MOMS' NIGHT OUT - OCTOBER 3

MOMS NIGHT OUT
Join us for an evening of fun, food & fellowship…

When: October 3, 2008 @ 7:00 pm

Where: Pomegranate Cafe, Aurora

Details: Appetizers & Dessert - including Chicken/Pork Kabobs, Tomato & Cheese Brochette, Nachos, Saganaki (flaming greek cheese) and mini pastires. All for only $5.00 per person!

A huge THANK YOU to The Pomegranate Cafe for providing this evening at a discounted rate!

MOMS' FIRST MEETING & 2008-2009 SCHEDULE

Welcome back MOMS!! It was great to see so many of you back at our first meeting of the year! We had a total of 33 moms and 28 children! We were excited to see so many new faces and we look forward to getting to know each of you better as the year progresses.

The schedule for the 2008-2009 year is listed below:

September - (Facilitator: Deirdre)
11 - Welcome - Back to School Organization with Speaker: Joy Myong
25 - Caring Enough to Share with Speaker: Rosie Williams

October - (Facilitator: Jill)
9 - Interaction Day - Sharing My Story: Taisha
23 - Establishing Traditions - Advent Calendar

November - (Facilitator: Karen)
13 - Power of Prayer with Speaker Marta Gemelli (Moms in Touch)

December - (Facilitator: Deirdre)
11 - Christmas Banquet and Outreach Project

January - (Facilitator: Karen)
8 - Interaction Day - TBA
22 - Creative Discipline with Speaker Karen Lee

February - (Facilitator: Deirdre)
12 - Hearts at Home with Speaker Jacinda Ross
26 - Interaction Day - TBA

March - (Facilitator: Joy)
12 - Finding Contentment and Balance with Speaker Joy Myong
26 - Interaction Day - TBA

April - (Facilitator: Karen)
9 - Fun Family Devotions with Speaker Karen Lee
23 - Interaction Day - TBA

May - (Facilitator: Deirdre)
14 - Meal Planning "What's for Dinner?"
28 - Celebration Banquet and Clothing Exchange

Please remember to sign up for an Interaction Day as well as a MOMS' Night Out! This is YOUR group and your input is greatly needed! Much love, prayers & blessings from The MOMS Leaders

PICNIC IN THE PARK

OUR PICNIC at Phillips Park was so much fun... the kids thoroughly enjoyed the playground and it was difficult to get them to leave. The Sunken Garden was so beautiful - it truly was a great day to connect and enjoy each other and the kids. Taisha's mom, sister and sister-in-law joined us - it was so nice to meet her family!! Thanks for sharing them. Also special thanks to Devin and Hannah for helping out with Benjamin -- since his mommy was at home sick! Benjamin loved the animals and tired both Hannah & Devin out from running after him!! Getting excited to start our 3rd Year of MOMS on September 11 - come join us!!!

2nd ANNUAL POOL PARTY

OUR 2ND ANNUAL POOL PARTY was a great success!! Thanks again to Joy for arranging the facility -- it was so amazing! The Clubhouse was complete with a kitchen, large lounge area with big screen tv and lots of comfy sofas, chairs and spacious eating area as well as a great outdoor patio!

As you can see from the photos everyone was having fun... we even had a few teens to help feed the kids!!! We had over 40 people in attendance -- it was such a great time and we are planning to do this every year so remember to mark your calendars in July for this event.

The kids did a great job decorating for the tropical theme ... there were great give-a-ways for the kids to take home! Joy and the boys did a great job grilling the burgers and we had lots of salads, chips, cookies, and ice cream to go around!

Thank you to all who contributed and a special thank you to the clean up crew that left the clubhouse looking better than we started - awesome job!! Should have gotten a picture of Joy H. vacuuming using one good arm!!! Thank you all for making it such a success!!!

MAY'S CELEBRATION BANQUET/CLOTHING EXCHANGE

This was our second year of MOMS and we ended our year once again with a Celebration Banquet and Clothing Exchange! Thank you to all those that supported MOMS throughout the year. We could not have done it without all the wonderful mentors and volunteers that shared their lives with each one of us.

Chef Luis from Food Services at Calvary Church prepared a wonderful buffet which consisted of Praline French Toast, Egg Casserole, Hashbrown Casserole, sausges, bacon, bagels, fruit, coffee & juice - it was awesome.

We took the opportunity to thank all of our mentors and leaders with gifts to show our gratitude for their servanthood. The childcare workers also had the opportunity to share the banquet as well with rounds of applause and gifts from the MOMS as a small token of our appreciation for all the love and care they have provided throughout the year.

We had tons of clothing for the exchange that ranged from infant to adult. It was so much fun to shop without having to take out your wallet! Thanks again to all those that made the year so successful especially our mentors, Diane M., Diane H., Rosie, Rebecca and Mary - you ladies are such a blessing!

FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN

WHAT AN AWESOME EXPERIENCE!!! Thank you so much to all of you who were able to participate in the "Feed My Starving Children" event. Each station consisted of approximately 10 people assembling packaged meals for children in Haiti -- We along with other volunteers from Calvary Church were able to fill 101 boxes which will feed 60 children for an entire year!!

Please check out the website at www.fmsc.com - it is a great opportunity to make a difference in the lives of starving children. Every day, 18,00 children die from starvation! There are times available for walk-in help or you can schedule a group of 10. Everyone of us can make a difference!!!

MORE BABIES AT MOMS

Congratulations to Jill, one of our MOMS directors, on the birth of Baby Dallas! Please check out the photos at http://bellababyphotography.com click on "client" and enter "pedersen8019" to view photos - they are so precious!

Some of our new additions this past year are: Baby Elise, Baby Benjamin, Baby Madison (Maddy), Baby Adonia (Addy), Baby Cameron, Baby Noemi, Baby Orlando. We hope to have more pictures to show as well.. send us those pictures moms!! Here are a few that we have collected....

Baby Benjamin

Baby Cameron Baby Orlando

Mentor Rosie with Baby Maddy Baby Noemi

Mommy Alison with Elise & Mommy Rachel with Addy

TAKING PHOTOS LIKE A PROFESSIONAL

At our MOMS' meeting today we had a professional photographer, Todd Pierson, show us how to take photos like a professional! It was so awesome to learn some of the techniques that are used by professionals. As for me lighting and spontaneity was what I was missing!

Todd told us that the five key elements to great photos are:

1. Composition
2. Lighting
3. Background
4. Expression
5. Color

It was a very informative meeting and I trust that everyone left with a least one tip to help them take better photos! Remember kids are best in their natural environment and the pics do not necessarily have to be centered, posed or perfect! Be adventurous and have FUN!!

Check out Todd's website at http://www.piersonkids.com!

Wanted to share this cute video to show how kids can make everything so sweet and precious!

GENERATIONS OF HOUSEHOLD TIPS

April 10, 2008 -- Presentation on Household Tips

Jill will be sharing many household tips along with free samples of laundry detergent, great give-a-ways, and our very own booklet entitled "Generations of Household Tips"

Buckets include the following items:

purple sponge, purple microfibre cleaning cloth, pink rubber gloves, baking soda, spray bottle, paper towels, scrub brush, duster, scouring pad, scented sachet, mesh laundry bag, terry towel rag, and Tide spot remover stick!

Come join us..... April 10 @ 9:15 am - 11:15 -- Room 141 - Calvary Church of Naperville

FUNDRAISER - Community Day - March 1, 2008

Saturday ~ March 1st, 2008
Go shopping to support your MOMS group!
This valuable coupon booklet can be purchased for just $5 each, good toward great merchandise during the special One Day Community Day Sale on March 1st. 100% of booklet sales benefits the MOMS group!

Step 1
Buy valuable coupon booklets for just $5 each, good toward great merchandise at the Carson Pirie Scott stores. Coupon booklets available from either Karen, Jill & Deirdre!

Step 2
Shop the One Day Community Day Sale on March 1st and use your coupons
Step 3
Feel great about helping your community and getting some great deals as well!

IF you can help us sell coupon books at the store, please let us know!!!