Sinterklaas 2008

First: Preparations!
Here are the surprise-packages I build:

A globe for Benthe (who will be traveling with Hans across land from Italy to Inda, through the Middle East)


A traditional surprise-gaggift: hide the present underneath cottonballs covered in caramel syrup - for Beverly (Sorry)


Jaap is surrounded by Australians, so he gets a box from Down Under.


From his wishlist: a set of headphones for Hans


A frying pan for Gayleen


Typical Dutch (for tourists anyway;) - a wooden shoe with grey knitted sock for Arthur


A new pair of hands for Ina (mom:)


This party-bottle will be hidden and Janelle gets a treasure map to find it

On my way to mom's, sunshine in the middle of winter, perfect for cycling:

(and this is the last you'll see of me;)

Finally: time to hand out (and receive) presents! Let the fun begin:


After waiting for everybody to arrive (and people to finish their last minute poetry;) we reveal the pile of presents, yay!


Jaap is confused, but eventually finds his tiny present:)


Gayleen works in cardiology, so Sint made her a big heart.


Benthe notices two flags: one at home and one in the most dangerous part of the world. Ehm, that's exactly where she is going with Hans. Oops.


Arthur learns fast and goes straight for the present. But it turns out to be hidden better than he thought. :-p


Hans LOVES his headphones. But he's also quite pleased with all the plectra picks that where inside.


Beverly got a very fancy bag. With some lovely blue christmasdecorations inside.


Janelle is not a girly girl, so she was pleasantly surprised to find a cool beautycase with a wicked skull inside the doll:)


Mom can always use an extra hand (lol-so funny)


Jaap has done some rebuilding in the apartment, this is for future plans:)


Arthur's orange "go Holland go"-surprise cap hid an even cooler cap (great for playing golf, I hear)


Beverly gets ready to get dirty for her present (Sint is very considerate:) The classic syrup-suprise covered a classic gift: a Dutch art calender.


After he gets back from the trip around the world, Hans wants to live in Amsterdam. Here's a house.


Janelle tries to decipher one of the three treasure maps...


... and eventually found her reward: party bubbles! (actually a fake bottle with earrings inside:)


Hands come in pairs of course, here's another one for Mom.


Gayleen and her big frying pan


A view on her future student-room in a diorama-box for Benthe.

Afterwards: dinnertime!

It took us about three and a half hours to unwrap everything, can you tell we're hungry? :-D Foooood!


Mom made some very colourful desserts: dragon-icecreamcake, coffee-chocolate icecream and gingercookies.

Last but not least, my loot:


Thank you, Sinterklaas!