momstown is place that connects neighbourhood moms in Winnipeg for conversation, support and just plain fun! We bring over 30 events monthly to our city, organizing playdates and mom night outs, have an online message board and more! http://winnipeg.momstown.ca
Perfect Snow is about two boys and their adventure with freshly fallen snow! Snow comes one night, and the next morning it's Perfect Snow for the schoolyard. Scott is making snowmen, and Jim wants to build the world's best snowfort. They find a way to work together to make a great creation from the perfect snow!
Winter Wonderland is our January theme at momstown, so this book was perfect! We made snowman for our craft and used some sugar to make snow on our art work. Nothing like a little mess and some good old fashion sensory play! Thanks to Chapters Polo for letting us make a mess of their place!
Congratulations to this adorable little tot who got to take home a copy of the book!
This past month we got together to read a fabulous book called A Porcupine in a Pine Tree - A Canadian 12 Days of Christmas written by Helaine Becker and illustrated by Werner Zimmerman.
This is the classic 12 Days of Christmas, but with a Canadian twist! There are beavers, caribou, loons, and even Stanley Cups!
For our craft we made Rudolph ornaments the keep with the theme of Christmas, and our monthly theme of R is for Rudolph!
Thanks to Scholastics for sending us this fabulous book to read and giveaway! This mama has had to sing this book many times during the Christmas season. It was even brought out to sing at our Circle Time Nursery Rhymes playdate!
momstown Winnipeg announces the launched a new program called Meals4Mamas.
Meals4Mamas is one of the benefits of being a momstown Winnipeg member. It provides an opportunity for our members to help one another out when they need it most. Who better to understand the struggles of a new mom then our own members! Meals4Mamas will provide your family meals every other day for two weeks. It is most widely used by our moms who just had babies; however, we will provide meals in the event of a death in the family or major surgery and need the extra assistance.
Questions running through your head? Hopefully the answer is below:
1. How much time do I need to give the Meals4Mamas coordinator to set up meals?
While the more time, the better, it is understood that things happen and a moment’s notice is all that is given. If you know you’re having a baby, please try to email info.winnipeg@momstown.ca prior to your delivery so we are aware you’ll be in need of meals. If you are in need of meals for a death or illness in the family, then just let us know as soon as you can and we’ll do our best to get the meals set up right away.
2. If I’m on the Meal Maker list, how often do I have to prepare a meal?
You decide how often you can help. If you can make a meal on one of the requested dates, please do and if not, we will catch you next time.
3. What kind of meal should I prepare?
You will receive information about the family’s preferences and allergies when you volunteer to be a Meal Maker. Please assemble a complete and balanced meal that is enough for the entire family plus leftovers. Some ideas: Chicken and rice casserole, broccoli, rolls, brownies; chili or soup, bagged salad, bread, cookies; barbeque chicken, green beans, baked potatoes, fruit salad
If you are expecting, please email info.winnipeg@momstown.ca. We will send you a short questionnaire to fill out and then leave the rest to us!
Looking for Mamas who want to volunteer!
If you are interested in being a Meals4Mama Meal Maker, please email info.winnipeg@momstown.ca. When a meal request is made, we will contact you with instructions.
Want to celebrate New Years with your little ones but don't want to keep them up till midnight? Host a Noon Year Party and ring in the new year at noon. momstown.ca is celebrating Noon Year across the country, and here in Winnipeg we had two parties!
Anyone can host a Noon Year party. Send out invitations a few weeks before. During the holidays it gets busy so give them plenty of notice. Or if you are lucky enough to be in a city where there is a moms group, like momstown.ca, chances are they are hosting one already. Join in on the fun and attend your local groups Noon Year Party.
Have a potluck. Organizing a party when you have little kids at home is always a challenge. Make it a bit easier on yourself and have all the moms sign up to bring one item. Finger foods are best for young children.
Don't make your party too long. Have guests arrive between 10:30 and 11 am. End the party around 1 pm. This gives you time to have some activities before noon, celebrate the ball drop at noon, eat and then the kids can play. Longer then that and you will just have over-tired kids kicking, screaming and crying.
Have a ball drop! You can make this easily by cutting 2 large pieces of paper, like Christmas wrapping paper or easel paper, and tape it to the ceiling. Tape string on the paper. Place balloons under them. When noon comes, have a countdown and rip the paper by pulling on the string. Down comes the balloons. If you plan to have younger infants at the party just warn their mama's so they can hold onto them. Balloons are a choking hazard.
Plan an activity, like crafts. We love doing crafts at our momstown events. You can do a simple craft for a Noon Year Party like decorating foam crowns. Or you can make glitter fireworks! You can buy all the supplies at your local dollar store. Another great idea that our member Micheline had was to have a puppet show. Your kids can practice for a few weeks and have a show for their friends.
Get noise makers, party hats and crackers. The kids will love this! Bubbles are also a hit with kids. It's not as messy as confetti and safe for the younger ones.
Make a toast! Get some cute, fancy plastic champagne glasses and serve sparkling apple juice. Pink lemonade is another great alternative.
Most importantly, get someone to take video and photos of the big party. This is a party that you will want to remember for years to come!
Thanks to Lisa B and Micheline G for hosting our momstown Winnipeg Noon Year Parties.
Missed out on our Noon Year Parties? Sign up today to see our jammed packed calendar of events.
I was recently given the opportunity to review Sarah Jessica Parker's latest movie I Don't Know How She Does It which is out on DVD January 3. When I watched the trailer my first thought was this would be a great movie to watch with my momstown friends. Moms are bound to resonate with one of the characters in the movie.
The moment the movie started, I was laughing. It begins immediately with the 'list'. I don't know a mom that doesn't do this! Fearing the teacher when you're late dropping off your child at a school! Getting snubbed by your daughter when you are not around much! Let's not forget the 'hair cut'! It was all too familiar with a recent business trip to Toronto for our momstown Conference. Except for me I missed the first time my son stood on his own. I could go on and on but I don't want to spoil the movie.
Based on the bestseller by Allison Pearson, I Don't Know How She Does It is about Kate Reddy (Parker), who is a working mom in Boston that is trying to juggle marriage, two children and a high-stress job. The movie finds humour in the stereotypes that stay-at-home-moms and working moms go through. From Allison, Kate's working mother friend, to the scary supermoms at her daughter's school to her workaholic, child-phobic young junior associate Momo, you'll find yourself relating far too often to the characters. We all struggle to be that supermom, perfect wife and exceptional employee. Mama guilt is far to common, as is the comparison to the other mom's around you. How does she do it? Look composed, clean, calm, thin, well rested?
I've heard it often myself. Ester, I don't know how you do it? I won't lie and say it isn't stressful. We make it look like we have it all together yet in reality we are barely making it through the day. I lay awake at night making my 'list'. I type emails while feeding my son his breakfast. I bought my tarts this Christmas instead of making it from scratch. The trick is to put it in a box with a nice ribbon and it looks like I've been up all night baking. I haven't experienced lice yet, but I sometimes forget the last time I've showered!
It took me three times to get through this movie. Not because it was awful, but because I kept getting interrupted from a waking baby. I found irony in this. The first night I attempted to watch it I was wrapping Christmas presents while watching the movie, running to rock a crying baby back to sleep and then continuing on with my work. Then I had to finish setting up toys from Santa so my kids could have a perfect Christmas morning. I finished the night at 2 am, preparing our traditional Wife Saver for Christmas morning brunch.
The movie couldn't have come at a better time for me. This past year has been the most hectic, exhausting yet rewarding year of my life. While I struggle to find balance as a mom, wife and business owner I love my children, love my husband and love my job.
Want to make life a little easier. You can enter to win a $1,000 Gift Certificate to Molly Maid at Saveland.ca. Enter here.
I can't wait to show this movie at the next Mom Movie Night with the momstown mamas! Check out the trailer:
