ADVENTURES IN READING-Book Review!

Date Night in a Minivan
Revving up your Marriage after Kids Arrive
by Lorilee Cracker

Review written by: Nancy M.

I got this GREAT book from the MOPShop and wanted to share it with all of you fellow mommies... I have to say honestly, I have taken the time to read a lot of books lately, even really good ones. Keeping busy with the older kids and a toddler, plus trying to keep up with family adventures, camping, cooking and cleaning the house (What? Did I clean this summer, not sure you can tell??) ... I didn't have a lot of time for reading. Then this book came in the mail. The cover makes it look like it would be a book I could relate too... I peeked inside at a couple of pages... hmmm... in less than 1 minute I was LOL (laughing out loud)...

Here is part of the reason I kept reading...

"Me and my man just haven't been getting along like we were before we added our darling third child into the Cracker clan... one issue had cropped up since Baby 3... an exacerbated case of the ol' Time-Off Tug-O-War. With new and intense demands on our time, both of us were pulling our ends of the rope for a pocket of freedom. Don't get me wrong: were were gaga over our baby girl, and pretty crazy about her big brothers too. But with her arrival came new challenges to our relationship."

"I read once that with each child added to a family there's that much more stress between the parents, and that much more distance to cross to being close again. I believe it." (me too!) "What's stressful about raising those darling little cherubs we love and adore? Well, for starters, how about the never-ending labor it takes just to keep an active, just walking turbo tot unscathed and germ free?" (Does she know LIV too??!!) "Often at the end of a day filled with basic child preservation, like most moms I need a break in the worst way. Unfortunately, on such days my husband will end up having an equally harried day at work, and he needs a break too. Harassed, strung out, and stick-a-fork-in-me-I'm-done DONE, we are not our best selves when we greet each other at 5:30 p.m. On such a crazy day we can be worn out, unhinged and just trying to keep all the important balls in the air, at least until bedtime. Yet the kids still need to be fed, bathed and generally nurtured, so guess where our marriage relationship ranks on the totem pole of life? Low people.... LOW."

"We need to figure out ways to rise above the mayhem that comes with family life and still care for each other, and cultivate stronger ties to get us through the crazy times. Don't even get me started about romance! Though our baby is adopted (ie: no physical recovery) we still are surprisingly tired, irritated and disconnected, not exactly the poster couple for parenthood and passion that we had hoped... Clearly we need to get it goin' again. Do other couples with little ones face the same sticky wickets? I talked to my MOPS friends... everyone chimed in, kvetching about the difficulty in maintaining warm friendships with one's man..."

"Mom and Dad CAN get it goin' again. You and your main man can rev up your marriage, along with that beautiful minivan, and recapture some of that pre-kid dating buzz. Put your key in the ignition, my friend, and together we'll figure out how."

REGISTRATION DAY RESULTS

Registration day was a success! We had many moms show up with their little ones! There were Tours, Food, and things for the kids to do!

We hope all of you that showed up had a blast!

Pictures will follow soon!

***A special thank you to Dr.s Tucker, Kudrna, Holec and Young for thier donation of balloons and a pump! If you need eye care, contact them at 810 Mt. View Road, 342-0777.

All of us on steering team are looking forward to getting to know all of you better this year, and we are all excited for this upcoming year!

Stay tuned for information on the first meeting! It will be TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9th! MOPPETS drop off starts at 8:45!!!

REGISTRATION/OPEN HOUSE!

Ladies,

Fall is almost here, and so is a new year of MOPS! I hope everyone is having a great summer!

We have a new theme this year-"Adventures in Mothering", as well as a new Charter Church Home and some new faces on Steering Team!

Everyone on Steering Team is excited for this new year and we have been planning 18 great meetings, including awesome speakers and great creative activities! Don't forget the ever-popular spa day! We are also planning extra activities outside of our normal dates for other chances to get together, with and without the kids!!

Our REGISTRATION DAY and OPEN HOUSE is coming up FAST! August 26th will be here before we know it! Please plan on showing up between 9am and 11am! There will be something for everyone! A little birdie told me that not only will there be Yums for the Moms, but balloon animals and tattoos for the kiddos!

Plan on touring our new charter church, meeting new moms, catching up with moms from last year, and getting a glimpse into this NEW upcoming year of MOPS, including a new MOPPETS homeschooling room for mothers who still have preschoolers who are also homeschooling!

PLEASE plan on attending, and bring a friend!

Keep an eye on your email or our new website for more information!

http://westminstermops.blogspot.com/

PLEASE NOTE...Our new email address is westminstermops@rushmore.com

-Coya, Publicity
Westminster MOPS

FALL REGISTRATION DAY!

Our fall registration day will be on AUGUST 26th, at our NEW CHURCH HOME!

There will be something for everyone, so please come and join us!

MORE INFORMATION REGARDING TIME TO FOLLOW!

Welcome to Our New Home!

Here it is!

Look around!

Since we moved to our new church home, we have changed blog addresses, as well as email addresses!

We will eventually be putting in most of the archives from our old blog as well, but for now, we will be linking back to our old blog!

Please enjoy your visit!