Make some caramel apples with your kids to get into the carnival vibe and enjoy some yummy treats.
All you need are apples, cubes of caramel, and milk!
PS – You can use treats like nuts, cookies, etc. to add some extra flavor! (Always check for allergies before serving)
Today is National Peanut Butter Day. Who would have guessed you can make Peanut Butter Lover’s Day a Craft Day!
How to Say Goodbye
The English word “goodbye” is derived from the pharse “God be with you.” Parting words in other languages are similar. In Spanish, it’s adios (ah-dee-ohs), in French adieu (ah-dyur). Both words literally mean “to God”.
There are other ways to “goodbye”, however. English children shout “Cheerio” when parting and in Switzerland. Germany and Italy they say ciao (chow) which is the informal way of saying “goodbye” in Italian.
A wave of the hand accompanies most goodbyes, at least in the West. In Japan, people bow when they part, and Hindus press their hands together and say “Namaste”, just as they do when greeting one another.
In some households, in India, it’s considered a bad omen to say “goodbye”. Instead people say, “go and come back”. If you are the one leaving , you announce, “I’m going and I will be back.”
How many languages can you teach your host kids to say “goodbye”. Amaze your host parents at by having the kids say goodbye from around the world at the dinner table.
This week (March 1-5) many schools throughout the United States are celebrating the birthday of Dr. Seuss. To honor Dr. Seuss’ love of reading and his inspiration for kids and adults alike, March 3 is Read Across America Day. The National Education Association sponsors events to inspire reading in children throughout our schools and communities.
Dr. Seuss wrote many childrens books – Cat in the Hats, Green Eggs and Ham, Hop on Pop to name a few. In the cluster monthly Kids Activity Kit for March, there is a Dr.Seuss Reading Rewards Card for each host child. Punch out the colored dots for each book the children read. After 15 books, complete the Dr. Seuss Reading Certificate and reward the children with a Dr. Seuss pencil (included in the kit).
My son’s school developed a week of celebrations based on the themes of the Dr. Seuss books. This is a fun activity to do with your host kids at home. Dig out the Dr. Seuss books – you will be surprised how much fun the books are to read and the rhyming will help improve your english.
Monday – “Red and White Day” – wear red and white to show Seuss Pride.
Tuesday – “Cat in the Hat Day” – wear your favorite hat to school.
Wednesday – “Grinch Green Day” – wear green, but don’t be as grumpy as the Grinch
Thursday- “Fox in Socks Day” – Roll up your pant legs and show off your cool socks.
Friday – “Sneak Up on Reading Day” – Wear your favorite sneakers and participate in “Drop Everything and Read.”
Check out the Dr. Seuss website
for more ideas, printables and on line games to play with the kids. Enjoy!
Here is a fun Halloween treat of the season. Who knew eating spider webs could be so yummy?! These are easy, inexpensive, and cute!
Ingredients:
Directions:
Lay out your pretzels on the wax paper in “starburst” arrangements of 6 or 8 pretzels (it’s a good idea to put it on a cookie sheet for transport stability).
The 241st St. Patrick’s Day Parade takes place March 13. (Photo courtesy Irish Philadelphia)Philadelphia’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is actually the city’s largest parade, with 20,000 participants representing more than 150 groups including marching bands, dance groups, youth groups, Irish associations and floats.
Thousands of festively green-bedecked spectators line the Ben Franklin Parkway to enjoy the parade each year, a religious and cultural celebration of St. Patrick, on the Sunday prior to St. Patrick’s Day (this year’s parade: March 13, beginning at 11 a.m.). The first documented St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Parade in Philadelphia was held in 1771, marking this year’s the 241st year.
The parade begins at 16th and JFK Boulevard before making its way down the Ben Franklin Parkway. Click here for the full parade route. Some best bets for vantage points include Logan Circle and the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where a dance floor will be set up at Eakins Oval.
A series of awards are given to parade performers, ranging from Outstanding Float to the group that best exemplifies the spirit of the parade, so you can weigh your own opinions against the judges’ decisions, revealed Wednesday, April 13, 6-9 p.m. at a ceremony at Finnigan’s Wake.
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade, a Philadelphia tradition, is a celebration not to be missed. If the weather is less than exemplary, you can watch it live on CW Philly 57 from noon to 3 p.m.; it will also stream live on the station’s website. And also check out Hear Philly’s look at St. Patrick’s Day bar tours in Philadelphia for an added layer of holiday fun.
Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade
When: Sunday, March 13, beginning at 11 a.m.
Where: Begins at 16th and JFK Boulevard
Cost: FREE
More info: www.philadelphiastpatsparade.com
Miscellaneous Expenses
There are different ways to handle the little expenses that may come up. Things like when an au pair takes the kids out for ice cream or picks up a gallon of milk. Some families keep a cookie jar fund, a little cash that they set aside weekly or monthly for this kind of expenses. Here are some suggestions for avoiding problems with that.
Host Families
Au Pairs
Gas and Fare Cards
Host families are responsible for the au pair’s transportation costs:
It is a good idea to figure out how much gas an au pair will use for these trips and either put gas in the car or give a gas allowance. If your au pair is riding to classes or cluster meetings with another au pair, you should offer to share the cost of gas.
Au pairs are responsible for their own transportation at all other times. You should replace the amount of gas used for personal use.
