LEHIGH VALLEY AU PAIR CHILDCARE

Lehigh Valley Au Pairs Win 2nd Place in “Wheels4Kids” Event!

Posted by: hcook on June 9, 2010

     Four of our Lehigh Valley Au Pairs recently participated in the “Wheels4Kids” event at The Lehigh Valley Velodrome.   The event — which raises funds for at-risk children - for mentoring, teaching and other activities was a huge success and the Au Pairs had a great time — winning SECOND PLACE!

Au Pairs Amanda (Sweden), Christina (Denmark), Kaisa (Finland) and Filippa (Sweden) raced on adult tricycles thru many preliminary rounds on the track.  For the Scandinavian Au Pairs, racing on an adult tricyle was a new adventure — adult tricycles are not common on Scandinavia and the Au Pairs found it much harder than they imagined to keep on pedaling and stay on the tricycle — without pedaling, you cannot steer the tricycle!

The Au Pairs (referred to as “The Nanny” at the race) won all the preliminary races and reached the final race.  In the end — the Au Pairs won SECOND PLACE — coming in behind a group of young men from the area!  Nevertheless, they had a great time!

Congratulations Ladies and good job on raising money for needy children.  See Amanda practicing her tricycle skills:   

Mother’s Day Is Coming — Help Your Host Mom “Be Special”!

Posted by: hcook on May 4, 2010

Sunday May 9th is Mother’s Day!   Now might be a good time to plan in advance with some great crafts that you could make with your children to show your Host Mom just how much she is loved.

Gifts do not need to be brought or be expensive for them to be received well or to have great meaning.  Take some time to review these ideas to make a great card or craft for your Host Mom this year.   Homemade crafts are special because they make a lasting memory

Remember a GREAT GIFT that costs nothing is a simply HUG and THANK YOU ….

FOR GREAT CARD IDEAS CLICK HERE

What You Will Need:

• Black cardstock or construction paper
• Tissue paper or kite paper (various colors)
• Craft knife
• Double-sided padded tape
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Glue stick
• Pattern

How to make it:

Step 1:   MAKING THE CARD

1.  Trace and cut out stained glass window patterns with colored cardstock.

2.  Have an adult cut out the inside of window shapes (as indicated) using a craft knife.

3.  Glue down various colors of tissue paper over the window cut outs on the inside front of the card.

Step 2: MAKING THE BUTTERFLY

1.  Trace and cut out butterfly patterns onto cardstock.

2.  Have an adult cut out all the shapes on butterfly wings and head using a craft knife.

3.  Glue various colors of tissue paper over the cut out shapes on the “wrong” side of the butterfly.

4.  Cut out antennas from black cardstock and then glue antennas on back of butterfly’s head.

5.  Slightly bend butterfly’s wings forward.

6.  Place double-sided padded tape on back of butterfly.

7.  Place butterfly on the front center of card.

 Tips:

• Replace colored tissue with white cardstock and use coloring crayons.
• When writing the note inside your Mother’s Day card, use metallic or “milky” pens that will contrast with the dark paper.

 FOR GREAT CRAFT IDEAS CLICK HERE

Looking for a bouquet of flowers that will never wilt or die?  Make this precious keepsake for Mom or Grandma this Mother’s Day and they will cherish it always.

Be sure to visit the other great Mother’s Day fun including Mother’s Day crafts,cards for Mom and Mother’s Day recipes to spoil mom with on her special day!

What you’ll need:

• Construction paper, various colors
• Glue stick
• Photos
• Scissors
• Tape
• Green chenille stems, one for each flower

Optional: patterned paper

How to make it:

1.  Cut photos into circles to be used as the center of the flower.

2.  Cut simple flower shapes out of construction paper.

3.  Glue photo circle to the center of the flower.

4.  This step is optional: Glue construction paper flower to a piece of patterned paper. Cut around the flower giving your construction paper about a half-inch border of patterned paper.

5.  Tape chenille stem to the back of your flower. Make sure the tape is secure by pressing onto the tape with your fingernail.

6.  Trim ends of chenille to the length you desire, depending on what you are using as a vase. If making a handheld bouquet, don’t trim the chenille; simply tie a ribbon bow around them all.

 Tips:

• Instead of patterned paper, have children color white paper with various colored markers or crayons and use that as your border.
• If you find it easier, instead of cutting around the border, trace it lightly first with a pencil, then cut.
• Even the littlest of children can make this craft, simply help them by cutting out photos and flower ahead of time and have them help with the gluing and taping.
• If you need a pretty keepsake vase to place your flowers in, try our Fingerprint Flower Vase!

Au Pair Ski Day at Camelback Ski Mountain A Success!

Posted by: hcook on February 25, 2010

     Lehigh Valley Au Pairs from Cultural Care Au Pair converged on Camelback Ski Mountain on Sunday — Over 100 Au Pairs from the Lehigh Valley and the Philadelphia area spent a wonderful day skiing or snowboarding!   The weather was great and even the beginners never wanted to leave the slopes!  For more photos of the Ski/Snowboard Day - see Photos Page above.

DECEMBER AU PAIR MEETING - “Thai” Dinner and Gift Exchange!

Posted by: hcook on December 1, 2009

Lehigh Valley Au Pairs will gather for our December Au Pair Meeting in “Downtown” Bethlehem — “The Christmas City” for a “Thai” Dinner (Da and Jick — our Thai Au Pairs — will especially like this)!

Restaurant:   Thai Thai II Restaurant, 509 Main Street, Bethlehem, PA.   The Thai Thai II Restaurant is located in downtown Bethlehem .. near the Hotel Bethlehem and on the same side of the street as the Hotel Bethlehem.

Time:   5:00 P.M.  (Please be AT the Thai Restaurant no later than 5:00 p.m.)

Cost:   $13.00 Per Au Pair (Dinner will be served family style) 

Payment:  You will pay Helen at the dinner (please try to have the correct money)

Gift Exchange:   Please bring a WRAPPED Gift that will be exchanged with the other Au Pairs.  Please remember that we have a few “Male Au Pairs” in the Group so that should make your shopping more interesting.  Please spend about $10 for the gift.  Wrap the gift (do not put your name on the gift) and bring the gift to the restaurant in a bag (don’t tell the other Au Pairs what you bought or are bringing).  Upon arrival at the restaurant, give the bag with the present to Helen and later we will play a “Gift Exchange” game!   At the end of the game - everyone will receive a Christmas present!

Note:  There is sooo much to do in Bethlehem this time of year.  Please visit the following website for ideas:   http://www.christmascity.org/thingstodo/

This might be a good time for you to come early to Bethlehem — park and shop before our Thai Dinner and Gift Exchange.   The shops are interesting - not all that expensive and fun!  Bundle up if it is cold!

Parking:   Parking can be a little difficult — so plan your day accordingly.  There are two main parking decks near Main Street and Broad Street in Bethlehem.  You would park — take a ticket — and if you buy something at some of the local shops (like Moravian Book Store, etc.) you can have the ticket stamped and get some hours of parking for free.  There are also parking spots along the streets .. but please be sure to put money in the parking meters so you will not get a parking ticket!  Put in enough money to cover the time you are in Bethlehem!!!  (Parking Lots are better)

Main Street of Downtown Bethlehem is bustling with shops decorated for Christmas and there are carolers and brass choirs playing traditional Christmas music.  Don’t forget to look in the side streets (Donegal Square for English traditions) and other areas for interesting items.   Just walking around the area should be fun (weather permitting) .. so take some time to do this before the dinner.

The Moravian Book Shop — http://www.moravianbookshop.com/ — is a wonderful place to just look around and you might find a gift for that special someone.  It has so many different items in the store and something for almost everyone.  It is open on Sundays from Noon until 5:00 p.m.

Christkindmarkt – This is a German-type Holiday Market that has been rated as one of the best in the country.  http://www.christmascity.org/ckm/  The cost to enter Christkindmakt is $8.00 .. so you might want to think about that before you go .. but it is an interesting place to buy little things.

Again:   Au Pair December Meeting at Thai Thai II Restaurant AT 5:00 p.m.!