Looking forward to the New Year!

It feels like forever since we've been together, MOPS mamas! With our cancelled meeting in December due to delayed school schedules and bad weather and no 2nd meetings for the Christmas holidays... January 14th (our next meeting) seems like a while to go still!!! Good thing we have a couple of playdates in January to bring us together, as well as a MNO Pedicure Party! Watch for details coming soon! =)

Thanks for all of your contributions to our MOPS Adopt-a-Family effort! The Leadership Team met the week before Christmas to compile the donated gifts (as well as food, gift certificates and cards) and deliver them to 5 of our MOPS families. It was a pleasure to act as your ambassadors of good will and play 'Santa'--making Christmas a little less stressful and a lot more fun for a few families that needed an extra blessing this holiday. What a wonderful community of support and love we are all a part of!

Join us for our December Events!

click on image to see it bigger!

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Sonora&state=ca&address=538+snell

Mom's Night Out

This was our Bunko crowd--had a great time and lots of winning! Thanks for playing!

Looking forward to our next MNO this Friday night at Starbucks in the Junction at 7pm. Come hang out and bring a friend!

Also, join us for our Cover's Apple Ranch playdate this Wednesday, Nov 4 from 10am-noon. Train rides, hay maze, animals, lots of fun for the kids and mommy hang out time! =)

We only have ONE MOPS meeting this month and next-- don't miss them-- Nov 12 and Dec 10!

Join us for our October Events!

(Click on this to see it bigger)

This week's festivities!

2009-2010 Pre-Registration Event--Aug 27

MOPS is BACK!
This year we’ll be exploring life
Together on Planet Mom
…truly an ‘out of this world’ experience!

Pre-registration event on August 27
9:00am-11:00am
@ SBC in front of Promiseland

Come anytime with the kiddos for water fun and treats while you fill out reg forms and reconnect with friends!

Get $10 off your annual dues if you pay for the whole year at this event! Normally $25 each semester & $23.95 MI Fee-- but at this event, total is $63.95. Scholarships are available.


For more information, contact: Aly at 533-2334 or Spring at 928-1378

Playdate at Brentwood Lake

A good time had by all--thanks for coming out! Wendy took a bunch of pictures of the Lake fun--here's the link to check them out!
http://westcampphotography.smugmug.com/gallery/9078300_pkkxC#604597505_RQqkV

Hoping to see you at the next event... Swim Party at Kathy's house! (see previous post for details)

Alyson had her baby!

Hello MOPS Mamas!

We want to send our congrats to Alyson Jefferson and her hubby Tyler--their new baby boy, Jacob Cameron, was born last Thursday! Mom and baby are at home and doing great, and would love to hear from any of you (of course, understanding if she's not answering the phone or emails right away!).

We also want to invite any and all of our SBC MOPS moms who would like to join us in welcoming this new little one into the world at a baby shower for Aly and Baby Jacob. The date is Sunday, July 26 at 2pm. Please copy and paste the url below to view the evite for details and please RSVP if you plan to attend.

http://www.evite.com/app/publicUrl/XDYTDEKMSDWYKTDNBKDY/alyjeffersonbabyshower

Summer Playdate in Twain Harte

TUESDAY, JULY 28 at 11:00 a.m.- ?

We hope you'll join us for another fun day at the lake... Brentwood Lake in Twain Harte. Click on the link below for the Google map for it, and you can find driving directions from there, if needed.

Bring a picnic lunch, lots of water, sandtoys, sunscreen and beach gear. Brentwood is a great and easy lake for kids--it has swings, grass, a hose, picnic tables, and a roped in swimming area (not super deep this year, so it's great for our littel ones). You need a membership card to open the gate to enter the lake--so you'll have to get one of our group members attention to let you in!

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=brentwood%20lake%20twain%20harte&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl

Summer Activities Schedule

MOPS 08-09 Slideshow Pictures

For any one interested, I have posted the slideshow that was going during the last MOPS meeting to my personal shutterfly website at the url below. You can look at all the pictures and if you want any for yourself, you can order straight from their site (I think they offer freebies if you open a new free acct). The pictures from all the events all year are on there, you just have to wade through all 220!!!

Happy Summer!

Kirsten 

http://ourmillerfam.shutterfly.com/

Play Date this Thursday

MOPS March Happenings!

Click on the flyer to see it bigger!

We've got BINGO

We've got PICTURES

We've got MEETINGS

We've got SCRAPBOOKING...

GOT MOPS?

Our Spring Fundraiser

Click on the flyer to see it bigger.  You can also check out Wendy's website at www.westcampphotography.com.

We'll be introducing the fundraiser at our next MOPS meeting, passing out flyers for you all to help us post around town, and divy-ing out tickets for you to sell (to yourself and others!).  

Save the date (and your duckets) for these sure to be great pictures!

MOPS Meeting Cancelled Today!!!

I know I'm bummed about it, but there are many of you that are either stuck in your driveways or waiting with your older kids for school to start... so we are cancelling our MOPS meeting today due to the weather. Take advantage of this extra time in your day--to sleep, enjoy a cup of coffee or eat all that food that you had intended to bring to MOPS! =)

We'll see you in a couple of weeks!

Special Events for Women and Parents!!!

SBC is hosting a couple great events in March--the Women's Retreat and a simulcast of Revolutionary Parenting (one of the resources Becky Howell recommended to us at the beginning of the year!).  Follow the link at the bottom of the post for more information!

http://www.sierrabible.com/index.php/special-events

Next MOPS Mom's Night--Feb 6th!

*To read the fine print, click on the flyer and it'll pop up bigger for you!

Back to MOPS

Join us as we continue the 'Adventure' into our new semester this Thursday, January 8th! Our topic of 'Walking the Tightrope' seems like an appropriate title for dealing with our finances--especially in this economy! We look forward to seeing you after the holiday break and hearing what financial wisdom we can gleam from MOPS mom Kathy Kleinert and MOPS Mentor Ruth Pedro.

Just a side note--however much we want to see you and however much you'd like a MOPS break, please do not bring sniffles or coughs (or worse) into our little MOPPETS rooms. Icky kid sickness flies around this time of year and we need to do our best to keep our kiddos and our MOPPET workers healthy! Thanks!

MOPS '08 Christmas

January Mom's Night Out

Membership information

We work diligently to keep the cost of MOPS as low as possible while still providing a quality program with exceptional childcare. SBC generously provides for all our childcare needs and costs associated with the MOPPETS program, so we are able to keep our fees minimal at $25.00 a semester ($50.00 annually). This money helps cover meetings costs such as craft supplies, gifts, and MOPPETS worker appreciation gifts. Take advantage of the pre-registration event in August of each year to receive a $10 discount if you pay upfront for the whole year!

Your annual MOPS International Membership registration fee of $23.95 goes directly to MOPS International and will provide you with applicable ideas and encouragement through a 1 year subscription of the bi-monthly MOMSense Magazine, weekly Mom-E-Mails, and a variety of MOPS Publications, including our theme book for the year.

DO NOT let finances keep you from attending our MOPS group. Partial and full scholarships are available, as well as payment plans. Please speak with Joy, our Finance Coordinator, and be assured that all needs are kept confidential. You can find her at the front desk of each MOPS meeting or reach her by email at jotterson@sonnet.com.

What about Childcare--MOPPETS!!!

MOPS is for Moms, while MOPPETS is for kids!

During MOPS meetings, children from birth to five years old are cared for in the MOPPETS program, which is run by Sierra Bible Children's Ministries (free of charge!). Children enjoy a safe, clean and stimulating environment while moms enjoy the company of other mothers. MOPPET caregivers are fully screened by SBC and have a heart for kids. There is also a Family Registration Form that all moms must complete, along with taking a photo with your child(ren), in order to assure safe check in and out of the children’s facilities. All ages will be shown love by these wonderful caregivers, and children ages 2-5 enjoy age appropriate lessons, crafts, snacks and songs as well. Unfortunately, we cannot offer any accomodations for older children at this time.

Tips to remember:

• Drop-off time is from 8:45 to 9:05 a.m.
• Pick-up time is no later than 11:15 a.m.
• Mark your children’s belongings with their names, i.e. bottles, bags, etc.
• Inform the caregiver of any special needs for your child when signing in.
• Refrain from bringing in sick children. Rashes, fevers, runny noses that are not clear, and diarrhea are just a few no-no’s. Just remember the ‘golden rule’—if you don’t want another mom to bring her sick kid, don’t bring yours either—no matter how bad you’d like a break!
• Leave all personal toys at home.
• If your child is in the infant or walker class (under 2), please bring a bag for him/her equipped with diapers, wipes, a labeled sippy cup or bottle, and any other comforting items such as a favorite toy, blanket, or pacifier.
• Your child will remain in the same class throughout the entire MOPS year, regardless of when their birthday falls (i.e. if they start in the 2 year old class, they will remain there throughout the year, even if they turn 3 in January) unless the MOPPETS Coordinator requests a change to better accommodate the child or the classroom environment.

MOPS provides thank you and encouragement gifts throughout the year (from your semester dues) to each MOPPET worker, as well as an appreciation luncheon at the end of the year. Most of them are volunteers and just love to be with kids and support our sanity as moms! It would be great if you could take initiative throughout the year to show your appreciation to the teachers in your child/ren’s classroom as well.

When and where does SBC MOPS meet?

MOPS meets twice a month on the 2nd & 4th Thursdays mornings from 9:00am-11:00am (check out the side column for remaining meeting dates for the year).

Our Fall Session runs from September through December, and our Spring Session runs from January through May.

We meet at Sierra Bible Church, which is located at 15171 Tuolumne Road in Sonora, right across the street from Standard Ball Park. The church phone number is (209) 532-1381 and their website is www.sierrabible.com. Moms meet in the Family Life Center (FLC) which is the big building at the back of campus where church meets, children ages 2-5 are in Promisland classrooms, and babies and toddlers are in the nursery (next to FLC).

Come join us!

What happens at MOPS?

Finally there is a play group for moms! We focus on YOUR needs, while your children are being cared for by our loving caregivers. Our meetings are designed to provide you with opportunities to relax, make new friends, enjoy adult conversation, learn a new skill or craft, hear guest speakers, and be involved in group discussions on topics of interest to Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS).

We also are continuing our popular Playdates and Mom’s Night Out (MNO) activities this year! Playdates are designed to get us and our kids connected and out and about together for fun in the community. MNO's are to not only give us moms a much needed break from the kiddos (however, childcare will not be provided) but also provide some opportunities to develop deeper relationships with other moms. These events offer a great opportunity to widen your MOPS network by meeting moms who are not at your table during regular meetings and give us a carved out time to 'do life together'!

What is MOPS?

MOPS stands for Mothers of Preschoolers and is an international organization that exists to encourage, equip, and help women become the best moms that they can be! Women who are pregnant or have young children (newborn through Kindergarten) are all invited to join MOPS!

MOPS is caring through:

• A program designed for all mothers of preschoolers (conception through Kindergarten) and is coordinated by the mothers themselves.
• An open, caring atmosphere where specific needs of today's preschool mothers are met.

MOPS is sharing in:

• Small discussion groups where women interact, encourage and learn from one another.
• A comfortable setting for social and spiritual enrichment for mother and child(ren).
• The enjoyment of completing a craft with the opportunity for creative expression, a sense of accomplishment and deepening friendships.

MOPS is preparing through:

• Building a sense of identity and personal worth.
• Instruction relating to womanhood, childrearing, marriage and building a home based on biblical principles.
• Social and creative opportunities for preschool children