• 09/15/2018 2:04 PM | Deleted user

    Another fun PMC event: Family Yoga in the Park ... 


    ...  with Wee Yogis Kids Yoga Company & Wee Yogi's Teacher Elizabeth Piazza ...


    ... 9/8/18, at beautiful McNear Park. 


  • 09/10/2018 1:40 PM | Deleted user

    Submitted by: Caitlin McSorley

    With a new school year in full swing, the change of season approaching, and this funky Sonoma County weather, these enchiladas make the perfect dinner. 

    Not a fan of cooking at dinner time, when the kids are grumpy and needy? Not enough time after work to do the prep? Make them ahead of time! These can sit, ready to bake, for a full day in the refrigerator. Or make a double batch and freeze for later.

    The recipe can easily be customized to your family’s tastes and needs. All of the seasonings are optional and amounts can be adjusted. The cheese can be left out to make these dairy free. Any tortillas will work. Enjoy!

    SWEET POTATO ENCHILADAS

    INGREDIENTS:

    Filling: 2 cups diced sweet potatoes

              1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

              1 can diced green chiles (optional)

              2 T crushed garlic

              2 T chopped cilantro

             ½ t each: cumin, chili powder, cayenne

              juice from 1 lime

    For assembly: crumbled queso fresco

                         shredded jack cheese

                         12 corn tortillas

    • Lightly boil sweet potatoes in water until barely soft; drain
    • Mix all filling ingredients together
    • To assemble: pour a small amount of sauce in a baking dish; roll each enchilada with a bit of queso fresco and a spoonful of filling; place seam side down in dish
    • Cover enchiladas with sauce and jack cheese
    • Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes, until bubbly
  • 09/06/2018 7:14 PM | Deleted user

    Let's get to this event and show our support for a great cause.



  • 09/03/2018 9:14 PM | Deleted user


    Ruby Webb

    September Member of the Month


     Hello! I am a stay at home mom to two beautiful children, Alec age 3 and Lucy 2 months  old. My husband Ben and I have been together for 15 years, married for 5. I was born and  raised in Petaluma and my husband grew up in Penngrove. We have been living in San  Jose for the past 10 years but just recently moved back to petaluma to be closer to family.  I am so glad to be a part of the petaluma mother’s club and have already met some  wonderful people. I look forward to making some lasting friendships for both myself and  my children within the PMC. 

  • 08/25/2018 9:48 AM | Deleted user


  • 08/22/2018 4:08 PM | Deleted user



    Jessica Kawaoka

    August Member of the Month


     Who are the members of your family?

     Eric and I have been married for 2 years, together for 9. We have one child, Eliahna (almost 2)  and are hoping for more. We also share our home with 2 dogs, a cat who thinks he’s a dog and  10 chickens.

     Why did you decide to settle in Petaluma?

     I am from Humboldt County originally, then Santa Barbara for college and then Marin. Eric is  third generation Petaluman, so when things moved forward to living together there really was no  question. I don’t think we will ever leave, and honestly, I would never want to. I love it here!

     Does your family have any special traditions?

     I was so excited when I figured out our family’s “thing” — we forage our own shellfish. Clamming  and musseling mostly, although Eric does a bit of crabbing and abalone diving as well. From  September to April we try to make as many low tides. By the time Eliahna was 6 months old she  had been clamming more times than most people do in their life. 

     Who is the greatest love of your life?

     How do you even answer that question? It’s similar to “what came first, the chicken or the egg”. Is  it Eliahna or is it Eric? I don’t know that I could choose. Eric brought love, contentment and  security into my life when I needed it the most. He is my rock and my best friend. Eric challenges  me to grow and become a better person in ways I never really considered important before.  Together we created the most loved and magical element of both our worlds - Eliahna. That little  girl has shown me that love has no limits. Just when I think I can’t love her more, she proves me  wrong. Don't get me wrong, they are times they both drive me completely nuts!

     Do you have any passions or hobbies outside or parenthood/career?

     Before Eliahna I lived my passion. I worked in animal sheltering for over 10 years, most recently  running the Adoption and Intake programs at the Humane Society of Sonoma County. I took  about a year off to fully focus on Eliahna. This year I’ve taken a more active role in supporting my  husband as a Sergeant First Class in the Army Reserves. In January I became the Leader of the  Family Readiness Group for the 374th Engineer Company (supporting families and soldiers in  Eric’s unit), and most recently I joined the VFW Post 1929 Auxiliary here in Petaluma. BTW - thank  you again to all the PMC momma’s who came out in June to help the Auxiliary pack up 75 care  packages to send to solider in Afghanistan. You ladies rocked it!!

     Why did you join the PMC?

     Years ago I was at the Starbucks at the southend of Lakeville. While I waited for my coffee I saw a  business card for the Petaluma Mother’s Club. I think I must have been lonely for friends in the  area because I remember wishing I could check it out, but i wasn't even remotely close to being  ready to have kids. Fast forward who knows how many years, I got pregnant, remembered that  card and looked it up. I’m so glad I did. 

     What do you like most about the PMC?

     This is the first time I haven’t been working since I was 17. You don’t realize how much of your  social life is wrapped around your job until you don’t have one. Being a stay at home mom can  be pretty lonely and as an introvert, it can be a challenge to meet new people. PMC has  presented opportunities for connection and laid the path for so many new friendships with  other moms and dads going through the same ups and downs we are. I am tremendously  grateful for friendships I have found through this group. Oh, and the Buy, Sell, Trade group is  pretty great too :P

  • 08/22/2018 3:53 PM | Deleted user



    Julianne Buchler

    August Board Member of the Month



     Where would you like to live? 


     In Petaluma! My husband, Rick, son James (6 months), and cat Smitty, and I moved to Petaluma  from Chicago this past June. It was a very fast move for us, as Rick was offered a job at the  Sonoma Valley Hospital in Administration and we had to say “yes” within 3 days! We packed up  and headed out a few weeks later, having rented a home on Craigslist sight-unseen and not  knowing anyone in (or anything much in general about) the area! It turned out to be paradise in  our opinion. I keep saying to Rick, “there must be something we are missing, because nowhere  can be this great”! The people in Petaluma are amazing and (thanks greatly to PMC!) we have  already met some great friends and are feeling right at home. 


     What is your idea of perfect happiness? 


     Ten months ago, I am sitting at work on a conference call. The call is going well – I am leading a  team and our project is successful. I am feeling good about what we are accomplishing. I think  to myself “I have worked hard for this and I am happy – this is what I am meant to be doing”.  Fast forward to any single day following January 28th, 2018, the day our son Sterling James was  born. I find myself sitting on many occasions, a smile on my face, a cup of tea beside me, along  with a book (of fiction and not work-related!), and the most beautiful creature I could imagine,  (my son!) asleep in my lap. It strikes me, as it always does, that I am so grateful to finally know  what perfect happiness feels like (this could also be part of the reason that at 6 months, we  have not yet managed to transition to the crib for naptime…) 


     What has been your greatest journey?


     This is a good question to follow the last, as it is has been an amazing journey to finally feel like I  am doing what I was always meant to – nurturing my family including my husband, son, and of  course our rescue cat, Smitty. Starting in Calgary, Canada as a Registered Nurse, I graduated in  2003 and took the opportunity to travel through Australia and work in Edinburgh, Scotland.  Loving the UK, I returned in 2008 did my MBA at Oxford University, living and working in London  afterwards. For the past 7 years, I have been a traveling healthcare consultant, ending up in  Chicago where I met my husband, Rick. Life up until that point had been fast-paced, transitional,  challenging, and never quite settled (though definitely exciting). The move to Petaluma brings  great changes to our family and the opportunity for us to slow down, enjoy each other, and be  grateful for what Rick calls the “salad days”. 


     What is your greatest fear? 


     Fortunate to have traveled a lot and lived in multiple places in three countries, my greatest fear  is and has always been missing out on time with family members who are far away. This is the  reason that James, at 6 months, has already flown internationally three times, as well as across  the US twice! We are fortunate to be very close to our family both in Canada, as well as the US,  and to have many close friends (like family!) in many different places. It is our priority to spend  time together and that means that we are good at using our Southwest and United points and    that James is already wondering how it is possible that his grandparents live in mama’s smart  phone. Lucky for us, Petaluma is a travel destination of the world, so we are assured many  visitors and our guest room is always at the ready.


  • 07/31/2018 2:04 PM | Deleted user


  • 07/21/2018 4:30 PM | Deleted user

    Back to School Book Recommendations for Young Children

    Submitted by Megan Cusimano 


    1. The Kissing Hand 

    By Audrey Penn

     Grab a tissue! The secret shared in this book empowers children to “take care” of their parents on their first day of school! 


    2. If You Take a Mouse to School 

    By Laura Numeroff 

    A wonderful book in this series! You will laugh with your child about all the demands the mouse makes on his trip to school. 


    3. David Goes to School 

    By David Shannon 

    A great way to spark a conversation about all the things to NOT do at school!  


    4.  Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes 

    By James Dean 

    The ever-mellow, Pete the Cat shows us how to see the positives in everything and just have fun. Check out the YouTube videos with the songs! 


    5. Llama Llama Misses Mama 

    By Anna Dewdney 

    Another wonderful series. This is a fantastic book for children dealing with separation anxiety.  


    6. First Day Jitters 

    By Julie Danneberg 

    This is a great book for children that have “butterflies in their stomach” about the first day of school. It depicts teachers as relatable and human. 


    7.  Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten 

    By Joseph Slate 

    A funny ABC book about Miss Bindergarten and her students getting ready for kindergarten. It gives children some insight about what their classroom may look like and what their teacher is doing to get it ready. 


    8. The Night Before Preschool/The Night Before Kindergarten 

    By Natasha Wing 

    This is a wonderful rhyming book that can be used to ease fear and anxiety about school. The book finds fun in school while acknowledging fears. (I wouldn’t recommend it for students that are not having anxiety about school).  


    9. Maisy Goes to Preschool 

    By Lucy Cousins 

    A straightforward story about what school looks like. This book isn’t focused on the emotions, but rather on how a school day runs. The Maisy series is a good one to check out! 


    10.  It’s Time for School, Stinky Face 

    By Lisa McCourt and Cyd Moore 

    A silly book about a child with a wild imagination about school. His calm mother reassures him with funny solutions. I Love You Stinky Face is a favorite in our house. This is a nice follow up to it.


    *The books are hyperlinked to Amazon, but most of them can also be found at Target.*

The Petaluma Mothers' Club

P.O. Box 521 Petaluma, CA 94953-0521

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