Tag Archives: Au Pair in America

Tasty Treats to Make With Pumpkin – Part 2: Muffins/Scones

October 27, 2013 – 12:55 am

Pumpkin Muffins make great after school snacks or a Saturday morning breakfast treat for you Host Family…

Note: When Americans make many baked goods with pumpkin at this time of year, we use a lot of “pumpkin spice:” which includes nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, cloves etc.

And you can add other ingredients to a pumpkin muffin…

I love chocolate chips, so this recipe is for: Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins, using canned pumpkin

Moist Pumpkin Protein Muffins

Pumpkin Apple Muffins

From a fantastic website called “Cooking With My Kids” lots of great recipes for all kinds of food you can make with the children in your home…Best Ever Pumpkin Muffins

As my family is from Scotland, I cannot help but add a Scottish favorite to be eaten with a cup of tea: Spiced Pumpkin Scones. These are very similar to the ones you see at Starbucks! But are from a site called inspiredtaste.com.

This is all making me very hungry…I’m heading to the kitchen to try one of these recipes right now!

Victoria

Tasty Treats to Make With Pumpkin – Part 1: Pumpkin Bread

October 25, 2013 – 12:34 am

After you’ve carved a great face or design into your pumpkin,

don’t throw away the “pumpkin pulp” or seeds.

This is a first in a series of recipes using the insides of a pumpkin!

#1 Easy to make Pumpkin Bread Recipes:

Wikipedia says: Pumpkin bread is a type of moist quick bread made with pumpkin. The pumpkin can be cooked and softened before being used or simply baked with the bread. Frequent add-ins include nuts, chocolate chips or raisins.

Click here for the recipe from PickYourOwn.org

and here is a recipe from the Food Network

Eggnog Pumpkin Bread with canned pumpkin puree

Eggnog in pumpkin bread sounds delicious…off to try it!

Autumn Outdoor Fun for Au Pairs and Host Families in Montgomery County, Maryland

October 23, 2013 – 12:15 am

Corn maze

So many Pre-Halloween Activities in our Area! Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes, Hay Rides, Apple Picking and more…

MNCPPC Agricultural History Farm Park – Harvest Festival with hayrides, old-time games, music, crafts, sheep dog demonstrations, food
18400 Muncaster Mill Road, Derwood, MD. Phone: 301-721-0312. Open: October 6th and 7th (in 2007) from 11 am to 4 pm. Cclick the link to their website for later years dates. Admission is $5 per car. There is no pumpkin patch on the property and hayrides are not given days other than for the Harvest Festival. The Farm Park is open to the public to explore the historical farm site.
Butler’s Orchard – pumpkin patch, 1-acre corn maze, straw maze, pumpkin coach, pony rides and more
22200 Davis Mill Road, Germantown, MD. Phone: 301-972-3299. the pumpkin patch is open Tuesday to Friday for Pumpkin Harvest Days. the farm market is open Tuesday through Sunday. Open for Harvest Days, Tuesdays-Fridays, 9:30-5 pm; Pumpkin Festival, 10 am to 5 pm (weekends and Columbus Day, October). Admission (in 2006) is $9/person for weekend pumpkin festivals (under 2 is FREE). Directions and map. Evening hayrides May to December. Click here for the events calendar. Credit cards accepted. Click here for current hours and crops that are ready!
Gazebo Garden Center and Nursery – pumpkins, a pumpkin and straw mountain.
13101 Clopper Rd., Germantown, MD. Phone: 301-972-1010. Through October 20, Open: Monday through Saturday 9 to 7, Sundays 10 to 6; October 21-31, Open: Monday through Saturday 9 to 8, Sundays 10 to 7. Free pumpkin patch play area with stuffed cartoon characters.
Great Meadows Farm – pumpkins, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, child-sized haybale maze, prepicked produce, restrooms, picnic area, tractor-pulled hay rides, petting zoo
6901 Annapolis Rock Rd., Woodbine, MD 21702. Phone: 301-253-5038. Email us at: click here. Crops are usually available in September, October, November. Open: We are open by appointment September through November. Payment: Cash, Check. We are a family owned/operated petting farm specializing in pre-k/ special education classes. We have chickens, pigs, horses, sheep, goats, cats, a hay ride, picnic area, and maze. Children can feed and pet the animals, play games, and stay for a picnic lunch. We also do birthday parties and church events.
Homestead Farm – Uses integrated pest management practices, pumpkins, Pick-your-own apples, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, tractor-pulled hay rides, Honey from hives on the farm, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, farm animals, school tours
15604 Sugarland Road, Poolesville, MD 20837. Phone: 301-977-3761. Email: Click here for a map and directions. Check our website for approximate harvest dates and other information. We use integrated pest management practices. Payment: Cash, Debit cards, Visa/MasterCard, Discover. (UPDATED: May 04, 2010)
Comments from a visitor, May 28, 2008: “My friends and I go to homestead farm (Poolesville, MD) every year for Apple and Pumpkin picking. This is the first year that we are going to do Strawberries. They have their own canned goods and cider, hayrides, and fun activities for the kids in summer and autumn. It’s an easy ride outside of DC or from VA (and no, there are NO farms in DC to have any PYO). I love your site! thank you for your VERY valuable service! 🙂 “
Norman’s Farm Market – Minimizes chemical and pesticide use, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field,
Jones Mill Road and East-west Highway, Chevy Chase, MD 20815. Phone: 301-674-9929. Email: Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Directions: See website for directions. Click here for a map and directions. We minimize use of pesticides and other chemicals. Payment: Cash, Check, Debit cards, Visa/MasterCard, Discover, AmEx. (ADDED: February 26, 2010)
Phillips Farm – pumpkin patch, free hayrides, petting zoo, weekend pony rides
13710 Schaeffer Road, Germantown. Phone: 301-540-2364. Email: Fried Green Tomatoes, Marinated Fried Green Tomatoes, Grilled Sweet Corn, Taste of Summer Salad, Stuffed Pattypan Squash.
Pirate Adventure Corn Maze – pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, Fall festival, corn maze, haunted corn maze, tractor-pulled hay rides, wagon rides, haunted house, haunted rides, haunted trail, snacks and refreshment stand, restrooms, picnic area, Bouncy castle or moon bounce, pony rides, farm animals, birthday parties, school tours, events at your location (call for info)
19000 Darnestown Road, Beallesville, MD 20839. Phone: 301-948-3141. Alternate Phone: 240-994-6479. Email: Click here for current open hours, days and dates. Directions: Check out our website for directions. Click here for a map and directions. Payment: Cash, only. This unique pirate themed corn maze is 5 acres and features hay rides, treasure hunts, food, games, and more.
(ADDED: October 27, 2009)
Rock Hill Orchard – Apples, beans, blackberries, cherries, flowers, pumpkins, raspberries, strawberries, pumpkin patch-pick in the field, pumpkin patch- already gathered from the field, prepicked produce, tractor-pulled hay rides
28600 Ridge Road, Mount Airy, MD 21771. Phone: 301-831-7427 And for a map to our farm, click here. Crops are usually available in June, July, August, September, October. Open: Late April through October each day 9am-5pm. Open for pick your own June through October. Call for specific dates and times. Payment: Cash, Check, Visa/MasterCard. pick your own tart cherries.
Rockville Flower & Garden Spot – straw maze, straw mountain, petting zoo, pony rides
Mid-Pike Plaza Shopping Center, 11800B Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD. Phone: 301-984-3565 or 301-294-6800. Open: Through October 20, Monday-Saturday 9 to 7, Sundays 10 to 6; October 21-31, open Monday-Saturday 9 to 9, Sundays 10 to 7. Free Pumpkinville Festival takes place daily through October 31. Kids can play on a straw mountain and walk through a free, 300-foot straw maze decorated with stuffed cartoon characters. For additional fees October 21, 22 and 29, pony rides, moon bounces and other children’s activities. The Haunted Trail of Terror, an electronic walk-through attraction for ages 10 and older, additional fee required, is open Saturdays and Sundays in October.

Thanks to Pumpkinpatchesandmore.org for this abundance of information!

"Au Pair in America Day" Thurs 6/27 For Mini Golf at Bohrer Park

June 2, 2013 – 11:20 am

Hurray for Au Pair in America! On Thursday, June 27 all Au Pairs, Host Families and children will have a discount on Mini Golf at Bohrer Park in Gaithersburg as they have designated that day as Au Pair in America Day and golf will be $6 for unlimited play!

I know that many closer-to-DC towns think that Gaithersburg is too far, but while it really isn’t (either via 270 or via back roads), its lack of congestion, inexpensive activities and plentiful free parking are worth the ride.

If you are willing to drive a little further West and North you will discover a great and very inexpensive place to have family fun: Bohrer Park at Summit Hall – just off of 355 north of Montgomery College and just down the road from the Gaithersburg Costc0! (sharing the same driveway as Gaithersburg High School). Click here for directions.

Bohrer Park offers Mini Golf, a Water Park and a Skate Park all in a shaded, outdoor complex.

Mini Golf: Mini Golf per game is $6 or unlimited for $8

Hours for 2013 Season

Play must start one hour prior to posted closing.

May 4 – June 14
Monday – Friday: Closed
Saturday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Monday, May 27: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. (Holiday)

June 15 – August 25
Sunday – Thursday: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Thursday, July 4: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. (Holiday)

August 26 – October 13
Monday – Friday: Closed
Saturday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Monday, September 2: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. (Holiday)

In case of Inclement Weather please call 301-258-6350 to verify if we are open.

Special Promotional DaysSunday, May 12, 2013 – Mother’s Day
Mothers play for free with a paid customer

Thursday, June 27, 2013 – Au Pair in America Day

$4 for one round of golf and $6 for all-day unlimited golf

Sunday, June 16, 2013 – Father’s Day
Fathers play for free with a paid customer

Sunday, July 14, 2013 – Couple’s Day
One date member pays… the other plays for free

Sunday, August 4, 2013 – Military Day
Show your Military ID / buy one get one free

Sunday, August 18, 2013 – Senior Day
55 and older /buy one 2nd plays free

Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013 – Grandparent’s Day
Grandparents play for free with a paid customer

Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013 Final day!
Closing day for 2013. Half-price ice cream with paid admission ticket

Water Park:

	2013 Weekday Admission		2013 Weekend and Holiday Admission
	Residents*	Non-Res	Residents*	Non-Res
All Ages (ages 3 and above)	$5.75	$6.75	$5.75	$8.00
Putt-n-Pool Pass	$9.25	$10.25	$9.25	$12.00
Twilight Discount of .50* off* (per person) for admissions purchased after 5:30 p.m.

A major attraction at The Water Park (for those 48″ and taller) is the double water slide that is 250 feet long and twists and turns into the splash pool. For the adventuresome, the blue slide offers a breathtakingly fast ride, while the white slide offers a tamer, slower water journey. Choose the trip that suits you!

The children’s splash pool, designed for children of a height 54 inches or less, includes a custom in-water play structure with open and closed flume slides that pays homage to the state of Maryland with Black-Eyed Susan and Blue Heron play features.

There are play pieces outside the pool, plenty of shade for little ones, and a special eating area for families. For your convenience, there is even a bathroom located within the fenced area equipped with a changing station.

The locker rooms are designed to accommodate the needs of our patrons and feature child height hair dryers, baby changing stations, lower toilet facilities, a family changing room and all traditional amenities.

Your day at the park is not limited to the water and sun! Enjoy our playground, picnic tables, and a snack bar managed by Boardwalk Fries. You’ll also find high back sand chairs and chaise lounges spread throughout the park. And when you need to get out of the sun, there’s plenty of shaded areas.

Strawberry Picking in Montgomery County…almost time!

May 26, 2013 – 11:08 am

Taking children strawberry picking can be a great outing during the day or with your Host Family or friends on the weekend.

Do take some ziplock bags or other container to bring the fruit home as well as some money…You are charged for the strawberries you pick by the pound at a register near the exit.

Below is an excerpt from a very thorough article from an amazing DC family and au pair resource: KidFriendly DC website.

Butler’s Orchard in Germantown or Homestead Farm in Poolesville are two easy-to-reach strawberry picking farms in suburban Maryland…call or look on their webpages before you go for hours of operation and picking times.

Homestead Farm
Strawberry season is expected to open in early June this year, likely due to the cool temps we had for longer than usual. You can sign up to receive weekly updates by email, so you know when they open. Along with berry picking, there are animals to visit — goats, pigs, and chickens are some of the farm’s bestial residents. And Homestead scores high on aesthetics — the lovely pastoral setting in Montgomery County makes you feel like you’re way more than 20 miles from the city. The farm is open seven days a week from 9:30am – 6pm, though pick-your-own ends at 5:30.

strawberry chlidren

Butler’s Orchard
The farm might be best known for it’s Halloween and Easter extravaganzas, but they have a bounty of great crops, too. Their strawberry season is expected to start late May or early June, and the fields will be open to visitors everyday. Go to Butler’s Pick Your Own `section of their website. Stay updated on their status by following on Facebook and Twitter. During strawberry season their hours are 8:30am – 6pm during the week, and 8:30am – 5pm on weekends.

Water Safety Day is May 31 at the Gaithersburg Water Park – Stay Safe at the Pool this Summer!

May 26, 2013 – 10:01 am

KidOpeningPoolFence As you and your family prepare to beat the heat with a day at the pool this summer, don’t forget to stay safe! Learn all about staying safe at the pool or lake at Water Safety Day, happening Friday, May 31, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. The free swimming event will take place at the Gaithersburg Water Park, 512 S. Frederick Ave., Gaithersburg. Presentations will be available every 30 minutes on such topics as drowning prevention, proper use of life jackets, water rescue skills, skin cancer prevention and even swim lesson evaluations. Food will be available for purchase. The event is co-sponsored by the City of Rockville, the City of Gaithersburg and Montgomery County

Victoria will be there from 330-4pm

In any case, if your Au Pair will be caring for children at your home pool or at a public pool, PLEASE print out this form and go over it with your Au Pair: http://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/water-safety

Also, here is a great video to watch with your Au Pair and family.

Too often, firefighters hear people say, “I just looked away for a few seconds.” Unfortunately, just a few seconds is all it takes for a child to drown.

Most of these children drown in their own backyard swimming pool, but others drown in buckets, bathtubs, toilets, dog water bowls, canals and ponds. Small children are top-heavy, and they don’t have the upper body strength to lift themselves out of one of these dangerous situations. Even if the child survives the incident, they are often left with permanent brain damage.

Drowning and near drowning can be prevented, and you can help! Anyone involved with the supervision of children needs to be aware of the dangers associated with any body of water. Below are some useful tips to prevent these needless tragedies.

Know where your children are at all times
Use an approved barrier to separate the pool from the house
Never allow children to be alone near a pool or any water source ladders away from pool fences
Post the 9-1-1 number on the phone
Do not allow children to play around the pool and store all toys outside the pool area
If you leave the pool area, take the children with you
Always have a “designated child watcher”
Learn to swim
Never swim alone, or while under the influence of alcohol or medications
Never swim when thunder or lightning is present
Never dive into unfamiliar or shallow bodies of water

Today is National "Don't Fry Day" – Review Sun Safety for Children

May 24, 2013 – 9:20 am

dontfrydayofficiallogo-tm

Don’t Fry Day is an annual event observed on the Friday before Memorial Day. Sponsored by the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention (NCSCP) along with other organizations, DFD is dedicated to protection and prevention. Don’t Fry Day shines the spotlight on the harmful effects of the sun while raising awareness about the importance of protecting your skin.

Go to this great Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DontFryDay

As the unofficial beginning of summer kicks off this weekend, people will be spending more and more time in the great outdoors. Now is the time to put that protection plan in place.

Ultraviolet rays are the primary cause of skin cancer which is now the most common type of cancer in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 76,000 new cases of malignant melanoma will be diagnosed in the United States this year.

images

Why is it important to protect children from the sun?

Too much sun is particularly harmful to young children, who should be kept out of direct sunlight at all times.
Protecting children from the sun not only prevents painful sunburn, it also significantly reduces the risk of developing skin cancer later in life.
50 per cent of total lifetime sunlight exposure occurs in childhood.
Breezes or water can cool the skin of children playing in the sun, so excessive exposure to sunlight is not noticed until they are burned.
Some children are sensitive to sunlight and might develop a rash.

How to protect children in the sun

Remember that infants must be kept out of the sun entirely, while children with light skin will burn easily.
If the child is not exposed to direct sunlight, sunscreen is not usually necessary.
Children should be encouraged to play in the shade, wearing good protective clothing.
Sunscreen use does not allow an increase in the time spent in sunlight.
Sunscreen must have sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. Anything less is useless.
Make sure you use enough sunscreen; half a handful (approximately 20ml) is usually enough for the child’s entire body.
Remember that some sunscreens come off through contact with water, sweating or rubbing with a towel.
Re-apply sunscreen every couple of hours during a day in the sun, especially if they are in and out of water.
Keep children out of the sun between 11am and 3pm, when the sun’s rays are at their strongest.

Five things to remember:

Small children should always be kept in the shade.
Avoid the sun between 11am and 3pm.
Stay in the shade as much as possible.
Good protection is provided by light clothes and a hat.
Children should be given sunscreen with a high SPF (at least 30).

Q: How to Protect Yourself?

A: Wear protection! Make sure to generously apply sunscreen and reapply after swimming, sweating and about every two hours.

B., Stay in the shade if at all possible, especially between 10:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. when the sun’s UV rays are the strongest.

C. You can burn even on a cloudy day. In fact, some of the worst sunburns occur on a hazy or cloudy day.

D. Cover up – wear sun-protective clothing including a hat and sunglasses.

E. Don’t burn!

Au Pairs Tour US Capitol on a Glorious Saturday Morning

May 21, 2013 – 11:03 am

It was a sunny and crisp morning in May when 65 Au Pairs from all over Montgomery County gathered to tour the US Capitol with Senior Community Counselors Imelda Farrell and Victoria Paton. Au Pairs learned a lot and an Au Pair from Brazil even taught the tour guide something…that Tom Hanks and George Clooney both claim to be distantly related to Abraham Lincoln…who knew?

Au Pairs on US Capitol Tour

melanie and rebecca

Water Safety Awareness Day Today at Healthtrax in Germantown

May 18, 2013 – 9:11 am

Join Victoria Paton, Au Pair in America Senior Community Counselor, at Healthtrax in Germantown, MD for the Second Annual Water Safety Awareness Day!!

Everyone should review water safety, and I encourage all my Au Pairs to go to this event to review poolside childcare as swimming pools in the area open next weekend!

Drop in any time. See you there!

Water Safety Awareness Day

Featuring the
Safer 3 Water Safety Challenge
Participants of all ages are welcome to demonstrate
their swimming and water safety skills.

Saturday, May 18, 2013
11:00 am – 3:00 pm
20500 Seneca Meadows Parkway
Germantown, MD 20876

Presented by
British Swim School
in partnership with
Healthtrax Fitness & Wellness Center

Today is National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day!

May 15, 2013 – 11:35 am

What could be more American than chocolate chip cookies? Certainly my absolute favorite over apple pie!

My fellow Community Counselor, Pat Van Haste in Virginia, offered this website of Best Chocolate Chip Cookies…http://allrecipes.com/recipe/best-chocolate-chip-cookies/

It is a gray and chilly day here in the MidAtlantic, I think I’ll whip up a batch to surprise the kids!

Here is a website with recipes that children can help with for chocolate chip cookies and other really great ideas

Au Pairs, if you haven’t tried to make the American favorite, today might just be the day! Oh, and don’t forget the ice cold milk to go with and ask your kids to show you how to dunk!