Fourteenth week

Hi everyone! Another week, another blog!

This week wasn't really that special, but still really fun! We played in the basement many times and I did a lot of crazy things with Emmett. We played throw and catch, we played games and we did many, many pillow fights haha. It was so cute to see that Emmett now started to be more interested in me. He was already interested in me, but sometimes he was more on his own and I did more things with Ainsley. She was always around me and wanted to show me everything, this is something she still does but less then before. And now Emmett starting to get closer with me!

Even when the weather wasn't that nice this week we have been outside almost everyday! We went for different walks, played in the playground, where I made a new squirrel friend haha.

I cooked again! I was really proud of myself, because it looked really fancy. I was nervous if they would like it, because I had no idea what I did with the potatoes haha. But they liked it! I

Tuesday evening I went with Kinga (au pair from Hungry) to a Christmas light park where you can drive thru with the car. It was really cute and so much fun! Kinga was the girl that I had met first when I arrived here, she picked me up for my first 'meeting'. I didn't talked to her in a long time, so it was really nice! It also ended up that we have more in comment then we thought! We also were talking about going on a vacation together to Colorado!!

Thursday afternoon we had a gingerbread house Zoom meeting with my lcc group and all the host kids! It was really fun!! Tina bought for us all a gingerbread house, to sweet!! We all started bilding our gingerbread house during the zoom meeting and it was really fun to see everybody busy and struggling with the house haha. It wasn't that easy as you think, our roof didn't wanted to stay so I had to block it with 2 water bottles haha. But it was fun and our house was pretty! After it we eat it!! Finallyyy!! I could tast it! hahah and it is actually pretty good.

Before dinner we had a video call with the parents of Leah to celebrate the first day of Hanukkah. David, Leah's dad, told us about the story of Hanukkah and we lighted the first 2 lights. I thought it was really interesting to learn about this holiday too.

Yaaayyyy I tried some new typical American candy! Last week I was talking about Twinkies with Leah and Ryan and told them that I really would like to try one of those. Leah got one today! We tried it all, because Ainsley never had them before and Leah didn't had them for a long time. Ainsley and me liked it, but Leah didn't haha, but she already told me she wasn't a fan of them.

In the evening we face timed with all the girls Beckie, Sharon, Simone and Majo. It was so much fun and we talked about everything! We are planning to do this every week when possible, especially because Beckie now lives in Pennsylvania.

Friday was a fun day! Leah bought the sticky balls that are really populair now, if you throw the balls to the ceiling they will stick for a little and come down again. This was suppose to be a really fun game, but the balls Leah got were to sticky and didn't fell down anymore haha. The balls were stuck at the ceiling. We waited for a long time to see if they will come down on there own, but they didn't hahah.

Today we also went outside to take Ainsley roller skating and she is getting better at it every time! It is so cool to see!! Also we did some Christmas crafts.

Weekend

Friday evening!! Weekend! Even when it didn't felt like a real weekend. I didn't went somewhere really, but I make it fun anyway. Friday evening I went to Sharon's house and we watched some movies and talked a lot. I asked my host family what they thought about me going into Sharon's place, and they were okay with it as long as I wear my mask. I’m happy that I can go inside at her place, because it is nice to do that again. Even when it is just 1 place. Sharon is in my 'bubble' so I see her a lot anyway haha.

Saturday was a really nice relaxing day. I only left the house in the end of the day. Sharon and me went to TJ Maxx to buy a Christmas present for tomorrow. After that we went to a little restaurant and get a ice cream. :)

Sunday we had a Christmas 'meeting'!! Sharon and Tina organized it and it was so much fun! At 11.30 everyone was at the park with a presents, and some of us brought something to eat and Sharon brought hot choco. It was actually very warm outside, we all sat outside without a jacket AND THAT IN DECEMBER! We played a little game with the presents and eat all the delicious things some of us brought. After the presents, Tina had a little present for us, so cute!! She had for all of us a little bracelet with a Maryland sigh and a cube with 4 pictures with our host kids/family. Also the other girls were so sweet!! Sharon, Majo and Simone had a little Christmas present for me. I’m so happy with them!!! <3

After the meeting Sharon, Majo, William and me drove to Maple Lawn and had lunch at the community center. Where I had my first 'meeting'.

In the evening I had a lazy night and I did some preparations for tomorrow!!

Take over

I am doing the this week take over for Cultural Care NL!! A few weeks ago my contact person from CC sent me a text with the question if I would like to do a take over on the Instagram from Cultural Care NL. I was very excited to do it!! On Monday my take over started and I will do it until Sunday.

Normally the take over is aimed at new au pairs or people who are interested in becoming an au pair. For au pairs that are already in America or ex au pairs the Instagram isn't interesting anymore. They talk about typical the same things every week and talk about how to get started.

For this take over we wanted to do it a little bit different to talk more about all the things that's important when you are already in America. So this week take over I’m going to focus on the current au pairs and ex au pairs. :) I’m very excited and looking forwards to it!! I’m curious if I will got many responds and if I can help many au pairs.

Have a great week!!

Big Hugs,

Naomi