DECEMBER 2013
ENTS
M O T H E R S O F P R E S C H O O L E R S First Presbyterian Church // Edmond, Oklahoma
welcome our new moppets Evangeline Jannel McCoy September 3, 2013 9 lbs 2 oz 19.25 inches
Meredith Anne Looper October 4, 2013 5 lbs 12 oz 20 inches
new moppets coming in the new year Noah James Dunham Mom // Melanie Dunham Due Date // February 20 Gender // Boy
McKenzie Kate Moore Mom // Erin Moore Due Date // March 3 Gender // Girl
Lennon Malone
Mom // Lindsey Malone Due Date // April 1 Gender // Girl There are even more babies on the way not listed here. If you would like to be included in future newsletters, e-mail your information to mopsedmondfpc@gmail.com.
Madison Claire Ramirez August 21, 2013 6 lbs 15 oz 19 inches
Braxton Campbell Hutchison October 31, 2013 7 lbs 8 oz 19 inches
candy cane HUNT MONDAY, DECEMBER 16 at 10 a.m. Mitch Park Playground
Bring the kids for a fun morning at the park! Don’t forget a sack or stocking to collect your candy canes. Volunteers are needed to hide candy canes at 9:30 a.m. For more information, please e-mail Alicia.Ramirez@hotmail.com
M O P S E D M O N D F P C . B L O G S P O T. C O M
MENTOR MOM SPOTLIGHT Cindy Birdwell
Where were you born? Where did you grow up? I was born in Oklahoma City and grew up in Skiatook, OK. What was your job before having kids? I was a teacher. What do you do now? I am CASA volunteer and Gigi to four grand kids. What is your husband’s name? Harry How long have you been married? 39 years How did you and your husband meet? At the state FFA Sweetheart contest What church do you attend? FPCE
How many children do you have, and what are their names and ages? Ashley-34 and Brandon-31 What do you like to do in your spare time? Spend time with family and friends, cook, go to movies Based on what you know now, what one piece of mommy advice would you give yourself before you had your first child? Relax, enjoy every moment, keep it simple! What is your favorite Bible verse? Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10 What would be your dream job if money, family, and circumstances were not an issue? Doctors without borders
Gingerbread Cookies ingredients
directions
3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 2 tablespoons ground ginger 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 1/4 teaspoon allspice 1/4 teaspoon salt 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature 1/4 cup vegetable shortening, at room temperature 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar 2/3 cup molasses 1 large egg, at room temperature
1) Whisk together flour, baking soda, spices and salt. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream butter and shortening. Add sugar and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in molasses and egg. Scrape sides of bowl, then stir in flour mixture to form a stiff dough. Divide dough in half. Form into 2 disks, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight. 2 ) Preheat oven to 350°F; line 2 large baking sheets with parchment. Roll out 1 disk of dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut out cookies with a 3-inch cutter and place 1 inch apart on baking sheet. Gather scraps and reroll to form more cookies. Repeat with remaining dough. 3) Bake cookies for 10 to 12 minutes, switching sheets top to bottom and front to back halfway through. Let cool for 5 minutes on baking sheets on wire racks. Transfer cookies to racks to cool.
• Set up a Nativity and make it a focus in your home • Hide baby Jesus and “seek” Him Christmas morning before opening gifts. • Gift wrap baby Jesus in your nativity and let this be your first unwrapped gift Christmas morning. • Take a cue from the Magi and limit the gifts and reminding kids it’s not their birthday, it’s His. • Have a daily family devotion or verse about Christmas. • Participate in Advent. • Have a birthday cake for Jesus or go all out and make it a birthday party. • Watch DVDs that help tell the real story of Christmas. • Give your kids the gift of giving. Have them shop with purpose by shopping for those in need. • Do something for someone else on Christmas Day. Maybe visit a widow or hospital with gifts. • Talk with your kids about giving God a gift. What does He want from us? • Hang a stocking for Christ. Fill it with notes just for Him. • Invite someone to share Christmas dinner with your family. • Draw names of family members on Dec. 1 & secretly serve that person all month. Reveal on Christmas morning. • Shop for single mom. This year playing secret santa and dropping off gifts for a single mom! • Help your kids shop for their siblings. • Be generous as a family at Christmas - baking, giving, doing. • When preparing your Christmas meal, set a literal place for Jesus, your honored guest. • Attend church on Christmas Eve. • Read Luke 2 together on Christmas Eve or morning. • Teach kids about the real St. Nicholas and celebrate St. Nicholas day in early December. • Make 25 ornaments with different names of Jesus. Have your child hang one each day in the month of December leading up to Christmas. • Visit a live Nativity scene. • Send your kids a letter from Santa about the true meaning of Christmas, Jesus’ birth. • Watch some movies about Christ & listen to Christmas songs about Christ. • Learn a Christmas hymn to sing as a family. • Use simple costumes to act out the nativity story. • Help children clean out toys and donate good used ones.
cut out these free printables as reminders of Christ this Christmas
ways to keep christ in christmas
St. Mary’s School Preschool – 8th Grade Nurturing Your Child’s Potential for the Future
405.341.9541
Want to contribute an article, recipe, devotional, tips or anything else to the newsletter? Are you interested in writing a guest blog post for the MOPS blog? E-mail us at mopsedmondfpc@gmail.com with your ideas.
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Candy Cane Hunt FREE Zoo Day FREE Movie
FREE Zoo Day FREE Movie
FREE Zoo Day FREE Movie
FREE Zoo Day
FREE Zoo Day
Tiny Tuesday
CHRISTMAS EVE
NEW YEARS EVE Opening Night
CHRISTMAS DAY
NEW YEARS DAY
Community events December - February // Free Mondays at Zoo
Every Monday All Day / OKC Zoo FREE admission on Mondays December through February.
December 16, 23, 30 // Free Movie at Harkins
10 a.m. / Harkins Bricktown 16 December 16: Elf, December 23: How the Grinch Stole Christmas, December 30: TBA Tickets must be requested online at least 5 days before screening. www.downtownindecember.com
December 17 // Tiny Tuesday: Artistic Gift Tags
10 a.m. to Noon / OKC Museum of Art Features a come-and-go, open-ended art-making activity geared towards ages 2-5 with parent or caregiver. FREE with Museum admission. www.okcmoa.com
December 21 // Saturday with Santa
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. / Devon Tower Rotunda Kids of all ages are invited to meet Mrs. Claus, create arts and crafts, enjoy live holiday music and more! Pictures with Santa are FREE - just bring your own camera! http://www.downtownindecember.com
December 27 // FREE Movie Night at the MAC
7 p.m. / MAC (2733 Marilyn Williams, Edmond) Features a screening of “Rise of the Guardians”. Admission is FREE, food and drinks available for purchase. www.edmondok.com/parks/Rec
December 31 // Opening Night
Saturday with Santa
NO MOPS FREE Movie Night @ MAC
MOPS MEETING
REM Our n INDER: ext m e will b eting e JANU ARY 10!
7 p.m. - Midnight / Downtown OKC A family-oriented New Year’s Eve celebration at various venues downtown including more than 25 of Oklahoma’s best & brightest stars including live music, roller derby, impromptu comedy and magic, fireworks and New Year countdown. $8 in advance, $10 at the event, children under 5 are FREE. www.artscouncilokc.com
Alisa Nelson Studio *Paintings*Custom Art* Children’s Art*Art Lessons*
alisanelsonstudio.com facebook.com/AlisaNelsonStudio alisa@alisanelsonstudio.com 405-921-1883