Groundhog Day is February 2nd.  

Groundhog Day is held on Feb. 2, in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania every year, and you might be wondering how a groundhog landed the job of predicting the weather. If you’re unfamiliar with the tradition, it goes like this: If the groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, sees his shadow, we’re stuck with six more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t see his shadow, we luck out with an early spring.

The tradition dates back to 1887, and though the origins are unclear, it is said to have originated from ancient Europe.   It also has religious origins, as it shares similarities with Candelmas Day, which is also today.  There is  an old English saying, “If Candlemas be fair and bright,/ Come, Winter, have another flight.

Here are fun facts about Groundhog Day:

1. Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow the overwhelming majority of years

2. The National Climatic Data Center reportedly stated that Phil’s prediction’s have been correct 39 percent of the time. This number is in conflict with Phil’s followers, who claim he’s been correct every year.

3. Following the release of the movie Groundhog Day in 1993, starring Bill Murray, as many as  30,000 made the trip to visit the tiny hill in Punxsutawney where the ceremony takes place.

4. Groundhogs typically live only six to eight years

This cake is a lie! Sealed Air Corp

America’s beloved Bubble Wrap turns 50 today, proving that even ephemeral plastic bubbles can morph into a timeless invention. But consider that if the original inventors had their way, people would have used “Air Cap” as wallpaper — a concept that would have undoubtedly proved as fulfilling as the prototype model future homes of the 1950s.

Bubble Wrap represents perhaps the ultimate garage invention as the brainchild of New Jersey engineers Marc Chavannes and Al Fielding in 1960. Yet it only took off as fun air-filled shipping material after the wall decor idea died, and people soon discovered the joys of popping each air-filled bubble by hand, or en masse using their bodies or other implements.

Manufacturer Sealed Air Corp. has recognized the joy that its product brings by officially declaring this Monday Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day. Part of the celebration involves a limited one-day run of golden Bubble Wrap at the company’s Saddle River, N.J. facility, and the rest is presumably up to the end users. Do you store the golden Bubble Wrap for the grandkids, or do you indulge your inner child here and now?

It’s somewhat remarkable that a love of Bubble Wrap remains alive and well even in an age when the digital world’s allure may increasingly substitute for simpler worldly pleasures. Millions of Facebook users have declared themselves fans of Bubble Wrap, and Bandai has rolled out a virtual bubble-popping app for your iPhone or iPod.

So take some time today at work or at home to roll some Bubble Wrap between your fingers, find a satisfying air pocket, and squeeze. And don’t forget that kids love to pop those little bubbles too! Just don’t get caught in a traffic jam with a 7 year old popping bubble wrap in the back seat!

Au Pairs in the Chicago area are challenged to find fun and interesting things to do with children while indoors during the cold, winter months.  Au pairs are encouraged to provide interactive child care and to have a new activity planned for the children in their care.

Muddy Hand Cookies

2/3 cup butter

1 cup sugar

2 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

2 ½ cups flour

½ cup unsweetened cocoa mix

½ tsp baking soda

¼ tsp salt

Cream butter, sugar and vanilla together. Add eggs one at a time and mix well. Place all dry ingredients in a bowl, mix thoroughly and then add to butter mixture. Blend together thoroughly.

Chill dough in wax paper until firm; about 2 hours.

Roll dough to ¼” thick on floured surface.

Lay your hand on the dough and cut around to make your hand print.

Bake  on an ungreased cookie sheet at 350F for 6-8 minutes!

ABC’s of Winter Fun

A is for Art – try drawing, painting or gluing
B is for Baking – bake a dessert together for dinner
C is for Clay – Use non-hardening clay or play dough to shape and mold
D is for Dance – put on a lively tape
E is for Exercise – be sure to get some everyday
F is for Friends – invite some over
G is for Greenhouse – find a local greenhouse to visit to enjoy the sights and smells
H is for House – make a playhouse from a large appliance box
I is for Ice skating – take the children to a local rink
J is for Jigsaw puzzle – be sure to pick one that isn’t too difficult
K is for Kitchen science – try a safe experiment
L is for Library – borrow some new books
M is for Movie – make one with a video camera, or watch one
N is for Necklace – make one out of cereal or macaroni
O is for Origami – learn to make simple paper creations
P is for Puppets – socks make easy and fun puppets – put on a show!
Q is for Quiet Time – everyone needs some of this
R is for Reading aloud – choose a good book and a comfortable place to sit
S is for Seeds and Suet – put out food for the birds and watch them eat
T is for Tent – make one from old blankets and chairs
U is for Unplugged – do a day with no TV
V is for Variety – try something new everyday
W is for Walk – take one in any weather (be sure to dress appropriately)
X is for Xylophone – make your own with glasses, water and a metal spoon
Y is for Year – make a calendar or scrapbook to remember the year
Z is for Zoo – visit the animals

Indoor “Drive-in” Movie

Help your child to decorate a box as a car so he can sit in it to watch a movie. Make movie tickets. Consider inviting a couple of other kids to join in.

Choose a new or old favorite movie for a special ‘cold afternoon treat’.

Serve appropriate snacks to eat during the movie.

Happy Halloween!

Pizza is easy and fun to make. Buy ready made pizza dough (in the refrigerated or freezer section at the supermarket) or a ready-made crust (in the bread department), shredded mozzarella cheese and a jar of pizza sauce. Follow the directions on the crust package and you’ll have a kid fave ready to go!  Add fruit and a vegetable and watch how fast lunch disappears!

Pumpkins rot quickly, so now is the time to carve one, just in time for  Halloween.

If you weren’t able to visit one of our recommended Pumpkin Farms, its time to head to the grocery store to choose a pumpkin!   Tip! Limit the size the children choose by telling them they have to carry their own.

A "first" for many au pairs-they had never carved a pumpkin in their home country

Trick or Treat!?!

Have fun and enjoy this unique day.  For safety tips, costume ideas and recipes visit http://aupairinamerica.com/resources/calendars/#31

Seeing that I live right in the city, 20 floors above Michigan Avenue, going to a pumpkin patch every fall is a big deal to my 4 1/2 year old.  We drove by a vacant lot selling pumpkins on North Avenue on Saturday, which of course started the questions-“Mommy, when are we going to pick punkins (sic)?  Can I get a reaaally big one?”

So, here are three pumpkin farms that friends have recommended to me: Bengston’s Pumpkin Fest in Homer Glen; Goebbert’s Pumpkin Farm in Barrington; and Johansen’s Farms in Bolingbrook.

I have no financial interest in any of these farms, nor have I visited any of them.  But would love your input. 

What is your favorite local Pumpkin Patch?

You may think of baseball as a summer sport, but the Major League Baseball post-season has just begun.  There hasn’t been much talk about the World Series in Chicago, probably because we don’t have a team in the playoffs.  Nevertheless its time to Play Ball!  If you are not familiar with the rules of baseball, you can learn them here http://aupairinamerica.com/resources/life_in_the_us/baseball.asp

In my opinion, all you really need to know is what to do during the seventh inning stretch. Between the halves of the seventh inning of any game the fans all stand up to stretch, get last minute snacks and SING.  Yes, they sing  “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”.  Here in Chicago the late Harry Caray regularly led the crowd in a rousing rendition of the song, originally written by Jack Norworth.

“Take me out to the ball game; take me out with the crowd.  Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack, I don’t care if I never get back, Let me root, root, root for the CUBBIES, if they don’t win it’s a shame.  For its one, two, three strikes, you’re out, at the old ball game.”

So, au pairs, get some peanuts and Cracker Jacks and take part in a great American tradition!

Original Version of Take Me Out to the Ball Game

“Take me out to the ball game, take me out with the crowd.  Buy me some peanuts and cracker jack, I don’t care if I never get back,
Let me root, root, root for the home team, if they don’t win it’s a shame.  For its one, two, three strikes, you’re out, at the old ball game.”