December 2011

Game On: Jingle Bells & Egg Rolls

By Leigh Dunn (2/4 Mom)

One Christmas Eve years ago, my brother, sisters, and I excitedly ran up the stairs in our home after a candlelight service. We usually had a yummy soup supper and were allowed to open one Christmas gift. There was no soup, however…through all of the hustle and bustle of the holidays, my mom hadn’t gotten around to making supper that year for some reason. We all piled back into our minivan (AKA “Tetanus” due to the massive amount of rust donning the vehicle) and rode around Omaha looking for a restaurant open on Christmas Eve. Lo and behold, the only place open was a Chinese restaurant.



Years later, going out to Chinese food on Christmas Eve became a tradition in my family. We also watched the infamous “It’s a Wonderful Life” and wept when George Bailey realized his life wasn’t all that bad. We dumped out our Christmas stockings first on Christmas morning, before presents were opened. We enjoyed warm orange cinnamon rolls drenched with icing for Christmas breakfast.

After I got married, however, and when little kiddos came into our home, traditions became a bit more “flexible.” We were able to create our own holiday traditions and keep a few from our childhoods. Now we watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” while the kids are sleeping and I’m wrapping last-minute gifts. The Chinese food is a hit-and-miss in this household, as each year seems a bit different, depending on the age of kids, times of meals, etc. I’m learning our traditions may change from time to time.  Sometimes, I’m a little saddened about the nostalgia and child-like awe and wonder I had as a kid.

But when I see my 2 1/2 year old son put his arm around his 1 year old baby sister, while “teaching” her about the stockings and pointing out ornaments and characters in the nativity scene, I’m able to experience that child-like awe and wonder in a whole new way.  Experiencing Christmas as a Mommy and not a kiddo is a blessing beyond measure.

Traditions may come and go. Kids grow up, and things change. But don’t be surprised if the Dunn’s are having some almond chicken and crab rangoon this Christmas Eve. ***

“Mentor’s Favorite Things…”

“My favorite thing to do everyday is take a bath before bed.  I've been doing this every night since the kids were babies (now 23 & 20).  It's my time away from everything and everyone and I spend it meditating and praying to God about what's on my heart.  When the kids were little, I'd wait until they were in bed and then I'd take a 15 minute spa break for myself.  My favorite bath product is Shower Smoothie from Ulta,  You can use if for shampoo (never have), shower gel, or bubble bath.  It comes in a lot of great flavors.  As a mother and wife, we need time for ourselves and that's hard to find sometimes.  I've found that just 15-20 minutes by myself every night reduces the stress and worry from the day.  Also as an added bonus it's nice to go to bed feeling fresh and smelling good.”  - Susan Friesen (1/3 Mentor)

“My favorite time is “anything I don’t have to plan.” As moms, it seems like we plan everything on every day for everyone.  I love to do things where I can just show up and not have to plan out anything, pack anything, or arrange anything.  This means that my husband would pick the day (usually after talking to me about what is on the family calendar first), then he would call the babysitter (I would leave her number by the phone and a post it note) if needed, or arrange the car pool for the older children (with a little guidance), plan dinner for the children (even if it is frozen pizza) and pick the place to take me. It is awesome to go anywhere when you don’t have to plan a thing!  We would celebrate Valentine’s Weekend by getting together with friends and have a pot luck dinner.  Then we would play the newlywed game.  It was always a lot of fun.  A few times, Greg and I would win the “25 point question” because it usually asked something like this… name your wife’s favorite vacation, favorite date, favorite time, etc.  Greg always knew that my favorite anything was anywhere or anything that I did not have to plan.  So if your husband asks you what you want to do?  Just say anything I don’t have to plan! Then relax, have fun and go with what he decides!”  – Patty Cassalia (2/4 Mentor)

Time Out To Cook

Pumpkin Streusel Coffee Cake with Maple Glaze (from Jenifer Conkright and shecooks.org website)

            Cake:

            15 ounce can pumpkin (not the mix or pie filling)

            1/3 cup apple juice

            2 large eggs

            2 tablespoons vegetable oil

            2 teaspoons vanilla extract

            2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

            1 box yellow cake mix

           

            Streusel:

            6 tablespoons butter, melted

            3/4 cup brown sugar

            3/4 cup all-purpose flour

            1 teaspoon cinnamon

            3/4 cup chopped pecans

           

            Glaze:

            1/2 cup brown sugar

            1/4 cup heavy cream

            1/4 cup pure maple syrup

*Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13×9 inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. In a large mixing bowl, combine all cake ingredients except the cake mix with a wire whisk. Once the mixture is well combined, stir in the cake mix. Pour batter into prepared pan. In a separate bowl, combine all streusel ingredients except the nuts. Once combined, stir in the nuts. Crumble with your fingers and evenly distribute over the cake. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. To make the glaze, combine all ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over low-medium heat, stirring frequently. Simmer until the sugar has dissolved and the glaze is thick (about 3-5 minutes). With a large carving fork or skewer, poke holes all over the top of the cake. Pour the warm glaze evenly over the cake and set aside for 30 minutes before serving. This cake is extremely moist and just as delicious the next day (if there is any left!).

Game Stats

Need some holiday reading material? Many of our lovely MOPS moms have their own blogs and have shared the addresses for us. If you have your own blog that you would like to share that didn’t show up on the list, please add it in the comments at the end of this entry. Click on the links below to get to know a new mom and stay connected over the holidays. Thanks for sharing!

1/3 Moms with blogs

Susan Harris: www.notexactlysusiehomemaker.blogspot.com

Gina Hosteter: www.makeroomforjoy.com

Julie Richard: www.andyandjulierichard.blogspot.com

Laura Farrington: www.thefarringonfamily.blogspot.com

Amanda Derby: www.jaderby.blogspot.com

Shae Dalke: www.faithjourneytovietnam.blogspot.com

Tracy Krelle: www.krelles.blogspot.com

2/4 Moms with blogs

Christina Ingraham: www.ingrahaminfo.blogspot.com

Leigh Dunn: www.jasonandleigh.blogspot.com

Becky Sessions: www.sbsessions.blogspot.com

Jennifer Dotzler: www.jandjdotzler.blogspot.com

Emily Dugger: www.babydugger.blogspot.com

Becca Sutton: www.randomhoughtsbybecca.blogspot.com

Kelley Greening: www.daily-sips.blogspot.com

Jana Murphy: www.smpancakes.blogspot.com

Jennifer Riser: www.mrsrizzer.blogspot.com

Kari College: www.keepingupwiththecolleges.blogspot.com

The Christ Community Church MOPS Facebook page has 117 followers. Are you one? Click to join in and see updates and engage on Facebook with your MOPS friends between meetings!

Be A Team Player!

!!!Book Drive!!! We are going to be collecting our books for Compass Ministries for a Christmas project at the December meetings. If you have any gently used books around your home that you would like to share to help start a library for these kiddos, please bring them on the 2^nd(1/3) or 9^th(2/4). This is for K-6^th grade reading level and you can view the Amazon.com wish list to get some ideas or even purchase books. Search for “Compass” and put Omaha, NE in the location field. Encourage your kiddos to pass along some books to other kiddos who don’t have access to the library.

1/3 ladies only!! You will be gathering leftover Halloween candy on December 2^nd. Here are the details: Have leftover Halloween candy that you don’t know what to do with? Compass Ministries uses bags of candy in their after school program year round and could use any you would have to share. Bring any individually wrapped pieces you have to share in snack sized baggies on December 2^nd and there will be a few minutes to bag them during the meeting. Thanks!

Go Play Around Town

(Websites: http://vacation.visitomaha.com/, http://www.visitnebraska.org/, www.MomsOfOmaha.com)

Morning In Bethlehem Saturday, December 10th at Christ Community Church from 10:30am-12:30pm. Free! (A small wrapped gift to the AAA Pregnancy Center is suggested as a donation). Your children will experience an interactive walk through the Biblical setting of Christmas.

Christmas at Union Station 
Durham Western Heritage Museum, 801 South 10th St. Omaha (402) 444-5071

Dickens in the Market - Victorian Christmas 
The Old Market, Omaha 10th to 13th Sts., Harney to Jackson Sts.

Each Christmas season, Omaha's Old Market becomes a Victorian-Era holiday marketplace.  Festive decorations, carolers in Victorian dress, and horse-drawn carriage rides add Dickensian cheer to the festive season each Saturday and Sunday.

Holiday Lights Gene Leahy Mall 12th & Farnam Omaha

A million lights decorate the trees at the Mall from Thanksgiving to early January.

Holiday Wildlights Henry Doorly Zoo - 3701 South 10th St. Omaha

Wander through the Omaha Zoo's winter wonderland. Glimpse at the glittering lights on the trees and bushes, and catch sight of the moving animal images. Make a holiday craft in Santa's Workshop, visit the Touch Tank in the Scott Aquarium and have a snack from Durham's TreeTops Restaurant.

 

Indoor Ice Skating Rinks:

Mid-America Center Ice Arena:

http://www.midamericacenter.com/aren...formation.aspx

Motto McLean Ice Arena in Hitchcock Park:

http://www.cityofomaha.org/parks/par...ties/ice-rinks

Moylan Ice Plex: http://moylaniceplex.com/

Outdoor Ice Skating Rinks:

Eugene T. Mahoney State Park Ice Skating Rink:

http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/parks/...tmactivity.asp

University of Nebraksa Medical Center Ice Skating Rink:

http://www.unmc.edu/services/bus-fin...ss/skating.htm  

ConAgra Foods Ice Skating Rink (Holiday Season Only):

http://www.holidaylightsfestival.org/icerink.html

Dundee Neighborhood Ice Skating Rink: Free. Happy Hollow Blvd. and Underwood Ave. At your own risk, daylight only, no skate rental or restrooms.

Announcements!!

December 2(1/3) & 9(2/4): Come and enjoy the Christmas season with an extended creative activity!

**See you in January! There will be no meetings at the end of December. Enjoy the holidays!

Pictorial Directory is here!!! Our directory is completed and available online as a password protected PDF file. This includes a birthday list and Discussion Group list. If you would like a printed version, you can take the PDF to a Kinkos and have it printed. When you click on this link, it will take you to the document and you will need to enter the password that you received via email. Enjoy browsing over the lovely faces of our MOPS ladies!!!

Prayer hotline:  Have a prayer need? Please send it to: prayer4mops@gmail.com

MOPPETS

Thank you for serving your 2 days in MOPPETS! It is VITAL that you show up on your assigned days so we can continue to provide a quality program for our children. If you have a conflict, please switch with another MOPS mom and contact Heidi Harner(2/4) or Shantel Crellin(1/3) ASAP of the change. Please refer to your directory or your DGL for contact info. When you arrive at the church, check the posting by the nursery check-in table to find where you have been assigned to help. Thank you for your cooperation! This months assignments are listed below:

December 2 - 1/3  Meeting
Stacey Morgan
Haley Abenchuchan
Kirstin Brummels
Becky Lachin
Christin Schroeder
Tami Tran
Jackie Ryba
Jen Rauscher

December 9 - 2/4 Meeting
Katie Wheat
Laura Farington
Kim Porter
Kelli Hasenjager
Gina Hostetler
Paola Lee
Anne Backer