Sinterklaas Journaal

While Sinterklaas is here in the country, there are a couple traditions to be kept. One of them is the watching of the Sinterklaas Journaal, or Sinterklaas news. The show is hosted by Dieuwertje Blok. The kids loving saying, "Sinterklaas Journaal met Dieuwertje Blok." Even Felix says it well! The news is sent out at a pretty impossible time for us to watch it, so every day after dinner the kids watch that day's news on the computer. It has their full attention, as could be expected.

Reading the Bible

Here we have a picture of Evie reading to Felix from her toddler Bible. It is one of her favorite books.

Beekse Bergen

Today Opa Bas celebrated his birthday by taking the whole family to the Beekse Bergen, a safari zoo in the southern part of the Netherlands. Although the rest of the country was covered in mist, it stayed more or less clear and sunny for the better part of the day. Thank goodness!

Oma Wilma walks with Felix

The stroller was basically used as a carrier of bags... also quite useful.

The two little ones.

Tom got to take some cool pictures of the animals!

Later in the afternoon the fog rolled in again.

Gorilla!

I love this picture of the boy.

I always knew she was a little monkey.

Aunty Monkey!

Oma Els & Opa Erno Visit

This weekend Oma Els and Opa Erno came to spend the weekend with us.

That of course means two happy kids!

Felix loves to laugh!

Erno took Tom to a gathering of the Socialist Party in the Parliament building.
After putting out the shoes, and singing of course, we were treated to some fun presents from Sinterklaas in the morning.

The carrot we had left out was also chewed on my the Sint's horse.

Wednesdays with Evie

Tom and Evie are lucky to spend every other Wednesday afternoon together. Today they took a walk along the pier in Scheveningen and had some fish, too. Evie wore her rainboots so she could walk in the water a bit.

He's Back!!!

Sinterklass is back in town! He arrived this morning by steamboat from Spain, bringing back his band of helpers known as Black Peters. The kids are so excited. They both got dressed up as little Black Peters to wave watch Sinterklaas enter the harbor.

Don't they look cute all dressed up!

Shortly before leaving they got their black face paint.

Opa Bas and Oma Wilma joined in the fun.

So excited for Sinterklaas!

Evie got to chat up a real Black Pete!

Those are more Black Peters on surfboards.

Felix Pete

There he is on his steamboat!

Our Pretty Evie Pete

Black Peters in the parade.

Every Pete has his own unique costume.

Hello, Sinterklaas!

The kids have gone to Opa and Oma's house for the night. They have set their shoes out in the hopes that Sint and Pete will make a visit in the night. Exciting!

Mobro Felix

No, Felix is not about to sneeze in this photo. He just wants to join in the Movember fun, too, which is why he keeps doing this and saying "Felix ook een snor! Felix ook een snor!!" (Felix has a mustache, too!).

Papa Cuddle

This evening Papa was treated to some extra cuddles. Unfortunately there was a little conflict as both Evie and Felix wanted to sit on Papa's lap, but Felix didn't want to share "his Papa." At one point they did manage to simultaneously give him a kiss on each cheek, but the camera was too late for that!

The look on Evie's face is priceless here as Felix attempts to push her away.

Bowling with Oma

Today Oma Oma treated the whole family to an evening of bowling and indonesian food. More than thirty family members were able to join in the fun. Photographs are unfortunately not so easy to make in the disco bowling environment, so don't mind that.

Tom bowling

Evie bowling

Oma only took one turn, but it was a strike! GO OMA!!!!

It's quite the handy contraption to help the kids.

My little family of bowlers.

Martijn & Aunty

Felix was way too thirsty to pause to smile for the camera.

Whenever he got the chance, Felix ran off to be with Opa Bas.

A House of Their Own

For the past week Evie has been talking about making a house for her two favorite stuffed animals - Dixie the Dog and Tweet Tweet the bird (you may know him as Tweety Bird). Today she was able to make her wish come true. Tom had the afternoon off so he picked up Evie from school and went straight to the grocery store for a discarded banana box. Evie's friend Mirre joined in the fun, too! Tom then constructed two identical houses to have the girls paint. They did a good job, and now Dixie and Tweet Tweet finally have a place of their own.