Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Ways to Organize your winter gear ( hats, gloves, scarves,etc)

1. Hang two cup hooks on the back of a door with a string between and use clothes pins to hang hats and gloves.

2. Use an over the door shoe organizer inside a closet to hold winter gear. In the summer switch it to sunglasses, sunscreen and hats.

3. Hang hooks at kid height for backpacks and coats.

4. Use a wall hanging file folder holder for kids to put their papers from school in - one folder per kid.

5. Store winter gear in a diaper stacker or laundry sorter.

6. Use a bookcase to hold shoes - boots on the bottom shelf.

7. Use a hanging closet rod extender to add more usable closet space that is easy for kids to reach

8.We use those cloth baskets from Walmart to store the hats and gloves and put them in the coat closet on the floor. Then we hang backpacks on hooks outside the closet...

9. http://www.ehow.com/how_4863831_away-winter-hats-gloves-scarves.html

10. http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=758169

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

TMG's First Ever Mommy/Son Event

Today was our first ever Mommy/Son event and it was WONDERFUL! I loved my time with just my son and had a great time with the other moms too!

We started at Dairy Queen for an icecream treat. I tried to save seats and these two sweet older women say down near us. I told them that we were having a mommy/son event and it might get loud. Her response, "I raised 5 boys- loud doesn't bother me!"

Then we headed to the bowling alley for some competition. Mommies were on one lane and the boys were on the other.

Kristi and Mason

Kathy and Cole
Sandi and Ethan

Andrea and Liam

Sandi and Caleb
Sandi and Westin

Moms battled it out with their sons!
The boys crouched around the computer checking out the scores and cheering on their moms and their new friends.
Katie and AlaricMoms, Kristi and Kathy had their own battle with their iphones and their lightsabors ap that really makes noise when you move your phone ( the boys thought it was so cool)Kim and Andrew and ThomasWe LOVE our boys!!!!!!!!!!

Friday, October 8, 2010

Homecoming Parade- TMG style!

You tell one mom in TMG where the best parade view is and you might as well have told everyone ( actually, we did tell everyone) and we definately had the best spot to see the parade and get the most candy. TMG members and friends took almost a whole block as we gathered, had picnic lunches and waited for the parade to start.
This group of kiddos can't wait to fill their candy buckets

Max says, "GO SAGES!!!"

Thursday, October 7, 2010

To Let Go

To let go doesn't mean to stop caring, it means I can't do it for someone else.
- To let go is not to cut myself off, it's the realization that I can't control another.
- To let go is not to enable, but to allow learning from natural consequences.
- To let go is to admit powerlessness, which means the outcome is not in my hands.
- To let go is not to try to change or blame another, I can only change myself.
- To let go is not to care for, but to care about.
- To let go is not to fix but to be supportive.
- To let go is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being.
- To let go is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes. but to allow others to effect their own outcomes.
- To let go is not to be protective; but to permit another to face reality.
- To let is not to deny, but t accept.
- To let go is not to nag, scold, or argue, but to search out my own short comings and to correct them.
- To let go is not to adjust everything to my desires, but to take each day as it comes.
- To let go is not to criticize and regulate anyone, but to try to become what dream I can be.
- To let go is notto regret the past, but to grow and live for the future.
- To let go is to FEAR less and LOVE more!

A few of our inspirations

*I mean, seriously... how could I respond to this with any other answer? Martha( Stewart)!! ~ Kathy

*My parents are my inspiration!!~ Sandi

*All the Mom's at Mom's Group- With out their inspiration I am not sure I would have had the will power to survive raising 2 boys 16m apart or the ability to move so often. I love this Wonderful, strong, exciting, powerful, godly group of women... Kim O

*My friend, Arin Cox, Breast Cancer Survivor, mom, wife, and teacher ~Katie

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Fall Fest

Today was The Fall Fest for TMG at Lodge Park. What a perfect day to gather families and be together.
Daddies and Daughters....
Mommies and sons.....many gathered to enjoy some fellowship together
Kathy created an amazing scavenger hunt for us that sent families all over the park on the search for some very interesting and spooky things
The Fairs looked high and low
Kim and her little boy found a witches mode of transportation
The O'Linc boys and mom found the most stuff- way to go!!!
Bobbing for apples was enjoyed my many kids
And the hay-rack ride was a huge hit!
Amara gets help from a friend as kids of all ages played and played and played
Parents and kids played in the sand, played football, played on the play structures, played bags, and played and played and played
Others relaxed by the fire and met new friends.
What a wonderful day it was!






Friday, October 1, 2010

The Moms Group is a Sweet Retreat!

First we made them, then we all got to enjoy them!

On September 19th, Katie, Kathy, Sandi, Kristi, Cara, and Jenn gathered at the Methodist Church to turn Kathy's vision of "sweet" centerpieces into a reality. We had SO MUCH FUN doing it!

These are made from baby socks!

and diapers

and washcloths and toilet paper rolls
and yarn
and gumdrops!
Then...at yesterday's meeting, Kathy ( and friends) beautifully arranged them as the new permanant centerpieces for the year at our TMG meetings. If a meeting has a theme and the hosts want to do something special for it, they can change the centerpieces. if not- these gorgeous designs will allow us to remember how sweet our lives our and how sweet it is to be at TMG twice a month to celebrate being moms!
This is the candy table...
The cake table....

The icecream table....
and the chocolate table....
What a delicious year this will be!!!!

Creative things to do with Apples during this yummy APPLE Season!!!

1. Fried apples...little bit of butter in a pan- cored, pealed apples...sugar and cinnamon- YUM!
2. Make an apple wreath with thick sliced apples
3. Let an apple get old on your counter ( it won't mold). turn it into an old lady for halloween
4. Dried apple slices will deter ants- put them on your counter or wherever ants are
5. Make a yellow cake mix according to the box. Cut up apples and sprinkle on top then sprinkle some sugar and cinnamon- another SUPER easy recipe!
6. Spice cake according to box and apple pie filling. on Microwave for 6 minutes. Drizzle with caramel.
7. Taffy Apple Pizza using a sugar cookie base http://www.pamperedchef.com/recipe_search/recipe.jsp?id=9678
8.Here's my favorite apple pie recipe:Filling:4-5 apples1/2 cup of sugar3/4 tsp. of cinnamonDutch top crust:1/3 cup sugar3/4 cup flour6 tsp. of sugar.Fork crust ingredients and crumble on top. Bake at 400 for about 35 -40 minutes.
9. Make homemake applesauce.
10. Make your homemade or storebought apple sauce silly for your kids by adding a drop of different colored food coloring before you serve it.
11. Apple pancakes
12. Apple painting nad stamping...cut so you see the star
13. Honeycrisp apples- just bite and enjoy!
14. use apples to decorate. wash and dry. If you want them super shiny, add a tiny bit of veggie oil to a clean rag and shine your apples. Put in a bowl on your dinner table or coffee table. Intermix with leaves and put on your mantle.
15. Find one perfect apple and give to your child's teacher
16. Visit a local apple orchard
17. Do your own apple tasting at home
18. Have an apple meal...pork chops or chicken with baked apples, applesauce, apples on your salad or in bread, dessert!
19. Sory apples with your kids by color, size, shape, stems or no stems, leaves or no leaves, etc.
20. Turn an apple into a Mr. Potato head by adding eyes, ears, and other face features
21. Make caramel apples
22. make mini caramel apples or chocolate apples. Take a mellon baller and scoop out small apple balls from your apples. Put on a kabob skewer. Dip in caramel or chocolate. Let harden. USe p-nuts or sprinkles, etc to decorate.
23.Apple bobbing at home
24. Polka dot apples. Take two apples of different colors and use a mellon baller to scoop out apple. Switch the balls from the apples and put in the other apple ( red apple with green dots or vice versa)
25. paint two paper plates red, staple together with rice or beans inside, add a green pipe cleaner to make an apple shaker
26.http://www.amazingmoms.com/htm/autumn_craft_apple_art.htm