Did you know that the Christmas Tree as we know it originated in Germany. The children were not allowed to see the tree until Christmas Eve. The tree would be decorated with candies, nuts, cookies, apples, angels, tinsel, family treasures and candles. The presents were put under the tree and a bell was rung. The children would enter the room where they would sing carols, read stories and open presents. The Christmas Tree did not become popular around the world until 1848 when Queen Vicktoria talked her husband, Prince Albert, into decorating a tree in their home following the German traditions he grew up with. At that point other countries tried to compete with the Queen and each tree became more extravagant.
Tag Archives: au pair
SUNTREK Travel Tours
Au Pair in America is thrilled to announce a new exclusive agreement with SUNTREK Active & Adventure travel. SUNTREK has been offering regional tours of the US for young adults for almost 40 years and many of our au pairs have already experienced their fun, rugged, yet comfortable style of travel.
Au pairs with Au Pair in America will receive a 20% discount off the published rate! Visit http://www.suntrek.com/_us/aupairs.php to plan your SUNTREK Adventure
Happy Halloween!
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
Halloween is coming…
Trick or Treat!?!
Have fun and enjoy this unique day. For safety tips, costume ideas and recipes visit http://aupairinamerica.com/resources/calendars/#31
Happy Sweetest 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?
In 1492 Columbus sailed the Ocean Blue. Happy Columbus Day!
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