Category Archives: Uncategorized

Aupairs and Basketball!

VAO au pairs had their January cluster gathering at the lovely home of one of our host families. After a brief business meeting with lots to eat, we all watched Episcopal High School’s Women’s Basketball team defeat the women from John Paul High School. A great time was had by all!

Paper Bag Tree ( with thanks to Washington Parent Magazine)

one piece of construction paper

brown paper bag

red, orange and yellow tissue paper

scissors and glue

Cut the bag open along the side, then cut out 4 strips that are 3 inches wide and are as long as the bag. Tightly twist each of the 4 strips. Gather the 4 strips together in a bundle and twist the bottom half together to form a tree trunk. Glue the tree trunk to the construction paper. end the loose ends of the strips to form the tree branches and glue them in place. Cut 1-inchquares out of the red, orange and yellow tissue paper. Scrunch the tissue paper into a ball and glue them on the tree branches to make leaves. Glue a few extra square to the bottom of the construction paper.

A Halloween Craft for All Ages

Cotton Ball Ghosts

Here is a fun Halloween project for kids of all ages!

 

You’ll need…

 

– Black construction paper

– Cotton balls

– Craft glue

– Chalk

– Buttons

 

To make… 

 

Draw ghost on construction paper with chalk. Paint glue on entire ghost shape. Pull cotton balls apart to make them wispy. Press cotton balls onto ghost shape. Glue buttons to ghosts.

 

Enjoy!

 

adapted from happyhouligans.ca

Making Apple Butter ( With thanks to Washington Parent Magazine)

Needed:

3 pounds of apples, ( about *) Gala, Honeycrisp or Braeburn, one cup of apple cider, 1 1/2 cups white sugar, 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves.

Cook the apples in a large covered pot after cutting them into one inch cubes. Add cider, 1/2 of the sugar,  and cook over high heat for 20 minutes. Stir. Run the mixture through a blender or food processor. Return to the pot, add all other ingredients and bring to a boil. Then  put the heat down to low, uncover and stir for about 15 minutes more. Cool the mixture for about 45 minutes and serve, or freeze what you have for up to 6 months.

How to Make Ice Cream

1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tbl sugar
4 cups crushed ice
4 tbl salt
2 qt size Ziploc freezer bag
1 gallon size Ziploc freezer bag
1 hand towel or gloves to keep your fingers from freezing

Mix milk, vanilla and sugar together in of one the quart bags. Seal tightly, allowing as little air left inside the bag as possible. Place this bag inside the other quart bag, again leaving as little air left inside as possible.
Place the two bags inside the gallon size bag and fill that bag with ice and then sprinkle sale on top. Again, let the air escape and seal the bag. Wrap the bag in a towel or put on gloves and shake and massage the bag, making sure the ice surrounds the cream mixture. 5-8 minutes is enough for the mixture to freeze into ice cream.

TIPS: freezer bags work best!