Chanukah is a celebration in the Jewish faith also known as the Festival of Lights. It started at sundown on Dec. 9 and will last for 8 days. It is traditional to exchange gifts or glet (Yiddish for money) either real coinage or chocolate wrapped in gold foil, to light candles every night and to play games with a four-sided top called a dreidel.

13 aupairs from our cluster attended a performance of The Living Christmas Tree at The First Baptist Church of Alexandria on Sunday, December 9. Aupairs then joined their counselor at her home for a holiday party, with homemade holiday cookies and sherbert punch.

Shopping for your host children? Check with your host families before purchasing a toy that requires close supervision. Remember that younger children also can have access to a toy purchased for older children. Always ask first before purchasing.

Driving during the holidays  can be challenging as traffic increases. Leave earlier and take your time.

Healthy Eating- be careful of too many sweets with children, and be careful of that with yourselves too!

November 12 marks the official celebration of this holiday. It is celebrated by honoring both living and deceased members of the US Armed Services. Yesterday, our president and vice-president traveled to Arlington National Cemetery to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. If you have not visited Arlington National Cemetery as yet, you should do so and watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony. The American people value the contributions of members of our Armed Services to the welfare of the country.

Our aupairs continue to watch the election process in the US as developments play out in the media. As residents of other countries, they might follow similar election processes, but none so “American” as ours.

Aupairs, this is a good time to discuss with older children how the election process in your country is similar or different from the process in the US. Perhaps you come from a country that has a king or a queen who never has to be elected or re-elected! Your countrymen probably vote for prime ministers or other officials. Discuss all of this with your host families as we all watch our election returns.

The World Series is the championship games of Major League Baseball in North America, played in October after the end of the regular season between the winners of the American and National Leagues. There is a best of seven playoff, meaning the first team to win 4 games wins the series. This has been an annual event since 1903. Baseball is so popular in the US that sometimes it is called the “national pastime”. The rules of baseball can be found at http://aupairinameric.com/resource/life_in_the_us/baseball.asp.

A great day was had by all

with thanks to Washington Parent Magazine:

3 tablespoons sugar

1/2 tablespoon salt

1/2 cup cornstarch

2 cups water

food coloring

empty jars with lids

Combine first 4 ingredients in a saucepan and warm until the mixture thickens. Add color; empty into jars.

Be of good cheer and practice good works everyday, but especially on World Smile Day. Use your imagination and think of ways you can someone else smile- kind words, good deeds, thoughtful gestures..there is no limit to the things that you can do!