Park Play Dates

I don’t know about you but my kids are too active to be cooped up in the house all the time!

Please join my family and I at these park play dates this summer.

Monday, July 16th, 2012 9:30 am at Frontier Park (The Pirate Ship Park)
Friday, August 3rd, 2012 9:30 am at Blackbob Park
Tuesday August 21st, 2012 9:30 am at Quivira Park (This will also be our MOPS kick-off picnic)

I hope to see you there!

Sarah L.

MOPS Playdate: Critter Hunt

Thanks to retired MOPS Mom, L.W., for leading us on a nature hike as our Playdate.

We had a total of 12 moms, and twice as many kids.  It was a beautiful day to find some critters. 

Here are some photos:

L.W. finding critters in the creek for us

L.W. showing the kids what kinds of things we can find growing on the rocks.

 A Tadpole

 These two little guys will grow up to become a dragon fly.

A secada.  L.W. also showed the kids a ringneck snake!

We hope to see you at the next play date!

Review of The Salty Iguana

The coordinators have decided to start a new blog series.  We will be reviewing products, restaurants, books, movies, or anything else that strikes our fancy.  

This time we will be reviewing the restaurant The Salty Iguana.  They have locations in Overland Park, Olathe, Independence, Prairie Village, and Lawrence.  We visited the location in Olathe on Ridgeview Rd. For more information and to view the menu check out their website  here


Sarah’s Humble Opinion

Service:  Our waitress was polite, attentive, and personal.  The manager also checked on our table which is always a nice touch. I noticed after looking at their website that Monday's special was hard shell tacos for $1.50 and house margaritas for $4. The waitress did not inform us of the daily special which would have been nice as I could have saved some dough.

Atmosphere:  It was a welcoming environment, parking was easy, and the decor was cute.

Cleanliness:  The tables and restaurant seemed clean but my visit to the bathroom was a little gross.

Food:  They brought us salsa and chips which were quite tasty.  We also had a coupon for a free Iguana Dip, which is a cheesy spinach dip.  I thought the dip was yummy and would order it again.  For my meal I ordered the Avocado Burrito.  My first impression was that it looked great but when I tasted it I found that it was a bit spicy but bland at the same time.  I felt my food was just okay.  It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t great.  I wanted to like it a lot but I just didn’t.

Drink:  My margarita was delicious and I enjoyed it immensely.  It was definitely the highlight of my meal!

Price:  My meal and margarita were around $15 which is about average I suppose but since I didn’t love my meal, I felt it was a bit overpriced.

Overall:  I felt the food was mediocre.  I would probably not visit again given the other options for Mexican food in the Olathe area.

Jenni's Humble Opinion

Service: Our server was very kind and attentive.  She appeared as though she enjoyed her job.  I'm not sure how many tables she had around us as I didn't see her go to many.  As soon as we sat down at the table she came to us and assumed we were getting margaritas.  We were, but, still that was a little strange.  Chips and Salsa appeared on our table the moment we sat down.

Atmosphere:  Typical 'Mexican Restaurant' flair.  Seemed a little cramped though, could use more space or less tables.  The bar area had some tv's on the walls. 

Cleanliness:  Ya'll know I'm such a 'germ-a-phob' so this is a BIG area for me.  I was really impressed with how clean it appeared and dirty tables didn't sit long as the bus boy man was on top of his game.  I did not see the bathroom, so I cannot comment on that.  (Jose Peppers still gets the GRAND vote for cleanliness as they still offer "Germ Juice" at the tables when you sit down!)

Food: The chips and salsa were very good.  Chips were warm and crispy; not stale.  Salsa was mild, and for you non-loving cilantro folks I couldn't taste any (which I LOVE so was a tad dissappointed).  We had a coupon for free espinaca and that was really good.  I had the cream cheese enchiladas which stated they had a jalapeno cream cheese sauce on top, but it mostly tasted like a cream cheese sauce with no kick.  I would have to say the food is just 'ok'. The rice was dry and so was the chicken filling in the enchiladas. 

Drink: I had a frozen house margarita which was 'ok'.  I didn't drink all of it as it tasted a bit soapy but figured it was a different mix they use?  And when at the 1/2 way mark I looked in the margarita and there were shiny reflective bubbles.  What margarita ever had bubbles so I figured it WAS soapy.  :( 

Price: I don't think I'd pay $10 to eat the same dish again. And with the food just being mediocre I would just get the chips and salsa (and espinaca) with a beer. 

Overall: The Salty Iguana is not somewhere I would go for eats.  But would be a possiblity to go for beers with friends, or even to watch a game on a tv in the bar area.  As for dinner I'll stick with my tried and true Mexican fiesta at Jose Peppers.

If you have an idea for a review please email us at indiancreekmops@gmail.com.  We would love your input!

MY FAVORITE THING CONTEST!!!

What is your favorite thing?

This summer you can win a prize just by telling us your favorite thing!

Email the name of (or picture of) your favorite thing to indiancreekmops@gmail.com

And you will be entered in a random drawing for a prize!

Entries will be accepted June 23rd through July 1st 2012.

Not sure what to pick?  Be creative, it can be anything!  There is no limit to the cost of the item. Here are some ideas:

Favorite type of candy, a book, a car, a person, a TV show or movie, a lotion, a baby item, a recipe, a quote, a candle, a place, a cleaning product, a restaurant, a snack food or dessert, a place you shop, or pretty much anything else you can think of.

Here are the rules:
1. You must email the item or items to the Indian Creek MOPS email address indiancreekmops@gmail.com
((Please do not leave your entry on the Facebook page, these will not count. Thank you.))
2. You can list more than one item, but you will only be entered once.
3. The winner will be picked by random drawing and the will be contacted via email. 
4. You must live in Kansas or surrounding states to win.
5. All the favorite things will be listed on the blog at the end of the contest but full names and contact info will not be used.
6. Entries must be received by July 1st.


Good luck!  We can't wait to see all of your favorite things!

Two Mom's Humble Opinions

The coordinators have decided to start a new blog series.  We will be reviewing products, restaurants, books, movies, or anything else that strikes our fancy.  

This time we will be reviewing the new Pixar movie Brave.

Sarah’s Review

Who doesn’t love Pixar movies?  Cars, Monsters Inc, Wall-e, The Incredibles, and my all time favorites the Toy Story trilogy.  Pixar’s movies have always been a hit in our house before and after having kids.

I had the pleasure of going to a sneak preview for the movie Brave on Tuesday night.  I attended the movie with the other MOPS coordinator and our 5 year old daughters.

The first thing I will tell you is the movie is great!  It is full of action and although it is about a princess, it is great for girls or boys.  It was funny, exciting, and action packed.

That being said, I do have some somewhat negative comments.  Since I am reviewing the movie for a moms of preschoolers blog (and since I attended with my pre-kindergarten daughter) I have to tell you that I felt the movie was far too mature for her age group.  

Without giving anything away, there are characters that are downright scary, it was a bit violent and dark, the princess was a bit disrespectful to her mother, and there are two occasions where it shows bare bottoms.  This movie was more appropriate for an 8 year old and possibly a brave 7 year old.  My daughter ended up sleeping with my husband and I after seeing the movie.  In fact, during the movie she leaned over and whispered “I am going to have to sleep with you tonight because I am going to have nightmares.”.  Sigh!

On a positive note, this is a very enjoyable movie for a more mature child or an adult.  The adult humor is not super obvious, the characters are likeable, and it is an original story.  I would be willing to watch it again even.

I do recommend this movie but you may need a brave child to attend with, especially if you see it in 3D like we did!

Although we got free tickets and you all know I love free stuff, this is an unbiased review.

Jenni's Review

Disney-Pixar's new release, 'BRAVE', has the typical characters one would expect in a beloved film. ((Although I think they need to recycle their voices. The main character at the beginning of the film sounds a lot like the main character in Tangled, as well as the mothers in both films who sound alike.))

The animations are fantastic and surreal. The way Merida's orange curly locks flow, and other amazing details throughout the movie, especially in 3D, are outstanding. The creators have done an extraordinary job with graphics.

The story line is heartwarming and relatable, sans the magical part. There are certain parts of the movie when only adults would get the humor, but, most Disney-Pixar movies have that quality. The way Merida interacts with her mother at the end pulls at your heart strings and makes you want to call your own mother. (On the tear meter I would give it a 1 tissue rating.)

This Disney-Pixar movie has wonderful new elements not found in other films. Such as, kilts, bagpipes, and Scottish accents.

However, despite all the wonderful points in the movie, I would NOT recommend children under the age of 8 see it. With it's PG rating, young children may find it very scary (spoiler -there is a bear, a witch and 'spells'). My daughter was very scared and slept with me the night we saw it. There is also one scene where the men are without their kilts and you do see bare behinds (and later again with bare behinds, this time on children).

Why can't children's animation movie makers make a film that is made for children that doesn't involve spells, frightening scenes, raunchy humor or nakedness?

'BRAVE' has a wonderful story line, but it's just for older children and adults to see.

If you have an idea for a review please email us at indiancreekmopsgmail.com.  We would love your input!

Featured Article: Summer Isolation

June newsletter article


Summer Isolation
By Sarah L.

Summer!  It’s finally here!  No school, less errands, and not so much running around.  I know I look forward to that!

Usually about two weeks into summer we have had some down time, the heat has settled in, and my kids start to bicker.  In past summers I have noticed how easy it is to settle into a form of isolation  Sure you see some other moms in passing at Vacation Bible School or sports camps but without the school and MOPS routine it is easy to get used to being alone or lonely.

I encourage you to make a little effort and maybe move out of your comfort zone  This summer.  Schedule play dates with friends, go to the pool and be social, play in the front yard so you bump into neighbors, stay on Facebook so you don’t miss those MOPS play dates and mom’s nights out.  Try connecting with some other moms this summer instead of spending it being lonely.

That’s what next year’s theme is all about.  Plunge: Love as if your life depended on it.  Making a little effort can lead to a lasting relationship so no mom has to be alone!

Upcoming Events

Summer is in full swing!  Don't miss out on these fun activities for you and the kids this summer.

All MOPS and former MOPS are welcome.  Bring a friend if you would like.

June


Play Date
Critter Hunt 
Friday, June 22nd at 9:00 a.m.
Hunt will be led by former MOPS mom, L.W. who is a biologist.
Location to be determined.


Dinner Club
Sunday, June 24th at 6:00 p.m. at Unforked
119th and Blue Valley Parkway
Hosted by H.H.


Running Club
June 30th at 7:00 a.m. 
Heatherstone Elementary
13745 W 123rd St
Olathe, KS 66062
Hosted by S.K. and N.F.
We'll connect to the train and run for about an hour.  
Then if you have time, head to Panera on 119th and Blackbob for breakfast (carbs) and coffee.
Once the group is established we can plan future dates and times.
All levels of running and walking are welcome.


Game Night
Thursday, June 21st from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Meet in the cafe at Indian Creek 
Bring a game and a snack to share


Pool Club
Meets at 12:30 p.m. so look for your fellow MOPS on these dates:
June 18th - Frontier Pool
June 27th - Black Bob Bay


July


Play Date
Summer Movie - Clifford's Really Big Movie
Monday, July 23rd 10:0 a.m. 
Great Mall 16


Mom's Night Out
Pinterest Night
Tuesday, July 10th at 7:30 p.m.
Have you wanted to try some of those things you have been pinning on Pinterest but can't find the time?
Bring your supplies to create something you've pinned.  
You can even bring a recipe you have been wanting to try!


Dinner Club
Sunday, July 15th 6:00p.m.
Hosted by H.H.
Location to be announced at a later time.


Game Night
Thursday, July 19th 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Meet in the cafe at Indian Creek 

Bring a game and a snack to share

Pool Club

Meets at 12:30 p.m. so look for your fellow MOPS on these dates:

July 6th - Frontier Pool

July 10th - Black Bob Bay

July 20th - Frontier Pool

July 24th - Black Bob Bay

August


Play Date
Tuesday August 7th 2:00 p.m.
Burger King on 119th and Strang Line 
Meet for ice cream and a way to burn off that sugar rush!


MOPS Kick-Off Picnic
Tuesday, August 21st at 9:30 a.m.
Bring the kids and get acquainted with new MOPS friends at Quivira Park at 119th and Quivira Rd.
This park features restrooms, shelter, playground area, and sand volleyball court (bring sand toys for the kids to play and dress them in play clothes). 

Game Night

Thursday, August 16th 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Meet in the cafe at Indian Creek 

Bring a game and a snack to share

Pool Club

Meets at 12:30 p.m. so look for your fellow MOPS on these dates:

August 2nd - Frontier Pool

August 9th - Black Bob Bay

September 

MOPS Meetings

Tuesday, September 4th 9:00-11:15 a.m. - First meeting (CORRECTION FROM NEWSLETTER)

Tuesday, September 18th 9:00-11:15 a.m.

Game Night

Thursday, September 20th 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Meet in the cafe at Indian Creek 

Bring a game and a snack to share

Hope to see you at these events!

Deanna Rose

The May MOPS play date was at Deanna Rose.

It was a beautiful day to be outside.

And the kids and moms had a great time.

Watch your mailbox for the summer newsletter coming soon which will have information on upcoming play dates and mom's nights out.  We hope to see you soon!

Trust and Germs

This article was originally featured in the March 2011 MOPS of Indian Creek newsletter.





TRUST AND GERMS by Jenni B.

"This is a story of following God’s lead, loving a neighbor, and trusting God with everything.

I’ve been a self proclaimed “germ-a-phobe” for as long as I’ve been a mom; almost 10 years now.  I’ve managed to keep a nice germ-free bubble around my little family.  We (knock on wood) have gone thru the past two winter seasons without any sickness.  Some might say I’m a little extreme, but the thought of those little icky bugs invading my family or my home just gives me the heebie-jeebies!

My germ-phobia was challenged recently when I received a call from my neighbor/friend last Friday.

Her youngest (and 3rd) son had just been diagnosed with RSV and they were on their way to the hospital.  She asked me to pick up her oldest son from school when I went to pick up my own sons from the same school. 

I replied, ‘no problem,’ and also offered to watch her #2 son, who is 3 years old.  She replied that she was taking him to the hospital with her.

School was out a few hours later, and I picked up the boys.  I decided to get a couple pizzas for dinner (my hubby was working that evening so in case it was a late night I did not want to worry about fixing dinner).  While standing in line at Little Caesars, I felt God prompt me to pick up another pizza for my friend. 

We weren't back at my “germ free zone home,” more than 30 minutes before my friend’s husband arrived with #2 son.  He had come home to pick up some clothes for my friend’s overnight hospital stay.  He said they were famished so he was trying to hurry back to the hospital.  “THANK YOU LORD!”, I thought, as I handed him the pizza. 

I offered again to watch #2 son while he went back to the hospital.  Without hesitation he accepted my offer. I was so very happy to help.

Then it hit me.  Hospital germs.  In my house.  From a 3 year old who, like other 3 year olds, likely got into everything at the hospital.  And now, before  I could bend down to take off his shoes, he  took off like lightening thru the house to my boys’ room to play. 

“Trust Me” , is all I could hear God whisper. 

During those hours I had the boys, after the kids shared drinks, popcorn, pizza, Wii remotes, beds,  pillows, and held hands, I realized that my friend’s boys had a cold.  This is likely what the youngest boy had caught, as they had a terrible, croupy sounding cough.    

“Trust Me!” 

Several hours later, my friend’s husband came home to pick up the boys.  Fortunately, their youngest son’s illness wasn’t too bad and was able to come home the following day.

During this time watching my friends’ kids, I learned that regardless of what fears, or weakness I have, it’s only there by my own choice. 

God’s Word says in 2 Timothy 1:7 (Amplified Version), “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.”

God does not give us a ’spirit of cringing and fawning fear’.  That night He gave me strength to not fear the little ‘icky hospital germs’ and just enjoy watching the kids play together. 

The next morning, God was with me when I Lysol-ed the house."