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By Alyssa, December 6, 2009 9:24 pm

I had my doubts when asked to attend a meeting for a local babysitting co-op.  My first question, what was a babysitting co-op?  I found out a babysitting co-op is a group of women that trade watching each others kids using a coupon system (NO MONEY INVOLVED). One coupon is payment for watching one child for one hour (The rate changes for more children.  Our co-op exchanges 1.5 coupons per hour for two children).  I attended that first co-op meeting a year ago and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made!  My co-op started 25 years ago with a group of women from Corpus Christi, Texas and somehow ended up in this area.  I think the co-op’s detailed organization has kept it going this long.

Have you ever tried to trade babysitting with a friend?  There is so much guilt involved.  How do you work out watching their three kids while they watch your two?  What if they don’t ask you as much as you ask them to exchange “date nights”?  How late can you stay out and what about overnights?  A great babysitting co-op takes care of all of these questions.  Our babysitting co-op operates under a detailed list of laws or rules.  I’m kind of a crazy play-by-the-rules kind of girl so it’s perfect for me.  The co-op meets once a month at a different member’s house each month.  During the meetings, we determine how many coupons the other members have, plan a play-date or ladies night out, and schedule “sits” with other members.  A sit is either watching someone’s kiddos or having them watch yours. Everyone in the co-op was once invited by a member and then completed the process to join the group.  I had to fill out an application detailing my parenting beliefs and my family, pass a home inspection, and attend another meeting to be admitted.

I know.  That all sounds great, but how does it work? I have three or four families that I use in the co-op because it’s really important for me to know the families watching my kiddos.  I pick and choose whose kids I will watch and who I want to watch my kids.  It’s nice to get to know other women in the co-op at the ladies nights or playdates, but I’m not required to use them.  I usually schedule two or three date nights a month and either drop my kids off, or sometimes other ladies are willing to come to my house to watch my boys.  I also use the co-op every once in awhile for grocery shopping.  Bubba has no idea that hour or two that he’s playing with his buddies, I’m getting tons of errands done.  Last night I used the co-op for an overnight and the first thing Bubba said when I picked him up was “Can I spend the night at my friends again?”

When asked why join a co-op, I tell other moms there are too many reasons to list.  Yes, you’ll save money, yes, your kids will love playing with their friends, and yes, you’ll meet fantastic women and won’t feel guilty about having them watch your kids.  Oh, and what about actually having time to go on a date?  Before I joined, Hubby and I rarely had a date night.  After spending forty dollars on a sitter, we couldn’t afford to go somewhere really nice, let alone do that more than once a month.  Hubby loves the co-op almost more than I do now.  If you don’t know someone in a co-op, ask at your church, or look online.  There is no pressure, so feel a few groups out before you decide on one that fits your needs.  Trust me, you won’t regret it!

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By Alyssa, December 3, 2009 11:58 pm

Playing with the Planes

I know what you’re thinking, I’ve been to several aviation museums and not a single one really made me want to come back.  After a long morning of running errands in frigid 19 degree weather today, I pulled up to the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum and memories of dusty planes and “DO NOT TOUCH” signs flooded in.  I hoped for the best as I pulled the boys out of their car seats for the tenth time that day and pushed through thick double doors to the museum hanger. Right when we walked in, an actual Jedi X-Wing Fighter greeted us.  My boys aren’t into Star Wars yet, but I thought it was awesome!  I had a feeling then that I might have to change my views on aviation museums.

The hanger held tons of aircraft, from a huge B-1A Lancer to tiny replica planes, and even included hands-on stuff for Bubba and Zeke.  In the space section, a room called “KidSpace” could have satisfied both boys for the entire visit.  The room wasn’t huge so I’m not sure what it would look like if there were a ton of kids in it, but my boys had a blast by themselves with space robots and astronaut action figures.

My Little Fighter Pilot

Our walk around the hanger somewhat entertained them (stroller was a must as the hanger was huge), but I think it will be a few years before they are into glass display cases. We spent a good 45 minutes playing in the “Stanley Aviation Room” that had a dozen kid-sized airplane replicas, almost like boxcars with pedals.  One was the perfect size for Zeke, and he was so proud to copy his brother in his own fighter jet.

Volunteers run the place and I have to say they were the reason our visit was fabulous.  In the plane room, a volunteer dropped everything she was carrying and asked to take a picture of me with the boys, another older gentlemen let Bubba peek in and examine a plane he was renovating.  The best volunteer was Al, a Marine veteran with two Korean War tours under his belt.

Bubba at the Controls

When I asked if Bubba could get into an open cockpit even though it wasn’t Cockpit Day (more on this later), he walked us over to a fighter jet and let both Bubba and Zeke hop in and take the controls.  Talk about making a 4-year-old’s day!

We spent almost three hours at the museum and both boys had a blast.  My only complaint concerned their veteran discount, which didn’t really seem like that much of a discount.  The tickets for the museum were $9 for Adults 13 and up, $6 for Children 4 and up (under 4 free), and $1 off the total family price for veterans.  I found out an annual family membership is only $50, very low compared to other museums in the area.

I think when we go again we’ll have to attend Cockpit Demo Day. It is the 2nd Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and children are allowed to climb into several aircraft cockpits.  I’m also thinking it would be fun to get a group of friends together and participate in a guided tour with our kiddos (tours are available with advance notice).  The museum was a surprisingly a great indoor winter activity for the boys with only a few pesky “DO NOT TOUCH” signs.  It’s a hidden gem as we were only one of a half-dozen visitors that afternoon.  The next Cockpit Demo Day is December 12th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. so check it out!

Check us out, Mom!

You're sure we can't take one home?

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By Alyssa, December 2, 2009 4:02 pm

We’re celebrating Advent for the first time with Bubba and Zeke this year. I can imagine that each night, the family will gather around the advent wreath and solemnly read a few scriptures before lighting the advent candles. The boys will reverently listen as the Bible is read and quietly wait for the candles to be lit. Hmmm… I’m sure our Advent celebration will look a little more like me balancing a squirming one-year-old, Bubba asking for the fifteenth time if it’s time to light the candles yet, and Hubby catching the end of the chaos usually before he can take his coat off from a late work night. I’m realizing the older the boys get that our family traditions may not look like Hallmark cards, but they will always interesting.

I did some research and decided there were some easy ways we could incorporate Advent into our Christmas season. I would love to say we will complete a craft and bible reading with our kiddos every night with the candle lighting, but I made something a little more realistic. I know I’m a little late putting this out as Advent starts the 4th Sunday before Christmas, but better late than never I guess! Here is what we are doing each night as a family to celebrate:

December

(Light the 1st purple candle this week.  This week’s theme is HOPE.)
1- Introduce the Advent Candles and the meaning of Advent (Here’s a great website with Advent Information)
2- Make an Advent Chain (red and green paper chain) to count down to Christmas
3- Read Matthew 1:18-24 (Angel appears to Joseph)
4- Talk about all of the things we hope for and decorate cookies with the letters H.O.P.E.
5- Read Luke 1: 26-38 (Angel appears to Mary)

(Light the 1st and 2nd purple candles this week. This week’s theme is PEACE.)
6- Talk about other places in the world at war and make cards for Grandpa serving in Iraq
7- Read Luke 1:57-66 (Introduce John the Baptist)
8- Sing Christmas Carols with hand motions (We’re using this Christmas site for the motions)
9- Make a Donkey puppet (We’re using this template.  The donkey is a symbol of peace and humbleness.)
10- Read Luke 2:1-7 (Discuss Joseph and Mary’s journey to Bethlehem)
11- Watch “Charlie Brown’s Christmas” and talk about the true meaning of Christmas
12- Make cookies to give out to our neighbors

(Light the 1st and 2nd purple candles and the pink candle.  This week’s theme is JOY.)
13- Deliver cookies to our neighbors
14- “Sing Joy to the World” and “I have the Joy Down in my Heart”
15- Read Matthew 2:1-12 (Discuss the wise men’s joy)
16- Wrap gifts for Papa and Nana’s visit
17- Read Luke 2:8-20 (Introduction of the Shepherds and Angels)
18- Make spoon angels (We’re using this template.)
19- Watch “The Polar Express” and talk about joyful giving

(Light all three purple candles and the pink candle. This week’s theme is LOVE.)
20- Decorate heart cookies
21- Memorize John 3:16
22- Say a prayer for the families that sent us Christmas cards
23- Sing Christmas carols with hand motions for Papa and Nana
24- Act out Luke 2 with the entire family (Light ALL FIVE candles!)
25- Birthday cake celebration for Jesus’ Birthday!

So, if you didn’t guess already, I love cookies!  I added cookies (and probably Christmas weight) to every week of our advent celebration.  We may not be able to do everything, but I’m excited to see how much Bubba and Zeke learn about Christmas with our Advent plans.  If you are looking for other wonderful ways to celebrate Christmas this year (that don’t include spending tons of money and buying into all of the awful commercials), check out my friend Amy’s website, Just Mothering Through. She’s doing 25 Days of Giving with her kiddos this Christmas.  Wishing you a blessed Advent season!