed her with the opportunity to stay home. As a hobby, Rebecca wrote about her love of traveling with her kids and turned it into her first blog in 2010, R We There Yet Mom? - featuring her travels with her family around Central Texas and beyond. 

She loves to find all the fun things there are to do with children in the Central Texas are, publishing quarterly lists, such as the recent "Top 25 Things to Do this Spring in Austin". She loves speaking to various groups about traveling with kids and has been featured on YNN, JACK FM, Kids Activity Blog & Free Fun in Austin. 

Next Meeting is Monday, March 31

Hey Mamas,
Our next meeting is this Monday, March 31. Our speaker will be Patty Smith. She will be talking to us about loving through loss. This sounds like it will be a great talk although it may be a little emotional. I am excited to have Patty share her story with us. Here is a little about Patty that she sent us:

My name is Patty Smith, wife to an amazing godly man and pastor, Jason, and mother to two little miracles, Eliana, 6 and Anaiah, 3. I am blessed to work with a great friend and from home as a graphic designer. I graduated from Southwest Baptist University in 1998 with a degree in Commercial Art and Public Relations. I met my husband there and we were married in the fall of 1999 in Dallas, TX. We moved to the Austin area in 2000, moved back to the Dallas area in 2005, then to the West Virginia/Maryland area in 2008 and now back here in Austin.


A few reminders:
-If you haven't paid your dues this semester, please do so or get with your DGL.
-A few of you were recently registered into the MOPS International database because we never got you registered in the beginning so that is why you may have just received your "Welcome to MOPS packet." Our apologies.
-There is a care calendar set up for Lauren Humphries. Her son, William, finally got a kidney. Praise the Lord. They can't leave home for three months so if you are able to bless them with a meal, that would be greatly appreciated. An email was sent out with care calendar info but if you need it again, email us at roundrockmops@yahoo.com.
-Our Easter Egg Hunt is coming up Saturday, April 12 at 10:30 AM. It will be at Olson Meadows Park, 4200 Brushy Creek Road, Cedar Park, TX 78717. You should have received an Evite. Please respond as soon as you can so we can get a good head count. If you did not received an email, please send us an email at roundrockmops@yahoo.com so we can get you one sent.
-Please bring one dozen plastic eggs for each child you have attending the Easter Egg Hunt to our meeting on Monday. The eggs should be empty and MOPS leadership will be stuffing all the eggs.

I hope everyone has a great rest of their weekend. Can't wait to see all of you on Monday.

March 17: Building Strong Relationships with our Children

Hey Mamas! I hope everyone enjoyed Spring Break. I personally would have loved to have some awesome weather and spend the week outdoors but it was a tad chili for my liking. Hopefully the warm weather is on its way and will stay for a while.

Our next meeting is tomorrow, March 17. Amy Pruitt will we our guest speaker. She will be speaking to us about how to build strong relationships with our children. Here is a little about Amy:

Amy has been married to Bob Pruitt, who is the pastor of Hutto Bible Church. They have been married for 23 years. They have 3 children ranging from 17-21 years of age. Amy met Bobby at Bible college where she double majored in Bible and Elementary Education. She was a stay at home mom until her youngest started Kindergarten. Amy has been teaching school for the past 12 years.

We have had some great speakers talk to us about deep relationships and personality types. I think this topic will just further help us with our relationships with our children. I am looking forward to hearing Amy speak.

Just a reminder...WEAR GREEN TOMORROW!!! It is St. Patrick's Day. If you do not wear green, you WILL get pinched! ;)

Hope to see all you Mamas tomorrow evening!

Parenting Different Personalities by Mary Magee

Happy Monday Mamas! We meet TONIGHT! Sorry for the late speaker bio. Our very own Mary Magee will be speaking to us about how to parent different personality types.

Mary is a native Austinite and has lived in Texas her entire life. She is married to Blake, her college sweetheart, who is the Family Pastor at Hill Country Bible Round Rock. She is a homeschooling mom of five children - one boy and four girls - and has her sixth, a baby boy, on the way. Mary loves to spend time with her family and friends, date her husband, serve in church ministry, go on road trips, cook, read, and listen to music. Mary is passionate about MOPS and has been involved off and on since 2004.

I cant wait to hear Mary speak on this topic. My kids have extremely different personalities and I'm sure with all her experience she will have some great advice to offer. Hope to see all of you there tonight.

Recap of Julie Manning's Talk on Community.

Happy Saturday Mamas. I am so glad it finally warmed up today. While I definitely appreciate the break from the 100 degree summers, I am so over the cold weather.

Julie Manning spoke to us on January 27 about community. Here are the notes from our great note taker, Shellie:

“Of all the baby must haves I added to my registry no one thought to recommend Mom Friends. An entire community of Mom Friends existed to support me I just didn’t know about Mops at the time.”  ~Liz

Julie began talking about how we need women to come along side us whether our house is messy or not. Women who share our victories and walk with us during the dark times.  She commented on how when she thinks of girls she reflects back to the time she was in college. She lived with 4 to 5 girls at a time in a house. They danced together, lip synced, made food together and played pranks on the boys next door. To this day she gets together with those friends because they shared their hearts with one another. They shared the word of God together. Today they share victories and struggles. they do life together! 

Each one of us needs to know that God created us for “community.”  Adam & Eve knew depths of one another. God walked with them. 

We need community to go deep and have others speak truth in our life. Yes, even calls out! 

Somewhere we have flipped the switch of not answering the truth. We answer “ I am doing fine.” We need to “be real!” That is my challenge! 

Deep relationships & community through all seasons of life. 

3 reason why we don’t:

1. Time-our schedules are busy. we need to be purposeful! 

2. Comparison-it steals our JOY & leaves us desiring something else. We are not believing what God says we are…..wonderfully made!

3. Fear-if someone knew me really knew me! We are concerned about what we have done or what has been….

Need to find community to love you with Grace b/c of what they have received which is Grace! Be vulnerable to be truly known!

How God is sanctifying her: (Julie had a video that night for us to watch. It explains her history with her heart condition & where she is spiritually! Plus, it is an AH-Mazing glimpse into her life! I do not have the video but here is an article about it….

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/julie-manning/heart-disease-_b_4705624.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false

"The Lord has used my suffering to Glorify him! god knows how many days I have left here on earth.”

Life is too short to NOT GO DEEP:

1. Don’t have to suffer alone. Women to call us out, pray over us, challenge us and encourage us! Women who will rejoice along side of you. Women who will love you for who you are!

"Life is too short to live on the surface!”  (insert Shellie’s thoughts…can I get an AMEN?) 

Julie’s parting thoughts of wisdom….

Be brave, be vulnerable, be real, be true! 

Here are the questions:

1. what keeps you from going deep with other women?

2. what questions do you want others to ask you? Better yet, what do you NOT want them to ask….because what you don’t want to talk about IS what you NEED to talk about…..

3. Challenge: find a friend this week to go deep 

Here is a video of Julie's story. You may want to grab a tissue.

http://vimeo.com/47738825

Thank you, Julie, for sharing your story.

A few reminders...

-If you haven't paid you dues for this semester, please do so or get with your DGL to make arrangements.

-If you have a small business and would like to have it advertised under the MOPS Shop on the blog, send us and email to roundrockmops@yahoo.com.

-Our next meeting is this coming Monday, February 10. Hope to see you there.

Have a great rest of your weekend!

"Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling." 1 Peter 4:9

Come Hear Julie Manning Speak on Community!

Happy Saturday Mamas! I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. Our next MOPS meeting will be this Monday, January 27. Julie Manning will be speaking to us about community. I know we all need community so I hope everyone can make it to hear what Julie has to say.

Julie Manning is the wife to her beloved husband, John, and the mother to Noah and Hunter. She graduated from Texas A&M University in 1999 with a degree in Finance. After working in the business world for several years, she found herself increasingly discontent with a longing to be passionate about the work she was doing. So in January of 2002, Julie took a risk and pursued Nursing school. She worked in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit as an RN at Children's Medical Center of Dallas and eventually received her Masters in Nursing from the University of Texas at Austin in 2009. Julie believes that it is not by accident that she fell in love with Cardiology. Though Julie did not foresee that she would one day live a life affected daily by heart disease, she now shares her story with her patients and patient families as a nurse practitioner at Children's Cardiology Associates of Austin.  Julie is also blessed to serve as a national spokesperson for the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement. Julie and her husband serve faithfully at their church, Austin Stone, and value every moment they spend together as a family. 

Reminders:

-If you haven't paid your dues this semester please do so or talk to your DGL.

-If you own a small business and want it featured in our MOPS Shop on our blog, send us an email to roundrockmops@yahoo.com.

Have a great weekend! See ya on Monday!

Favorite Things List

I hope everyone enjoyed our Favorite Things night. I sure did. Thanks, Camilla, for emceeing the evening. Shellie has compiled a list of all of the favorite things that were shared that night. If you have any questions about any of the products let us know in the comments and we will try to answer them or connect you with the person who shared the information. Enjoy!

Advice:

For you: get outside and take a breather

Cherish your husband, focus on marriage, make it a prioirty 

Applications/gadgets to make life easier:

KidLee (keep track of what kiddos do)

Awesome Note by BRID 

Good Budget (Dave Ramsey type envelope system to keep track)

Kazoo Headphones for kids (volume control)

Blogs:

http://www.handsfreemama.com

ww.themurphysix.blogspot.com

Baby & Child related:

Tummy Calm tummycalm.com 

Amber teething necklace

Gripe Water by Baby Bliss 

Piddle pads – inserts for carseats

Good Nites Mats (disposable mats for children still potty training at nite, place on top of sheet & remove if an accident) very easy 

*Walmart has them the cheapest 

Honest Company diapers, wipes, baby, and household products. http://honest.com

Cosmetics/Beauty: 

Olive Oil (use on face or body)

Coconut Oil (use everywhere) *Call Mary Magee if you have a yeast infection she has a tip)

Mary Kay Tinted Moisturizer 

                 mascara

                 eye gel (put in frig for a morning refresher) 

Rodan + Fields Micro Exfoliator (skin cell turn over, reduce scarring, stretch marks) 

                   skin care line for skin types https/randf.com/

Coffee Beans to reduce cellulite- make your coffee fresh first thing in the morning or at night, take coffee grounds rub on places that need improvement for about 10 mins and then rinse.   If you are buying a cellulite cream look for caffeine or copper as the ingredient to reduce the appearance. 

Baby Oil -rub on bottom at night & morning for soft feet then file away dead skin 

Essie Nail Polish

Health: 

Juice plus vitamins for you or kids

AdvoCare spark instead of coffee will not make you jittery & can have while pregnant advocare.com

Cleanse Cocktail 1/3 water heat in microwave 30 seconds, shot of tabasco & lemon then drink it! will clear kidneys & liver 

Home: 

Henri Bendel Vanilla Bean Candle (little pricey but last a long time)

Scentsy https://orders.scentsy.us/Scentsy/Home

Jewelry: 

Out Reach Uganda outreachuganda.org 

Noonday www.noondaycollection.com 

Kitchen: 

Dish Drying Mat by H-E-B less than $5.00 bucks

Pampered Chef- garlic roller 

Furi Ozitech Diamond Finger Knife Sharper -Amazon $12.00 bucks 

Houdini Bottle Wine Opener

Laundry:

Shout Color Catcher it really works!

Laundry baskets for each family member and wash that basket it by itself then they can fold and put away. makes separating a lot easier! 

Marriage Related: 

The FIve love Languages 

The Husband Project by Kathi Lipp you read & do simple things for him & he is not aware you are reading the  book)

Love Dare 40 day challenge 

Marriage Retreat www.austinme.org 

Journals to write personal letters to one another then read to each other

Meals: 

Emeals subscribe to website and receive weekly menus and shopping lists ($58 a year best deal) having specials right now at their website

Pioneer Woman 

Once a Month Cooking Books: Dinners in the Freezer by Martinez, Howell & Garcia & Once a Month Cooking Revised Edition by Mimi Wilson & Mary Beth Lagerborg 

onceamonthmeals.com

  

Moms:

Lily Pads (silicon gel pads for nursing)  

Pathways Magazine pathwaystofamilywellness.org  (4 times a year)

For moms & baby

Ergo Baby Carrier (best to carry baby & protects your back!) ergo baby.com 

*can find on craigslist cheaper

My breast friend nursing pillow 

Books:

A Mother’s Guide to Self-Renewal” (book/workbook) by Renee Trudea

One Thousand Gifts” (book) by Ann Voskamp

Simplicity Parenting Book Kim John Payne

Office/Organization: 

Papermate Flair (multi color)  pens will not bleed

Family Christian Organizer (yearly) by Ann Knapp (Amazon.com to buy)

Sewing/quilting:

http://www.mominizer.com provides a way for you to take all your favorite t-shirts and turn it into a quilt/blanket 

Spiritual/devotional:

Jesus Story Book Bible 

Little Visits at BedTime by Mary Manz Simon

Sticky Situations by Betsy Schmidt

Sweets/Treats:

Keurig Raspberry Chocolate Truffle

Tips: 

cuticle clippers for cutting nails for kids

drink half and half coffee even while nursing and it is just enough! 

cloth diaper covers to be used for regular everyday disposable diapers and it manages blow outs & accidents 

Books for Children:

ages 0-1

What do you say?

How do you feel?

Who do you love?

What do you do?

Mandy Stanley

No No Yes Yes

Big Little

Leslie Patricelli

Dear Zoo

Rod Campbell

I like it when...

Mary Murphy

ages 1-3

Pajama Time

Blue Hat, Green Hat

But not the Hippopotamus

Sandra Boynton

One Hungry Monster

Susan Heyboer O'Keefe

I love you, stinky face

Lisa McCourt

Imagination Song

Joe Raposo

I don't want to live on the moon

Jeff Moss

Good Night, Gorilla

Peggy Rathmann

Big Red Barn

Goodnight Moon

Margaret Wise Brown

Squirrel is Hungry

Duck is dirty

Dog is thirsty

Cat is sleepy

Satoshi Kitamura

We're going on a bear hunt

Michael Rosen

The best mouse cookie  

The series related to If you give a mouse a cookie

Laura Numeroff 

Miss Mary Mack

Mary Ann Hoberman

Chicka Chicka ABC

Bill Martin Jr & John Archambault

Dr. Seuss books

Hop on Pop

Go Dog Go

There's a Wocket in my pocket

The shape of me and other stuff

ages 3 1/2 and up

Richard Scarry's What do people do all day?

Richard Scarry's Cars and trucks and things that go

the series of books from Pete the Cat I love my white shoes

James Dean & Eric Litwin

The Doghouse

Is Everybody ready for fun?

lots by this author  Jan Thomas

The Gruffalo

Julia Donaldson

Safety Notes from Donna Looper

Happy Thursday Mamas! I hope everyone is staying warm. Crazy we were playing at the park in shorts and t-shirts on Monday and are freezing today. Guess that's Texas for ya!

Donna Looper spoke to us about safety on December 9. She addressed car seat safety but ran out of time before she made it to toy safety. She has so kindly sent us her presentation. So for those of you who were trying to take notes but your hand started cramping, no worries, it's all here. She also answered a couple of questions that she was asked but did not have time to answer.

Safety Presentation

1. Where is the best location for a car seat...especially for a newborn?  

Rear seat in the center is best because it puts your baby furthest from the crash.  However, rear facing seats take up a lot of room which can make the center position difficult in a smaller car.  Put the seat behind the passenger seat...which means you will likely have to pull it all the way forward.  If you put the seat behind you (the driver), then you might have to pull your seat forward too far, making it unsafe for you.

2. Is it ok for the harness to be twisted?

No.  The straps should all be flat.  Sometimes you have to re-thread the harness to get everything straight.  Sometimes it is just the "buckle" that gets twisted - fold the harness above or below the buckle and pull the buckle over the fold...this will typically put the buckle back in the right direction.  

Hope this helps keep your precious babies safe!