Cookies, cookies, cookies

Merry Christmas from Leavenworth MOPS! As mothers of young children, we have become adept at multi-tasking; therefore we've decided to have a Christmas Cookie exchange WHILE enjoying an evening out with our friends. Imagine it- you just have to make (or buy) 4 dozen cookies of one type (that's a double batch of your favorite cookie), bring them to the party, and by the end of the evening, you will go home with a variety of other cookies. Really, it's almost magical how it works- and hopefully, you will have had some fun along the way. Don't knock yourself out- as mentioned before, you can even buy your cookies (Oreo makes some really good peppermint ones this time of year....). And, if that is even too much, just come anyway. (You won't take any cookies home, but we've got other fun things planned for the night.) We know how it is; sometimes things just don't come together to bake or even get to the store, but you still need a night out. So, come anyway. We'll meet at Brenda Biebesheimer's home in Leavenworth at 6:30 pm, Monday, Dec. 20th. B Y O C (Bring your own container) to take them home in or on. Popular choices include paper plates, crystal heirloom platters, Tupperware, Spode Christmas plates, Ziploc bags... obviously, the possibilities are endless. Questions? Email Heidi at josh.hill@frontier.com. See you there!

Christmas Gift Idea

Hey Ladies - here's a cool gift idea... A local gal here in Leavenworth (Amy Wilder) is the creator of bible hero shirts & posters.

Check them out...

www.bibleheroshirts.com

or

www.scriptureheroes.com

Local Shopping Discount

The Hat Shop/Wood Shop in Leavenworth is offering 25% off to locals who shop in their store on Wednesday's! Also, this Wednesday, shop at their store and get entered into a 'local's drawing' for a Radio Flyer Classic Dual Deck Tricycle (retail $100)!

December meeting: Traditions!

This Wednesday morning is our only official December meeting. Come for a delicious Christmas brunch beginning at 9:15, December 8, Leavenworth Church of the Nazarene. Our featured speaker, Susan Eby, will speaking about making holidays meaningful for your families. As always, we'll have a fun craft and be sure to bring a bit of extra cash as we'll have an opportunity to shop the MOPS Marketplace. Rumor has it that some of the goods sold will benefit moms in Haiti. There will also be locally made skincare products and handmade clothing and jewelry: perfect for Christmas gifts for you or someone else! Mark your calendars for the December Ellemeno (Leavenworth Moms' Night Out) Cookie Exchange December 20th- more details to come!

October Ellemeno Night

You're Invited to...

October Ellemeno Night  

(Leavenworth Moms Night Out)

• Host: Leavenworth MOPS
• Phone: 782-321-0509

• When: Saturday, October 23 at 06:30 PM
• Where: Heidi Hill's House 
• 5975 Webster Way Cashmere, WA 98815 

 Hello Moms of Tots!
Our first fall Leavenworth Moms Night Out is just around the corner!

Join other young moms for an evening of relaxing, chatting, snacking, and games.

Those of you with infants are welcome to bring them, otherwise plan an awesome evening for your kids....elsewhere.  Also, if you're able, could you bring a little something to snack on? We look forward to see you!

Our Year Has Begun

Hello MOPS Moms,
Just wanted to bring everyone up to speed on our new year.  If you are new to our Leavenworth MOPS group, or just checking out the blog for the first time, be sure to scroll down and see the earlier posts from this year.  Our Steering Team members and their phone numbers are on the left hand side below this year's theme logo (Momology: the Art and Science of Mothering).  Feel free to give any of us a call with your questions or concerns.  And the Mentor Moms are eager to help you navigate all the crazy, exciting, challenging, exhausting (and a hundred other adjectives) things that we Mothers of Preschoolers come up against every day.

Welcome, we look forward to seeing you on October 13th, 9:30 at the Leavenworth Church of the Nazarene!

-Anna, for the MOPS Steering Team

Here's our Flyer for 2010.  Let me know if you would like copies to hand out or post places.

MOPS Resumes on...

September, 8th (Wednesday)
9:30-11:30
As usual, we will meet at the Leavenworth Church of the Nazarene.


See you then!

EVENTS!

Some summer dates for you to put on your calendar to get together before the end of summer:

Wednesday, August 11- Enchantment Park- 9:30- MOPS playdate at the park

Saturday, August 14- Heidi Hill's house- 3:30- Pride and Prejudice (BBC) movie night (RSVP josh.hill@verizon.net)

Monday, August 23- Diana Runion's house- 4:00- Goodbye party for Becca Heeren

Our first MOPS meeting is Wednesday, Sept 8- Leavenworth Church of the Nazarene- 9:30 AM

See you then!

Summer Library Calendar

Here it is ladies - the calendar for the library's activities for the summer.

Page 1 (June)

Page 2 (July/Aug)

LAST MOPS...

Hello Ladies - just a reminder that next Wednesday is our last MOPS of this 2009-2010 school year. We will be starting up next school year on 9/8/2010.

At our last MOPS on May 26th, don't forget to bring books for our book exchange. Should be fun! See you then!

Baked Apple Doughnuts

here is the recipe for Lindsey's yummy doughnuts from our last MOPS:

Baked Apple Doughnuts

1 1/2 cups flour
1 3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup shortening
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup grated raw apple


1/2 cup melted butter
Mix 1/2 cup sugar and 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Sift first 5 ingredients. Cut in shortening. Mix together egg, milk, and apple. Add all at once to dry ingredients and mix quickly, but thoroughly. Fill greased muffin tin 2/3 full. Bake 350 for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pan immediately. Roll in melted butter. Then roll in sugar and cinnamon mixture. Makes 12 doughnuts.

Coupon Resources

Here is how I get my coupons and save money at the Store:

1. I always (most always!) get a Seattle Sunday paper at the store. Sometimes Safeway will have them even on Monday. Jason and I have been known to drive around town on Sunday night trying to find a paper, though!

2. I subscribe to The Grocery Game - Great tool to use to save money at the grocery store! Below is the cost that I pulled from the website. The site is not updated until Sunday nights and the ad is only good through Wednesday. So you have to do your shopping Sundays, Mondays or Tuesdays. They will tell you what coupon you need and a link to online coupons. Safeway will match a store coupon (pick up a copy of the ad on the way in the store) and a manufacturers coupon. I have saved over 50% on my bill and had my cupboards well stocked.

The cost for a 1 store membership is $10 every 8 weeks. That works out to about $1.25 per week. A 2 store membership is $15 every 8 weeks, a 3 store membership is $20 every 8 weeks and so on.

3. I go to Safeway.com to make sure that the deals that are on the Grocery Game are valid in our area.

4. I am an avid blog reader. Here are some of my favorite blogs for finding great deals. Most of them will post links to coupons from various online sites. They will also link to the coupon. Stay on top of them, though. Usually when they post a special deal, it can go fast.

Stretching a Buck - my favorite resource for Target deals. She also has Walgreens if you shop there, and Walmart sometimes. Please note that she is not in the same area as us, so double check the Target ad to make sure the they have the same deals.

Kingdom First Mom - tips, freebie lists, giveaways, deals, etc.

Thrifty NW Mom - deals around the NW and online

5. I signed up for emails from Coupon Mom. They email me every time coupons.com uploads new coupons.

6. I NEVER do my main grocery & coupon shopping with the kids. Trust me, leave them with Dad and you'll save more money! :)

7. I am a fan of Frugal Girls, The Frugal Girl, Thrifty NW Mom & Money Saving Mom on Facebook. They post links to deals and coupons.

I think that about covers it!

Sarah

LADIES NIGHT OUT

We are so excited to be planning our very first LADIES NIGHT OUT! We will be making jewelry and enjoying a variety of desserts. We will be having this at Brenda's house & childcare WILL be provided!

This is not limited to only MOPS Moms. Please bring a friend or two. As we get closer, we will need to sign up, so we have plenty of supplies & babysitters.

Here's the plan:

Friday April 9th from 6-8pm.

** More information to follow. Questions? - please contact someone on the steering team

Becoming a Love and Logic Parent - FREE SEMINAR~

This seminar is taking place at the Enzian Inn. Childcare is provided. Dinner is provided on Sunday evening. The Date is Sunday March 7th and Monday March 8. Times are: Sunday 9-12 and 430-830. Monday 6-8. PLEASE RSVP - Contact: Jordan Brown 679-1123 or 548-8005.

Cascade Youth Baseball

The sign ups are happening for youth baseball/t-ball. If you sign up before March 5, you save $10.00. I may be wrong, but from what I read, if your child was born BEFORE April 2006, they are eligible to play. Check out the website for more info:

http://www.cascadeyouthbaseball.com/

Great Northern Trading Company

I don't know about you, but I sure enjoyed listening to Leenia Hopkins at the last MOPS meeting. What great information! She did share about Azure Standard Food company, and I wanted to share with you the link. Like she said, you will want to order from The Great Northern Trading Company in Wenatchee to get local delivery and a better rate. (My dad actually started Great Northern, and sold it to the Bertrem's several years ago.)

I hope you all walked away with some great tips and information... and a yummy meal as well! A BIG THANK YOU to Lennia!!! What a blessing!

Wrestling is starting for boys age 4-12

Youth wrestling begins

Cascade Youth Wrestling for ages 4 through 12 begins with a first practice on Tuesday, Jan. 26 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Cascade High School wrestling room. Wrestlers may sign up at the first practice or call 548-7855. (e2,3)

Empty Bowls

The Empty Bowls Festival is coming again. Wanted to let you all know that family painting day is coming up on Saturday January 23rd from 9am - 5:30 pm. This will be held at the Peshastin Head Start building.

This event is so fun. If you have never done it before, check out this link for more information. We did it last year for the 1st time & loved it!

Empty Bowls

Body After Baby

Wow! What an awesome MOPS this morning. Those of you that missed: We were fortunate to be able to hear from Erika Enloe - fitness guru & personal trainer.

She told us of some excellent exercises to try at home.

Erika mentioned she teaches classes at Balance Point. I wanted to let you guys know the schedule there...

Balance Point Schedule

She also mentioned her business "Active Girl". Looks like such a great and fun thing to try! Here is the link to the website...

Active Girl Website