momstown Georgina and East Gwillimbury

Win Tickets to see Clifford The Big Red Dog at RHCPA

2012-01-25T13:47:00.000-05:00

RHCPA is once again running a contest with momstown Georgina & East Gwillimbury for a family pak of tickets to see Clifford the Big Red Dog at their most amazing theatre.

How do you enter? Just comment below on the comments section make sure you include your email saying that you would love to go see the Big Red Dog at RHCPA! You can also comment on the message board or email me at kim.edmiston@momstown.ca

Be sure to pop by our facebook page for updates on contests and events with momstown Georgina & East Gwillimbury.

A Family Pak includes two adult tickets and two children tickets to the show time of your choice on February 6th 2012.

The contest will close on February 1st at midnnight and you will still have time to buy your tickets if you don't win through the contest.

Take a look at some of the upcoming shows coming to RHCPA, be sure to tell the momstown sent you :)

Family Literacy Day January 27, 2012

2012-01-23T15:00:00.004-05:00

Essential in every day life; the signs around you, your favourite book, for work, for school, a menu at local restaurant; words are all around us!

Family Literacy Day was developed in 1999 by ABC Life Literacy and is celebrated every January 27 to raise awareness about literacy and more importantly engaging in literacy based activities as a family. Spending as little as 15 minutes a day reading or on a learning activity is important for a child's development and can improve your literacy skills as well.

momstown.ca has partnered with Scholastic Canada to help promote literacy in all our children. Our monthly Scholastic Book Club ensures a lucky winner will go home with one of Scholastic's wonderful stories!

Our January Scholastic Book Perfect Snow Source Scholastic Canada

Scholastic Books were a big part of my childhood! I couldn't wait to bring home the book order and pick which book I would love to have and I'm very happy that my SK daughter has the same opportunity. She's anxiously awaiting the arrival of 3 new books to add to our library; Which Princess Are You, Pinkalicious Pink of Hearts and Guess Who Elmo for her younger sister all from the January 2012 Elf book club.

Learning is everywhere and you can help promote literacy by:

Taking your children to the grocery store and have them find the items on your list
Play a card or board game
Read a book
Have your children identify signs as you're driving
Cook together

The opportunities for learning are endless!

Enter to win a prize pack from ABC Life Literacy at momstown.ca here.

Or download the colouring contest at ABC Life Literacy and mail by January 31st, 2012 to win one of 13 Family Literacy Day Raise-a-Reader prize packs!

Happy Reading!

Winter Wonderland Playgroup

2012-01-19T15:17:00.000-05:00

Today was or scholastic fun playgroup, ourr theme for the day Winter Wonderland and our book for the day was Perfect Snow by Barbara Reid.

Fitting enough when I woke this am it was a cold and snowy day. I decided it would be fun to take some of that snow indoors to playgroup. Well maybe we couldn't build frosty before he would melt but we sure could have some fun with some of the cold stuff.

Nancy read our story today to some very excited children. When they made snowballs in the story so did we. My son was not to happy to hold onto the snow for to long as it was just to cold.

After story time for those those that no longer wanted to play with the cold snow we had some cloud snow, otherwise known as cloud dough, for the purpose of todays snowy theme it became snow. We also made some pretty cut out snowflakes decorated with stickers, crayons and glitter glue.

Of course our scholastic playgroup is not over without announcing our winner of the Scholastic book club for January. Congratulations Jenn and enjoy the book.

Winter Wonderland Fun at Playgroup

2012-01-12T17:20:00.001-05:00

It was a snowy day this morning as I got ready for our weekly playgroup and wasn't sure if it would be cancelled or not. The weather was fitting with our winter wonderland theme but a little to snowy and icy for driving.

The snow did keep a few moms away and I always say better safe then sorry if you feel unsure! But we did have a lot of fun with our little playgroup today. The kids has so much eating and glueing the marshmallows onto their igloos. They were so proud when they were finished and I am not sure if more marshmallows went into their mouths or on the igloos, either way they had a ball!

After the marshmallow igloos, we coloured snowmen and of course had lots of fun with some free play. Was nice to catch up with some moms I hadn't seen in awhile after the holidays.

Don't let the cold keep you away bundle up and warm up with your momstown friends! Not a member yet? Register for your free two week trial or join us once a month at McDonald's or Tim's Hortons for our free drop in that allows non-members to come out and meet some of the momstown mamas. Email me at info.georgina@momstown.ca for details, or join our facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/momstownGeorgina

Next week is our Scholastic book week and we will continue our winter wonderland theme as we read the story The Perfect Snow

mamas day out at Steven & Chris

2012-01-11T18:55:00.001-05:00

momstown mamas on the set of Steven & Chris

Back when we had our November momstown Conference, one of our meetings was with our new partner Kids CBC. We were very excited to find out that after all the fun we had with some great ladies at Kids CBC we would be going to a live taping of Steven and Chris. I have to be honest, I have not watched much adult TV in the last years since becoming a mom, and although I had seen the show was not all that familiar with it, now I am a fan.

Shortly after, mostown Newmarket - Aurora was invited to bring a few guests with her after she did a cleaning contest on the show. I joined momstown Newmarket/ Aurora to once again join the fun at Steven and Chris. This was a taping of their Christmas shows and it really did put me in the Christmas spirit. The set was absolutely beautiful and each and every segment got you thinking all about Christmas and the joys it brings.

I decided that it would be fun to take my own group to a taping, so I went on the website and found an email address for the tickets. I sent off an email and that same day received a reply and a date of when we could go. I quickly posted on my message board and facebook page to see who would be able to locate a babysitter on such short notice and join us.

There were a group of 8 of us that quickly begged grandparents, husbands, someone to watch our kids so we could enjoy a very special moms day at a live taping of the show. So promptly at 6:18am the dogs barked and my ride was here to head into the city. We had a few more moms to pick up along the way and then we would make the trip to the city. After our GPS taking us to locations under construction, and parking not where it was stated, we finally found our way. We were early, but preferred being early as opposed to taking a chance of missing any of the show. Off we went to the coffee shop and then a visit to Mr. Dressup's Treehouse until
8:30am when we hit the line-up for the 9:30am entrance time to the studio


the early start was worth the front row seats!!!

How exciting when we were told we could get our picture taken with Steven and Chris. Below are some very happy moms enjoying their morning with some very kind hosts.

momstown Georgina & East Gwillimbury with Steven & Chris

Now part of the experience of going to the show is during the set changes the amazing fun there is to be had. Lets just say practicing your hulla hoop skills might be a good thing to do if you want to win even more great prizes. Bouncing balloons often travel through the air and break with prizes, but most of all you will laugh so hard your belly will hurt before you leave.

Ashley was happy to win a prize

I can't wait to go back again, I am not gonig to give away any secrets of the show you will have to tune in on January 17th and keep an eye out for us in the front row while watching a great show. I think we should fill the entire audience with momstown mamas, now wouldn't that be a fun day! Chris told me they should reserve the front row for us. From a mom that needs a break from time to time but seldom takes one, I agree. We will continue to shout, holler and woot woot to two great guys that make me laugh weekdays at 2:00 pm (although now i PVR and watch when the kids have gone to bed so i don't miss the funnies).

on the set of Steven & Chris

So much fun is had in that studio that before you know it the show is already over. I thought it was really nice that Steven and Chris came right over to the audience and shook our hands, hugs and waves before they left the stage. If you ask me they care about their fans and it shows.

Depression Hurts!

2012-01-10T06:00:00.006-05:00

January...the beginning of a New Year, new resolutions and in Alberta Postpartum Depression Awareness month too!

As Moms, we've likely all been through the crazy early days with an infant, the seemingly endless night wakings, the isolation, the fear we're not doing the best we can and the 'Mommy' guilt that only Moms would understand. For most these feelings pass the older baby gets but for 15% of moms within the first year of baby's life, they experience the more serious Postpartum Depression or Postpartum Mood Disorders.

Now that I know more about PPD, I'm sure that I suffered a case of the baby blues with DD1. The isolation of being an older first time Mom really hit me - while most of my friends were parenting school aged children, some in their teens, I was just starting out on the rocky road of early parenting. Thankfully she was a June baby and we spent the summer sitting outside and going for lots of walks and in the fall joining classes at a local Ontario Early Years Centre.

With DD2 I knew the possibility of depression could take hold and I know now that it did! DD2 was hospitalized within a day of her early birth for what could have been a life threatening condition without care (Rhesus Hemolytic Disease). Being away from my now 3 yr old DD1, with a new baby you can only hold every 4 hours was excrutiating to say the least! The constant fear for your new baby's life and the worry for my older DD and how she is doing without Momma around. The feelings of isolation and that they would be better off without me were creeping in. With no classes I could join at the Ontario Early Years Centre I was at a loss for what I could do and not brave enough to talk to my doctor.

And then there was momstown!

The day before DD2 was born, I stumbled upon momstown via Today's Parent, signed up for my 2 week trial and didn't get the chance to try it out with DD2's hospitilization and follow up appointments that would last the first 4 weeks of her life. A quick email to momstown Georgina & East Gwillimbury Momma Kim Edmiston renewed my 2 week trial and began my road to being a happy Momma again!

With almost daily activities and events, a supportive online community available 24-7, rekindled friendships and new friendships that are now part of my daily life, momstown helped me make it through a difficult time in my life. To know that I wasn't the only Mom having these feelings which you can read about here made me feel not so alone in the journey of parenthood.

If you are suffering from similar feelings it could be Postpartum Depression and you need to get help.

Visit http://www.ppda.ca/ for resources and help with postpartum depression and Depression Hurts for a symptom checklist.

***Edited - Postpartum Depression Awareness Month is currently only recognized in the province of Alberta. Contact your MPP to help bring awareness throughout the country!

New Year - New Car Seat Regulations

2012-01-03T20:30:00.005-05:00

Effective January 1, 2012, changes have been made once again to the Ontario Car Seat Regulations. That doesn't mean you have to go out to buy YET another car seat however any future car seats you purchase would fall under the new regulations as manufacturers had to make a few changes.

The Ontario Law still states:

Rear-facing until 20lbs (with a recommendation of 1 year of age)
Forward-facing in a 5pt harness until 40lbs and 40"
Booster seat until age 8 or 4'9" or 80lbs

The changes are:

a new testing requirement using a three-point seatbelt to secure car seats in vehicles
changes to child seats' dynamic testing to adopt most of the U.S. testing parameters
changing the definition of an infant from 9 kg to 10 kg (from 20 to 22 lbs)
an increase in the maximum allowable weight limit of child seats from 22 kg to 30 kg (48 to 66lbs)
introducing dynamic testing requirements for booster seats
allowing harnesses to be certified for use on school buses by special needs children

I have to say that I'm all for the changes even though my oldest daughter (P) might not agree.

When we had to purchase another forward facing car seat to accomodate our youngest daughter (S), there was no question that P would get one of the new car seats that would 5-pt harness to 65lbs with our older model car seat passing down to S. After researching and studying accident statistics and the safest option for my girls, there was no doubt that 5-pt was the way to go.

We chose our manufacturer based on safety ratings in accidents and found the Graco Nautilus had one of the top safety ratings and had recently made the 65lb 5-pt model available in Canada. P got to pick the colour & pattern and it was our luck that it just happened to be on sale when we were looking.

P's pick! So girly - pink with butterflies!

P is not too happy to be in a 5-pt harness at 5.5 years old and FINALLY 40 lbs (in October)! Daily I hear the complaint about why all her friends at school are in a booster seat and she's still in a 'baby' seat! But to me there is nothing I wouldn't do, including enduring the whining of a 5 year old to keep my girls safe on the road!

YUM... Cookies!!!

2011-12-22T09:36:00.000-05:00

Our cookie exchange has always been a popular event and this was the thrid annual for us. I don't think its really about the cookies though its about moms getting together in the spirit of Christmas.

I like to make this one a little extra special so this year I even had loot bags for moms to take home.

Of course there were lots of cookies to eat and then take home. I enjoyed playing hot potato games to Christmas tunes while wrapped up gifts went flying around the room until the mnusic stopped. There were some funny gifts and some useful gifts but it was all about the fun the moms had.

Of course my favourtie is how festive they can get dressed up. Amber won the prize this year for most festive with a dancing singing santa hat, green stanta shirt and bells on her festive red skirt. Watch out Amber Melissa is already starting on her festive outfit for next year and vows to win the contest.

We had a great time and its always our last Christmas event before Christmas arrives.
Thank-you to everyone that has joined in on these great Christmas events for the month of December. Your participation in these special events is what makes them so special.

I wish you all a safe and Happy Holiday and look forward to seeing everyone and hopefully some new faces to in 2012!

Merry Christmas from my family to yours :)

Just in case you missed it click here for the holiday wishes from www.momstown.ca

Christmas Party Fun

2011-12-19T15:55:00.001-05:00

Happy HO HO!!!

This is my other family and I look forward to celebrating with them every year. Nothing can put a smile on a childs face like our annual Christmas Party with the grand finale when Santa Claus walks through the door.

We did happen to lose quite a few families this year due to busy Christmas schedules and moving our party to a weekend for the first time. Georgina & East Gwillimbury families I will be holding the party the weekend after the Keswick Santa Claus parade for 2012. Mark you calendars and Save the date so we can have even more families join us next year.

A HUGE thank you goes out to the Lake Simcoe Arms for hosting our party in their private party room and even arranging for a special menu of grilled cheese and fries for the kids. Our hostess was great and special mention goes out to Amy for serving our big group and handling all my requests.

Holding this event on a weekend for the first time it was great to see so many dads out as well. Dads at the craft table and cookie decorating with their kids made for huge smiles all around.

After lots of fun and play it was time for that special moment. We all got in front of the fireplace and sang songs as many as we could remember and as loud as possible. Before to long we could hear the sounds of a jolly ol HO HO HO!

The smiles on our childrens faces is somthing I held onto for the rest of the day. Those are not every day smiles and excitement those are the ones that only come at Christmas time.

Like every year I once again prepared reindeer food for the kids to take home its been a huge hit for the last few years and I am happy that I have started some fun traditions in other family homes.

We are having so much Christmas fun and tomorrow night is our annual Cookie exchange and I have some more great prizes and loot bags for our moms. Can't make it to the cookie exchange? Thursday is Christmas movies and popcorn at our weekly playgroup.

Looking for some Christmas recipes.. be sure to check our the momstown meals blog here

Tough Act to Follow

2011-12-17T14:59:00.001-05:00

With Christmas right around the corner and his 3rd Birthday just gone by my son was lucky enough to be chosen to test a great toy, in my daughters words, best boy toy ever!"

Grandma was over playing one afternoon when the doorbell rang and a large box was delivered from Fisher-Price I knew what was inside but he didn't and when I opened the box I think the entire neighbourhood heard his squeels.

I told him to wait for daddy to get home and they could assemble it together. "no mommy play now." How do is say no to a very excited little boy!

I took out all the pieces and layed then on the floor and away I went assembling this great toy with my sons help. Normally the kids and daddy do this while is sit back and watch. But within a very short time I had the toy all ready to go and I was quite surprised how easy it was to assemble.

With his young age I didn't think he would be able to maneuver the remote controlled truck but I was wrong. The colour coding on the remote and the truck with the matching colour codes depending on direction along with the big buttons make it very easy for a young child to work this toy. He loved taking the truck up around and down on the track and elevator.

Later that night after dinner we pulled the toy out again so that daddy and his sister could see. I didn't realize when I had unpacked it but this was a family toy, not just a toy for my son. My husband, daughter and I were having just as much fun as my son. We took turns putting the balls in the bin and driving the truck around. I am not sure who had more fun with the remote my son or my husband!

Every day I see that truck travel down the hallway to the "station" and with big smiles and squeels I also see lots of learning going on to. What a fantastic toy!!!

This is a fantastic toy and I would recommend this with flying colours. We have a toy room full of toys yet every day I hear that car going down the hall way and the sound of laughter and squeals from my son and cheers from my daughter.

This toy I am sure will be around for years to come, and I have a feeling even after Christmas he will be looking for his Big Action Constuction Site with remote control. This toy is a tough act to follow!

If you are still looking to buy for that special little boy for Christmas this would be a great toy, and if he has a sister she will get just as much enjoyment out of it, I know my DD loves this toy.

want a chance to win the Big Action Construction site from www.momstown.ca? click here

Momstown Secret Santa

2011-12-12T10:51:00.011-05:00

Last Wednesday Georgina once again opened her beautiful home to all us momstown mamas for our annual Secret Santa. For the week leading up to the evening there was lots of excited chatter among us about possible gift ideas, food and most of all, a night out with an awesome bunch of ladies!

The excitement was apparent when everyone arrived at Georgina’s 10 to 15 minutes early, arms full of gifts and munchies. Even our very pregnant member Jodie made it out 2 days

before her due date!! Once we all had drinks in hand and plates of food our lovely hostess had all 12 of us pick our Secret Santa numbers. I was lucky enough to get 11 and couldn't help but be excited about the prospect of having free pick of almost everything! The rules were; everyone picks a

number. The mom with #1 got to pick the first gift and unwrap it. The mom with #2 then got to pick a wrapped gift from under the tree or could steal from the previously unwrapped ones and so on. I was sure with this spirited group of ladies we would have some

fights over gifts! While no one came to blows, there were a few favourites that were stolen time and time again! The outcome was lots of laughs, full tummies and all of us going home with beautiful gifts! As I sat looking around at this fabulous group of ladies, all of which I am proud to call friends, it struck me how truly blessed I am to have found them all! momstown has allowed all of us to feel like we really belong to something with people who know and live what we live every day! Isn’t feeling that inner warmth, contentedness and love what Christmas is really all about? Merry Christmas and a happy new year to all of you!

Be sure to join us for our family Christmas party this Sunday December 18th. Santa is even going to join us. Email: info.georgina@momstown.ca for details on how you can join us.

Swarovski Stars for Wishes Workshops in Georgina

2011-12-07T23:21:00.000-05:00

What better way to get into the holiday spirit and help a good cause than creating a beautiful ornament from the Swarovski Stars for Wishes Workshops. These great workshops have been held at the Eaton Center with some guest Celebrities from The Yummy Mummy Club over the last few weeks.

The craft boxes are beautiful and I didn't want to open them. They reminded me of the way my grandma used to wrap each and every Christmas gift with care and a special bow with ribbon so that everyone felt special.

In an effort to bring this event to those that couldn't make it down to the Eaton Centre I posted a local event for Stars for Wishes at my home in Georgina. For those that requested the $20.00 kits I picked them up and held a fun play day here.

We had such a great day creating these beautiful treasures. The room was filled with laughter and smiles and every ornament was beautiful and different in its own way, just like our children. It was nice to know that the proceeds were going to such a great cause and I hope to be holding this event every year!

I explained to my kids that not everyone is as lucky as we are and especially at Christmas we need to give back a little. We chatted a little about the Children's Wish Foundation. We purchased two kits each for our children to give away as Christmas presents.

If you head to the Eaton Centre this weekend there is still one more Saturday, Saturday December 10th from 10am - 12:00pm to be a part of this fabulous event. You will also be lucky enough to join Sharon DeVellis, Yummy Mummy Club Editor-in-Chief

In Search of the Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie & Western Fun

2011-12-06T09:19:00.000-05:00

Like every morning I get up get the kids ready go take my Daughter to get the shcool bus then back home. My son has some quiet play time in the am and I read emails, blogs, message board, tweet etc. I go onto the message board every morning and love reading all the great posts from our moms. Not sure if they know it but they often make me smile with their posts and I look forward to having that coffee with them every morning on the message board.

So on this day I am reading the posts and I come across a post about a mom that has lost her favourite chocolate chip recipe and is asking moms if they can post their favs. I thought it might be fun to add this onto one of our weekly playgroups. I posted on the message board for those that are interested bring a batch of your cookies to playgroup and we'll have an ultimate cookie challenge.

We rolled our "in search of the Ultimate Cookie" day with our Western play day. The western theme was so much fun I brought stick horses for all the kids to ride around on and they has so much fun as they galloped around the gym.

The story of the month sponsored from Scholastic Canada was Are You A Horse by Andy Rash. What a great book. The winner of both the ultimate cookie challenge and the sponsored book of the month was Amanda V.. congrats!!

As you may or may not know I used to ride horses, my horses name was Elvis. The beginning years for my kids were many hours spent with Elvis. We lived on a small hobby farm until last year and Elvis was there with us. We would have breakfast in the morning and look out and see Elvis eating his hay with his buddy. I miss Elvis dearly although he is happy at a family farm it still brings a tear to my eyes once in awhile. Having a horse playgroup was excitement in my house!

My daughter wanted to skip school so she could come to the "horse playgroup." Of course I told her no but told her I would save some crafts for her to do. The night before while I was hosting a moms night out, a passion party, which by the way we re-booked for Feb. 1st we has so much fun and laughs!!! My wonderful husband was pouring the cement mix into the horse moulds to be painted the next day.

For our craft we made paper horses with clothes peg legs, pained mouled horses to make fridge magnets and we even had some colouring sheets.

Be sure to sign up for next months book club that is hosted once a month at one of our weekly playgroups.
a momstown book review here

"Henry and Mudge" at the RHCPA

2011-11-28T08:46:00.021-05:00

I was so excited to find out that we had won the November Momstown prize of tickets to see “Henry and Mudge” at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts! The boys have never been to a live production, so I couldn't wait to tell them where we were off to on our “date day”!

“We’re going to a play boys!!”

“A play?? Like a park??”

“No a play, on a stage, where people act out a story.”

“Like a movie theatre?”

“Kind of, except the people are real, not on a screen.”

“What do they do?”

“They sing and dance and tell a story!”

“Ooooooh...cool (insert excited chatter here)!!”

Still not convinced they knew what the heck I was talking about, we headed down to Richmond Hill to the boys’ very first live play!

We entered the RHCPA and were met by a lovely, smiling man named Michael.

He immediately knew exactly who we were and went grab our tickets. Imagine our excitement when he told us we were front row!! The boys were almost jumping out of their skin by this point and couldn't wait to get into our seats. We walked into the theatre and were immediately greeted by a HUGE screen displaying the momstown logo! The twins yelled in unison, “MOMSTOWN!!!” We headed down to our seats and took a minute to check out the stage and

orchestra below. Then, along with some Momstown Newmarket members, sat patiently waiting for the play to begin. The lights went down and the music started and the look of immediate awe on the boys’ faces was absolutely

priceless! I have never seen my boys sit so still! Even Liam barely made a peep through the whole thing! They danced and giggled and when it was over they couldn't wait to tell me their favourite parts! This will truly be an experience that my boys will never forget! Thank you momstown and thank you RHCPA!!

momtown mamas get together with Force!

2011-11-27T14:43:00.000-05:00

momstown team with Kids CBC Creative Team

As your momstown Georgina mama most of you know me quite well, I am at playgroup every Thursday and I often host evening events, I plan the monthly calandar, try to get great monthly contests, and local sponsors are just a few of the things I do to keep momstown fun and interesting. Have you ever wondered about the other chapters? As one, I do what I can to plan and get great local opportunities, events and sponsorships for our group. As 23, counting the corporate office team and all 16 chapters we are a FORCE, the mosmtown force.

I think I have the best job in the world. I get to hang out with my kids, all of you and I have the most amazing co-workers (chapter owners) that are all part of my daily life one way or another. I can do my Christmas shopping through the day with my momstown friends, enjoy a coffee with you, if I have a bad day or a good day I can share with you in person or on the message board, I love my job! But as much as I have the best job in the world it can get lonely and even frustrating at times and that's when I call in the momstown force!! We meet in person twice a year but we chat weekly on our corporate message board and email. We keep each other motivated and focused. It is this force that makes momstown different. Alone we are only one, but together we are a great team.

Recently we had our momstown conference and although there was a lot of work going on, there was room for some fun too. We always have a lot of fun when we get together, and for the first time we had everyone across Canada joining us. It was awesome!! Brainstorming and learning with special guest speakers were all on the agenda. This is how we stay fresh and we bring back so much more for you, our members. momstown continues to gain momentum, with all the force behind it, how could it not?

Having all of together for a few days is like a big family reunion, hugs, tears and long hellos and good-byes are always part of the conference. We don't only own momstown chapters but we are friends, we are each others motivation and cheering section. He help our family members when they are down and we cheer for each other when we've had a great day.

Karrie from momstown Barrie

Another conference has come and gone and I miss my momstown mamas but I still find them online when I need them. With each conference our momstown family seems to grow closer together and that just helps us to bring all moms closer together through our chapters. I hope you will take a minute to take a look at some of the other momstown chapters cause just because you belong to momstown Georgina & East Gwillimbury doesn't mean you can't find frindships from momstown Hamilton, momstown Burlington or more. We have a common goal, we want to be great moms and we want to have some fun doing it, meet friends and find the suppport we need to be the best we can be.

Wine Tasting w/ Chateau des Charmes

momstown Newmarket / Aurora mama

Want to be a part of a great team? Check out liscensing opportunities here:

Sign up for your free membership trial today and join us in the neighbourhood

me with my new "buddy" momstown Milton

Keswick Santa Claus Parade

2011-11-22T22:41:00.001-05:00

For me the kick off to the holiday season is the Keswick Santa Claus Parade. As I decorate the float and prepare all the the candy canes and cards to give out I can't help but feel the Christmas spirit creeping into my home. The many boxes of decorations are brought in from the garage and the Christmas music is played as I prepare for another year. This year marked our third year at the parade and although some illness kept a few of the group away we still had a great turn out.

So first things first we always need a theme and a theme that preschool children can help to prepare the float or its just not the same. We decided on Gingerbread men, so we dressed up our kids as mini chefs and gingerbread boys and girls.

At playgroup we made gingerbread men out of cardboard to decorate the float, and gingerbread costumes out of packing paper. We did body tracings, cut them out and the day of the parade taped then to their coats. All around the outside of the float we decorated with the gingerbread men they made, great pieces of artwork!

The night before the parade with the help of a few good friends and my wonderful husband we pulled it all together. My husband crafted an oven out of a shelf and cardboard, double sided of course. The oven door even opened and you could put cookie sheets inside. I think my favourite about his oven was the time on the clock, for those that didn't notice it read: 12:25

The morning of the parade we were ready to go so my husband fired up his 1952 year old jeep and away we went to pick up the participants.

Its exciting as we all meet up and its time to get ready, set go and the fun begins. The kids are in place with smiles and waves, the moms and me are filling our baskets with goodies to hand out to all the people we can connect with along the way, I even handed out some t-shirts this year for some added fun.

As we were handing out goodies we could hear the kids on the float yelling as loud as they can, "run, run as fast as you can you can't catch me I am the gingerbread man!!" As I heard this througout the day it made me smile. I do this for the kids and to see them having so much fun just makes all the effort leading up to the day so worth it. My daughter who is now in school joined some of her momstown friends for some Christmas fun and fun they were having!!

Since I was busy I decided to put my son in the jeep where my husband could watch him, next thing is the horn going non stop then i see its my son, he's driving the jeep, my three year old son is steering and having a ball.

I look forward to continue the Christmas celebrations, here are just a few local festive events coming up soon

Tuesday November 29 - Holiday Magic at the Keswick Library 6:30pm
Saturday November 26 - 1pm -3pm -Peter Gzowski Branch
Saturday November 26 - Santa comes to Keswick Dental
Saturday December 3rd - Sutton Santa Claus Parade
Sunday December 4th - Breakfast with Santa at the Sutton Legion
Wednesday December 7th - momstown secret santa
Monday December 12 - monmstown Christmas Centre Piece making at Enchanted Moments
Sunday December 18th - momstown Christmas party lunch and Santa visit
Tuesday December 20 - monmstown cookie exchange

Feel lucky? click here and enter our monstown.ca contests we have lots to give away you won't want to miss out

Check out our arts & craft blog for some pre Christmas fun here

Fisher Price Doodle Bear

2011-11-17T19:18:00.002-05:00

Meet Fluffy
Fluffy arrived at our house 3 years ago and if Fluffy goes missing nobody sleeps. Fluffy is my DD special night time buddy. He's been through the wash and the stuffing is not as full as it used to be but he's her special "Fluffy".

Meet Violet
Violet arrived after our first visit to Great Wolf Lodge when she was included in the newcomers package, she has joined Fluffy as a member of the bedtime buddies. These are very special toys to my DD and out of the many, many suffies she has these are the only two special ones that are her bedtime buddies... why do I share this?

Meet Snowflake, otherwise known as Doodle Bear. When Doodle Bear arrived at our home I didn't think she (as my DD keeps reminding me its a her not a him) would be on the top of the list for bedtime buddies, but she is. My daugher jumped up and down when she arrived and this is no exageration and was actually a bit of a surprise. So I thought well maybe she's excited to have a new toy.

I unwrapped Doodle Bear from her packaging and gave her to my very excited DD. As soon as she picked her up she hugged and cuddled her with a huge smile on her face. Doodle Bear is very soft and cuddly and if you hold onto her you can't help but give her a little squeeze and a cuddle. We took her into the dining room where I showed the markers and explained that she could draw on her and then we would put her in the wash so she could colour all over again.

She immediately went to work but wanted to be sure that I would wash her at dinner so that she would be ready for bedtime that Fluffy needed a new friend and "Snowflake" was the new friend for bedtime. She enjoyed colouring with the fancy markers that make shapes and the variety of colours.

I am happy to report a few weeks later Snowflake still resides with Fluffy and Violet snuggled up next to my DD every night. She still comes upstairs for some fun colour time but I often find them snuggled on the sofa watching TV afterwards. Snowflake, Snuggle Bear has become one of my daughters close buddies, Thank-you Fisher-Price for allowing us to be part of the panel testers and connecting my DD with a new bedtime buddy :)

Just another reason why I am a #FisherPricemom, always have been always will be. Maybe partly because my mom was a Fisher-Price mom and the words "Oh you can't beat those Fisher-Price toys" often rings in mny ears and brings a smile to my face as I think about my mom in that same Fisher-Price Isle picking out toys for me and my siblings when we were wee ones.

Be sure to sign up here for your chance to win your own Doodle Bear for that special little one
more about Fisher-Price and what moms are saying here, are you a #fisherpricemom ?

Here are some ideas for Preschoolers this holiday

Stand Up to Bullying

2011-11-14T17:00:00.004-05:00

The week of November 13-19, 2011 marks Bullying Awareness Week and with recent events and twitter talk about bullying prevention, this is a very important issue that needs to be brought to the forefront.

Many of us may have experienced bullying as kids or have school aged children that have already experienced the mean hand of bullying at such a young age - whether its the 'simple' act of name calling or more aggressive with a physical assualt, we as a community need to STAND UP to Bullying!!

So what can we do?

STAND UP!!!

For starters...don't take the approach that bullying is normal! Bullying is NOT normal or socially acceptable! What may have been the approach of the past with the terms 'Buck Up' or 'Don't be such a sissy!', by accepting the behaviour of the bully we are giving them power. STAND UP!!!

Bullying can happen anywhere! At school, on the street at shopping centers, summer camp, in the adult workplace and online. Bullies aren't born that way - it's a learned behaviour and can be changed so STAND UP!!!

If you're being bullied, don't let your feelings show. Letting the bully know they've upset you will only make things worse. Talk to someone who can help. STAND UP!!!

Don't be a bystander! If you see someone being bullied by someone don't just sit there...STAND UP!!!

It takes courage to speak out against bullying but if we all try we can put an end to bullying! Tell kids that bully to back off! Bullying is NOT cool! STAND UP!!!

If you walk away and get help you are part of the solution...if you stand there and do nothing you are part of the problem! STAND UP!!!

Learn more about bullying and how you can STAND UP!!! at bullying.org or take the pledge against bullying at family.ca

momstown mamas get together

2011-11-10T15:11:00.001-05:00

Twice a year founder of momstown Ann-Marie Burton and the corporate team arrange for all of us chapter owners to get together for a great weekend of fun and learning at our momstown conference. Its overwhelming , exhilarating and fun and I wouldn't miss it for anything. Oh and did I mention Ann-Marie loves to surprise us so we never really know what's going on until we get there. I have been going to conference since the first one and I look forward to them. Funny thing for me is they fall end of May and mid November, so the May one is my DD Birthday and the November is my DS Birthday. For a mom this is no easy task; I mean its worth it but its not easy going away for a few days, heck I haven't been away with my husband since my honeymoon almost six years ago. As for a night out on the town well we went out once for our first anniversary and maybe one day again I'll be having dinner at a restaurant with my husband without little voices saying, "mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy." Funny thing is those little voices happy or not so happy are music to my ears.

Our conference is a lot to take in over 3 days and a lot to prepare for to get there. Unlike my husband if he has to go away he kisses me and the kids and off he goes knowing I will take care of all he's left behind. He is my life partner, my best frriend and he supports my business to, its just a little harder for mom to walk away. The list of tasks to get done seems endless and there are days you say to yourself , "is it worth it for three days?" I always answer yes! I know when I get home the kids will be over tired from missing bedtime and maybe they didn't eat all their fruit and vegetables but i know they are safe, happy and loved in my absense so what more could i ask for... oh my mom, otherwise known as Grandma B. She is coming to help out just in case daddy needs a break. It just so happens I also have a Christmas show at St. Thomas Aquinas School this weekend so mom/grandma is going to cover me off there so I have one less worry!

I will be traveling with my momstown North partners Karrie owner momstown Barrie, and Christine owner momstown Newmarket / Aurora. I'll call us momstown North so you know who we are. When possible Natasha owner of momstown Markham also joins us. These are some pretty awesome ladies that i wouldn't know if it wasn't for momstown. We have been helping each other all week get ready for this trip from the stress of getting the dreaded paperwork done (and much needed i might ad) with screaming kids in the background, practices and mealtime we made it through. We have a great support system between us that we all depend on. See you thought it was just me behind momstown Georgina and East Gwillimbury, now you know its a team. From my close partners here around the corner to the far away ones that are there to respond to any email requests,share in proud moments or help me solve a problem I may be having. It kind of sounds like family doesn't it? Well it is, its my momstown family. Owning a business is hard work no matter what the business is and its comforting to know I am never alone with momstown.

Who are we? We are fun, loving, professional, caring and hard working, each and every one of us, and we are moms just like you. We work hard so that you can enjoy motherhood and all it has to offer. You are never alone when you are part of momstown and not only will you make friends and have fun with your kids and without your kids you will make life long friendships that you would have never have found if you didn't hit the send button on your registration. How do I know this? I to was a momstown member once, and I loved it so much I bought the first chapter in Georgina / East Gwillimbury.

Just two more sleeps and we'll be off and running to our November conference, the exciting part for you each year, each conference we get a little bit bigger and a little bit better!!! Stay tuned.....