Real Mom of O'Fallon

Christmas is a Time to Give

Real Mom of O'Fallon shares ways to teach your children to give back this holiday season.

Christmas is coming and coming quick! With less than two weeks until jolly St. Nick arrives bearing gifts galore, it’s time to get busy.  Most of us have shopping, wrapping, baking and cleaning on our “to-do” lists.  Well, I’m going to suggest that we all add another item to that list: Give back.  This time of year makes me realize just how fortunate my family is. We have a house, food on the table and the ability to provide a nice Christmas for our children.  I know there are many families struggling this year and I want my children to understand that not every child will have the same kind of Christmas that they will have. I also want my children to understand that Christmas isn’t just about getting presents, but it is also a time to …

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Thomas J. Stein

3:20 pm on Friday, December 16, 2011

Now, that's an excellent idea of helping families that are less fortunate. They could use all the help in the world. Great article, Trish.   more ›

Real Mom of O'Fallon

Baby, Its Hot Outside!

Real Mom of O’Fallon offers ideas on ways to entertain the kids during the heat wave.

Holy heat Batman!  O’Fallon has been under an Excessive Heat Warning for days now.  The temperatures are hot and the heat index has been anywhere from 100-115.  To say that this heat wave is dangerous is an understatement. As parents, we want to have fun with our children during the summer, but their health and safety is most important. Many outdoor activities need to be restricted in heat like this because a child can overheat and dehydrate very quickly.  Trying to entertain your children in weather like this can be a real challenge, especially if you are anything like me and find yourself down right crabby because of the heat.   I’ve put together a few suggestions on ways to beat the heat and still have fun until fall arrives.   

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Real Mom of O'Fallon

Can’t We All Just Get Along?

Real Mom of O’Fallon seeks advice on dealing with children’s arguments.

The other day I experienced a rare but sentimental mom moment, my boys were playing with each other and actually getting along!  They were in their playroom playing “Star Wars” with action figures and Legos.    There was laughter, as well as sounds of excitement and happiness coming from the boys.  I listened to these delightful noises from the kitchen with a big smile and soft heart.  However, like all good things, they came to an end.  Within 10 minutes, the boys were yelling at one another and fighting over some silly toy.  Apparently, Joey took one of Andrew’s Lego pieces.  We have about 100,000 Lego pieces in our home.  For the boys to fight over one particular Lego piece makes absolutely no sense to me, but they think it is worth …

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Jordan Lanham

9:15 pm on Thursday, July 21, 2011

Thanks Darin! We love hearing from "Dads of O'Fallon!"   more ›

Real Mom of O'Fallon

Preparing for the Storm

Storm preparation goes beyond flashlights for Real Mom of O’Fallon and her family.

With all of the recent severe weather in the area, our family decided we need to make a plan of what to do, where to go and what items we need to wait out severe weather in the safety of our basement.  Since our basement isn’t finished, we’re not exactly “living it up” or enjoying our time downstairs.   I am usually bombarded with the constant question, “When can we go back upstairs?”  The basement is dusty, cold and uncomfortable, especially due to the fact that there is no furniture to sit on.  My boys decided during the last storm that we need to turn the basement into a “man cave” complete with a comfy couch, big screen TV and video games.  I don’t see the man cave in our immediate future (unless I win the lottery) so instead I asked …

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Easter Baby is Really an Easter Baby

Olivia Easter gives birth to first baby on holiday by the same name.

Ironically she called her baby “bun” throughout her pregnancy. Whether the reference applied to what was “in the oven” as they say or the fact that her last name is Easter, it was nonetheless prophetic. Olivia Easter, 21, of O’Fallon, gave birth to her own little bunny on Easter Sunday at SSM St. Joseph Hospital West in Lake Saint Louis. The seven-pound-four-ounce baby girl made her holiday debut at 9:46 a.m. just two days before her estimated due date. Gianna Frances Easter gave first time mom Olivia a false alarm about two weeks ago. She was actually due Tuesday. And her mom would have been induced on Wednesday had she not arrived.  “She waited and waited,” Olivia said. “We kept saying if she comes on Easter she will be the Easter baby. …

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O’Fallon Mom’s Passion Brings Life to Blank Walls

Christina Hummer painted for years, but it wasn’t until two years ago she turned her passion into her career.

A wife and mom of three, Christina Hummer, works out of the O’Fallon home she and her family have lived in for the past seven years. Her workspace, which used to be limited to her kitchen table, is now an entire room as well as a booming business. Hummer's love for painting began in college while attending Northwest Missouri State. She began as a fine arts major with an emphasis in graphic design.  But during her sophomore year, professors strongly suggested she give up graphic design and switch to photography and painting. She would tell herself, “I’m not going to make it big. I’m not going to be making any money. I’m not going to get a job,” she said.  So, even thought it would put her a year behind, Hummer switched majors her junior …

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Real Mom of O'Fallon

Spreading Easter Joy Goes Both Ways

Real Mom of O'Fallon has learning experience on son's field trip.

Earlier this week I was selected to be one of the chaperone’s for my son’s class field trip.  This wasn’t your average field trip where the kids are out having fun exploring the sights of our city, but rather a service trip to educate the children on social justice.   Like every parent, I want my children to have respect for all people, regardless of age, ability or status.  When I heard that my son would be visiting Park Place Senior Living at Winghaven to spread some Easter joy with the residents of the assisted living community, I was thrilled to be a part of it.  As I’ve shared previously, my boys are at an age where their innocence and honesty leads to them saying things that may be hurtful or disrespectful.  I knew this field trip …

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Patti Baratta

6:56 am on Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Tearing up here too... Beautiful story! Thank you for sharing!   more ›

Real Mom of O'Fallon

A Little Friendly Competition Offers Unexpected Connection

O'Fallon mom columnist discovers unconventional way to bond with husband.

As I’ve mentioned before, I am a runner.  I don’t particularly enjoy the physical act of running as much I enjoy the benefits.  Running has become my main stress reliever and if I don’t get out and pound the pavement a few days a week, I can become a “mommy monster” really easy.  Running is sometimes my time to refresh and rejuvenate.  I’ve been pushing my husband to try running for a while now.  His job is demanding and I think running would give him a much needed stress relief.  Earlier this year my husband committed to a fit challenge at work and was put on a team.  Each team member has to wear a pedometer to track their steps as well as log their total workout minutes each day.  After sometime of doing this, my husband mentioned he had…

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Real Mom of O'Fallon

Helping Our Children Understand the Tragedy in Japan

Tips to help you talk with your children about natural disasters.

Last week, Japan experienced one of the worst earthquakes in world history, followed by a devastating tsunami of epic proportions.  Many lives were lost and the areas hit by these natural disasters look like a war zone.  When events like this happen it is hard enough for an adult to comprehend, let alone for a child to understand.  When my boys came home from school on Friday afternoon, they were filled with so many questions about the tragedy in Japan.  They knew that something bad had happened and that people had died.  What they didn’t understand was what exactly a tsunami was and how something as simple as the ground shaking could cause so much damage.  Their idea of an earthquake is the exhibit at the St. Louis Science Center that …

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The Great Escape

Escape to An Oasis of Calm

O'Fallon business provides convenient spa experience.

Massage therapy is known to decrease anxiety, reduce stress, enhance sleep quality, improve circulation, increase energy and reduce fatigue.  A busy mom could probably benefit from receiving a massage everyday!  Getting a massage used to be a luxury reserved for the wealthy; however, thanks to a rise in popularity of massage therapy, de-stressing has becoming very convenient and affordable.  New to O’Fallon is Massage Luxe, a full service massage therapy and facial spa.  Massage Luxe invites you to “escape and melt away” in their relaxing oasis of calm.  They offer nine different modalities of massage, and each of them can be modified to fit your schedule or needs.  They offer four membership types, which are valid at any location and …

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