Mom of the Month - Jennifer Romualdi - July 2012

Name: Jennifer Romualdi

Age: 34
Born In: Brockville, Ontario

Children’s name and age: Adriana 28 months and Tristan 9 months


Childhood Ambition: To be an artist or Olympic gymnast

Fondest Memory:  I always loved Christmas Eve, my sisters and I would all snuggle in my parents bed while my mom read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.  I've started the same tradition with my kids!

Wildest Dream:  I'd love to go ziplining in Hawaii!

Proudest Moment: Holding each baby skin to skin immediately after having natural births - the happiness, amazement, and relief I felt is a moment I will never forget! It's bringing a tear to my eye as I type...

Biggest Challenge: Raising a 2 year old ; )

Perfect Day: Would start off with breakfast in bed followed by playing outside with the kids and daddy, heading out for a run and then being pampered at a spa with a nice glass of white wine, ending with a yummy dinner and a sleep filled night! (and coming home to a sparkling house and sleeping children - is that to much to ask??)

First Job:  Babysitting the neighbourhood kids

Indulgence:  Chocolate and Ice Cream

Last Big Purchase: hmmm - our house?!

Favorite Movie or Favourite Sport?  I love to play field hockey

How long have you been a member of momstown Milton? 6 months

Describe your experience as a momstown member? I've loved every minute of being a momstown member!  There are multiple events each day so there is something for everyone.  I've met so many wonderful moms and babes, it gets me out of the house and keeps me sane!  The message board is such a great resource and the perfect place to let off some steam!

Splattering Fun with the Red Cross Society

Our momstown Milton, Burlington and Oakville chapters had a splattering good time at our Picasso's program. This month we had a special visit from the Red Cross Society to talk about Water Safety so we decided to be on theme with our craft by creating paint puddles for the little ones to splash around in. Bright blue paint with sparkles to simulate  shimmering water was mixed with water and then poured in to containers.

 The little ones could chose to dip their feet into trays and pitter patter their way across the rows of craft paper that was laid out or sit at the tables lined with paint in cookie sheets to smack at and smear for tactile stimulation. They especially enjoyed reaching into the puddles trying to catch & gather the gold glitter that was floating around.

The moms were very thankful to have the Huggies Simply Clean Wipes on hand to scrub off the paint and sparkles. They were very impressed with the thickness and durability and how few they had to use to get the job done.

While the kids settled down for snack time, the moms listened to a brief info session about water safety. It covered topics such being alert and aware of the dangers present, how to minimize backyard drownings and addressed the effectiveness of various floatation devices.

 After the discussion, we pulled out the parachute and had circle time. Its always fun to see the expressions on the kids faces especially when they are running under it.

Overall it was a fantastic event! I look forward to our next Picasso's in the Park where we will be doing "paint ball" and marble drawings. If you would like to join in on the fun at our next Art & Play program please register for your 6 week FREE trial membership on our momstown Milton website.

Come help us celebrate momstown's 5th Birthday!

We are having a party and EVERYONE is invited!

If you thought last years birthday celebration was a Blast......

you're going to be BLOWN AWAY by the party we've got planned for our 5th year celebration!

When: Saturday August 18th

Where: Victoria Park

Address: 100 Mary Street ( right beside City Hall and behind the Post Office)  

Time: 10:00am - 1:00pm 

National sponsors such as Today's Parent, Kids CBC, Fisher-Price, Britax, Melitta, ConAgra, Scholastic and the Red Cross will all be helping make this our BIGGEST BASH yet!

That's just the start! We have tons of local businesses sponsoring our event including: Milton Eye Care, Snails n Pails, Tiny Hearts 3D Ultrasound Studio, Sharkeys Milton, Pick of the Crop and the list continues to grow.

The icing on the cake..........PATTY SULLIVAN FROM KIDS CBC will be hanging out in our Literacy station - Reading nook sponsored by Milton Optometry and interacting with all of our guests - WOW!

There will be lots for everyone to do.

Demos: ( 20 min presentation throughout the event)

10:20am    My Smart Hands - sing and signing

10:40am   Harmony Is - Kindermusik - leading our circle time

11:00am   Heart and Soul Salsa Babies ( please bring your baby carrier along to participate)

11:20am   Guayita Zumba - leading family zumba

1I:40am    Infant Diaper Derby by CozyKidz

Activity Sponsors: ( ongoing through the entire event)

  

ConAgra Snack station- led by So Charming - Tea Party with some very special princess guests

Popcorn Station - Sponsored by Michelle Hawco - Remax Agent

 

Drinking Water station - led by Bullseye Child Safety

Fitness and Adventure Station - led by Monkeynastix - fitness area for tots

Fitness and Adventure- led by Grow, Play Share - toddler play zone

Play & Social station - led by Lisa Roach from Century21 - Mega Blocks

Play and Social station - led by Gallinger Ford - Colouring Station and Vehicle Demo

Play and Social station - led by Milton Wee Piggies & Paws - Fisher Price Infant play zone

Play & Social station - led by Oxford Learning - Face Painting

Play & Social Station - Sponsored by Face the Art Entertainment - Face Painting & balloon animals

Play & Social station - sponsored by the Sanctuary - Bouncy Castle and Snow Cones

Science & Craft- led by 3D Health Solutions - Human anatomy craft

Picasso's in the Park - led by Tutor Bright - Fun with paint and stamping

Science and Discovery - led by Wee Ones Childcare Academy - Sensory Tables

Red Cross Info Station

Child Identification Station - led by MASONICh.I.P.

10am - Registration: begins - Wrist bands required to join in on activities, draw tickets will be issued and Loot bags (to the first 100 guests) 

12:15pm - cake cutting ceremony - sponsored by Longo's

12:30pm door prize draw ( must be present at event to claim your prize) 

Let us know you're coming by signing up today on our momstown Milton Facebook Fan Page - A great way to keep up with all of the latest and greatest announcements leading up to the main event!

It's a month long celebration across Canada with parties taking place in:

If you're a business and would like to help us celebrate please contact sam.kassam@momstown.ca for details of our sponsorship packages.

Fisher Price selected my son for a very special mission!

My son was assigned a very special mission last week from our friends at Fisher Price. His mission was to play and discover all of the ins and outs that the Imaginext DC Super Friends Batcave has to offer. He took this assignment very seriously right from the get go and assigned his Daddy as his right hand man to help in the task. My hubby couldn't refuse the opportunity to play (after all it was Batman) and so they both began eyeing up the various features that revealed hidden elevators, side doors and secret portals.

You could hear the squeals of delight as they discovered how to attach batman to the hook line and raise him through the portal or peeking through the draw bridge to check and see if batman was on his way to the batcave riding his super cool batcycle. I think both of them agreed that pressing the button to launch the grappling hook from the cannon was the best part. My son would do the count down  3-2-1  and then screamed  Blast OFF at the top of his lungs as it soared though the air! The both of them were so absorbed in making up stories about how Batman and Robin were saving the world from the villains and planning their escape routes if any of them made it past the draw bridge that they didn't even realize that an hour had passed by and it was time for dinner.

The feature I love the most is that all the accessories pack up neatly  into a closed carry case that is portable for us to take over to share with our friends in order for a new adventure to begin!

If you think this would be a terrific addition to your child's toy collection, don't forget to enter our momstown contest page for a chance to win.

Red Cross Focuses on Water Safety this month!

Is your backyard pool safe?

Red Cross encouraging families to keep water safety top-of-mind this summer

June 3-9 is Water Safety Week, and with temperatures warming up and many backyard pools opening, the Canadian Red Cross is reminding families to remain cautious and safe while in and around water.

Every year, approximately 400 Canadians die from drowning. Recent polling by Ipsos Reid, on behalf of the Red Cross, shows that despite significant water safety education and awareness programming, there is still a gap in Canadians’ behaviour around the water.

The poll found that:

·         46 per cent of Canadian children know how to swim

·         For 51 per cent of Canadians, ‘not allowing children under 10 to access the pool area’ is their only strategy to prevent injuries related to backyard pools

·         11 per cent of Canadian respondents who own a pool indicate they are doing nothing to prevent access to the pool for children under 10

There are a several steps that parents can take to ensure their backyard pools are safe:

·         Create an Action Plan including adult supervision, an emergency signal, safety equipment and emergency procedures. Also have readily accessible reaching or throwing assists, a working phone and first aid kit.

·         Don’t swim alone: Actively supervise your children in and around water at all times. If you have to leave the pool area for any reason, take your children with you. Children should always swim with a buddy, even if they are strong swimmers.

·         Use barriers: In addition to active supervision, ensure adequate barriers are in place for backyard pools such as four-sided fencing along with a self-closing, self-latching gate. Refer to your municipal bylaws for fencing requirements. Portable or inflatable pools should be emptied after each use or covered and locked.

·         Keep the deck clear: Make sure there are no toys or debris on the deck to avoid injury.

·         Dive with care: About 95 per cent of diving injuries occur in water five feet deep or less. Many, perhaps most, in-ground home pools are unsafe for diving even if they are fitted with a diving board. The best safety practice is to avoid diving in home pools.

·         Avoid Alcohol: If you have teens, talk to them about the dangers of alcohol and swimming. Alcohol is involved in about half of swimming drownings.

·         Get Trained:  Parents and children should learn to swim. It’s never too late. Those with home pools should also enrol in a first aid course, so they know how to respond in case of emergency.

The Canadian Red Cross has been teaching Canadians how to swim and safely enjoy water activities since 1946. Each year, over 1.1 million Canadians take swimming and water safety training with the Red Cross. Visit www.redcross.ca/swim for more safety tips and information.

Stay tuned for water safety workshops to be announced this month by various momstown chapters!

Mom of the Month: Angela Rozenveld - June 2012

momstown Milton : Mom of the month

Name:  Angela Rozenveld       

Age: 37 (38 in July)
Born In: Chatham Ontario

Children’s name and age:  Gabriel 7 months

Childhood Ambition:  I wanted to be on tv and be in the Olympics.  I was not very good at any particular sport but would watch figure skating and wanted to be one of those girls doing flips and twirls on the ice.

Fondest Memory:  My grandparents coming from the east coast every summer and Christmas to visit.  They would stay in my room (I had a double bed) and I loved their smell on my pillows after they left.   It was like they were still there.

Wildest Dream: Renting a scooter in all of these counties; Spain, Greece, Switzerland, Ireland, Scotland and France.

Proudest Moment:  Becoming a mom!  Second proudest, watching my husband become a father.

Biggest Challenge: Professionally, earning the respect of the old boys club.  It’s not easy being a woman in the corporate world; especially in Construction.

Perfect Day:  A day at the spa all by myself, followed by white wine and cheese.

First Job:  Scooping Ice Cream in Grand Bend Ontario

Indulgence:  Purses, bags & luggage, my husband calls me the bag lady.  I am even obsessed with all those reusable bags they sell at the grocery store.

Last Big Purchase: My stroller, I paid more for it then I did my first car!  It was a 1987 Honda Civic and I paid $750 for it!

Favorite Movie or Favourite Sport?  - Favorite movie is Rudy.  But football is not my favourite sport.  Baseball is my favourite.

Anything else you want to share?

I am humbled and honoured to be picked as mom of the month.  5 or 6 years ago I never even thought I wanted to be a mom, now look at me!  Momstown has made being a mom so much fun, and has introduced me to so many wonderful mammas and babies.  I am pretty sure I could have gone crazy on more than one occasion if it wasn’t for my Momstown network.  xoxo

Fee Fi Fo Fun is having a party and you're invited!

Fee Fi Fo Fun Kids Costumes and Balloons (Clarkson location)  is having a party and you're invited! 

 Be sure to stop by and help them celebrate their 1st anniversary on Saturday June 9, 2012 from 10:00am - 4:00pm.

Special guests in attendance include Cinderella,  Beauty, and a Jedi training session. That's in addition to the FREE cake, balloons and Raffle Prizes they will be giving away during the event - WOW!

SPECIAL OFFER:  momstown members will receive 25% of their purchase during the party or you if you bring a friend (non momstown member), you will receive 40% off and your friend will receive a free gift!!  You must show your momstown membership card in order to receive the special offer.

The store offers costumes of all sizes from super cute baby outfits through to adult wear with a wide variety of ready to wear outfits or your choice of accessories to create your own unique costume.

The Clarkson Summer in the Village event is also taking place on June 9th so there will be lots to see and do.  See you at the party!

momstown Milton spoils our Mamas!

When you're young, you don't realise just how precious these mother's day events are to us mothers.  For moms, it's an opportunity to sit back and reflect, to take the long view of what motherhood is and what it really means to be MOM (that is, when we are not up to our knees in chaos, laundry and tantrums). Thanks to Miss Sam, the many mom-volunteers and our supporting neighbourhood companies, we all had an opportunity to gather and celebrate what we moms all have in common -a giant heart full of love and tenderness and wonder for our little ones and what their presence offers to our lives. Yes, sleepless nights are torturous, whining just about drives us to the edge, and the constant sacrifices can be relentless at times, but there are those moments of pure joy. Many of them actually!

Momstown Milton celebrated these special moments with a Mothers' Day Tea Party at The Dance Shoppe. It was an amazing turnout with over 50 moms and their children, and grandmothers too! Everyone was dressed in their finest, with some arriving as princesses with tiaras and crowns, and that was just the moms! Tutus and jaunty hats, ties and suit jackets -this was a smartly dressed crowd!

Infants were intrigued immediately by the play area set up just for them; the toddlers had full reign and freedom in a studio walled with mirrors filled with hula hoops, different colours and types of balls, colourful streamers and skipping ropes. Everyone got right down to it! Many moms donated fresh baked goods, fruit platters,crackers and cheese, donuts. Cake pops were donated by Party Monsters Invitations and More in the shape of colourful flowers. And instead of hot tea, we shared a toast with iced tea and pink lemonade!

After free play, the tumbling demo lead by Lindsay began for the toddlers and Miss Sam began the infant mothers day craft gift by painting the little ones hands on a sentimental poem to mom. When the tumbling demo was over and the toddlers had shaken their booties and wiggled their waggles out, it was their turn to make a crafty mothers day souvenir. They hand decorated pots which were later filled with soil and purple pansies for moms to take home to their gardens. Thank you Crawfords Garden Centre for donating the supplies and Huggies for providing the Simply Clean wipes that helped to keep the mess to a minimum!

 As the children were occupied, we began the raffle for gifts that had been donated to momstown. Chapters Indigo donated a bag of books, Goodlife donated a sports bag and gym accessories, Zen Wellness Clinic donated a $25 gift certificate, Paula from Lia Sophia for the stunning necklce and Oceana Whispers for a lovely floral bouquet.

Many of the moms also participated in the competition for most unique tea pot or tea cup. The prize was given to Jamie for her beautiful and original musical tea pot that had been handed down through several generations!

In celebration of love of mothers and mothers' love for their babes, we sang many familiar songs with a change in lyrics to express our all that moms do, and read some books in further support.

 Thank you to all of the moms and their little ones for celebrating and donating resources and time to help set up and clean up our party.

At the Mothers Day Tea Party, we were able to take a look around at moms in our neighbourhood and celebrate all that we do and all that our kids bring to our lives. This event surely will not be forgotten!

This blog post was written by Kelly McArdle - our awsome momstown Milton events co-ordinator!