Two Out Of Three Aint Bad

I wish I had this on video...

Me and Andrew having a chat.

Me: What is your name?
Him: Andrew

Me: When is your birthday?
Him: January

Me: Where do you live?
Him: Africa.

Plain as day. Pure and simple. He wasn't being funny, but it was SO funny.

SinterKlaas

Sinterklaas (also called Sint Nicolaas, de Goedheiligman or simply de Sint in Dutch) is a traditional Winter holiday figure in the Netherlands and Belgium ; he is celebrated annually on Saint Nicholas' eve (5 December) or, in Belgium , on the morning of 6 December. The feast celebrates the name day (birthday) of Sinterklaas and is the basis of the mythical holiday figure of Santa Claus (Father Christmas).

Children leave their shoes out from Sinterklaas' arrival into the Netherlands from Spain on November 20th until the morning of December 5th. His Zwarte Piet's (literally black elves) leave "snopes" (candies) or small gifts every morning. Katie and Andrew have be lucky enough to receive something every day but one. Like Santa Claus, Sinterklaas sees when children are naughty or nice.

On December 5th, Sinterklaas leaves a burlap bag of larger gifts. Traditionally, this is the dutch Christmas morning. December 25th is the celebration of Jesus.

Katie with Sinterklaas

This is the first time she has willingly taken a picture with Santa or Sinter. I sort of told her if she didnt, he wouldnt bring her gifts. Oh the things parents do to their children....

NH Fall Fun

While back in NH, it was the height of the fall foliage season. Up and down the highway, as far as the eye could see, there were gorgeous colors - red, yellow, orange. It was beautiful.

We don't really have a yard in Maastricht, more of a garden. And, we certainly do not have the big oak and maple trees that are prevalent in New England. It was a treat for the kids to make a big pile of leaves and jump in it. It never ceases to amaze me, what great childhood memories I relive through my kids.

Grammy was the ringleader. Not sure who had more fun...Her or the kids...

Holiday - Part III - Home

We were lucky enough to hop up to New Hampshire from Florida for about a week to see friends we just don't get to see often enough. And, bonus - Grandma and Grammy came up/over for a visit.

Halloween and pumpkin patches do not exist in the Netherlands so we took full advantage of the fall customs. This was Andrew's first time Trick or Treating. We did not get an opportunity to Trick or Treat last year, much to Katie's disappointment. This year, she remembered and was very excited. Call me a glutton for punishment, but we hosted a Halloween Party for about 40 people 4 days after we landed in Boston. It was a little hectic to prepare for - including a costume for Andrew last minute - but it was great to see our friends. There is no way I would have been able to see them all in just a week.

Grandma and the kids at a pumpkin patch that also had a corn maze

Dinosaur Train

Snow White

Trick or Treating

In total we were gone three weeks. It was a whirlwind tour, as usual, but worth every minute of aggravation to get there.

Holiday - Part II - Sanibel Island

After Disney World we went to Sanibel Island, about a 3 hour drive. Ned's parents go every fall and it had been 3 years since our last visit. This year several extended family members were there - Aunt Jeanne, Uncle Dino, Cousin Julie and Mike, 2nd Cousins Delany and Cole, Cousin Jill and Rick and Great Uncle Dick. Everyone lives all over the map so it was a nice mini reunion.

Sanibel is known for the shells. First thing in the morning is the best time. In this picture, we were out by 8am shelling.

Wonder what he is thinking...

Making a sand castle

Our last night in Sanibel. Sanibel sunset with Grammy.
It was the perfect end to Florida vacation.