Tag Archives: Bowie

Maryland Crab Feast Cluster Meeting

photo2We had a crab feast/pool party cluster meeting at Whitehall Pool in Bowie on August 10.  This was Lisa Maxwell’s first official cluster meeting as community counselor. We had au pairs in attendance from nine different countries: Germany, Bolivia, Brazil, South Africa, France, Thailand, Mexico, Panama & Costa Rica.  It was the first time any of these au pairs had ever tried eating crabs.

We also played a game called “Do you know Maryland?” I tried to stump them with questions about all things Maryland including: Annapolis, the Orioles, the Ravens, Edgar Allen Poe, the Chesapeake Bay and that Baltimore term of endearment, “‘hon.”

Their reviews on the crabs were mixed.  A few enjoyed them, but several were completely grossed out. We had a lot of fun!

Free & $1 Summer Movies

When the kids are out of school for the summer, one place to cool off is at the movie theater. Below are three theaters in different parts of our cluster area that are offering $1 or free kid’s movies each week of the summer.

Tips to maximize your free movie enjoyment:

  • Movie admission is $1, but bring additional money for popcorn and/or drinks, if desired.
  • I suggest you arrive at least 15 minutes early to get a good place to sit.  Some of the movies can be very popular and fill up.
  • Have all the kids make a bathroom stop before going into the movie.
  • Do your homework and google the movie that’s playing in advance to make sure it will be a good one for your child/ren.
  • As with any outing, ask your host parents before taking the child/ren to the movies.
  • If you take the kids to the movie in Silver Spring, check out the fountain in Silver Plaza afterwards. Bring a towel and a dry change of clothes for the kids.  It’s hard to resist splashing in the fountain.

After the movie, do activities related to the movie:

  • Ask the children what were their favorite parts of the movie.
  • Find crafts related to the movie to complete with them.
  • Let the children act out parts of the movies.  Use household items as props and dress up in costumes to make it more fun.

BOWIE STADIUM 14

15200 Major Lansdale Blvd, Bowie, MD, 301-262-9133

Doors open at 9:30 am, Movie starts at 10 am

6/10-6/11   Hotel Transylvania (PG), The Smurfs 2 (PG)

6/17-6/18   Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (PG), The Pirates: Band of Misfits (PG)

6/24-6/25   Arthur Christmas (PG), Despicable Me 2 (PG)

7/1-7/2       Lego Movie (PG), Free Birds (PG)

7/8-7/9       Adventures of Tin Tin (PG), Rise of the Guardians (PG)

7/15-7/16   Kung Fu Panda 2 (PG), Madagascar 3 (PG)

7/22-7/23   The Croods (PG), Epic (PG)

7/29-7/30   Turbo (PG), Walking with Dinosaurs (PG)

8/5-8/6       Mr. Peabody & Sherman (PG), Rio 2 (PG)


MAJESTIC STADIUM 20 & IMAX

900 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring MD, 301-565-8884

Doors open at 9:30 am, Movie starts at 10 am

6/17-6/18   Hotel Transylvania (PG), The Smurfs 2 (PG)

6/24-6/25   Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 (PG), The Pirates: Band of Misfits (PG)

7/1-7/2       Arthur Christmas (PG), Despicable Me 2 (PG)

7/8-7/9       Lego Movie (PG), Free Birds (PG)

7/15-7/16   Adventures of Tin Tin (PG), Rise of the Guardians (PG)

7/22-7/23   Kung Fu Panda 2 (PG), Madagascar 3 (PG)

7/29-7/30   The Croods (PG), Epic (PG)

8/5-8/6       Turbo (PG), Walking with Dinosaurs (PG)

8/12-8/13   Mr. Peabody & Sherman (PG), Rio 2 (PG)


Annapolis Harbour 9 (FREE)

2474 Solomons Island Rd, Annapolis, MD, 410-224-1145

Doors open at 9 am, Movie starts at 10 am

6/24-6/25   The Croods (PG)

7/1-7/2       Epic (PG)

7/8-7/9       Walking with Dinosaurs (PG)

7/15-7/16   Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (PG)

7/22-7/23   Ice Age 4: Continental Drift (PG)

7/29-7/30 Alvin & the Chipmucks: The Squeakquel (PG)

8/5-8/6       Alvin & the Chipmucks: Chip Wrecked (PG)

8/12-8/13   Mr. Peabody & Sherman (PG)

8/18-8/20   Rio 2 (PG)

Au Pairs Working as Santa's Helpers

Rockledge Elementary had their Annual Holiday Shop on Friday, 12/6. Au Pair in America sponsored the arts & crafts activities: providing the craft supplies as well as some volunteers to assist the children. Four au pairs volunteered: Joanne from Colombia, Pamela from Brazil Ana from Costa Rica and Yuli from Mexico. In addition to being an au pair, Yuli is a professional photographer and she volunteered to take the pictures of the children with Santa.
0980932452006

Free & $1 Summer Movies!

When the kids are out of school for the summer, one place to cool off is at the movie theater. Below are three theaters in different parts of our cluster area that are offering $1 or free kid’s movies each week of the summer.

popcorn

Tips to maximize your free movie enjoyment:

  • Movie admission is $1, but bring additional money for popcorn and/or drinks, if desired.
  • I suggest you arrive at least 15 minutes early to get a good place to sit.  Some of the movies can be very popular and fill up.
  • Have all the kids make a bathroom stop before going into the movie.
  • Do your homework and google the movie that’s playing in advance to make sure it will be a good one for your child/ren.
  • As with any outing, ask your host parents before taking the child/ren to the movies.
  • If you take the kids to the movie in Silver Spring, check out the fountain in Silver Plaza afterwards. Bring a towel and a dry change of clothes for the kids.  It’s hard to resist splashing in the fountain.
  • After the movie, do activities related to the movie:

  • Ask the children what were their favorite parts of the movie.
  • Find crafts related to the movie to complete with them.
  • Let the children act out parts of the movies.  Use household items as props and dress up in costumes to make it more fun.
  • BOWIE STADIUM 14

    15200 Major Lansdale Blvd, Bowie, MD, 301-262-9133

    Doors open at 9:30 am, Movie starts at 10 am

    6/12-6/13 – JOURNEY 2 & KIT KITTREDGE: AMERICAN GIRL
    6/19-6/20 – DOLPHIN TALE & HAPPY FEET TWO
    6/26-6/27 – LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS & YOGI BEAR
    7/3-7/4 – CATS & DOGS: REVENGE & HUGO
    7/10-7/11 – ADVENTURES OF TIN TIN & PUSS IN BOOTS
    7/17-7/18 – KUNG FU PANDA 2 & RANGO
    7/24-7/25 – RIO & SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME
    7/31-8/1 – CHIMPANZEE & HOODWINKED TOO
    8/7-8/8 – ARTHUR CHRISTMAS & SMURFS

    MAJESTIC STADIUM 20 & IMAX

    900 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring MD, 301-565-8884

    Doors open at 9:30 am, Movie starts at 10 am

    6/19-6/20 – JOURNEY 2 & KIT KITTREDGE: AMERICAN GIRL
    6/26-6/27 – DOLPHIN TALE & HAPPY FEET TWO
    7/3-7/4  – LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS & YOGI BEAR
    7/10-7/11  – CATS & DOGS: REVENGE & HUGO
    7/17-7/18 – ADVENTURES OF TIN TIN & PUSS IN BOOTS
    7/24-7/25  – KUNG FU PANDA 2 & RANGO
    7/31-8/1  – RIO & SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME
    8/7-8/8  – CHIMPANZEE & HOODWINKED TOO
    8/14-8/15  – ARTHUR CHRISTMAS & SMURFS

    Annapolis Harbour 9 (FREE)

    2474 Solomons Island Rd, Annapolis, MD, 410-224-1145

    Doors open at 9 am, Movie starts at 10 am

    6/19-6/20 – CATS & DOGS: REVENGE
    6/26-6/27 – LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS
    7/3-7/4  –  YOGI BEAR
    7/10-7/11  – HAPPY FEET TWO
    7/17-7/18 – JOURNEY 2
    7/24-7/25  – DOLPHIN TALE
    7/31-8/1  – SHORTS
    8/7-8/8  – INKHEART
    8/14-8/15  – HAPPY FEET

    Au Pairs Volunteer to Make a Difference

    warm nights 3A dozen au pairs from our cluster volunteered at Holy Trinity Church in Bowie on Sunday. The church was hosting a week of the Warm Nights Homeless Shelter Program.  Our au pairs donated food and prepared bag lunches for the guests.  We also led a few games of bingo, for an after dinner activity.

    We had more donations than we needed for the number of guests. The bags of extra fresh fruit, bread, cookies, water bottles , peanut butter and jelly were donated to the Bowie Interfaith Food Pantry.  So, it turned out to be a double service project.

    Here are a few pictures of the lunch making assembly line…

    warm nights

    warm nights 2

    Au Pairs Working as Santa's Helpers

    P1180121Rockledge Elementary had their Annual Holiday Shop on Friday, 12/9.  Au Pair in America sponsored the arts & crafts activities: providing the craft supplies as well as some volunteers to assist the children.  Three au pair volunteered: Alex from Austria, Šárka from the Czech Republic and Sabrina from Germany. The students kept us busy! One of the volunteers, Šárka said,  “I´m glad I was there, it was a nice time with the kids.”

    You can see more pictures from the Holiday Shop here in the article on the Bowie Patch.


    Laser Tag Cluster Meeting

    On Sunday, 11/6 we had a great cluster meeting at The Castle Laser Tag in Bowie, MD. It was the first time most of the au pairs had played laser tag. Before the laser tag, there were a few very competitive games of air hockey too. My au pairs surprised me with some cupcakes and a card to celebrate my birthday, which was two days earlier.