Pakjesavond 2010

Sinterklaas has left the building and the country. Life is back to normal for everyone with kids under the age of eight ... We had a great weekend, with Pakjesavond at home on Saturday and at oma's on Sunday. The Groot Uitpakspel (Big Unwrapping Game) again was a big hit, as where the presents.
The presents are there! But again the girls were too late to see the Zwarte Piet who delivered them ...

Assignment of Groot Uitpakspel: put on your coat, scarf and hat before selecting and unwrapping a present

Another assignment: walk around the dining table with three pepernoten on your head

Happy girl

Another happy girl

Both Pieter and I love the Sinterklaas tradition and are not looking forward to the time when our girls will be non-believers. Maybe we can keep the tradition alive by making Surprises for each other ...

Sinterklaas in the snow

In his busy schedule, Sinterklaas found the time to visit Op Dreef, Emma and Janne's school. The outdoor part of his visit was rather short, due to the cold weather. Janne's class was the last to be visited by Sint, so they were anticipating his arrival the whole morning. Tough job for the teacher, to keep them focussed :-) Two more nights untill Pakjesavond ...

In the snow, awaiting Sinterklaas' arrival

Paying attention to what Sint and Piet are saying

Another tradition at Sinterklaas time is making Surprises (surprise gifts). Instead of just wrapping a (small) gift, the (secret) giver of the present has to make a piece of crafts- or artwork, inside which the gift is hidden. A little rhyme is usually included. Even though Emma still believes in Sinterklaas (at least until after December 6th ...), she is very excited about the whole Surprise concept. The girl she had to buy a gift for likes horses, so Emma worked very hard to make a beautiful stable-with-horse-pasture.

One very proud girl :-)

The last two days where the coldest Dec 1st and 2nd since 1901. Which means it was indeed pretty cold. For the Netherlands, that is. Not compared to Colorado this time of year, nor compared to Austria. Still, cold. Snow-boots and winter tires are sold out everywhere. Which doesn't mean that the Dutch are not the preparing kind, just that we usually don't get this kind of weather this early. Or at all for that matter! It's rather exceptional to have snow in the Netherlands for three consecutive winters.
All wrapped up, ready for school

Sint at Voorwaarts

On Saturday, Sint and his Zwarte Pieten visited gymnastics club Voorwaarts. Emma's group did a trampoline demonstration and Janne's group danced for Sinterklaas. Great fun and lots of candy.
Zwarte Pieten acting silly

Dance performance with Zwarte Pieten

Trampoline act

Sinterklaas is here again!

Again, it's that time of the year. Sinterklaas arrived in the Netherlands two weeks ago, to celebrate his birthday here on December 6th. Very exciting times indeed, for kids up to the age of about 8 or 9. Today, Janne's class, together with a few more from their school, was fortunate enough to be invited to visit Sinterklaas' castle in Helmond.

During the Sinterklaas period, Helmond Castle is transformed into the Castle of Sinterklaas. When visiting as a private person, you have to wait in line for at least one and a half to two hours. Now, as a school group, we could go right in. For the children, it was a wonderful, almost magical, visit. There were many, many Zwarte Pieten (black helpers) to entertain the kids and explain things, Amerigo, Sinterklaas' white horse was there and there were hundreds of presents everywhere.

Visiting the washroom of the Zwarte Pieten

The most exciting room of the castle, the Pakjeskamer (gifts room)!

Sinterklaas himself invited us into his office and ... bedroom

A, C and Lang Lang

Yesterday, we spent the whole morning at the swimming pool. Janne had to swim at 9 am to receive her swimming certificate A and at 11 am it was Emma's turn for certificate C. As before, Oma came over for the occasion, to cheer the girls on. I took many pictures of Janne, after which my battery ran out. So, Emma's pics are here by courtesy of the club photographer ...

Nervous and ready to start

A little dance to loosen up

Janne's turn to swim under water

Floating like Patrick (from the Sponge Bob cartoon)

She did it!

Emma's group, ready to start

Waiting in line, all wet

Great dive!

Oma was also kind enough to travel to Veldhoven a day aerly, giving us the opportunity to go out on Friday, to a piano concert. Lang Lang played in Eindhoven and we were able to get two tickets to listen to his magnificent performance. It's truly amazing how one person can spellbind a theater full of people, by 'only' playing on a piano. Wonderful music and a great night out.

Prix Dominique

Last Sunday, Pieter participated in a musical contest (concours) in Venlo, Prix Dominique. He did very well and received very positive feedback, some suggestions for improvement and a score of 39 (out of 50). The jurors commented on his great technical skills and personal interpretation of the pieces. Even though he was (as always) very nervous, he enjoyed playing for an audience and is looking forward to his next concours.

One second after playing; I was afraid that he would be distracted if I took a pic during the recital ...

New arrivals

One plus one is two, or in this case, one plus one makes ... four! Either we didn't bring home two female guinea pigs or we did and one of them was already pregnant. Result: two more guinea pigs :-)
Presenting: Jip and Janneke (don't know the gender yet, named them anyway)

Of course, Emma wants to keep the little ones ...