Monthly Archives: October 2009

October is National Pizza Month!

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!

Time to carve your pumpkins!

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

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

Saturday is Sweetest Day

When I first came to live in Chicago, I had no idea what Sweetest Day was.  A quick Google search enlightened me.  Sweetest Day is basically Valentine’s Day in October.   Apparently Sweetest Day was the brainchild of candy makers attempting to convince people there are health benefits to eating candy and chocolate everyday! Hmmmmm, or should I say YUM…but don’t let your host children hear that!

The most typical way to celebrate Sweetest Day is to exchange romantic gifts with a loved one, though families and friends may give flowers, fruit bouquets, chocolates, and cute e-cards.

Whatever you do to celebrate, Sweetest Day is a great way to brighten a dreary October day.

A Fall Family Tradition…

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?

The Disney Trip

For the past five years Chicago community counselors Sandee and Kathy have been taking au pairs for a whirlwind tour of Disney.  Between them they have been to Disney World over 50 times and plan the trip so the au pirs can see ALL four Disney Parks in three days.

Au pairs from Chicago had a wonderful time at the Magic Kingdom, and all the Disney parks
Au pairs from Chicago had a wonderful time at the Magic Kingdom, and all the Disney parks

The World Series

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.”