Newsletter: May 2010

Welcome to May! We have two big holidays this month: Mother's Day on May 9th and Memorial Day on May 31st. If you're short on gift ideas for Mom, try making something for her even if it's just a card. Also remember that sometimes the best gift you can give is time: plan a special breakfast or dinner that she won't have to cook or clean up after!

Memorial Day commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service. Most schools and businesses will be closed on that day and many community pools will open for the summer on this weekend. Enjoy!

May Au Pair Activity

This month we are continuing our animal theme and taking a road trip to the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere on Saturday, May 15th! Visit the zoo's website at www.nashvillezoo.org for more information. If you would like to join us, please visit our Facebook page to RSVP.

We're on Facebook!

AuPairCare of Northern Alabama has its own Facebook page! Click the 'like' button to keep up with our activities, participate in the discussion forum, RSVP for events, and upload pictures and

videos (do not upload anything without proper permission).

Newsletter: April 2010

Welcome to April! Did anyone fall prey to an April Fool's joke? Did you play one on someone else? While practical jokes can be fun, be sure to keep it safe and don't do anything to someone that you wouldn't want them to do to you.

Speaking of staying safe, April thunderstorms can often bring tornadoes and flooding. Listen to the radio for severe weather warnings and don't leave home during severe weather if you don't have to. While thunder and lightening can be scary, remember that "April showers bring May flowers"!

April Au Pair Activity

This month we are going on a safari! Harmony Park Safari is a federally licensed nature preserve of free-ranging exotic & endangered animals. This is a "drive-through" animal park where we will remain in the car on the two-mile route to see zebras, zebus, antelope, buffalo, a camel, ostriches, pythons & crocodiles. Please visit our Facebook page for more details.

Mother's Day Approaches...

It's not too early to start thinking about how to celebrate our moms this coming Mother's Day! Au pairs may want to help the kids make a special card or even a homemade gift for Mom. Another idea is to plan a special breakfast or dinner for her. Mother's Day is Sunday, May 9th.

Newsletter: March 2010

Welcome to March! Hopefully we've said goodbye to the last of the freezing weather and we'll be able to start enjoying being outdoors again! I bet the kids are looking forward to Spring Break this month - does anyone have vacation plans for that week? I'm really looking forward to our activity for this month - I hope everyone can participate! Also, AuPairCare is offering a double referral bonus for the month of March - you could earn $400 for telling your friends about AuPairCare! I'd love to help you earn this bonus, please contact me if you have any questions or ideas!

March Au Pair Activity: Share-A-Bear

This month all Au Pairs and Host Families are invited to a Build-A-Bear party on March 14th at 2pm to create special bears to donate to children in our city! Please see invitation for additional details (let me know if you did not receive an email invitation). RSVP by March 7th.

Referral Opportunity - Double Referral Bonus!

Do you know other families interested in learning more about the benefits of hosting an au pair? Host an AuPairCare information session at your home and receive $250 just for hosting PLUS $400 for each of your friends who joins the program! Contact your Area Director for more information.

Newsletter: Feb. 2010

Welcome to February! I have to admit that February is my favorite month because it includes my birthday :-) It's also a month full of holidays (which often mean a day off from school) and we start looking forward to warmer weather and spring.

February's Holidays

Feb. 2: Groundhog Day - A special day for Punxsutawney Phil

Feb. 12: Lincoln's Birthday - Sixteenth president of the USA

Feb. 14: Valentine's Day - A day of candy, cards, flowers, & hearts

Feb. 15: President's Day - Celebrating our nation's presidents

Feb. 22: Washington's Birthday - First president of the USA

February Au Pair Activity

Constellation Tour at Monte Sano State Park Planetarium Sat. 2/13; Please plan to arrive at 7pm; show begins at 7:30pm; Admission: $5 We will take a look at multicultural myths and interesting objects located in the constellations of Ares, Taurus, Canis Major, Gemini, Auriga. Weather permitting, we'll enjoy viewing the night sky through telescopes as well. Directions: www.vbas.org/directions.htm

Au Pair Arrivals and Departures

We are sad to say goodbye to 3 wonderful au pairs this month. Grace has enjoyed her two years here and is looking forward to returning home to Thailand. Before flying home to Brazil, Rafa will reunite with her family on a cruise. Miho will also be traveling before returning to Japan; her itinerary includes Las Vegas, Washington DC, and California.

We are excited to welcome Isabel from Germany on Feb. 25! Be sure to help her feel welcome!!

Newsletter: Jan. 2010

Happy New Year!! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and an enjoyable New Year's celebration. Did you make some resolutions for the the new year? Were you able to keep some of your resolutions from last year? January can seem a little bleak after all the bustle of December. Try to plan some fun activities for the kids and yourself to keep from feeling blue. Check out the sidebar for a couple ideas and visit http://www.huntsville.org/visitors/calendar/ for more events in Huntsville and Madison.

January Au Pair Activity

Raise your hand if you were inspired to ice skate after watching 'Nutcracker on Ice' last month - I certainly was! We'll be at the same place on Sunday, Jan. 24th from 3:00 to 4:50. Try to arrive 20 minutes early to get skates rented so we can have as much time on the ice as possible. Admission: $7.00; Skate rental: $2.25. Let me know if you can't come.

Important Communication Reminder

Let's get 2010 off to a good start! It is very important that I speak with you every month. If I leave you a phone message, you need to call back! This is very important. If I don't hear back from you after several tries, the AuPairCare headquarters office will get involved. Also remember that you can always call me before I've contacted you. Thank you for your help!

Newsletter: Dec. 2009

Welcome to December! Does it feel like 2009 went by quickly or slowly for you? For au pairs celebrating their first American holiday, be sure to share with your host family how your celebrations at home are different. Your family at home might also be interested to hear about your host family's traditions.

Holiday Travel

If you will be traveling with your host family or using some of your vacation this holiday season, please review the "Traveling with your Host Family" and "Vacation Rules, Regulations, and Guidelines" documents and let me know if you have any questions.

December Au Pair Activity

Our December activity will be attending Nutcracker on Ice at the Municipal Ice Complex on Sunday, Dec. 13th at 2pm. We will meet near the ticket booth at 1:40pm. "The Huntsville Skating School and Training Academy & the Skating Club of Huntsville present Nutcracker on Ice, featuring over 50 local figure skaters as they bring the story of The Nutcracker to life on ice." Benton H. Wilcox Municipal Ice Complex, 3185 Leeman Ferry Road, Huntsville. Admission: $12

Happy Birthday

We have two au pair birthdays this month! Happy Birthday to Grace on Dec. 1st and to Miho on Dec. 14

Newsletter: Nov. 2009

I hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween! Were you one of of the estimated 36 million+ trick-or-treaters?

November has several holidays that we observe:

Nov. 11th is Veterans Day: a national holiday in honor of military veterans.

It is also called Armistice Day to commemorate the end of WWI.

The 4th Thursday in Nov. is Thanksgiving Day: an annual celebration feast

originating from the pilgrims.

The day after Thanksgiving is called "Black Friday" - be sure to plan ahead

to take advantage of the best shopping deals of the year!

Welcome New Au Pair Arrivals

We have one new au pair arriving this month: Gaby will be joining

us on the 19th from Paraguay. Be sure to make her feel welcome

when she arrives!