La Grange MOPS - Mothers of Preschoolers

New Year!

2012-01-26T12:36:00.000-08:00

Welcome back MOPS! We've had a few new members so far this year and are happy to have you! Today we had a speaker come, Dr. Shannon Juno, ObGyn. She delivered many of the babies in our club! It was great to get to ask her questions and learn new things. We appreciate your time!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Office-of-Dr-Shannon-M-Juno-Dr-Russell-J-Juno/186064194761880#!/pages/The-Office-of-Dr-Shannon-M-Juno-Dr-Russell-J-Juno/186064194761880?sk=wall

Last two meetings of the year!

2011-12-07T13:42:00.000-08:00

We have a meeting tomorrow at 9 when we'll bring our gifts to wrap for a local family who needs some Christmas cheer. And our next meeting will be the following week due to Christmas, on Dec. 15. Each member who wishes to participate will bring a $10 gift card to exchange.
Here are the results of Operation Christmas child, we did 35 boxes!

Operation Christmas Child

2011-10-19T15:29:00.000-07:00

We will be collecting, packing, and sending shoe boxes filled with toys and goodies for disadvantaged children to be sent all over the world. It is a large Christian based foundation program that we participate in. Next week at our meeting, Oct. 27, we will packing them. Please bring your small goodies and give, give, give! Here are some specifics on what's okay and not:
http://www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk/what-to-pack

Second verse, same as the first

2011-10-19T15:19:00.000-07:00

Moms night out, same time (6:30) and place (Las Fuentes), this Friday at our favorite fun place.
See you there!
http://lasfuentesmexicanrestaurant.net/

Cheeeeeeeeese!

2011-10-14T20:38:00.000-07:00

Mothers of Preschoolers are having a photography session fundraiser. On Friday, Nov. 4 from 3-6 and Saturday Nov. 5 from 9-12 and 1-3. The pictures will be taken at the First Presbyterian church in La Grange on Franklin Street. We have a limited number of appointments, for available times call Katie at 966-9457. For $25 you will get a photo session, you can choose 1 of 2 backgrounds with décor to use, and will be given a CD with the pictures within a few minutes of your session so you can print the sizes and number that you wish. A great gift idea for the grandparents, or Christmas cards! Only one outfit per session please. Only one group of people per session. Please let your friends and family know! If any of you MOPS members would like to help, we'll need people to watch our kids at the church and help burn CD's, make kids smile, etc. Thanks Amie for donating your gift of photography!

We had a nice meeting on Thursday, and if you missed it, you also missed this cute craft from Dana:

Thanks Dennis for cutting out and helping Dana paint the wood blocks we used.

Moms Night Out!

2011-09-14T09:44:00.000-07:00

Look out La Grange, we will be meeting at Las Fuentes this Friday night at 6:45 PM for our first moms night out of the year! On our last visit to Las Fuentes we had s super time, and several ladies have said they are coming this time, so we expect great things! Let's leave our mom hats at home for a night!

Bold, Loving, Sensible

2011-09-13T19:02:00.000-07:00

At our first official meeting we made bracelets that represent our theme this year, Bold, Loving, Sensible. Thanks Dana for planning our great crafts! We had a few more new moms and wonderful volunteers taking care of our kids while we had some adult time.

visiting

homemade breakfast

We are collecting diapers, wipes, and adult toiletry items for our neighbors, Bastrop MOPS. If you have anything to pass along to them, let us know, and keep all the fire victims in your prayers.

Off to a great start!

2011-08-31T12:52:00.000-07:00

We had a nice time at our open house, and welcomed a few new moms to the mix. We are looking forward to getting to know each of you, and your kids. Thanks for coming, and we'll see you next Thursday the 8th at 9AM!

Summer is fading fast....and we are getting started up again!

2011-08-16T15:31:00.000-07:00

We are very excited to have our open house and get MOPS meetings going again! Our open house is Thursday, August 25 from 9 - 11AM. We will have childcare. Old members, as well as new prospectives are welcome, and please bring a friend! We'll enjoy breakfast, catch up, and fill out registration forms if you are interested. But please, feel no pressure if you are just coming to see what we are all about. Even if you want to attend a few meetings before you decide if you want to join, that's fine with us!. The cost for the year is $85, or it can be broken up into a fall and a spring payment, and we do have a couple scholarships available.
Want to get other moms' tips on potty training? Taking away the pacifier? Nursing? Sibling rivalry? Then come join our group! We all need to vent, express parental concerns, and share in successes.
Better moms make a better world.

Busy Bees

2011-08-16T15:17:00.000-07:00

Even though we do not have meetings during the summer, our MOPS steering team met several times to get organized, excited, and learn new things about our MOPS 2011-2012 year. Six moms, and one newborn, went to Corpus Christi to discuss duties, meeting dates, speakers, and new things for this year. For some reason, it took us about 7 hours to get there....... (nursing baby O while we got some kid-free shopping time, stopping to eat, getting food and drinks for the weekend, and locking the keys in our running car). We enjoyed the beach, watching the fish taunt us while we tried to catch them, playing games, seeing a double rainbow, and eating out. We had a great time!!!

The first weekend in August 5 of our leaders went to Nashville for the annual national MOPS convention. They learned, laughed, bonded, and got pumped up for this year! At one of our upcoming meetings they will be sharing with us their new wealth of knowledge.

Our summer also consisted of numerous birthday parties, library story times, swimming, and play dates. It's great to have friends with kids, who have the freedom to get together to socialize and let our kids' relationships grow as well. If this sounds nice to you, MOPS may be just what you need!

Pepperoni roll, Cake pop and dessert sale

2011-06-12T07:22:00.000-07:00

On Friday, June 17 we will be having a bake sale in front of Prosperity Bank from 8:30-12. We will have pepperoni rolls, cake pops, and other desserts made by our MOPS. Please stop by and send your friends. I'm sure your family and co-workers would love a delicious treat!

Last Meeting!

2011-05-17T09:05:00.000-07:00

Sadly, we have our last meeting of the season on Thursday, May26. We will start up again after school starts in the Fall. For out last meeting bring your favorite, inexpensive things. We will have show and tell, then draw names to trade!
Six of us enjoyed moms night out this past Sunday at Las Fuentes. A good time was had by all.
We also welcomed two new babies to MOPS this month. Congratulations Amy and Holly!

Bake Sale!

2011-04-19T07:19:00.000-07:00

We are having a bake sale this Thursday in front of Prosperity Bank on the square in La Grange from 8:30 until we sell out. If you cannot come sell with us, please bake and donate a tasty treat. We are raising money to send a few of our members to the MOPS conventions this summer. Tell your friends and family to stop by and support our local MOPS.

Almost summer!

2011-04-13T13:42:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe, but we only have 3 meetings left! We do not meet during the summer, but if you are on our Yahoo! Groups email list I'm sure you'll get invites for play dates and outings. The friendships we make at MOPS are year-round!
If you have never been to MOPS, this is a great time to try it out and see if you'd like to join us next fall when we start our new year.

Valentine's Goody Exchange

2011-02-07T09:59:00.000-08:00

At our last MOPS meeting we decorated glass jars with tissue paper, ribbon, & shapes. They turned out so cute, thanks Dana! Some made them into piggy banks, some for decorative storage jars. We also had two new members attend. Please remember that you can drop in to see what we do, or join at any time of the year.
This Thursday at MOPS we are bringing 20 small servings of a baked Valentine's treat to exchange with each other. Please have them individually wrapped, and 20 copies of the recipe as well. We can't wait to sample all the goodies, see you there!

Bake Sale!

2010-12-17T06:43:00.000-08:00

Do you need some homemade goodies? We are having a bake sale on Wednesday, December 22nd in front of Prosperity Bank on the square from 8-12 in the morning. Tell your friends and family to stop by!

December meetings

2010-12-06T14:47:00.000-08:00

This month we are meeting the second and third Thursdays because of the Christmas holidays.

We are collecting items to help a local family have a Merrier Christmas. Things like clothes, food, shoes, diapers, and toys. If you'd like to help out please contact us and we'll give you the sizes and items most needed. We will bring paper and wrap these gifts at our meeting on Dec. 16th.
We are also collecting food donations for AMEN. Any type of food Christmas related, or anything you can spare. We will donate them on Dec. 16, so please have items at the 9th or 16th meeting.
We are doing a craft this week at the meeting, so be prepared to be creative, and we'll see you there!

Mom's Night Out

2010-11-19T19:33:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, November 28th at 6:00 at Katie's house we will be making a string of Advent socks. So...we will need to start collecting socks. Baby or kid socks, any size, any shape, light colors (they will be dyed) and they can have designs as long as they are light in color. The toes can have grey or pink. We will dye them, add embellishments, and sew then onto a ribbon to hang. The sample Becky made was super cute! If you are attending, please get your sock to Katie ASAP, let her know you are planning on attending, or have them dyed red. (You will need 12 socks total).

Crafts!

2010-11-19T19:00:00.000-08:00

We are participating in the community wide craft sale on Saturday the 20th, from 9-3 at the First United Methodist church of La Grange. Come look at the one-of-a-kind goodies and crafts. Great place to shop for Christmas gifts too!

Meeting tomorrow

2010-10-27T13:14:00.000-07:00

At our meeting tomorrow, 10-28-10, we will be preparing boxes for Operation Christmas Child where we will fill and mail shoe boxes full of goodies for kids like small toys, hard candy, crayons, toiletry items so be sure to bring that along as well. We will be collecting items to donate for AMEN. The foods of the month we'd most like are apple, caramel, cookies, dessert, pasta, and popcorn. We are full of giving this month!

And our MOPS MOMMY & ME CONSIGNMENT SALE is coming up on Nov. 5 and 6 from 8-12AM at our MOPS meeting place, the First Presbyterian church in La Grange. There will be many great finds there such as toys, clothes, and baby necessities. The sale will have items for moms and kids only. We can't wait to see you there!

Upcoming meeting, this Thursday!

2010-09-20T12:56:00.000-07:00

We have our second meeting this Thursday, at 9AM. We will have our regular breakfast, discussions, and a craft project of making place mats. So be sure to bring your favorite pictures and paper mementos for that. New members are welcome at any time, and we hope to see you there!

Moms night out!

2010-09-16T15:35:00.000-07:00

This Saturday at 6:30PM we are meeting at Las Fuentes in La Grange for a moms night out. Very informal, just to eat and enjoy our evening visiting. We hope to see you there!

Open House is near! 2010-2011 theme is Momology: The Art & Science of Mothering

2010-08-18T18:40:00.000-07:00

Are you pregnant?

Do you have a child between the ages of newborn & kindergarten?

Then you are a Mother of a Preschooler!

La Grange MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) would like to invite you to attend our MOPS group!

Join us for our Open House August 26^th from 9-11 a.m. and also from 5:30-7:00 p.m. for food and fellowship.

This year's theme is: "Momology: The Art and Science of Mothering "...“Even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.” Psalm 139:10

What is MOPS? MOPS stands for Mothers of Preschoolers, a dynamic program designed to encourage, support, and nurture mothers with children from infancy through kindergarten. These women come from different backgrounds and lifestyles; yet have similar needs and a shared desire to be the best mothers they can be! MOPS recognizes that the years from infancy through kindergarten are foundational in a mother-child relationship and are filled with unique needs.

What is MOPS about?

· Celebrating motherhood

· Meeting your needs

· Making connections

· Experiencing God’s love through trusted resources and relationships.

Who is it for?

· Urban, suburban and rural moms

· Stay-at-home and working moms

· Teens, single and married moms

What does it do?

· Offers support for those experiencing the same things

· Provides a chance to meet new friends

· Gives an opportunity to discover and cultivate leadership skills

We all know that mothering changes everything. Our MOPS group is a great place to come, just as you are, to be rejuvenated and inspired. We provide a caring, accepting atmosphere for today’s mother of preschoolers. Here you have an opportunity to share concerns, explore areas of creativity, and hear instructions that equip you for the responsibilities of family and community. New friendships and smart approaches to tackling the challenges of motherhood are waiting for you!

MOPS is a non-denominational, Christian-based group – all mothers of preschoolers are welcome! The MOPS ministry brings the importance of motherhood to the forefront and provides mothers of young children a network of friends and resources for guidance and support.

Our open house will be on Thursday, August 26 from 9-11AM. During this time we will have a meal, meet and visit with each other, a craft, fill out member paperwork, and enjoy some "mom time" together. There will be childcare during this time, as there always is for children under kinder age. We'd love to catch up with old members as well as welcome new ones! That night we will have an evening open house from 5:30-7 for those who can't attend in the morning, and wish to still be a part of MOPS. We hope to see you there!

If you have any further questions, please contact our MOPS leader for 2010-2011, Katie Gross at 966-9457 or katie_leach2004@hotmail.com.

Summertime for MOPS

2010-06-06T14:29:00.000-07:00

Our MOPS group runs on a school-year calendar. We have had our last MOPS meeting of the 2009-2010 year and we are now on summer break. Regular MOPS meeting will resume in September 2010.

Members of our group still get together for play dates over the summer. If you are interested in meeting other moms and kids for swimming, story time or park play dates, please contact us at lgmops@yahoo.com.

Have a great summer!

MOPS in 2010.

2010-01-11T09:31:00.001-08:00

Join us on Thursday, January 14, 2010, as we start back to MOPS after the holidays. We want to help make 2010 a great year for all our moms and children.

We meet every second and fourth Thursday morning at First Presbyterian Church in La Grange, from 8:45 to 11:15.

Join us! For more info contact MOPS Coordinator, Terri Hay, at terrirhea67@yahoo.com

Special Outing & Date Change for November

2009-10-19T08:42:00.000-07:00

On November 5, we are going to Rocky Creek Maze at Chaloupka Farms in Moulton. We changed our MOPS meeting to the next week, November 12. So now in November we'll have the outing on November 5, and MOPS meetings on November 12 and 19.

MOPS is underway

2009-09-24T14:29:00.000-07:00

Our MOPS year in underway. We've had two meetings so far, one with a fun creative activity and one with nutritionist Jenny Janda of Health By Jenny as our speaker.

We have many more fun activities and informative speakers planned for our upcoming meetings!

If you are a mother of a young child, newborn through Kindergarten, please come check out our group. It's not too late to join. See left sidebar for meeting dates and location. ---->

If you want to visit a meeting or want more info, email Terri Hay, MOPS coordinator, at terrirhea67@yahoo.com.

First MOPS meeting of 2009-2010!

2009-08-28T19:50:00.000-07:00

Our first Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) meeting of the 2009-2010 year will be on Thursday, September 10. We meet at First Presbyterian Church in La Grange, 9:00 to 11:15 a.m., on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month. (See right sidebar for all meeting dates.)

Our meeting officially starts at 9:00, but please try to arrive at the church by 8:45 in order to get your child(ren) settled into a MOPPETS room and for you to get to the fellowship hall, find your table and be ready to eat!

At our September 10th meeting, we will have breakfast, have some time to visit and get acquainted, and we will do a craft project which will help us be more organized at home!

MOPS is for all mothers of young children, ages newborn to kindergarten. If you are a mother with a young child or children, please join us.

MOPS Sale & Open House

2009-07-26T11:31:00.000-07:00

The MOPS Consignment Sale is Friday and Saturday, August 14-15, 8:00 to 1:00 each day, at the Family Life Center of First Baptist Church in La Grange (corner of College and Travis streets). Items for sale include children's and infants' clothing, shoes, toys, and furniture, baby gear, and women's clothing and accessories.

Our MOPS Open House is set for Thursday, August 27, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., at First Presbyterian Church, 215 S Franklin St., La Grange. Come to find out more information about MOPS and to sign up for the 2009-2010 MOPS year!

For more info about either event, email Terri Hay, MOPS Coordinator, at terrirhea67@yahoo.com.

MOPS Consignment Sale 2009: FAQ

2009-07-09T06:09:00.000-07:00

When is the sale? Friday and Saturday, August 14–15, 8:00–1:00, each day. The pre-sale for MOPS members, consignors, and invited guests is Thursday, August 13, 6:00–8:00 p.m.

Where is the sale? First Baptist Church, Family Life Center, 121 S. College St, La Grange.

What are the consignment percentages? Consignors (sellers) keep 70% of the sale price, and MOPS keeps 30%.

Who can consign? We welcome any consignors who follow the guidelines outlined here.

What items will you accept? Our sale is for women, children and infants. For children and infants we will accept: clothing, shoes, toys, books, movies, room decor, furniture, bedding, and baby gear. For women: clothing (including maternity), purses, shoes, and accessories. No kitchen items or other housewares please.

What condition should the items be in? Please bring only items that are gently used or new. Do not bring items that are broken, missing significant pieces, or are excessively worn or stained. We want to keep our sale elevated above a “rummage sale.”

Does clothing have to be on hangers? Yes, if at all possible, items should be hung on plastic hangers. No wire hangers! For items that cannot be hung, like socks or undergarments, please place in Ziploc bags. We have some hangers left over from last year’s sale, and they will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis.

How do I tag my items? Use string tags (available at Walmart, D&G, Hengst, and other office supply stores). Mark your initials or other symbol on one side, and the price on the other. Sometimes a brief description of the item and/or the size is also written on the tag, but this is not necessary.

Do I need to let you know my initials or symbol? Yes! Before you start to tag your items, please email or call Terri Hay (terrirhea67@yahoo.com or 968-3785) with the initials or symbol you plan to use on your tags. We want to ensure there are no duplicates so that the money you earn from your items goes to you, and not to someone else using your same initials or symbol.

How do I attach tags? For clothing and other soft items, loop the string tag through a tag or button hole on the item itself, or attach with a safety pin. Do not attach tags to hangers! For toys or other hard items, loop tag through a part of the item if possible, or tape the string to the item, but leave the tag lose so that it can be torn off at the time of sale. If using Ziploc bags, punch a small hole in the bag and loop the tag through the hole. If a tag comes off of your item, we cannot ensure that you will be paid for it, so please attach tags securely.

Are there pricing guidelines? We don’t have specific guidelines, but we suggest you price above garage sale prices and below consignment shop prices. The brand name and condition of the item will influence what you can get for it. (GAP, Carter, or Gymboree, for example, will likely sell for higher prices than Walmart or Target brands.) For items such as cribs or strollers, check on ebay or craigslist to see what similar items are selling for. Pricing and tagging with another mom, or group of moms, can be helpful and more fun!

When can I bring my items to set out for the sale? The Family Life Center will be open for you to bring your items on Thursday, August 13, from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

How do I ensure parts don’t get lost? For toys or other items with multiple parts, please make sure they are boxed, securely attached together, or placed in Ziploc bags. We can not be responsible for misplaced pieces and parts. Also, please supervise your children if they come with you to the sale and do not allow them to play with toys you do not plan to buy.

What happens if my items do not sell? You may come on Saturday at noon (or earlier if you wish) to begin pulling your items that did not sell. Items that are not picked up or sold by the end of the sale on Saturday will either be donated to Second Chance or other charities or be taken to Something Old Something New to be consigned with all proceeds going to MOPS.

Will there be a half-price sale? At the discretion of the MOPS members who are working at the sale on Saturday, all items left on the sale floor may be offered for half-price at some point toward the end of the sale. If you do not want an item to be sold at half-price, write the word “FIRM” on your tag.

How do I get paid for my items? When items are purchased, we collect the sale price from the buyer, then tear off the tags and sort them by initials or symbols. Each consignor’s tags are tallied at the end of the sale, and the total is multiplied by 70%. A week or so after the sale, checks will be given or mailed to consignors. There will be a form for you to fill out with your contact information when you drop off your items at the sale.

Do I need to work at the sale if I consign? This sale is a lot of work, and we welcome any help we can get with working the sale or providing child care during the sale or set-up times.

With other questions or to volunteer: Email or call Terri Hay, MOPS Coordinator, at terrirhea67@yahoo.com or 979-968-3785.

MOPS in 2009

2009-01-13T15:12:00.000-08:00

If you are a mother with a young child (or children), newborn through Kindergarten, we invite you to join us at MOPS in 2009!

Please see side bar for meeting location, dates and times. ---->

For more info, email LGMOPS@yahoo.com

First Meeting of 2008-2009!

2008-09-08T06:50:00.000-07:00

Our first meeting of the new MOPS year will be on Thursday, September 11, 9:00 to 11:15 a.m.

For location and all meeting dates for the year, see right sidebar. ------>

For more information, email La Grange Morning MOPS at lgmops@yahoo.com.

Gearing up for a new MOPS year!

2008-08-05T09:09:00.000-07:00

Our 2008-2009 MOPS year will get underway with an Open House on Thursday, August 28, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., at First Presbyterian Church, 205 S. Franklin St. in La Grange.

If you are interested in finding out more about our MOPS group, please come visit our Open House!

For a list of our '08-'09 meeting dates, see the right side bar. ----->

For more information, email us at LGMOPS@yahoo.com

Hello and Happy New Year 2008!

2008-01-10T17:28:00.000-08:00

Thank you for your interest in our blog page!

If you're interested in our group, please contact us at LGMOPS@yahoo.com.

Or come visit us at one of our upcoming meetings.

(See meeting dates and location on right sidebar. ---->)

Out and About with MOPS!

2007-10-09T19:25:00.000-07:00

Ladies Soccer Night
Come play soccer with other moms at White Rock park on Monday nights at 6:30 p.m. You can bring your kids if you can't find childcare...we will work it out. This is a great way to burn some calories while having fun.

Walking
A group of moms is walking together at 8:45 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at the Camp Lone Star road. It’s fun walking with other moms and kids in strollers, and there isn’t much traffic, so please join us!

Story Time and Playtime at the Library
Story Time at the La Grange public library starts at 10:00 a.m. every Wednesday. After Story Time, we go out to play at the library playground.

Bible Study
Tammy is hosting a women’s Bible Study at her house on Monday mornings at 10:00 a.m. Kids are welcome to come and play while the moms meet.

Moms Night Out!
We will hold a monthly Moms Night Out on the first Thursday night of the month at Las Fuentes Mexican Restaurant, 658 S Jefferson St, La Grange. Our first night out will be on Thursday, November 1, at 6:00 p.m.

Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze Outing
On Wednesday, October 17, we are going on an outing to Rocky Creek Farm in Moulton (about 30 miles south of La Grange). The farm features a corn maze,mini mazes, slides, barrel train, hay ride, pumpkin patch, wildflower patch. If you would like to go, please rsvp to Heidi Ehler. For more information on the farm, go to www.chaloupkafarm.com.

This Year's Theme

2007-09-15T20:27:00.001-07:00

the HOME factor:
BEGIN HERE … GO THERE

In our homes of origin many of us learned the deepest lessons about relationship, developed life routines and acquired our tastes and preferences. And now, as moms, we long to create homes where our families can thrive and grow — and we can too.

Our homes must be safe places – physically and also emotionally safe. In them we bond, we eat and play and rest together, we decorate and provision our special home spaces. The theme “the HOME factor: BEGIN HERE … GO THERE” enriches our perspective and hones our abilities to create a cocoon of home.

But at its healthiest, our home experience should fill us and launch us into wider circles of investment and influence where we interact with our world. We return HOME to reconnect and refuel — but we’ll move from the HOME outwards to make a difference.

The heart of the HOME is also a picture of God’s desire to interact with us and deeply love us where we really live. He desires to make his home in our hearts. He expresses it this way in the theme verse: "...he lives with you and will be in you." John 14:17

Three key elements of this theme to explore throughout the year:

* Our homes are where we bond, cocoon, build inwardly.
* Our homes are where we refuel so that we can live fully in the world beyond.
* Our homes are a picture of Jesus' dwelling within us.

(From the www.MOPS.org website)