Friday, November 11, 2022

Falling Into a New Season of MOPS!

Hello Fall of 2022! It's a new season of MOPS! We are excited to get the group back together for a fresh series of meetings, playdates, mom meet-ups, and family nights. We are also super excited to welcome so many newcomers into our beloved mom group.

This new semester started off with a leadership meeting at Anne's house. The leadership team includes Kate Wakefield Spilsbury (Coordinator), Lucy Bravo (Mentor Mom), Khristi Vee (Membership Coordinator), Amber Kearney (Nursey Coordinator), Anne Spencer (Prayer Coordinator), Lynn Marie Marquez (Play Date Coordinator), Brittany Herbst (Moms Nights Coordinator), and Ashley Saoud (Technology Coordinator). 



Our MOPS theme this year is "We Go Together," which couldn't be more fitting as we all reemerge and reconnect coming out of COVID lockdown. If togetherness with other Moms is what you crave, togetherness is what MOPS is all about!

Prior to our first meeting of the semester, we held an open house to give new moms the opportunity to come meet members in the group and learn more about MOPS. It was a successful event that allowed us to meet a handful of new moms and support them in joining the squad. 




Our kickoff meeting, led by Kate, and gave us the chance to reconnect with each other after the summer break, and to get to know some of the new members better. We played some fun ice breaker games and got to socialize over coffee and breakfast.


The next meeting gave us a chance to roll-up our sleeves in the kitchen and prep some freezer meals for those "I can't even" days. Anne led the charge and set-up 5 recipes for the group to follow. Khristi took the lead on prepping freezer meals for special delivery to Ginny, with love.




September was also marked by a slew of fun playdates, family nights and moms nights. Events this month included a family night at the Cummer, a playdate at Lynn's house (it's a kid's paradise, recommend going to the next one!), playdates at Trinity while we beat the heat, story time at the Murray Hill Library (I hear this once had a cult following, SO much fun!), Clarke House playground, and a mommy and me meet-up for the Kid Cow & Me at Chic-Fil-A. 






As we moved into October, the first meeting of the month was centered on honoring the moms who have lost a baby during infancy or pregnancy, led by Lynn. The group shared some of their personal journey's, and then painted rocks for Owensrocksjax. 





The following meeting was a Halloween brunch, led by none other than Amber. Amber brought all the fun Halloween themed brunch décor and supplied the group with home-made waffles made in a Halloween waffle iron! The group had fun playing games and talking about plans for the upcoming holiday. (Oct 20)






October was also peppered with a host of fun events. Encanto movie on the Jumbo Shrimp field, playdate at the Zoo, Chronicles of Narnia, Fall Festival Movie Night at Ortega Methodist, Mom's night out at The Garage, more story time at the Murray Hill Library! 





Overall, it was a fantastic start to this new season of MOPS with a fabulous group of women. Can't wait to see what the holiday season brings to our group next!