Cafe Mom

What do your kids see?

I've heard it said before, but was challenged when I saw this actual photo:

This is what your children see when they talk to you.  I know that my boys listen to me more, and feel more heard when I actually bend down and talk to them, look them in the eye, and give them my full attention.  It's amazing to see the visual of what they see when we're talking to a friend, standing, and saying, "Wait a minute!"  (Granted, I'm not going to be able to get down to their level every time I talk to them, or allow them to interrupt me when I talk with my friends...but what a neat visual for me to see!)

Hope you're all having a lovely summer so far!  Have you gotten together with your MOPS gals lately?

Happy Mother's Day, MOPS Mommas!

Please-oh-please take a moment to watch this, moms, as you reflect on Mother's Day.  God is watching you build beautiful things.

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"How to Miss a Childhood"

Came across this link on a friend's blog and had to share it. It's so relevant.

"How to Miss a Childhood"

~Dani Olson

Cedar Valley Fun!

Thank you for all of the wonderful ideas that will keep us mommas going all summer long!  We are all very blessed to have so many options of creative, fun things to do in the Cedar Valley.  Here are some things that were mentioned yesterday:

* Cedar Valley Arboretum
Wednesday afternoons in June to August at 10:00 a.m. is a storytime; including the feeding of "Jake the Snake", the train is run, a huge sandbox with sand toys, and beautiful trails to walk!  

* Summer Concerts at Overman Park
Enjoy free concerts outside during the summer!  Click on the link above to see the dates and times.

*  Movie Under the Moon at Overman Park 
Music starts at 6:30, and then the movie starts at dusk.  Click on the link above to see dates, times, and movies being shown.  Maidrites, soda, and popcorn are available for purchase.  

 * Dollar Day at the Phelps Youth Pavilion
Every third Thursday of the month is "dollar day" at the Phelps Youth Pavilion.  This is a great deal for a great children's museum in Waterloo.   

* Cedar Falls Library
The Cedar Falls Library offers many programs throughout the summer, including story time, movie night, and puppet shows! 

Other Links:
Hearst Center
Kids Bowl Free
Macaroni Kid
Grout Museum/Bluedorn Science Imaginarium

Would you be able to help?

We have a momma in need!  Heather Erickson has been going through health problems since having her baby about a month ago.  She's waiting for surgery and will have a long recovery afterwards, so she could use some Cafe Mom mommas' support!  She's currently in need of meals, hands and feet to grocery shop, or babysitting.  We'd like to keep her address protected, so please message me (Alisa John) or Dana Moersfelder if you'd like to help and we will coordinate the schedule!  It would be a HUGE blessing to Heather and her family.

*Special Note: If a freezer meal sounds more do-able to you, we will collect freezer meals this Thursday at Cafe Mom and get them to her.

Thanks for being a blessing, ladies!

what's left...

Did you all have a delightful morning out for Mom's Morning Out!?  I hope it was a refresher for you!  

This upcoming Thursday, we will have a Mentor Mom panel.  If you've had questions about mommyhood, marriage, cooking/baking, or life's hardest and easiest musings, bring them to MOPS!  We want to hear what the Mentors have to say about all of it.

On April 12, we will review the past year, have a questionnaire, and talk-talk-talk.

On April 19, we will have a "messy morning", making items for our kids to propel us into the summer.

Then...on April 26, we will have a celebration!  This will be our last meeting of the year.

We'll leave you with this hilarious image, mommas: Yes.  We are Mothers!

Spring has sprung!

Contribution by: Dana Moersfelder

 

Hello Mamas!

I came across this blog post from Jill Savage whom I saw at the Hearts At Home conference earlier this year. It's worth the short read. 

Temper Tantrums in the Grocery Store

I also wanted to share a few pictures with you from a hike we took at Backbone State Park two weekends ago. It was such a beautiful Sunday and our family decided to make the short drive (less than an hour) to the park. It was an 80 degree day and if we had waited one more week, then everything would have been green also. How awesome is it that spring has sprung so early?

It was an easy hike along the lake there at the south entrance. We packed some snacks and water and went exploring. It cost nothing but a few dollars in gas.  There are so many State parks within just a few minutes of the Cedar Valley. I encourage you to check them out at the Iowa State Parks website. The kids had so much fun exploring on and off the path. 

 

 

***And a reminder that this week is Mom's Morning Out! Come, drop the kiddos off and take some time for YOU!

More Answers from the Experts...

Wasn't our time with the couples mentor panel fantastic a few weeks ago?  There were some questions that didn't get answered, so Gil & Kris Irey sat down and answered the following:

Q:How do you encourage your husband to be a spiritual leader? 
A: Be willing as a wife to LET him lead.  Make sure he knows you want him too and be careful not to judge him if he is not ready too or has a different leadership style than you do.  Encourage and pray for him as much as possible.

Q:How do you grow spiritually together?  
A: Try to get into a small group together at your church.  Pray together.  Try to do devotions as a family.  Look for times to talk about God's movement in your life.  Agree on proper spiritual order of your family, i.e. God, spouse, children, work...  Desire quiet time together and plan on it.

Q: How do you keep things spicy?
A: Book a night away together and have kids taken care of or if financially that isn't possible, try and exchange babysitting with a friend, and spend an evening in together.  :)  Once again anytime you can get alone, try too.

Q: What are some creative date ideas?
A: Head to a park or lake with some food and drink favorites (wine and cheese, etc.), coffee/drink dates as often as possible.  Take turns as a couple picking a favorite dining spot.  Take walks as a couple or with family.   Ask your spouse to do something he likes to do, or vise versa.

Q: What do you do when you have different interests?
A: You change and then he'll change.  Shock him...ask him to do his favorite and then do it with a happy heart.  See what happens!

Q: What do you do when your husband doesn't desire sex?
A: Check and see if there is any medical or physical reasons behind it.  Is there a lot of stress in his life?  If there is try and help him relieve it.  Talk about it and/or seek counseling.  

This is just our humble opinion on these subjects.  We don't claim to be experts!  We have desired not only to have a great marriage but an excellent one,  so we have read many marriage books, gone to marriage seminars and got around people who we thought had excellent marriages.  Be deliberate about seeking mentors both individually and as a couple. -Gil & Kris Irey

Lunch Ideas

Thank you for all of your wonderful lunch ideas!  Feel inspired by these wonderful ideas:

* Quesadillas - ham & cheese melted between two tortillas / cheese, tomato, black beans & spinach between two tortillas

* Meat, cheese, vegetable & fruit - roll up turkey deli meat stick in a toothpick, mini carrots, cherry tomatoes, cheese stick, grapes or blueberries

* Grilled chicken

* Meat & cheese crackers

* PB&J

* Soup

* Grilled Cheese

* Lunchables

* “Cheese Dreams” - ½ bun with cheese on it with cup up pieces (or any meat) broiled

* Scrambled eggs

* Tuna helper with extra noodles & veggie

* Ramen noodles

* Kid Kabobs - break up turkey, fruit (bananas, apples, grapes, etc.), cubes of cheese and have your children put them on the skewers

* Grilled peanut butter, bananas, and nutella sandwiches

* Spaghettios

* Little pizzas with English Muffins - can do anything: pepperoni, ham & pineapple tidbits, etc. with spaghetti sauce and mozzarella cheese. Put in oven at 350 degrees until everything is melted and toasted

* Hummus & pitas

* Fruit smoothies - yogurt, ice, milk, orange juice, fruit, “hidden veggies”

* Whole Wheat Spaghetti (or any pasta) with peas and a little feta cheese - no sauce, no mess, and yummy!

* Grilled ham & cheese with apple slices in the middle

* Baby carrots with ritz crackers, summer sausage, and easy cheese. To add a twist, I ask each child what they’d like me to make with the cheese on their cracker - the first letter of their name, the sun, a flower, clouds, smiley face, etc. Makes lunch fun and the kids like it.

* Frozen Grapes, String Cheese, Bagel with Peanut Butter on it

* Apples dipped in peanut butter

For Mom: pre-cut veggies, chicken, lettuce for the week and then you make a salad quick and easy!

 

What's Coming Up...

February 23 - Coffee Talk with the Couples Mentor Panel

March 1 - Swap 
    *You're welcome to bring 1-2 tubs of maternity clothes, women's clothes, children's clothing, toys, books, etc. 

March 8 - Coffee Talk

March 15 - No MOPS - Spring Break

March 22 - Cafe Mom "The Calm & Peaceful Home"

March 29 - Mom's Morning Out!

April 5 - Coffee Talk

April 12 - Cafe Mom "Patience"

April 19 - Messy Morning
    *We will be having a morning of making fun items to lead you into the summer.

April 26 - Last MOPS/Celebration Morning

This summer we will be hosting playdates at the Prairie Lakes Church park every-other Thursday morning.  Bring your kids, a sack lunch, and sit and chat in the fenced-in play area at PLC.  We will be announcing more of the details as the summer draws closer.