Au Pairs were among the thousands of people enjoying th
e mild weather to watch the parade and fireworks!
Category Archives: Fun Things We Do
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 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
October Cluster Events
A "first" for many au pairs-they had never carved a pumpkin in their home country
Heather’s cluster (CHE) will visit Goebbert’s Pumpkin Farm for her annual Host Family Workshop. The US Department of State requires all host families to attend an annual Host Family Workshop.
Angela (CHA) and Ginny (CHL) will meet their au pairs downtown for a performance of the Midnight Circus in Franken Plaza-aka Daley Plaza
Kathy K. (CHG) is hosting a costume party for her au pairs. The cluster will vote and decide the winner!
Sandee (CHF) is having a pumpkin carving party and her au pairs will be in costume.
Maria (CHR) is hosting a costume party with ghoulish snacks and games at her house. They will top off the evening with a hay ride and trip to the haunted forest.
Project Linus
Over 90 Chicagoland au pairs and their community counselors volunteered their time to make over 100 blankets for Project Linus- an organization that distributes handmade blankets to children in hospitals.
Chicagoland au pair "blanketeers" pose by their completed blankets at the end of a long, but fulfilling afternoon
Chicagoland au pairs with their completed blankets-sure to put a smile on a child's face!