La Crescent
Notes and News
BETTER MOMS MAKE A BETTER WORLD.
Volume 2, Issue 3 December 2008
Practicing the Five Love Languages by Michelle Zlabek
language. Do you like hugs Service, make a nice meal,
Do you want and snuggling those you shovel the driveway, or take
to give your love? If so, Physical Touch out the trash. If he's Physical Upcoming Events
marriage a may be your love Touch, make a point to MOPS ON DEC. 18, JAN.
boost? language. Do you cuddle on the couch or greet 15, FEB. 5, AND FEB. 19.
Learning appreciate when someone him with a long embrace ANTOHER GIANT MOPS
about the does a household chore for when he gets home. If he's PLAY DATE AT FAMILY
Five Love you and helps you get things Words of Affirmation, write RESOURCES IN LA CROSSE
Languages done on your to-do list? If a card telling him what a ON THURSDAY, JAN. 8
(by Gary Chapman) and so, Acts of Service may be great husband and father he FROM 9 TO 11 A.M.
applying them to your your love language. is or tell him these kinds of
marriage will do just words at the dinner table. If ALL-MOPS SOUP
that! We all love to love The key is to know your he's Gifts, buy his favorite EXCHANGE AND PAPER
others, but each of us has primary love language and candy and leave it in his car CRAFTING ON THE
preferences on how we most your spouse's. Often they for him to find. If he's EVENING OF THURSDAY,
like to receive it. Do you are different. We tend to Quality Time, schedule a FEB. 12 (WATCH FOR
enjoy compliments and kind show love in the way we date night out where you can MORE DETAILS TO COME)
words? If so, you want to receive it. If you have dinner or go to a
might prefer Words of have the same love coffee shop just the two of
Affirmation. Do you like language as your spouse, it you. There is no limit to the
receiving meaningful and will be easier. For those of creativity you can have with
thoughtful gifts? If so, Gifts us who don't, we have to be love languages! It truly is
may be your primary love intentional in showing love to the gift that keeps on giving Inside this issue:
language. Do you like our spouse in the way that because as you show love to
spending one-to-one time most fills his tank! Every day your husband, he will want to
with others without ask yourself, “How can I best return the blessing! PRACTICING THE FIVE LOVE 1
LANGUAGES
distractions? If so, Quality show love to my husband
Time may be your love today?” If he's Acts of QUESTIONS KIDS ASK 1
Questions Kids Ask by Betsy McGrath RECIPE OF THE MONTH 2
Why was Jesus born in a an honor—my little boy sharing practical ways for us
stinky stable? Why can’t I really wants to know what I to train our children for DON’T MISS THE 2ND 2
see Jesus now? How long is think and what I believe. It’s eternity. He’ll reference the ALL-MOPS PLAY DATE
eternity? As moms, we get so up to us as parents to train book 801 Questions Kids Ask
many questions from our our kids not only for life here about God with MENTOR MOMS’ CORNER 3
kids. When my oldest turned on this earth, but how we Answers from
2 and started asking “Why?” train them now will last for the Bible. I LOCAL RESTAURANTS 3
at least 50 times every day, eternity. found the book OFFER KID-FRIENDLY DEALS
I thought I was going to lose used on Amazon
my mind! When I stop to On Thursday, Dec. 18, Pastor for as cheap as TOUCH OF HUMOR: THE 4
think about it though, what Dan Cravillion will be $2.73! BIRTH ORDER OF CHILDREN
Recipe of the Month: Easy Breakfast Casserole submitted by Lisa Cravillion
(This is a gluten-free recipe.) layer the hash browns, half Variations:
of the cheese, the browned *What I did for the MOPS
Ingredients: sausage and onion, and then casserole was to substitute
1lb. pork sausage (mild or the remaining cheese. pre-cooked sausage patties
spicy) or links for the pork
1 tablespoon dried minced In a bowl, whisk together the sausage. I heated them in
onion eggs, milk, and pepper. Pour the microwave, then patted
8 cups frozen hash browns the egg mixture over the with paper towels to absorb
(about 32 oz.) cheese. Sprinkle with dried excess fat.
3 cups shredded Monterey parsley flakes.
Jack or cheddar cheese *You may substitute cooked
6 eggs, beaten Bake in a 350 degree ham cubes or turkey bacon
2 cups milk preheated oven for 50 for the sausage.
1/4 tsp. pepper minutes or until a knife
Dried parsley flakes as inserted in the center comes *For a lower-fat version, use
preferred garnish out clean. Transfer the turkey sausage, low-fat
casserole to a wire rack and shredded cheese, and 1%
Preparation: let stand for 10 - 15 milk; omit the eggs and use
In a large skillet, cook the minutes. Cut into squares. an egg substitute.
sausage, breaking it up Serve with salsa, if desired.
with a spatula. When the *To make an 8”x8”x2” sized
sausage is cooked through, This recipe serves 12. You pan of the casserole, cut all
drain off excess fat. Add may prepare this dish the portions in half and bake for
minced onion to the sausage night before (this is what I 45-55 minutes or until done.
and put aside. did), but pull it out of the
fridge at least 15 minutes
In a 13" x 9" baking dish, before baking.
Celebrations!
DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS Half Birthdays
Dec. 12 Bethany Henry Dec. 23 Lee Ann Finn
Dec. 25 Sarah Clemons- (B-day on June 23)
Wagner
Second All-MOPS Play Date on Jan. 8
We had a great turnout to mom time while the kids play Crosse, check out the
our first all-MOPS play date with the center’s toys. website:
at Family Resources on Nov. www.laxfamilyresources.org
13, so we’ve decided to do it Family Resources is located
again. Mark your calendar at 1500 Green Bay St. in
for Thursday, Jan. 8 for our La Crosse.
second all-MOPS play date
at Family Resources in La For more information about
Crosse. Join us from 9 to 11 the services offered by
a.m. for some much-needed Family Resources of La
Page 2
Volume 2, Issue 3
Mentor Moms’ Corner: What Kind of Christmas Will You Have?
By Julie Thompson planning holiday parties, and with it and act out the story
squeezing Jesus in if you can of Jesus’ birth. Let your kids
I just finished reading the find the time? Are you a help you make cookies to
book, Can Martha have a Mary where Jesus is the focus give away to friends and
Mary Christmas?: Untangling of your holiday season? Will neighbors. I'm sure you'll “Who do
Expectations and Truly you teach your kids the story come up with other ways to you identify
Experiencing Jesus by Brenda of Jesus’ birth and focus on have a Mary Christmas.
Poinsett. We have all giving to others instead of with this
probably heard the story of receiving? Will you slow Christmas
Jesus’ visit to the home of down and make time to season?”
Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. celebrate the true meaning
Martha was busy with the of the season: Jesus coming to
meal and cleaning us to save us from our sins
preparations while Mary, her and become our Savior?
sister, sat at Jesus’ feet
listening and conversing with Let's have a Mary Christmas
him. This made Martha this year and cross something
angry as you can imagine. off of our to-do list and make
She was doing all the work time to experience Jesus.
while Mary just sat there. This may involve changing our
expectations or our family’s
Who do you identify with this expectations. Start a new
Christmas season? Are you a tradition like buying gifts for
Martha, busy baking, a needy family or purchasing
shopping, decorating, a kid-friendly nativity set
sending Christmas cards, where your kids can play
Local Restaurants Offering Kid-Friendly Deals
Several area restaurants Country Kitchen—Thursdays and get 1 free on Tuesday
offer special deals for kids from 4-9 p.m. kids eat free nights (3039 Medco Ct.,
meals on particular days from the kids menu (1509 Onalaska, 608-781-6630)
during the week. Check out Losey Blvd. S., La Crosse,
this list the next time you’d 608-788-1800) Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice
like to save a few bucks Cream Parlor—Wednesdays
while still taking the family Fazoli’s—Tuesdays from 5-8 from 5-7:30 p.m. kids can
out to eat. p.m. kids eat for $.99 with eat from the buffet for $.35
the purchase of an adult x their age; Thursdays
Buzzard Billy’s Flying Carp entrée (9370 Hwy. 16, beginning at 5 p.m. kids can
Cafe—free kids meal on Onalaska, 608-781-5818) make their own 1-topping
Sundays with an adult personal pizza for $4.15
purchase (222 Pearl St., Perkins—all day Tuesdays (835 Oak Ave. S., Onalaska,
La Crosse, 608-796-2277) and Thursdays kids eat free 608-781-1620)
from the kids menu; 1 child
Carlos O’Kelly’s—all day on per adult (2 locations: 9428 Pizza Doctors—Mondays
Tuesdays the kids menu items Hwy. 16, Onalaska, 608- and Tuesdays from 4-7:30
are either $.99 or $1.99 with 779-4700; 1411 Rose St., p.m. kids ages 4-11 eat free
the purchase of an adult La Crosse, 608-785-0982) from the buffet with an adult
entrée (9396 Hwy. 16, purchase; kids under 3 are
Onalaska, 608-783-1782) Grizzly’s—(this deal is not always free (624 King St.,
just for kids) buy 1 burger La Crosse, 608-784-0450)
Page 3
La Crescent MOPS Notes and News
BETTER MOMS MAKE A BETTER WORLD.
La Crescent Evangelical Free
Church
1675 County Road 6
La Crescent , MN 55947
Coordinator Maggie Kowalski
Phone: 507-482-6378
E-mail:
LaCrescentMOPS@gmail.com
Check out our blog!
LaCrescentMOPS.blogspot.com. The Birth Order of Children submitted by Darcy Lenz, MOPS Mom
1st baby: You begin wearing wake your firstborn. _______________________
maternity clothes as soon 3rd baby: You teach your Going Out:
as your OB/GYN confirms 3-year-old how to rewind 1st baby: The first time you
your pregnancy. the mechanical swing. leave your baby with a sitter,
2nd baby: You wear your _______________________ you call home five times.
regular clothes for as long as Pacifier: 2nd baby : Just before you
possible. 1st baby: If the pacifier falls walk out the door, you
3rd baby: Your maternity on the floor, you put it away remember to leave a number
clothes ARE your regular until you can go home and where you can be reached.
clothes. wash and boil it. 3rd baby: You leave
_______________________ 2nd baby: When the pacifier instructions for the sitter to call
Preparing for the Birth: falls on the floor, you squirt it only if she sees blood.
1st baby: You practice your off with some juice from the _______________________
breathing religiously. baby's bottle. At Home:
2nd baby: You don't bother 3rd baby: You wipe it off on 1st baby: You spend a good
because you remember that your shirt and pop it back in. bit of every day just gazing
last time, breathing didn't do _______________________ at the baby.
a thing. Diapering: 2nd baby: You spend a bit of
3rd baby: You ask for an 1st baby: You change your everyday watching to be sure
epidural in your eighth month. baby's diaper every hour, your older child isn't
_______________________ whether she needs it or not. squeezing, poking, or hitting
The Layette: 2nd baby: You change her the baby.
1st baby: You pre-wash your diaper every two to three 3rd baby: You spend a little
newborn's clothes, color- hours, if needed. bit of every day hiding from
coordinate them, and fold 3rd baby: You try to change the children.
them neatly in the baby's little her diaper before others _______________________
bureau. start to complain about the Swallowing Coins:
2nd baby: You check to make smell or you see it sagging to 1st child: When the first child
sure that the clothes are clean her knees. swallows a coin, you rush the
and discard only the ones with _______________________ child to the hospital and
the darkest stains. Activities: demand x-rays.
3rd baby: Boys can wear 1st baby: You take your 2nd child: When the second
pink, can't they? infant to Baby Gymnastics, child swallows a coin, you
______________________ Baby Swing, and Baby Story carefully watch for the coin to
Worries: Hour. pass.
1st baby: At the first sign of 2nd baby: You take your 3rd child: When the third child
distress—a whimper, a infant to Baby Gymnastics. swallows a coin, you deduct it
frown—you pick up the baby. 3rd baby: You take your from his allowance!
2nd baby: You pick the baby infant to the supermarket ________________________
up when her wails threaten to and the dry cleaner.
