Meet Megan's Table!

Here's Megan then and now!

Meet her table!

not pictured: Stacy

Each person was asked this question:

Where is your favorite place to take your kids?

MEGAN: I love visiting my parents in Iowa.  They live in the country, so the kids can run around and get into all sorts of messes!

MENTOR MOM-BECKY: Since they are in college now, my favorite is just when they come home and I can cook for them and have family dinner.

JESSICA: My favorite place is our family cabin in Colorado: no cell phone, no computer, no TV. :)

LISA: Scheels (Blake loves it!!!)

SARAH: I like to take them to the library-they love to read and get new books. 

JAMIE: To the park so he can explore and run off energy.

STEPHANIE: On walks, for ice cream, or the zoo.

STACY: Vala's pumpkin patch! We love the fall season!

Thanks for sharing your table with us, Megan!

Fire-Roasted Tomato Basil Soup by Megan

(adapted from Food.com)

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 yellow onion, diced

5 garlic cloves, minced

3 (14 oz.) cans fire-roasted tomatoes

2 cups chicken stock

1 cup heavy whipping cream or half & half (use less if preferred)

1/2 tablespoon sugar (optional)

15-20 fresh basil leaves (rolled and cut into a chiffonade)

salt & pepper

Directions:

1. Heat the olive oil in a heavy pot over medium high heat. Cook the onion until translucent.

2. Add the minced garlic and cook with the onion for about four minutes.

3. Next add the cans of fire-roasted tomatoes, including the juice, to the pot and cover for about 15 minutes. **Make sure you stir your mixture every few minutes.**

4. With the lid off the pan, add the chicken broth and heavy whipping cream or half & half and bring the pot to a simmer. The mixture should start to thicken as it reduces. This should take about 10 minutes. You want the soup to be somewhat thickened but not soupy. If your soup is thin, let it simmer a bit longer while occasionally stirring.

5. When it comes to the right consistency, add the fresh basil and season to taste with salt and pepper. Lower your heat to medium and cook for 5 minutes more.

6. Using an immersion blender, puree the soup mixture until smooth. If you don't have an immersion blender, use a ladle to place the soup mixture in a regular blender and puree until smooth. Do this in batches. Please use caution when handling as it could burn your hand as you press down on the lid. Use a small kitchen towel to prevent this. Pour back into the original pot.

7. Excellent with crusted bread.

Meet Kelly's table

Here's Kelly then and now!

Kelly is in 1/3 MOPS and this is her first year as a DGL. She and her husband have a little boy and a baby on the way.  

Do you have a favorite Halloween tradition or memory from your childhood?

My mom made our costumes every year. Nothing was ever too difficult for her to make and now having my own children, I appreciate it so much more. She made it fun and lots of love went into those costumes.

Meet Kelly's table!

not pictured: Sarah C

Each person was asked this question:
What was the biggest adjustment that you had to make when you became a mom?

KELLY: Planning life around someone else's schedule other than mine, and saying no to things that I would have previously jumped at the opportunity to say yes to.

MENTOR MOM (and Kelly's mom!)- LORI: Everything!! :) The biggest adjustment was not realizing how my heart could grow so much and love another human being that way.

MELANY: Being responsible for another human...the worry, the care and the intense love and connection I have with my babies.

SARAH B: I would say sleep! I used to love to stay up late and sleep in before I had kids.  But now I've traded it for bedtime stories and saying prayers at night which is well worth it!

WENDY: No more sleeping in! I didn't realize how much I put my needs above the needs of others, and having a child really showed me that. 

JULIE: Realizing that suddenly I couldn't go anywhere without taking this child with me!

STACY: Having only 5 minutes to get ready, smelling like spit up, and having constant conversation.

SARAH M

SARAH C: The biggest adjustment has been learning to happily adjust the family's schedule with each new kid.

Thanks for sharing your table with us, Kelly!

Pumpkin Pie Squares by Kelly

Crust: 
1 pkg. yellow cake mix
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 egg

Filling:
2 eggs
1 can pumpkin
3/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Topping: 
1 cup reserved cake mix

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 cup butter

Grease 9x13 inch pan.  Empty cake mix into bowl and measure out 1 cup and put aside.  Add melted butter and beaten egg to cake mix in bowl.  Press into pan.

Prepare filling by beating 2 eggs, add milk and remaining ingredients and pour over crust.

Prepare topping by cutting together the ingredients, then sprinkle over filling.

Bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes or until knife inserted comes out clean.

Meet Joy's table!

Here's Joy then and now!

Joy is in 2/4 MOPS and this is her first year as a DGL. She and her husband have 2 kids.

Do you have a favorite fall tradition or memory from your childhood?

In the fall, my mom would make the best cheese broccoli soup and chili. I think that is why I crave making soups even the first cool day of fall!

Meet her table!

not pictured: Shanna 

Each person was asked this question:

What is one thing you do to make your life easier? 

JOY: Set out clothes the night before.

MENTOR MOM-KAREN: Using the crockpot in the winter...dinner in a flash! :)

ERIN: I plan out my meals for the entire week. Including breakfast & lunch. Makes it so much easier for me to make and go grocery shopping. I know I have everything & can make it. I don't make it "Monday is meatloaf"....I just make a list of 7 dishes and make them. :)

DAWN: I use a Swiffer Vac for hard floors.

MELISSA: Plan-don't procrastinate.  "Fail to plan...plan to fail."

DEANNA: Use a grocery list and Menu Plan

SHANNA: I keep toothbrushes/toothpaste downstairs as well as upstairs.  It helps in the morning when they go up to their rooms to brush and they never come back down! :)

SARAH: I use my crockpot. 





Did you know that the secret to cutting brownies is to use a plastic knife?  It glides right through without leaving it all crumbly!


Thanks for sharing your table with us, Joy!

Whole Roasted Chicken by Joy 

1/4 melted butter, coconut oil, bacon grease, or duck fat

1 whole chicken

1 onion, cut into large chunks

4-6 cloves of garlic, smashed

1 orange or lemon cut into 6 pieces

2-4 large carrots, cut into large chunks

1 Tbs Herb Salt Blend

Black Pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 375°F.

Brush the bottom of a large roasting pan with some of the melted butter.

Remove any gizzards or organs from the inside of the chicken.  Stuff the chicken with the onions, garlic, and some of the citrus.  Place the carrots around the chicken in the roasting pan.  Brush the chicken with melted butter, and sprinkle it with the Herb Salt Blend and the black pepper.

Roast until the chicken reaches 165° F when a thermometer is placed between the leg and breast.

Cooking time depends on the size of the bird but is approximately 20 minutes per pound.  

Meet Polly's table!

Here's Polly then and now!

Polly is in 2/4 MOPS and this is her first year as a DGL. She and her husband have four kids, ages 10, 8, 6 and 4.  

Meet her table!

not pictured: Sarah

Each person was asked this question:
If you had an hour to relax at home (assuming that all of your kids were sleeping or gone), what would you do?

POLLY: Take a bath and read a book. 

MENTOR MOM-KATHY: Quilt.  Have someone come to my house for a pedi/mani.

ANITA: Enjoy being in the house alone.

ELIZABETH: Watch TV-Duck Dynasty or Parenthood.

MICHELLE: Play my keyboard or listen to music.

AMY: Read a book or browse Pinterest in my comfy chair with music on. 

KRISTIN: Right now, with having a newborn, I would take a nap :)

SARAH: Right now, I would probably take a nap! (also the mom of a newborn!)

Thanks for sharing your table with us, Polly!

Upcoming Events!

We hope you can join us for the Play Date on October 10th and the Night OWL on October 25th!

Meet the MOPS Coordinators!

Anne and Beth

This is Beth's 2nd year as the 1/3 MOPS Coordinator.  

1. How many years have you been in MOPS?

I have been in MOPS for 5 years.

2. What are the ages of your children? I have two children--5 and 2

3. Where did you and your husband go on your first date?

On our first date we went to Sgt Peffer's Pizza and Italian

Restaurant and then we went to see the movie Luther.

4. What was the best birthday/Christmas present you ever received?

The best birthday or Christmas gift I have ever received was a trip to Chicago with my husband.  My mom came and watched the kids while we were able to get away and have some down time.

5. What did you get in trouble for the most when you were a kid?

When I was little I used to always hide on my mom when we were at the store.  She would obviously freak out because she could not find my brother and I. When we saw her get worked up and a little frightened we would jump out of the clothes rack or wherever we were hiding and say, "HERE WE ARE MOM!" When I think back to those times now I laugh and think about how angry I would be if my kids did the same thing to me.  What a scary situation to put my mom through.

6. Why do you love MOPS?

I love MOPS because through MOPS I have grown closer to the Lord!  I have made some amazing life long friends. It is a place where I can come; be real and share about my struggles and have a community that knows exactly what I am going through because we are all in the same stage of life. MOPS refreshes me, challenges me and encourages me to continually press on even when life is difficult.

This is Anne's first year as the 2/4 MOPS Coordinator. 

1. How many years have you been in MOPS? This is my 6th year!

2. What are the ages of your children? Chloe-6, Brodie-3 & Abi-1

3. Where did you and your husband go on your first date? Trivato's, in Dundee. It's no longer around.

4. Would you consider yourself an introvert or extrovert? I would say I am  a little of both, but probably more extroverted.

5. What is your love language? Quality time

6. Why do you love MOPS? Because it is a place to let your hair down as a mom, rub shoulders with other moms going through the same life experiences and challenges, get a break and be encouraged that what I am doing everyday matters!

MOPS Play Date

The Play Date is this Friday, September 6th at 9:30.

We will meet at the south entrance on 156th street by the soccer fields and boats docks.  

Hope to see you there!