You all remember Becky's table??? FOREVER ago, we met some of Becky's table and tonight we will finally get to meet the rest. Now that we have survived the holidays and it's a New Year, we resolve to get back on track with highlighting all of our tables this year!
Today we will be featuring Becky's Mentor Mom, Cindy, and several other Moms from her table.
Let's get to know Cindy first!
The basics....
I was born in Nashville, GA and moved to SC when I was about 9 months old. I am the 2nd of 6 children (born within 7 years 9 months). Both of my parents were Educators and I was taught Biology, Chemistry and Physics by the best teacher EVER - my Mom. Graduated Winthrop College - double major - Preschool and Elementary Eduation. After 3 years of dateing, I married Dan - the best "blind date" I had in college - a Clemson Tiger. We have been learning how to love and encourage each other for 41 years! (If God gives us another 30 years we might get it right.) While Dan was in Vietnam I got my Masters Degree in Child Development and Family Relations (Combined with my Mother's wisdom,and example, my schooling and the Bibles as a guide - I have lots of parenting ideas and suggestions.) God prepared us for 7 years before allowing us to have 3 awesome children: Elizabeth, Rebecca & Jonathan. We have lived in Fort Mill for 34 years. I have taught public school, started Oakland Bapt Preschool program, served as a Youth Leader for 11 years, been a church pianist for a total of 18 years, been a Music Director for a local church for 3 years, been a Cope's Course Instructor and am in my 31st year as an Entrepourer with Mary Kay Cosmetics. Here is a little known fact - I can milk a cow!
2. What's your favorite kids activity for a rainy day?
We'd use blankets to create tents and caves - read and play games.
We'd also bake cookies and practice "designing" cakes on waxed paper with icing.
3. What's your "go to" meal that's quick and easy for your family?
For QUICK entertaining: Spaghetti sauce in the freezer (gallon-sized for company & quart-sized for 2) And Noodles in the Pantry. For the 2 of us, our favorite supper in 15-20 minutes is Chicken Fajaitas Wraps: Multigrain wrap/a tsp of Creamy Italian Dressing/shredded Mexican Cheese/ chicken strips(heated in Microwave first)/fresh spinach. Fold bottom up then sides and grill in George Foreman for 2 minutes or so. Serve with Apple/Craisain/Banana Salad or Fresh Salad Greens
Do you have any family traditions?
THANKSGIVING ... Between meal and Dessert: Light the candles in the centerpiece & thank God for His Son Jesus.Then go around table - starting with the youngest and thank God for one thing. (Since there are between 5 and 34 of us present we stopped doing it before the meal.) CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS: CAROLING: Invite friends to bring flashlights AND bring a holiday dish/ we provide punch/ hot chocolate/coffee . Then after "warming up our voices at the piano" we walk through our neighborhood, knocking on doors and singing the 3 or 4 songs agreed upon. (I often call neighbors ahead - esp if elderly) We also invite those at home to join us and meet at the house afterwards to warm up. READING: Each year we purchased a HOLIDAY STORYBOOK and every night before bedtime one would be read. We now do this with our grandchildren and often their parents will join us on the bed. CHRISTMAS EVE: We read the Christmas Story in a form the youngest child can understand and talk about Jesus. CHRISTMAS DAY: PART 1: The Stockings and the 3 Santa Gifts (There were 3 wisemen who brought gifts) are "opened" as soon as everyone is up and ready - NOT before 6 am. AFTER THIS - BREAKFAST (so Mommie & kids don't have a meltdown.) THEN we sit in a circle and all gifts are handed out by an "Elf or 2". PRESENTS ARE NOT OPENED, until they have all been given out. Then we start with the OLDEST person, who opens one gift, shows it to all and then thanks the giver. Then we go AROUND the room, letting each person open one gift and thanking the giver.
What's your favorite organizational tip, time or money saver?
When the kids were small, I made a Bi-Lo MAP of my Master Grocery List... totally stopped going up and down each aisle... shopped wiser AND could sent my older kids to different aisles to get food in smaller hand baskets ... and my husband LOVED IT when he did the shopping. (Hmm - need to do a WalMart one now!)
I ALWAYS make my bed as I get out of it ... Looks good and squelches the desire to crawl back in.
I ALWAYS clear the table and load the dishwasher immediately after use....
OH, yes... a ME SAVER: ...
I copied my Mom by having children help PREPARE & SERVE or CLEAN & PUT AWAY. I did change it to include husband and dates as the kids got older. In other words --- anyone who helped PREPARE & put food ON the table did not have to help take the food OFF and CLEAN UP. This made everyone more helpful and solved many an argument. (The hardest part was learning how to motive my hubby who was an only child whose parents did everything to perfection.....:)
Confession?
I LOVE to listen to murder mysteries when driving long distances. PROBLEM? I've been known to drive around town for an extra 20 minutes to finish a book. :)
What are you loving right now?
Good health! The rewards of parenting are visible is so many ways! Comfort in my own skin!
How do you spend your quiet time?
Ditto - Read - tub soak (lots of Mary Kay options) - watching prerecorded programs and skipping ALL commercials. Some of my favorite authors : Dee Henderson (awesome mysteries - esp the O'Mally Series), Karen Wick - (esp romance novels and family stories)
How do you and your husband spend date nights?
We most enjoy having couples come over for supper. We LOVE table games & card games and sometimes out of love he'll play ping pong too.
Laurabeth Von Farge
A little about me.....I grew up in California and drove cross-country to live in the Carolinas when I was 18 (after spending a year living in Hawaii). I met my wonderful husband, Daniel, out here and we have been married for almost 5 years. I am a full time stay at home mom to our 2 yr old son, Eugene, and our 9 month old daughter, Lydia, and I am 5 months pregnant with out 3rd little blessing (waiting to find out what we're having this time :)
2. What's your favorite kids activity for a rainy day?
Baking! Eugene loves getting to help bake yummy treats (and licking the beaters).
3. What's your "go to" meal that's quick and easy for your family?
Pita bread individual pizzas are probably my easiest "quick" meal and a hit with a picky toddler, too.
4. Do you have any family traditions?
We measure the kids height by marking it on the wall every year on their birthday.
5. What's your favorite organizational tip, time, or money saver?
I keep a running list on the computer of all the foods I make so when I plan the weeks meals I can just pull up the list and see lots of options I already like. And thrift stores! I save a lot of money buying stuff at thrift stores or consignment sales.
6. Confession?
Huge sweet tooth.
7. What are you loving right now?
Having young kids and another on the way. I have a very hard time during pregnancies because of a rare pregnancy condition that basically makes my body attack my joints, ligaments, and muscles while pregnant. So I am especially thankful for each baby God blesses us with and thankful that my husband works from home (he's a programmer) so he's able to help me during my pregnancy (we would probably not be able to have children otherwise). God provided what we needed to be able to have kids!
8. How do you spend your quiet time?
Playing on the computer or hanging out with my hubby.
9. How do you and your husband spend date nights?
Go out to dinner and for a really nice date we go to a show (symphony, cirque du soleil, something like that). Other dates are as simple as picking up dinner for an at home date or running errands together. We just have a good time.
Virginia Landon
I am from Columbia, SC and have lived in Rock Hill for three years. We moved here for my husband's job. He is in sales with Blanchard Caterpillar. I studied at USC in Columbia and have been working in early intervention ever since! I work with children ages birth- five with delays/disabilities in their homes. I have one child, 15 months, and now work part time.
2. What's your favorite kids activity for a rainy day?
We love to read all kinds of books and sit in a favorite chair with our "blankies."
3. What's your "go to" meal that's quick and easy for your family?
We love tacos!!!
4. Do you have any family traditions?
We all get matching pj's to open on Christmas eve!
5. What's your favorite organizational tip, time or money saver?
Keep it all written down! I have a calendar that separates each day by the hour and couldn't live without it!
6. Confession?
I love reality TV (real housewives, Tori and Dean, etc)
7. What are you loving right now?
I love my new minivan(haha)! It's great with kiddos!
8. How do you spend your quiet time?
Reading magazines and looking up fun recipes! I love to cook when I find the time!
9. How do you and your husband spend date nights?
We have date nights, in! We get our china and crystal out and sit in our dining room and either cook a nice meal or get some yummy take out And play jazz while we eat and drink wine.
Anne Rewis
About Me.......
I'm married, with 2 boys ages 3 and 1 year. We moved 3 years ago from Savannah, Georgia where my husband and I lived for about 8 years.
2. What's your favorite kids activity for a rainy day?
My favorite for my sons would be painting but they would say playing battle-swords or soccer in the house.
3. What's your "go to" meal that's quick and easy for your family?
Spagetti with garlic bread.
4. Do you have any family traditions?
Buying a new Christmas ornament every year that represents something special about the past year.
5. What's your favorite organizational tip, time or money saver?
Ummm, I could use more help with budgeting my time &/or money so I don't really have a favorite tip for anyone else....My best time saver could be showering at night, but then again sometimes a shower just dosen't happen for a day (and yet that too is a time saver isn't it!)
6. Confession?
I ate the dark chocolates from my sons trick or treat candy!
7. What are you loving right now?
The beautiful colors of the trees, warm days and crisp nights, and warming bowls of soup.
8. How do you spend your quiet time?
Quiet time???
9. How do you and your husband spend date nights?
We have a nice dinner with stimulating adult conversations, such as "Did our son show you his exercise he called 'the dead squirrel' where he does a forward roll then lays with his arms and legs spread out?"
Laurie Fencl
About me....
Grew up in Warren, Oh. I went to Miami University near Cincinnati, OH. DId you know that Miami University was a college before FL was a state? I am a single mom with 2 wonderful kids Beckett, age 2, and Sofia age 7. We have lived in Charlotte for 3 years and never want to leave!
What's your favorite kids activity for a rainy day?
When it is warm my kids love to go down to their undies and go outside and dance in the rain. I stay dry, play the music and laugh a lot.
What's your "go to" meal that's quick and easy for your family?
chocolate chip pancakes!
What's your favorite organizational tip, time or money saver?
I friend all the coupon people I can on Facebook--it is amazing the deals they tell you about! Just last night I got a free Fitness magazine subscription.
Confession?
I really don't care if my house is messy.
What are you loving right now?
exercising
How do you spend your quiet time?
reading
Eva Gouin
About Me....
I was born and raised in Denmark, Europe. I immigrated to America after meeting my husband on a vacation in the Caribbean. We have been married 10 years now. We lived in Vermont for the first 5 years of our marriage, and have been in Fort Mill since. We have two active boys, Connor 7, and Mason 3.
What's your favorite kids activity for a rainy day?
Having two boys, nothing is better than jumping in rain puddles.
What's your "go to" meal that's quick and easy for your family?
Soup. I always have them on hand. I love the seafood soups especially. And then I just add cheese toast w paprika. Everyone loves it.
Do you have any family traditions?
Yes, we have so many. We celebrate Saint Morten on Nov 10. It is a holiday from my home country. This is also my late mothers birthday, so we honor her at the same time. In December we love to play the present game with friends and family. I wrap 20-50 present and we set the timer. If you get a 1 or 6 you can pick a wrapped present from the middle of the table. When all presents are taken the stealing begins. The kids love it! For valentine day we always bake birdseeds cookies in heart shaped cookie cutters, and hang them on the trees in the back yard.
What's your favorite organizational tip, time or money saver?
I'm not very thrifty. But I save time by not getting into the coupon clipping, and sale hunting. I also don't participate in any of the consignment sales or craigslist. In stead I just donate anything I don't need. It saves me precious time, and supports a good cause.
Confession?
I'm an open book.
What are you loving right now?
The fall season.
How do you spend your quiet time?
Reading
How do you and your husband spend date nights?
We love to go out to dinner.
Michelle Marcus
About me....
I am a born and raised South Carolina girl! I completed both my undergraduate (public relations) and graduate (business) degrees from the University of South Carolina. After a good career in the corporate world, I just “retired” to begin my second career as a SAHM. My husband, Glenn, and I have been married for 11 years and just moved to Fort Mill in May from Columbia. We are lucky to be the parents of Brandon (almost 4) and Kayla (22 months). We adopted Brandon in December 2008 from Shymkent, Kazakhstan and Kayla was just placed in our arms in January of this year. She is from the Jiangxi Province of China. After a six-year adoption journey, we are thrilled to finally be a family of four.
What's your favorite kids activity for a rainy day?
Movie day!
What's your "go to" meal that's quick and easy for your family?
Homemade pizza. I always keep dough in the freezer for a quick fix.
Do you have any family traditions?
I am big on family traditions. In addition to the holidays during this time of year, we also celebrate each child’s adoption day or “family” day. On this day, we decorate with souvenirs and flags from their country, watch videos, listen to traditional music, and I attempt to make authentic recipes. We work hard to ensure they maintain a connection to their homeland.
What's your favorite organizational tip, time or money saver?
I have a clear shoe organizer on the back of my pantry door. I use it to store snacks for the kids in each of the pockets. When packing backpacks for preschool or snack time, they can easily select what they want which they enjoy. And, it keeps things from getting lost in the pantry.
Confession?
I don’t like messes. Playdoh give me a panic attack, but I am working on it!
What are you loving right now?
Figuring out how to be a SAHM. It is very surreal not to “go to work” everyday. I love knowing how my children are all day long.
How do you spend your quiet time?
I love to cook, so I am addicted to finding new recipes to try. It keeps cooking fun.
How do you and your husband spend date nights?
We love to go out to dinner, talk, and enjoy a great bottle of wine.
Thank you Becky for letting us get to meet you all! Next week we will be meeting Amanda's table!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 08:40PM 
