Mom's Night Out--Ornament Exchange & Potluck

Our next Mom's Night Out will be an Ornament Exchange & Potluck on Thursday, Dec. 9th, at 7pm at Diana's house. Check your email for the address and directions, or call Diana at (512) 581-2735. It's a potluck, so please bring an appetizer, entree, side dish, or dessert. You can RSVP and sign up for what you plan to bring by clicking here. We will also have an ornament exchange. Please bring a wrapped ornament ($5 limit please) if you want to participate.

MOPS Playdate--Giggle N Jump

Our last playdate for 2010 will be on Wednesday, Dec. 8th, from 10am-noon at Giggle N Jump, located at 1102 College Street in Bastrop. We'll be decorating Christmas cookies, so bring some icing and sprinkles, and the cookies will be provided. Admission is $5/child age 1 and up. Don't forget to bring socks! For more info, contact Ilana at (512) 988-1999.

Dec. 1st--MOPS Meeting

Topic: Child Fitness
Speaker: Vanessa Lindsley
Craft: Santa Plates
Brunch: Biology Babes
Clean-Up: Chemistry Chicks

Nov. 17th--MOPS Meeting

Topic: Operation Christmas Child
Craft: Fabric Travel Wipey Cases
Brunch: Molecular Mammas
Clean-Up: Biology Babes

Nov. 3rd--MOPS Meeting

Topic: Asthma & Allergy Awareness
Speaker: Steve Conti
Craft: Fabric Wipey Clutches
Brunch: Sassy Scientists
Clean-Up: Molecular Mammas

MOPS Playdate--Pumpkin Painting Party

It's almost Halloween... let's celebrate by having a pumpkin painting playdate at Fisherman's Park! Join us on Wednesday, Oct. 27th from 10am-noon. Bring your own pumpkins. Kids can dress-up and wear costumes, decorate pumpkins, and play on the playground. For more information, call Diana at (512) 581-2735.

Oct. 20th--MOPS Meeting

Topic: Travel on a Budget
Speaker: Tracey Younes
Craft: Flower Pens
Brunch: Chemistry Chicks
Clean-Up: Sassy Scientists

Community Service--Bastrop County Food Pantry

Tuesday, Oct. 19th, 9:00am at the Bastrop County Emergency Food Pantry, located at 1201 Pine Street in Bastrop. There is NO childcare. For more information, contact Maranda at (512) 304-5380.

Mom's Night Out--80's Movie Night!!!

Like bring $3-5 for pizza and your totally favorite 80’s movie… Sixteen Candles, Weird Science, Can’t Buy Me Love, Say Anything, there’s just sooo many! We’ll be meeting at Joleen’s house on Friday, Oct. 22nd at 7:00pm—check your email for directions or call Joleen at (512) 985-5455. And don’t forget to wear your most radical 80’s fashion… neon pink leggings, layered tank tops, big hoop earrings… and the bigger, fluffier, and curlier the hair, the better! If you don’t come, then you’re like totally grody to the max!

MOPS Playdate--Bike & Trike Day

Wednesday, Oct. 13th at Bob Bryant Park in Bastrop from 10am-noon. It’s BYOB—Bring Your Own Bike! Or Trike. Or any other fun ride-on toy. Bob Bryant Park is located behind HEB in the Riverside Grove neighborhood. For more info, contact Elaine at (512) 303-9894.

Oct. 6th--MOPS Meeting

Topic: Healthy Child, Healthy World
Speaker: Rhonda Kraft
Craft: Marble Magnets and Chip Clips
Brunch: Biology Babes
Clean-Up: Chemistry Chicks

Sept. 29th--MOPS Meeting & FOOD DRIVE!!!

A representative from the Bastrop County Emergency Pantry will come to speak to our group, and we will be making bean soup jars. Don't forget to bring non-perishable food items for our FOOD DRIVE!!! Some suggested items include: canned meat/vegetables/fruit, rice, assorted crackers, hamburger/chicken/tuna helper, pasta and spaghetti sauce, peanut butter, jelly, cereal (hot & dry), juices, soup, and dry beans. For more info, contact Community Service Coordinator Laura H. at (512) 629-2671.

Speaker: Bastrop County Emergency Food Pantry
Craft: Bean Soup Jars
Brunch: Molecular Mammas
Clean-Up: Biology Babes

Sept. 22nd--MOPS Playdate at Giggle N Jump

Join us on Wednesday, Sept. 22nd, at 10am for a morning of indoor fun at Giggle N Jump, located at 1102 College St. There are bouncy castles, slides, pretend play, and more! Admission is $5/child, adults and children under the age of 1 are free. For more info, call Playdate Hostess Amber G. at (512) 689-5374 or visit http://gigglenjump.com/. Don't foeget your socks!!!

Sept. 15th--MOPS Meeting

Topic: Healthy Marriages
Speaker: Melinda & Cody Whitfill
Craft: Modge Podge Chip Clips & Marble Magnets
Brunch: Sassy Scientists
Clean-Up: Molecular Mammas

Sept. 25th--MOPS Night Out!!!

Our next MOPS Night Out is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 25th. We'll meet for dinner at Nancy's Steakhouse at 6:00pm, and then head to the Bastrop Opera House for the 7:30pm showing of Hats! The Musical.You can choose to meet us for dinner only, the show only, or both. Reserved tickets are $15. Tickets at the door are $12, but the show may be sold out and you won’t be able to sit with the MOPS group.

If you want a reserved ticket to Hats, you must RSVP by SEPTEMBER 8TH. If you request a reserved ticket, you will be responsible for the cost of the ticket, and you must pay Joleen Smith (cash or check made out to Joleen Smith) by Sept. 22nd.

A musical comedy,"Hats!" is inspired by the fabulousness of The Red Hat Society. The show is an original musical about a 49.999-year-old woman who reluctantly faces the inevitable BIG five-O birthday until she meets several remarkable women who teach her how to embrace the landmark event with fun, friendship, and sequins. “Inspired by the stories, experiences and mission of the Red Hat Society"

Community Service at Bastrop Food Pantry

Community Service Project--Please join us in assembling Brown Bags on Tuesday, September 14th, at 9:30am. We will meet at the Bastrop County Emergency Food Pantry, located at 1201 Pine Street in Bastrop. Childcare will NOT be provided, so please make arrangements for someone to watch your children. The Brown Bags are part of a program the Food Pantry has to support the elderly and disabled in our community. For more information, please contact Laura Haymes at (512) 629-2671 or visit http://www.bastropfoodpantry.org. for directions.

Food Drive--Also, Bastrop County MOPS is holding a Food Drive to benefit the Bastrop County Emergency Food Pantry. We are collecting non-perishable, dried goods and canned food items to donate to the Food Pantry as part of our community service this month. Some suggested items include: canned meat/vegetables/fruit, rice, assorted crackers, hamburger/chicken/tuna helper, pasta and spaghetti sauce, peanut butter, jelly, cereal (hot & dry), juices, soup, and dry beans. You may drop-off food donations at the MOPS meetings on Sept. 15th and/or Sept. 29th at Calvary Baptist Church or bring the food donations to any of the MOPS events in the month of September.

UPDATE--MOPS Playdate

Our first MOPS Playdate will be Wednesday, Sept. 8th from 10am-noon at Loblolly Pines Village (1128 Highway 21 East, at the corner of Highway 21 and FM 1441). It costs $5/person, which includes use of the pool and picnic area. Bring a sack lunch and enjoy the afternoon! For more information, contact Maranda Crum at (512) 304-5380 or visit http://www.loblollypines.com/.

IN CASE OF RAIN, the back-up plan is to meet at the Bastrop Public Library Storytime at 10:30am and then go to lunch at McDonald's.

MOPS Playdates!!!

This year, we will have MOPS Playdates on the Wednesdays we don’t have regular MOPS Meetings. For this semester, the dates are:

Sept. 8th–Loblolly Pines Village, 10am (Maranda C.)
Sept. 22nd–Giggle N Jump, 10am (Amber G.)
Oct. 13th–Pumpkin Festival at Elgin Christmas Tree Farm, 10am (Laura H.)
Oct. 27th–"Bike & Trike Day" at Bob Bryant Park, 10am (Elaine F.)
Nov. 10th–TBA
Nov. 24th–TBA
Dec. 8th–TBA

The dates listed above with "TBA" are the dates that still need a host. The host is responsible for choosing the location of the playdate, contacting the location if necessary, making any preparations that might be needed, and attending the event. If you would like to sign up to host a MOPS Playdate, please call Joleen Smith at (512) 985-5455 or email bastropmops@yahoo.com.

Our first MOPS meeting of 2010-2011

Hi, ladies! Summer break is over, and we are starting our new MOPS year. Our first meeting will be on Wednesday, Sept. 1st, same time/same place... from 10am-noon, at Calvary Baptist Church, located at 3001 Loop 150 East. Our speaker will be discussing car seat safety, we'll be making name tags, eating bruch (provided by the Steering Team), and playing games and icebreakers like speed friending (kind of like speed dating). There will also be door prizes! I hope to see you there!!!

MOPS Night Out- Game Night & Potluck

Our next MOPS Night Out, which is a game night & potluck, is on Friday, Aug. 20th, 6:30pm at Maranda's house. For directions to Maranda's, please call (512) 304-5380. RSVP with what type of dish you will be bringing--entree, side dish, dessert, etc. And don't forget to bring your favorite games!

Summer Playdate at Fisherman's Park Playground

Our last "Summer Playdate" is on Wednesday, Aug. 18th, from 10am-noon, at the Fisherman's Park playground in Bastrop. Hopefully, it won't be toooo hot! :)

Summer Playdate at Austin Children's Museum

Our next "Summer Playdate" is at Austin Children's Museum. If you're interested in carpooling, contact Joleen Smith at (512) 985-5455. Admission is $6.50/adult, $6.50/child age 2 and up, $4.50/child age 12-23 months, and children under 12 months are free. For more info, visit http://www.austinkids.org/Splash/Home.aspx.

MOPS Leadership Opportunities

Hi Ladies! Our MOPS group is in need of a few volunteers to help out the group in the upcoming year...

MOPPETS Coordinator- Organize simple activities for the MOPPETS classes, purchase snacks and supplies needed for the classrooms (costs will be reimbursed when receipts are submitted), and attend monthly Steering Team meetings.

Table Leaders (need 4)- Remind your table of the upcoming meetings and events, schedule playgroups, and lead discussion group at your table during meetings.

Please email Maranda at marandamd@hotmail.com if you are interested in any of these positions. Thanks!!!

Summer Playdate at Bastrop State Park Pool- CANCELLED! Read post for new time/location...

Our next "Summer Playdate" is on Wednesday, July 21st, from 3pm-6pm at Bastrop State Park Pool. Admission is $4/adult (or $2/adult with park admission) and $2/child 12 years and younger. For more information, visit http://www.friendsoflostpines.org/id27.html.

Sadly, the pool is closed for maintenance, so we will be meeting at Giggle N Jump at 10am instead. Sorry for the inconvenience!

Summer Playdate at Giggle N Jump

Our next "Summer Playdate" is Wednesday, July 7th, at 10am, at Giggle N Jump (since the Dinosaur Park is closed on Wednesdays). Admission is $5/child over the age of 1, but be sure to tell them you're with Bastrop County MOPS if you want the discount. For more info on Giggle N Jump, visit http://gigglenjump.com/. Too bad about the Dino Park, but I love Giggle N Jump! I hope to see you there!

MOPS Night Out-- "27 Dresses" Party

Our next MOPS Night Out will be Friday, June 18th, at 6:30pm at Joleen's house (email bastropmops@yahoo.com for the address and directions). We will be watching the movie "27 Dresses" and ordering pizza. Don't forget to wear a bridesmaid dress... or really any fancy dress will do! And please bring a few dollars to chip in for pizza.  I can't wait to eat pizza and popcorn while wearing a fancy dress!

Summer Playdates!!!

This summer, we will be having "Summer Playdates" in lieu of our regular meetings. Our regular meetings (1st & 3rd Wednesdays of every month, 10am-noon) will start up again in September.

June 2nd- Giggle N Jump, 10am
June 16th- The playground at Hunter's Crossing, 10am
July 7th- Dinosaur Park, 10am
July 21st- Bastrop State Park pool, 3pm
Aug 4th- Austin Children's Museum, 10am (for those interested, we will meet at the Calvary Baptist Church parking lot and carpool)
Aug 18th- Fisherman's Park playground, 10am

Also, we will be having at least one Mom's Night Out per month... dates, times, and locations TBA. Yay for summer!

May 19th-- Luau Party!!!!

We're having a luau!!! Our last meeting of the 2009-2010 MOPS year will be on Wednesday, May 19th, and it's gonna be a blast! Drink out of a coconut, enter the hula hoop contest, do the limbo, wear a lei, win a fabulous door prize... oh, so many fun things to do! The Steering Team will be bringing brunch. Come help us celebrate the great year we've had!

Open Steering Team Positions for 2010-2011

We have 1 opening in our MOPS Steering Team for next year:

Hospitality Coordinator-- Plans and implements social events and activities, both at MOPS meetings and outside of MOPS. In charge of door prizes and recognizing birthdays, anniversaries, and new babies with gifts and/or cards. Sends thank you cards to speakers. Organizes the refreshments (drinks, ice, and paper goods) at each MOPS meeting and assures a warm welcome for every woman who comes to MOPS.

In addition to the responsibilities for each position, Steering Team members meet once per month and help with overall planning of the group. Please contact Maranda Crum at (512) 304-5380 for more information.

May 6th-- Mom's Night Out!!!

Need a night off? Join us for some good food, good friends, and a well-deserved break!

Thursday, May 6th, 6:30pm
Nancy's Steakhouse (in Bastrop)

To RSVP or for more info, visit http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/event.php?eid=111921588828614.

April 21st Meeting Topic-- Preparing for Kindergarten

Our next meeting is Wednesday, April 21st, from 10am-noon. The topic is "Preparing for Kindergarten" presented by Jenny Turner. The craft is scrapbooking, so don't forget to bring your pictures! Paper, stamps, and other cool scrapbooking supplies will be provided. Chimpanzees are scheduled to bring brunch. See you there!!!

Mar. 31st-- Community Service at the Children's Advocacy Center

On March 31st, we will be volunteering at the Children’s Advocacy Center. If you choose to help, please show up at the church at 10:00am (same time/place as our regular meetings). We will have a quick brunch and then carpool to the Children’s Advocacy Center. MOPPETS care will be provided for those who choose to participate.

Mar. 3rd Meeting Topic-- Remembering Christ at Easter

Our next meeting is Wednesday, March 3rd, from 10am-noon. The topic is "Remembering Christ at Easter" presented by Melinda Whitfill. The craft is Resurrection Eggs, and Chimpanzees are scheduled to bring brunch. See you there!!!

Feb. 17th Meeting Topic-- Fire Safety

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, Feb. 17th from 10am-noon. The topic will be "Fire Safety" presented by Rob Crum. The Ladybugs are scheduled to bring brunch. See you there!!!

Feb. 3rd Meeting Topic-- Stewards of the Children

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, Feb. 3rd from 10am-noon. The topic will be "Stewards of the Children" presented by Cheryl Gartner with the Children's Advocacy Center. The presentation will be about child abuse, recognizing it, and what to do when you see it. For more information about the presentation topic, visit www.darkness2light.org/prevention. The Polar Bears are scheduled to bring brunch. See you there!!!

Jan. 20th Meeting Topic-- Fitness & Nutrition

Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, Jan. 20th from 10am-noon. The topic will be "Fitness & Nutrition" presented by Amy Karm and Marina Rusch. The Desert Larks are scheduled to bring brunch. See you there!!!