There's something fishy going on around here!!

I received an email last week about a woman loading groceries and being approached by a creepy man in Red Deer, I just had a feeling about it - that it wasn't just another email scam.  The details were too real and specific to Red Deer.  I posted it up on our message boards to spread the word & increase awareness.  There has since been 2 more accounts of similar things happening to others posted up on our message boards.  So - its time to start spreading the word & making sure that as many people as possible are aware and on the lookout.

First Incident: (Anders) Woman was loading her groceries into the truck of her vehicle. A van pulled up beside her and opened the passenger side (rear) door. The woman noted that there was a blue handicap sign hanging from the mirror and she at first wondered why he was parked so close to her. She also noticed that he was looking around and might have seemed nervous. Her gut feeling told her that something wasn't right, so she went into the nearest store and told the clerks what was going on - when he noticed her in there talking to other people, he closed the door and left.

Second: (Rocky Mnt House) A woman was running stairs and she noticed a taxi (van) pull up next to her car, windows rolled down and door open. She said that this was in no way an innocent situation - and she had never been so scared in her life.

Third: (Downtown Safeway) Some girls were outside on their break and they saw a mini van pull up, windows down, door open, with the blue handicapp placard on the mirror. They noted that he was extremely nervous looking and watching all over the parking lot. He pulled up next to a woman who was loading up her groceries - one of the Safeway girls walked over so she could keep an eye on things - when he realized she was watching he moved on to the Scotia Bank parking lot. He did the same thing, opened the passenger side (rear) door and leaned back in his seat, this time talking on a phone. His licence plate was noted and the police were called - when he was questioned he said "he was trying to find somewhere quiet to do what he needed to do".

All three incidents happened in fairly busy parking lots, during the day. The van is said to be a SILVER CARAVAN with plate #:ZRS - 792. The man is described to be about 6ft, 200lbs, dark hair and wearing dark sun glasses. Please be careful and be aware of your surroundings, ladies!!


Please spread the word about this - awareness is the key to preventing someone from getting hurt by this creep.  BE CAREFUL and follow your instincts!!

Come on over to My House!

We celebrated all kinds of houses today at our My House/Your House craft theme party today.  Lynne from First Steps & Beyond came out to give us a hand with our craft and give us a taste of what they do in their Pre-School and Pre-Kindergarten programs for 3 and 4 year olds.


We started off with a craft - the kids had a great time learning about shapes, and fitting them into their respective places on our 'house puzzles'.  Even the younger kids had fun - with some help from mom of course.

Then we enjoyed a snack and the older kids joined Lynne for a story and more learning about houses and shapes!

We ended the day with some playtime with the parachute.  Always a big hit - the kids had a blast playing under our 'house' and having a ride on top.

Join us next month for more crafty fun at our Christmas Party!  If you're looking for a fantastic pre-school program to keep your 3 or 4 year old busy, check out First Steps & Beyond Instructional Centre.  They're taking enrollment now!

October Winners!

Congratulations to all of our prize winners in October!

Jamie S & Erin L each won a Family 4 Pack of Tickets to see Caillou's Greatest Skate of All in Calgary in November.

Four lucky mamas were treated to a movie courtesy of Galaxy Cinemas - congratulations to Jamie S, Lisa I, Mandy W & Mel M.  Join us in November for our monthly Mom's Night Out at the Movies when two more lucky ladies will see another movie for FREE!

All the moms that came out this month to our Mom's Night Out/New Member Meetup had a chance to win two great door prizes.  Congratulations to Erin S who won a $25 gift certificate to Bo's Bar & Grill and Mandy W who won a free body wrap from It Works by Karlee Barr.

We gave away some more great prizes at our Halloween Party.  Congratulations to Jan S, who won Best Adult Costume and a $50 gift certificate to Original Joe's.  Congratulations also goes out to Jamie S, Robin P & Amanda L - winners of the door prizes courtesy for Discovery Toys by Jill Kohlman.

Bats, Spiders, Dragons & Witches - Oh My!

We celebrated Halloween yesterday with our Bats and Spiders Party.  Moms and tots alike dressed in their Halloween best to come out and celebrate with us.

We played with Discovery Toys, made a bat handprint craft, decorated pumpkins and made spooky Halloween shapes with playdough.

Followed of course by a fabulous potluck lunch!  If you haven't attended one of our potluck lunches yet - you really are missing out - these mamas have skills!!

 

Congratulations goes out to Jan, our Paper Bag Princess who won our Best Adult Costume contest and a $50 gift certificate to Original Joe's.  Also to Amanda, Robin P & Jamie winners of the Discovery Toys door prizes!

We don't need a holiday to have a theme party!!  At momstown we do them once a month!  Join us in November for Your House/My House sponsored by First Steps & Beyond.  If you're not yet a member, register now for your free 2 week trial!

What would you do?

If you found yourself in a confrontation that unexpectedly turned physical?  A situation where you needed to defend yourself?  Or worse...??

These are not situations that any mother likes to think about.  We like to focus on our nice little lives, and assume that it will never happen to us.  But it could, it can - and to some, it does.  Thinking about it, planning in your mind what you would do, and learning about how, when & where to strike someone - to defend yourself - and buy the time you need to find help can save your life.

These are the reasons that a group of us mamas took an introduction to self defense course this weekend.  We learned (first and foremost) about how to evade potentially bad situations - simple things like walking in groups, being aware of your surroundings & making eye contact with people as you walk by them.  We learned about the different levels of threat, and their appropriate responses.  We learned about the different areas of vulnerability on the body - everyone's body, regardless of their size or strength.  And we learned, and practiced where possible, some techniques for how to respond to threats and get yourself out of danger as quick as possible and with the least amount of force necessary.  Then we got to punch things :)

Not only was this an afternoon of learning some very valuable information - it was very empowering & alot of fun!! 

Join us for more events that will teach, inspire & entertain by registering for a Free Trial Membership with momstown Central Alberta!

Strike!!

momstown mamas and their little ones hit the lanes at Heritage Lanes last week for some Mom & Tot Bowling.

What a great time the kids had trying out this new activity!  The bumpers automatically raise and lower when it's the tot's turn to bowl (nifty!) and they even had some handy dandy ball ramps on hand for the really little bowlers among us!  We enjoyed hot dogs for lunch & an afternoon of great napping due to tired out kids!!

Heritage Lanes has Mom & Tot Bowling every Monday, Wednesday & Friday mornings from 10 - 11am.  The cost is $5.00 per mom and kids 5 & under bowl for free.  For the month of October - you can find a coupon here that will let you bowl for FREE!!  

If you're not yet a member - join us for a free 2 week trial membership now!

Another month... more momstown winners!!

Congratulations to September's prize winners!


Jordana & Shawna were the lucky winners of a Family Pack of tickets to see The Wiggles live in Calgary & Edmonton in October.


Niki was the much deserved winner of the Grand Prize of Round 1 of our Get Fit Club.  She won $172 plus a fabulous spa package from Inner Radiance Day Spa.  Join us for Round 2 for another shot at some great prizes!


Susan won the Big Brother pool with her pick of Hayden to win!


Arianna took home a $25 gift card from Sobeys in our Park Hopping Playdates draw for September.