social styles

Do you tend to ask or tell? Do you tend to be more task or people focused? If you're tell-assertive and task-focused, you're most likely a driver. If you're tell-assertive and people-focused, you're probably an expressive. If you're ask-assertive and task-focused, you're an analytical, and if you're ask-assertive and people-focused, you're an amiable.

There are many resources out there on this...just ask google. ;) tracom group social styles is one, and there's a if you want to get really into it...


Apparently not everyone thought that the talk was thrilling. ;)

Park/Harvest Day

This year's park day wasn't nearly as cold as last year's!



Here's one of my little pumpkin...


We really try to be non-discriminatory at MOMS. We welcome ALL moms, and woodland creatures alike...
Just too many captions for this one (I can't choose!) ;)

There's still time to get your costume photo for a $5 donation. See Diana Huston for your photo if you haven't already.

Hip Stitch

A huge thank you to the ladies at Hip Stitch, Suzanne and Ann, who came to show us some sewing basics and help us make lavendar eye pillows. Check out the many fun classes offered at Hip Stitch...

...and the first comment on this post gets an eye pillow! If you already have one, this would be a great gift! ;)
See, Emma's ready to sign up for a class (edible sewing)! ;)

Putt-Putt Family Day

I see some pro golfers in our future...



...(or future zoo trainers) ;)

The first person to comment on this post gets a free child's game at Putt-Putt.

First MOMS Meeting!

What a fun first meeting! We have lots of new faces this year, and started off with a "survivor mommy" challenge - can I just say that if the end of the world happens any time soon, I think a MOMS Meeting is the place to be for ultimate survival gear? ;)

And we made some journals with the attributes of God we'll be using throughout the year...

And, of course, there's always beautiful babies. ;)


Sorry it took me so long to get the post up from the first meeting. To make up for it, the first person to find October's secret word on the blog (pumpkin) and make a comment on the post will get a little surprise. ;)

Summer Fun

Summer Camps and Activities for Kids:
Bounce N Boogie - lots of fun classes starting up this summer, and now Emily offers unlimited classes for one low price!

VBS at New Covenant Church (June 14-18) includes a sports camp for 6-12 year olds and a separate camp for 4 and 5 year olds. You can register online.

Summer Reading Programs - Albuquerque and Rio Rancho

Community Centers Summer Recreation Program

Balloon Museum's Stories in the Sky - storytime includes free admission to the museum Wednesdays 9:30-10:15

Museum School through Albuquerque Museum - offers art classes for children 3 and up, and the museum offers family art ativities on Saturdays in addition to free admission the first Wednesday of each month.

Explora Summer Camp for kids 5 and up

Swimming Lessons: City of Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, JCC

Young Explorers Science Program through the New Mexico Museum of Natural History (for kids entering kindergarten and up)

Sandia Mountain Natural History Center offers nature hikes and an explorer center that you can do on your own.

Camp BioPark - camps for preschoolers through 9th grade.


Outdoor Activities:
Nature Discovery for kids at the Rio Grande Nature Center for kids entering first grade and up.

Petroglyph National Monument had a Web Ranger (ages 6-13) and Junior Ranger (K-6) program

Manzano Mesa Water Sprayground

There are some great places for hiking, camping, walking, biking and rollerblading.
Volcanoes, Paseo del Bosque bike trail, open space, Tingley Beach fishing (free fishing clinics offered)

Concerts and Plays:
Summerfest outdoor concerts, Summer Nights concerts at the Aquarium, Zoo Music,
Albuquerque Concert Band performing at parks throughout the summer, Salsa Under the Stars at Albuquerque Museum's sculpture gardens (fun date night idea).

Arts in the Parks

Kimo Theatre has summer performances for families and kids

Other:

Free Family Film Festival

Albuquerque Isotopes

The city of Albuquerque also has a free lunch program open to everyone 1-18 years of age over the summer at community centers and parks.

Have anything to add? Leave a comment or email Ellen and I'll add it! ;)


The City of Albuquerque has a page on their website with lots of ideas for things to do this summer. Check them out here - http://www.cabq.gov/fun/summer

2009-2010 MOMS slideshow

Parenting...

...with love and logic. Thank you to Diana Huston's husband for giving us a taste of this parenting philosophy which allows natural consequences to teach our children. I admit that I used this a lot as a teacher, but it's harder to use with my own kids!! You can learn more about love and logic here, and I have a copy of the book Parenting With Love and Logic if anyone wants to borrow it.

There are so many parenting books out there. If you have a parenting book you'd recommend, leave a comment - I'm sure we have a vast selection of resources out there among our own MOMS!!

Dr. Kevin Leman has a book that follows love & logic pretty closely - Making Children Mind without Losing Yours. Dr. Leman has great practical tips and a good sense of humor, which helps when you're looking at discipline.

Anyone else? Leave a comment! :)

Easter Tea

One of my favorite spring MOMS meetings is always our Easter Tea. Delicious tea and snacks, a wonderful testimony from Lisa Fortney, and time to chat with other moms...it just doesn't get better than that! :)

Frigid Park Day Part II (spring edition)

Cupcake Decorating

At our last meeting Anna Adkins, who owns the Specialty Shop with her husband David, gave us some great tips on decorating cakes & cupcakes.


Here's her recipe for Soft Decorating Frosting:

2 cups Crisco solid

2/3 cup "Brite White" (available at the Specialty Shop)

1/3 c. plus 2 Tbsp. water

2 lb. Powdered sugar (this is one package)

1 tsp. Cream Bouquet (available at the Specialty Shop) or other CLEAR flavoring

1 tbsp. Meringue Powder

Cream crisco, Brite White and water. Add remaining ingredients slowly, and beat at high speed with a heavy-duty mixer for 20 minutes (Yes, I did say 20 minutes! If using an electric, handheld mixer beat at 5 minute increments, allowing machine to rest in between). Store icing in an airtight container. Need not refrigerate.

And I have to say that when I took my cupcake home, it got the taste test and stamp of approval! ;)

Personal Finances

Since Jenny Migdal was called to jury duty, her faithful husband Walt stepped in to fill her shoes, along with fellow financial planners Brenda and Robyn Ashworth, gave lots of great ideas on spending, saving and debt...

If you didn't get one of the many handouts with resources, let one of the steering team members know and we'll get you a copy. A few people asked about credit scores too, and here's a link that gives more information: http://www.kiplinger.com/columns/ask/archive/close-a-creditcard-account-to-avoid-fees.html

Calendar Creations

Our first January meeting found us making adorable calendars for the busy months to come...you can find calendar templates for the rest of the year just about anywhere on the web if you do a google search. ;) I found some here, here and here.



And who else LOVES having mentor moms who hold our babies so we can drink coffee and go to the bathroom? (me! me!!)

Thank you, Beth, for the photos. And the first person who comments on this post gets a $5 Starbucks gift card. Shameless bribery for reading the blog, I know! ;)

Bible Study Opportunities

Our fearless bible study leader Jen Anderson is starting another fabulous bible study just for us MOMS, and a prayer meeting opportunity. If you're interested in either, please email her at andersonsinthedesert@gmail.com.

1) MOMS Bible study for the spring is starting March 2^nd. We will meet from 9:30-11:30, on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. We are going over a book by Lysa TerKeurst called: Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl. With humor and personal stories Lysa talks about seeing and meeting God in the “stuff of life” in our relationships, in our dreams for life, even when our “uglies” come out!

We would love to have you! Childcare is free, but I will need to know the ages/names of the children you will be bringing so we can be adequately staffed. Let me know if you want to buy your own book, or I can do a bulk order on CBD. I can get the books for $ 9.99 at CBD, I think they are $12.99 at Bibles Plus.

2) We will also start meeting once a month on Sat. morning starting in March to set aside time to pray for our children. We will be briefly going over Stormie Omartian’s book The Power of a Praying Parent, and then we will spend the rest of the time praying over specific and general areas of our kids lives. My hope is that this becomes a group of ladies that meets throughout the year, whether you stay in MOMS or not. Lamentations 2:19 says: “Pour our your heart like water before the face of the Lord. Lift your hands toward Him for the life of your young children.” That is the purpose for this group. That we would go to battle on behalf of our kids, that we would cover their lives, physically, emotionally, spiritually, with God’s grace and blessing! Once I know who is interested we will work out the details. I am thinking 9-11am, and we will see which Sat. morning each month seems to work with everyone.

Beating the Winter Blues

Sorry it took so long to update the blog!

In our November meeting, fearless creative team leader Jacinda gave us some fun ideas for making kid-friendly recipes perfect for a rainy (or snowy or just plain cold) day...


Slime:
1. In a bowl mix 1/2 cup of white glue with 1 cup of water
2. Add drops of food coloring if desired (can stain your hands...)
3. Blend 1/2t Borax (can find in laundry aisle of grocery store) with 1/2 cup of water.
4. Slowly add the borax and water mixture to the glue mixture, stirring constantly.

Ocean in a Bottle:
we did these in small containers however original directions said to do in a 2liter bottle. i think it would turn out better.
1. Fill bottle halfway with water.
2. Add a few drops of food coloring and swirl around to mix.
3. add glitter/confetti (optional)
4. Fill bottle the rest of the way with vegetable oil using a funnel.
5. apply glue to dry rim and seal cap
6. Use a layer of hot glue around the outer edge of cap for added protection from a leakage.


And just a few photos of our adorable kids, who want you to believe they're miserable when you drop them off, but then really have lots of fun! ;)