December 2005

Sinterklaas

In honor of Sinterklaas, Mommy decorated the house, and Cameron and I set out our klompen on the family room hearth.

Two days before December 5th, we celebrated Sinterklaas at the Saturday morning Oranjeschool. There were Dutch goodies, singing, and even a visit from Sinterklaas and the Zwarte Pieten. I wasn't so sure what to think about those Zwarte Pieten, but Tante Lianne had sent me a special outfit of my own so that I looked just like them [right].  

Saturday afternoon we went to another Sinterklaas party, hosted by the Holland America Club.  Sinterklaas and the Pieten arrived on Lake Washington by boat (for a Dutch saint, he gets around Seattle really well), and they showered us with candies when they came ashore. There were more Dutch goodies to eat, more Dutch songs to sing, and the Zwarte Pieten handed out gifts. It was a bit overwhelming, but not so much that I didn't have a good time.

December 5th was a Monday. Mommy prepared a special dinner of waffles with fruit and whipped cream. Lekker! Then we heard Sinterklaas knock on the front door. (Papa missed it because he had just left to use the bathroom.) On the doorstep we found a big burlap bag full of presents and poems [below]!  Sinterklaas left Cameron a music book, Papa a reading book, and Mommy a bookmark. Best of all, he gave me a LeapFrog electronic refrigerator alphabet and a tea set for four. Cameron and I also got some candy, and we all got chocolate letters. 

When they called my name, Mommy and Papa walked with me through a mysterious closed door. The technician said, “Hello, Sofia, I’m Heather,” so I said, “Hello, Heather.” Mommy and Papa thought that was pretty special. Heather let me try sitting in the big chair and gave me some sunglasses to wear [left].  She also gave me a special toothbrush to use at home. 

Holiday Activities

December is a busy month! We did lots of fun things in between Sinterklaas and Christmas, like decorating the house and Christmas tree, looking at lights on houses, shopping for gifts, and going to Christmas parties. One of the best was going to downtown Seattle on a Sunday afternoon to hear Mommy sing at Nordstrom's with Jazz Etc. It was nice to see Mommy sing in the department store (although I fell asleep in my stroller half-way through), but even better was riding the annual Christmas Carousel outside Westlake Center. Mommy picked out a big pink horse [right], and she and Cameron rode with me while Papa took photos. I wasn't afraid at all. The only part I didn't like was when the carousel stopped and Mommy had to lift me off. I was so disappointed that I screamed and screamed.  Funny... no one else was making that much noise.

Another day, we all went to Bellevue Square to visit Santa Claus. (He had an office there.) We had to wait a long time in line, but then it was my turn. Papa knelt down with me so that I could feel safe, and then I agreed to sit on Santa's knee. Meanwhile, the photographer was assaulting Mommy with a teddy bear. It was so funny that I forgot all about Santa and just had to laugh [above]. The best thing about meeting Santa? The candy cane I was allowed to taste afterward! 

For Christmas Eve, we all went to Grandpa's house in Edmonds. I hadn't seen Grandpa since August, but when he picked me up I was so happy to see him that I gave him three kisses on the cheek. He liked that. There were lots of other people—aunts, uncles, and cousins—that I hadn't seen since summer. But that didn't phase me. I especially liked my uncles, Brian, John, and Buzz. 

Dinner was a beef roast, but there was too much commotion and excitement for me to be hungry. Then all the other kids participated in a musical pageant. I can already sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and the A-B-C Song, so maybe next year I can perform, too. 

Then we opened gifts. I didn't understand what to do with the packages, so Cameron and Mommy helped me rip the paper and open them—but I liked what was inside [left]!

Eventually it all became overwhelming, and Papa had to take me in the back room for a time out. And even though it was late and Mommy had put my pajamas on, I was so overstimulated that I didn't even fall asleep in the car on the way home. In fact, my brain was so busy with all the sights and noises and smells and tastes that I slept very badly, waking up every couple of hours.

Christmas Day

Fortunately, I slept long enough for Santa to visit. On  Christmas Day I woke up about 8:00, and Mommy, Papa, and I went downstairs and discovered that Santa had left me a 3-foot-high, one-piece kitchen [right] with an oven, a refrigerator and food, a sink and dishes, and a stove that lights up and makes noises like bacon frying and water boiling. I liked it right away. Then we opened my stocking, which had lots of fun things in it.