November 2013 Meeting Recap

Meeting Announcements:

- Next meeting comes early! That's right our December mom2mom meeting is Thursday, December 12th.   Same time, same place, just a week earlier than normal.

- Follow us on Instagram: @mom2momrmcc

- Flip the Switch: 11/29 from 6:00 - 8:30 pm


Speaker Recap:
Thursday's meeting was one of those meetings were you wish everyone could be there to hear the speaker! We were blessed with having Sarah Fox speak on her life in Uganda as a new mom. Her humor and willingness to share transparently was awesome. Thank you Sarah! A few nuggets of wisdom from her talk:

- It's not about what we do, it's about who we pursue in our lives. It's about knowing Christ and seeing Him glorified. (Phil 3:3 -12)

- Our accomplishments, compared to knowing Christ, are nothing. Know that He IS enough.

- Christ is most glorified when we are satisfied with Him.

- Change our perspective... not seek out "good days with kids" but rather seek for days Christ is most glorified.

Thanksgiving Day Appetizers

Turkey is not quite ready, but you have a household of guests wanting something to nibble on... Here are five different appetizers ranging from kid-friendly to gourmet to hold off the grumbling tummies until the big feast! Which will you make?

Apples & Carmel Dip

Curry Pumpkin Hummus

Fig & Walnut Cheese Ball

Gobbling Turkey Apples

Loaded Sweet Potato Skins

 

Thanksgiving Day Crafts

Whether you are hosting Thanksgiving day dinner for your family or helping with the cooking, we know it is a busy day--especially with little ones afoot! Here are a few crafts to keep your kiddies busy while you are cooking in the kitchen.... some they can do on their own, some may need dad to help out.  Gather the supplies now, and have them ready to go for your littles to dive into! Click on the images below for full instructions.

1. Thanksgiving Coloring Sheet

For the wee littles to your experienced artist, gather up your markers and crayons and set up a little art spot for your kids. 

2. Tortilla TeePees

3. Thankful Turkey

4. M & M Turkey Handprint

mom2mom Mom's Night Out

Reminder... we've got our Mom's Night Out this Sunday, November 10th at 4:30 pm. Meet up at The Cheesecake Factory at Superstition Springs Mall. We are planning to reserve a table, when arriving just ask for the 'mom2mom' group :-) See you then! Leave us a comment if you plan to attend!

Make-Ahead Christmas Gifts

Once Halloween hits, it seems like the stores are already pushing Christmas decorations! If you are feeling the itch to plan ahead for DIY Christmas gifts to give, we've compiled a short list of items you can make now or save the ideas for a little closer to the Holiday. Let us know what you make!

Frozen Cookie Dough

www.thekitchn.com

Give your friends and family the gift of homemade frozen cookie dough that they can make on their own schedule. Perfection! Think about it, we get overloaded with sweets during the Holidays... why not save some for later? 

Make Your Own Vanilla

http://twelvecraftstillchristmas.blogspot.com

Perfect for your friends that enjoy baking with vanilla extract. 

Chalkboard Coaster Set

Homemade Crayons

Meet the Committee & Table Moms

mom2mom Leaders
Cheryl Washburn

Family 411 (how long married, name of spouse, name and ages of kids): Married 31 years to Jeff and we have 2 kids: Stefani 28 and Devin 24

Favorite treat to make/eat with kids: Chips and Salsa

Favorite date night spot: Seasons 52

Newest item (song, book, app, etc) downloaded to Ipod/Tablet/Smartphone: Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas

Best advice anyone ever gave me as a mom: Get to know your own child- Know what THEY like, not what YOU want them to like. 

The event/accomplishment/hurdle/task/challange I am most looking forward to conquering/facing this year is: Reading the Bible in a year 

Julie Barrett

Family 411 (how long married, name of spouse, name and ages of kids):

Married 10 years to Brandon

Beau- 4 yrs old

Luke- 17 months old

Favorite treat to make/eat with kids:

Monkey bread 

Favorite date night spot: 

Chelsea’s Kitchen

Newest item (song, book, app, etc) downloaded to Ipod/Tablet/Smartphone:

Letter Quiz app for my 4 yr old son

Best advice anyone ever gave me as a mom:

As challenging as stages can be with your young children, try to find the joy in each one and not wish it away.  Remember it is only a stage and things often change quickly.  Your 14 month old won’t pull all the books off the bookshelf forever! 

The event/accomplishment/hurdle/task/challange I am most looking forward to conquering/facing this year is:

Supporting my husband as he expands his business and pursues his MBA. 

Committee Members:
Eve Auksel 

Family 411 (how long married, name of spouse, name and ages of kids):

Eve and Joe married 12/31/2007

Ada Michaela-4

Ivy Rose-3

Eli-1

and expecting Auksel baby #4 in April 2014

Favorite treat to make/eat with kids:

Popcorn popped with coconut oil, slathered in real butter and nutritional yeast (yes, I am THAT mom!)

Favorite date night spot: 

Any flea market, thrift or junk shop

Newest item (song, book, app, etc) downloaded to Ipod/Tablet/Smartphone:

eh

Best advice anyone ever gave me as a mom:

(Insert behavior that I am struggling with) is age appropriate. 

The event/accomplishment/hurdle/task/challange I am most looking forward to conquering/facing this year is:

Getting to know God in a more intimate way.

Jennifer Argabright 

Family 411 (how long married, name of spouse, name and ages of kids):

Married 14 years to Ryan.  Children--Elena, 8 years old; Stephen, 6 years old.

Favorite treat to make/eat with kids:

We love to eat ice cream together--lots of chocolate involved!

Favorite date night spot: 

Favorite date night--Grimaldi's pizza and a movie

Newest item (song, book, app, etc) downloaded to Ipod/Tablet/Smartphone:

lia sophia song/catalog added to phone

Best advice anyone ever gave me as a mom:

Cheryl Washburn's talk about the book "Loving and Letting Go" of our children--we have to let them go a little bit each day of their lives.

Biggest new challenge this year:

Watching both children go off to school this year--3rd grade and Kindergarten--a new chapter in my life

Julie Gransee

Family 411 (how long married, name of spouse, name and ages of kids): 

I have been married to Cory for 12 years, and we have three boys who are 7, 5, and 2.  

Favorite treat to make/eat with kids:  

Every once in a while, we love to break out the hot air popcorn popper and share a big bowl of salty, buttered popcorn!

Favorite date night spot: 

My husband and I love Bandera in old town Scottsdale... try the dip duo!

Newest item (song, book, app, etc) downloaded to Ipod/Tablet/Smartphone: 

A beautiful mess!  Fun filters, doodles, borders, and text you can add to any picture and share.  

Best advice anyone ever gave me as a mom:  

Invest in a really good dustbuster.  Kids are not "crumb-snatchers", they are "crumb-makers"!  

The event/accomplishment/hurdle/task/challange I am most looking forward to conquering/facing this year is:  Just launched a blog to share my love of food.  Hoping to become better at writing recipes, styling food, and photography.  Also, finding the balance between this new passion and actually taking care of my family.  

Kristin Self  -- Bio COMING SOON!!


Jessica Stillwell 
Family 411 (how long married, name of spouse, name and ages of kids):  

12 years, Jason, Nathan almost 8 and Susan almost 5

Favorite treat to make/eat with kids: 

Cake pops, ice cream cake, flat bread pizzas

Favorite date night spot: 

Not one spot...we like to try new places, usually dinner out somewhere :)

Newest item (song, book, app, etc) downloaded to Ipod/Tablet/Smartphone: 

Safeway App

Best advice anyone ever gave me as a mom: 

Let your kids be little, let them be who they are, they are not little adults.

The event/accomplishment/hurdle/task/challange I am most looking forward to conquering/facing this year is:  Getting Susan ready for Kindergarten,  Helping my dad through a year of surgery and cancer treatments and into remission (Lord willing).

Allison Stewart -- Bio COMING SOON!

Jaime Tischler

Family 411 (how long married, name of spouse, name and ages of kids):

Been married to my college bff, Bobby, for a decade now! We have two littles--our daughter, Blake Emery, turned four years old in June. Our son, Ryker Paisan, will be two years old in December. 

Favorite treat to make/eat with kids:

Blake is my little baker. Her favorite items to make are rice crispy treats (total fan of eating these with her and Ry) and full-on decorated Barbie cakes (not so  much of a fan of eating her very *ahem* colorful, icing, packed creations) but so fun to hear her talk through each step of icing a cake (she watches a lot of YouTube cake decorating videos ;).

Newest item (song, book, app, etc) downloaded to Ipod/Tablet/Smartphone: 
Lego games on iPad 

Best advice anyone ever gave me as a mom:

The days are long, yet the years are short! And that all the phases, good and bad, will pass all too quickly... cherish them!

The event/accomplishment/hurdle/task/challange I am most looking forward to conquering/facing this year is: In the process of 200 hr Yoga Teacher Training... learning to balance school, weekly yoga classes, housework-momwork, and supporting Bobby as he earns his MBA.

Table Moms

Kelly Crimmins

Family 411 (how long married, name of spouse, name and ages of kids):

married 33 years in November

husband Todd

daughter Stephanie married to Ryan, Grace 7, Natalie 5, Logan 20 months

son TJ married to Emilee, Jack 8, Layla 7, Wesley & Everett 4, Abbie 10 months

son Will 

son Jake

Jason (adopted with special needs, age 9)

currently 2 foster babies, Tyler 8 months, Freddie 2 months

Favorite treat to make/eat with kids:

chocolate chips cookies

Favorite date night spot: 

The Keg

Newest item (song, book, app, etc) downloaded to Ipod/Tablet/Smartphone:

Voxer

Best advice anyone ever gave me as a mom:

I will seldom be the perfect mom, but I can try/do the best I can

The event/accomplishment/hurdle/task/challange I am most looking forward to conquering/facing this year is:

Preparing for our son TJ and family to move in with us next summer.

Aurora Ballard 

Family 411: How long Married: 21 yrs to Eric. Children: Sara 19, Kayla 16

Favorite to make with kids: Chocolate covered pretzels 10min to make. Use large 6" pretzels, some dipped in milk-chocolate others white chocolate. Also cover with Christmas sprinkles as gifts for for the neighbors. Our girls always loved walking & delivering to the neighbors.

Favorite date night spot: Nandoes  restaurant for dinner with another couple, then a movie with a bottle of wine at home. I'm very social so the 1st part is for me & the second part is for Eric.

Newest item downloaded: Apple calendar, when anyone enters their activities we all receive each there's on our own calendars.

Best advice given to me as a Mom: Given to me from the Holy Spirit, Parenting children comes in temporary stages. As hard as it seems at times, try to embrace each moment or event (good or bad). Even stop & stare at your child or situation & soak it up with laughter if needed. A year from now you probably will never get that moment again. Ex... Them pouring spaghetti in their hair at 1-2 years old just before your going out and your already late :)

Event/Challenge most looking forward to: Both girls graduating this year... one from Collage & the other from High School. My challenge is to glide gracefully (basically hide my tears) as I enter my empty nesting faze.

Julie Hyzdu 

Family 411 (how long married, name of spouse, name and ages of kids):

Married to Adam 21 years, Zac-19, Alexa-16, Luke-12

Favorite treat to make/eat with kids: 

Friday night pizza night and usually make whole wheat pesto with chicken.

Favorite date night spot: 

Olive Mill

Newest item (song, book, app, etc) downloaded to Ipod/Tablet/Smartphone:

Harkins App

Best advice anyone ever gave me as a mom:

"Just ride the waves" ...  Also, "make your kid's beds the most comfortable ever, so they always want to come home to their bed."

The event/accomplishment/hurdle/task/challenge I am most looking forward to conquering/facing this year is:

I am most looking forward to the challenge of being a proverbs 31 woman, wife, mom to 3 teenagers (JR HS, HS & college age) and daughter to my live-in mom. In business, I am looking forward to the task of growing my market verticals and Reaching as many patients as possible!

Yvonne Vail

Family 411 (how long married, name of spouse, name and ages of kids):
14 years married to Scott Vail
Nolan-22
Cassidy-21
Milan-18
Levi-12

Favorite treat to make/eat with kids:
Choc Chip Cookies

Favorite date night spot:
Red, White, and Brew or
racquetball together  

Newest item (song, book, app, etc) downloaded to Ipod/Tablet/Smartphone:
Fooducate!

Best advice anyone ever gave me as a mom:
"Think about when your children are walking down the aisle. Will they still be biting, wetting the bed, throwing temper tantrums in the store, etc"... It gave great perspective to what seemed so overwhelming to me at the time, and it has proved to be great advice. 

October 2013 Meeting Recap

Announcements:

mom2mom Park Playdate @ Falcon Field: THIS THURSDAY, October 24th 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. Bring lunch and sand toys. Falcon Field Park is located at 4800 E Falcon Drive, Mesa AZ 85215

RMCC Children's Ministry: Dinner & A Movie on October 25th at 6pm more info here

RMCC Community BBQ: October 27th at 5pm more info here 

mom2mom Mom's Night Out @ Cheesecake Factory: November 10th at 4:30. 

A time to relax, grab dinner or just dessert ;-) at the Cheesecake Factory located at Superstition Mall. 

mom2mom November meeting: November 21st. We encourage you to arrive between 9:15-9:30am as we will begin our program at 9:30 am.

RMCC Women's Christmas Dinner on December 6th and December 7th more info here

RMCC Parent's Night out: December 20th more info here

Speaker Recap:

We were blessed to have Debbe Fox come speak on Trans-parent Parenting: Imperfect Parents Pointing Toward God. She spoke on living our Christianity out in front of our kids. She reminded us to use situations as opportunities to teach them and to be ready--we can only impart what we know ourselves. She also recommended the book Sacred Parenting by Gary Thomas that speaks on how parenting changes our relationship with the Lord.

She asked us, what are some ways to help point our children to God?