MOPS at Church at the Crossing

FREE/ $1.00 summer movies!

2009-08-06T12:48:00.001-05:00

Glendale Mall:


Village Park Stadium 17 2222 East 146th Street Carmel, IN 46033 317-843-1681

Selected G & PG movies start at 10AM each Tuesday and Wednesday


06/30/2009-07/01/2009	Horton Hears A Who (G)
	Daddy Day Care (PG)
07/07/2009-07/08/2009	Rugrats: The Movie (G)
	Nim's Island (PG)
07/14/2009-07/15/2009	Charlotte's Web (G)
07/21/2009-07/22/2009	Kit Kittredge: American Girl (G)
	Kung Fu Panda (PG)
07/28/2009-07/29/2009	The Tale Of Despereaux (G)
	Igor (PG)
08/04/2009-08/05/2009	Mr. Bean's Holiday (G)
	Shrek The Third (PG)

Galaxy Stadium 14 8105 E. 96Th Street Indianapolis ,IN 46256 317-570-5970 Selected G & PG movies start at 10AM each Tuesday and Wednesday

06/30/2009-07/01/2009	Muppets In Space (G)
07/07/2009-07/08/2009	Horton Hears A Who (G)
	Daddy Day Care (PG)
07/14/2009-07/15/2009	Rugrats: The Movie (G)
	Nim's Island (PG)
07/21/2009-07/22/2009	Charlotte's Web (G)
07/28/2009-07/29/2009	Kit Kittredge: American Girl (G)
	Kung Fu Panda (PG)
08/04/2009-08/05/2009	The Tale Of Despereaux (G)
	Igor (PG)

MOPS Park Playdates

2009-07-01T17:16:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone! This is just a reminder that we have a park playdate this Friday -- July 3. I know I can't make it, but if you plan to go, maybe you can reply to all so others know they won't show up alone. :) Also, look for information soon about our 2009-2010 kickoff in late August! Our first official meeting is the first Friday of September. Don't worry, more reminders will be coming your way! Enjoy your summer and the holiday weekend.

Dawn
_____

July 3: Lions Park
421 north to 334 / 116th St.; go left towards Zionsville

July 17: Dillon Park
146th & Hazeldell

August 7: West Park
116th & Towne Rd.

August 21: Brookschool Park
116th & Brookschool Rd.

PBS Kids in the Park - Saturday, June 27

2009-06-27T13:35:00.001-05:00

Here is some info on an event taking place on Saturday for the kids.
Have a great week!

Saturday, June 27 from 10 am to 4 pm · FREE
Veterans Memorial Plaza/American Legion Mall
Downtown Indianapolis

WFYI invites you to this free family festival. Meet your
favorite PBS KIDS characters and enjoy a day of non-stop
entertainment and activities for the whole family!

Festival attendees will be treated to continuous free live
entertainment on two distinct stages.

2009-06-22T17:56:00.001-05:00

Meredith, this is a test post. You can log in and delete it!

Emma's Pasta with Herb vinaigrette

2009-06-20T19:44:00.002-05:00

3 tablespoon oil
3 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 garlic clove crushed
1/2 cup fresh basil (1 tsp dry)
2+1/2 cup dry pasta
8 oz green beans
1 red bell pepper
2 fresh tomatoes chopped
1/2 cup fresh oregano(1 tsp dry)
1 tsp sugar (if you have kids)
8 oz tuna or 1 lb cooked chicken strips

cook pasta and drain
combine oil, vinegar, garlic, basil, oregano in blender
combine ingredients
Chill and serve

MOPS BOOK CLUB

2009-06-20T16:39:00.002-05:00

We met June 20th at the Panera Bread at Allisonville and 82nd Streets. We discussed: Someone Knows My Name: A Novel by Lawrence Hill

Everyone appreciated the book, especially how it gave us perspective on how easy our lives really are!

Here are a couple of reviews:

From Publishers Weekly: Stunning, wrenching and inspiring, the fourth novel by Canadian novelist Hill (Any Known Blood) spans the life of Aminata Diallo, born in Bayo, West Africa, in 1745. The novel opens in 1802, as Aminata is wooed in London to the cause of British abolitionists, and begins reflecting on her life. Kidnapped at the age of 11 by British slavers, Aminata survives the Middle Passage and is reunited in South Carolina with Chekura, a boy from a village near hers. Her story gets entwined with his, and with those of her owners: nasty indigo producer Robinson Appleby and, later, Jewish duty inspector Solomon Lindo. During her long life of struggle, she does what she can to free herself and others from slavery, including learning to read and teaching others to, and befriending anyone who can help her, black or white. Hill handles the pacing and tension masterfully, particularly during the beginnings of the American revolution, when the British promise to free Blacks who fight for the British: Aminata's related, eventful travels to Nova Scotia and Sierra Leone follow. In depicting a woman who survives history's most trying conditions through force of intelligence and personality, Hill's book is a harrowing, breathtaking tour de force.

A terrific character...through her curious eyes, a terrifying patch of history comes to vivid life. -- Jennifer Reese, Entertainment Weekly Aminata is an eloquent guide to 70 years of turbulent history spanning three continents. -- Julie Wittes Schlack, Boston Globe [Written] with grace and compassion...an authentic hero. -- Jennifer Berman, Bookforum

This was the first book club meeting at which Natalie was not in attendance. It was also the last for Lana and Bethany, who are moving to opposites ends of North America in the next couple of weeks. (That is Lori above... not Lana)

Long distance Romance

2009-06-19T13:32:00.001-05:00

The next time your husband goes out of town without you, write out exactly what you're going to do to him when he walks in the door. Get the note to your husband while he's on the road. There's a pretty good chance he will be hurrying home just as fast as humanly possible. ( www.52projects.com)

photography project

2009-06-19T13:29:00.000-05:00

* Buy a disposable camera. Take pictures of each waiter/waitress at each restaurant you go to. When you have finished the film, send it in to be developed. when you get the pictures back see if you can remember which server was at each restaurant. Try to see how much you really take notice of the people who touch your lives if only for a little and whose lives you touch. (my idea)

Decorated Coffee Jar

2009-06-19T13:00:00.002-05:00

Don't throw out your coffee, jam or pickle jars, especially if they are those really beautifully shaped ones that you get nowadays. All you need are some sequins or diamantes, which cost literally pennies from haberdashers. Stick them on at random and glue a label to the front with "coffee,” "spice,” "pasta" or anything else, which the jar might be utilized for storing. Tie a silver or gold bow round the neck of the jar.

Tick Removal

2009-06-19T12:56:00.003-05:00

Tick Removal:
I had a pediatrician tell me what she believes is the best way to remove a tick. This is great, because it works in those places where it's some times difficult to get to with tweezers: between toes, in the middle of a head full of dark hair, etc.

Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball. Cover the tick with the soap-soaked cotton ball and swab it for a few seconds (15-20), the tick will come out on its own and be stuck to the cotton ball when you lift it away. This technique has worked every time I've used it (and that was frequently), and it's much less traumatic for the patient and easier for me.

Unless someone is allergic to soap, I can't see that this would be damaging in any way. I even had my doctor's wife call me for advice because she had one stuck to her back and she couldn't reach it with tweezers. She used this method and immediately called me back to say, "It worked!"

Big Boom Fireworks

2009-06-19T12:49:00.002-05:00

If you are interested in buying fireworks and are in the area, please stop by. :)

Big Boom Fireworks
Noblesville
Behind Culvers and right next to Riverview Hospital
It is a huge store (the biggest in Hamilton County). You can find everything that you are looking for. He says that the prices are less than anyone around.
Their hours are currently 9-9.

Stop by for great deals!

1st Annual MOPS Scavenger hunt (we're doing it again next year!)

2009-06-03T19:36:00.003-05:00

Our first Mops scavenger hunt, of the digital variety was organized by our wonderful Josie.

We gathered at the agreed on location before we started out on our nefarious mission. There would be winners and there would be losers.

Josie’s daughter Colleen would be the judge...

The winning teams:

Someone doing the Monkey Bars

The Winning Team (Veronica, Flo, Karla, Danielle)

)

The runner up (Sara, Emma, Dawn)

Strangers Kissing

Drinking Fountain

Two people on a slide together

Mops Member sitting at a bar

Stranger doing a return

Stranger talking on phone while driving;

Something with a MOPS logo

Black Minivan:

Hugging a stop-sign

ringing someone's doorbell and asking for a picture with them

stranger modeling clothes

group eating french fries:

picture of someone pumping gas

Stranger buying something from Carters

group doing Chinese Fire Drill at a stoplight

MOPS member donating money:

MOPS members sneaking dessert from the room without being caught;

someone buying something at grocery store

And... a sighting of Jesus:

Fun idea to do with kids this summer

2009-06-01T08:59:00.002-05:00

I just wanted to send you information on Strawberry picking! Me and the girls just went this past Friday and it was alot of fun for all of us. We left with 20lbs of Strawberries! When you pick them yourself they are only $1.50 a pound.

If you go I would recommend bringing buckets for your little ones to carry (they have containers but they are big) and a camera. The strawberries will be out for the next few weeks and then it will be raspberry season. The country store also has ice cream, pies and other goodies for your kids ( and yourself) to enjoy after your hard work.

Spencer Farm located at 7177 East 161st Street, Noblesville, 46062.

www.spencerberryfarm.com <http://www.spencerberryfarm.com/>

Have a great day,

Tracy Ash

Hi girls! Just wanted to let you know that we had 8 people donate blood at Wednesday's Blood drive

2009-05-24T13:55:00.002-05:00

Taste of MOPS

2009-05-19T14:44:00.001-05:00

I REALLY enjoyed our Taste of Mops meeting. It was fun to be able to try so many great recipes at once. ;And now I’m ready to start making some at home, and I’m guessing you are too.

Ladies,

Thanks again for bringing in such tasty stuff. I know how hard it is to just get out the door with your kids for the meetings, much less come with a dish in hand. Thanks for helping to make it a great meeting. It was also so nice to hear how much our group means to so many of you. I LOVE MOPS!

Looking forward to seeing you & your kiddos at the parks this summer!

In Him,

Natalie

Photography project

2009-05-19T13:29:00.000-05:00

* Document a regular day in your life -- the household in the morning, the place you buy your coffee before work/school/ playing at the park, the goings on in your office/living room, the lunch hour, snack time, nap time, your husband getting home from work, preparing and eating dinner, the evening hours, getting ready for bed and just before the lights go out. (adapted from www.52projects.com)

Park Dates/Locations: Those who are able will meet on the following Fridays at 10am at the parks listed. Feel free to come when you can and leave

2009-05-18T13:14:00.002-05:00

when you can and leave when you need to. Bring a lunch if you'd like. Also, don't forget sunscreen/swimsuit/extra clothes, towels, etc. for the parks that have water (sprinklers).

June 19th: Billericay Park (in Fishers)-126th Promise Rd.; WATER

July 3rd: Lions Park (in Zionsville)-421 (Michigan Rd.) north to 334 (aka 116th St .) towards Zionsville. Go left on 334.

July 17th: Dillon Park (in Noblesville/Carmel area)-146th Hazeldell; WATER

August 7th: West Park (in Carmel)-116th Towne Rd.; WATER

August 21st: Brookschool Park (in Fishers)-116th Brookschool

Play Do Play Do Play Do

2009-05-18T13:10:00.001-05:00

Play Do
2 ½ C flour
½ C salt
2 pkgs unsweetened Kool-Aid
2 C boiling water
2 Tbsp oil

Combine and knead as it cools. Add flour if needed. Smells fruity rather than like icky play do!!

Adventures with Josie

2009-05-18T13:09:00.002-05:00

Since our theme is "Adventures in Mothering" I thought I'd share one I experienced

45 minutes before needing to get Colleen to kindergarten I called the girls down to lunch. 20 minutes later we were ready to head out the door. So, I start to "collect" everyone and hustle them along. I had no idea where Nate (2) was in the house so I put Colleen on the "mission" of finding him. In the meantime I headed upstairs to look on my own and get Cameron (7 months). I walked into Abby's (3) room and found her bathroom door open. Hmmmmm....where's Nate? Nope--not in here. Ohhhhhhh nooooooooo!!!!!! The sink was plugged (by Colleen-5) and Abby had left the water running! There was water under her sink, in the drawers (all 3 of them) and the carpet was COMPLETELY soaked! (And we were supposed to be walking out the door to walk to school.) Quickly I started to soak up the water on the counter. Suddenly it dawned on me that until I TURNED OFF the water, I was losing the battle. After unplugging the sink, drying the drawers and inside the cabinet, I once again started to soak up the water on the floor. After 6 bath towels, 2 hand towels, (and screaming at the girls), we HAD to leave. Off we went to school. I got home about 10 minutes later, put Abby and Nate down for naps, fed Cameron, fixed a fan to help dry the water, and started to hear a "drip, drip, drip" from my dining room ceiling. You've GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!!!! Another beach towel and a couple of hours later the dripping stopped. Through all the tears I called "good old mom" and told her what had happened. She told me it was only water and would dry. True, but in the midst of the circumstances it was the worst thing that could have happened today. She told me to look in the basement and see if there was water there too. Surely it couldn't be THAT bad, could it? Yep. It was in the basement too. A nice puddle on the floor, being soaked up by a moving box.! bsp; Gre at....wait a minute; there is a bright spot to all this. The box held swimming pool stuff--rafts, floats, etc.!!!!! Yippee! Once again I trekked up the stairs to look in the living room. Having had this experience once before a few years ago I remembered that water stains mysteriously appeared on the ceiling. Sure enough, there they were again. I was amazed at how the water traveled to so many parts of my house. A few hours later the water from my chandelier had stopped, the carpet was drying in the girls' bathroom, and the problem wasn't as big as it first seemed. Earlier I had told the girls they wouldn't have their blankets at bedtime tonight. But after a good evening of listening and obeying, as well as reading Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, the girls have their blankets. Just like mom said, "they're just kids and can't always see the consequences of their actions". I made sure they saw the damage that had been done to the house so they would learn a lesson. Did they really learn one? I hope so. But more importantly, I learned one--again. God forgives me over and over and over again in spite of doing things I KNOW are wrong. I know my girls walked away with one thing from all this. In spite of my ranting and raving in my anger, I love them! And tonight when I tucked them into bed with hugs and kisses (and their blankets), all the world was right once again.

So there's my mothering adventure for this week.

cyanide hour dinner meals

2009-05-18T13:08:00.001-05:00

One thing that I do that’s super easy is I always have smoked sausage in the house. Even if its frozen, it can be nuked easily and quickly. Sauté some sliced onions and potatoes in a skillet with butter and/or oil. Add in the sausage, a can of diced tomatoes and a dash of thyme (add salt and pepper to taste). Serve with any frozen or fresh veggies you can scrounge up (steam them first tho)!!

Lori Olson

potato casserole

2009-05-18T13:07:00.001-05:00

One bag (about 2lbs) of the hashbrown potatoes
one can cream of chicken soup
1 pint of sour cream (I used sour cream with chives this time)
about a fourth of a cup of minced onions
2 cups shredded cheese (your choice...I used a "casserole blend")
salt and pepper to taste
3-4 T of melted butter
and this time I actually fried a few slices of bacon and crumbled them into it as well...totally optional

bake uncovered at 350 for 45-60 minutes. If the top starts looking too brown I put a piece of foil on it, but let it crisp up at the end.

I hope you enjoy! Thanks!
Angie

About my mother

2009-05-18T13:06:00.001-05:00

What haven't I learned from my mother! While my dad is the book smart parent who helped with Algebra and science projects, my mom has taught me so much about the world: how to be a good SAHM, how to cook, entertain, maintain a welcoming and homey household, how to navigate friendships, marital advice (what has been good in her marriage and what mistakes to try to avoid!), what to do when my child gets sick, the list goes on! Most of all I've gotten to see my mom grow in her relationship with the Lord and how her life has changed through that, God changes lives in amazing ways!
Tara Tan g

The first thing that comes to mind that my mother has taught me is that to get what you want you have to work hard at it. I've never seen anyone more

2009-05-18T13:05:00.001-05:00

Jenni Beesley

My mother passed away when I was only 12.

2009-05-18T13:04:00.000-05:00

I am sitting here trying to think of 1 really good thing that I learned from her and cant. The only thing that I can think about is the love I feel when I picture her face. My mom was so kind, mild tempered and soft spoken. Don't get me wrong, she had her moments as we all do when she told me she was going to send me to "Kalamazoo" (I never knew that I would move to Indiana, I am almost to Kalamazoo LOL). But when I remember her I think of all the love that she showed me even when I was a spoiled, bratty, cranky pre-teen. I feel all warm and fuzzy now.
Stephanie Fearnow

Here are some thing I learned from my mom: How to bake cookies and prepare dinners. She also taught me how to bargain shop. - Tammy Waltman

2009-05-18T13:03:00.000-05:00