Yesterday was the first day of my Summervacation and it was off to a great start with a visit to the Efteling Fairytalepark with my mom, sister in law G. and darlingnephew R. Here are some photos of our adventures:)


First up: The Piraña river rapids ride: the water is still calm here, but WATCH OUT BEHIND YOU!


Wild water, wooohoo!


The Efteling's garbage cans are hungry!


Wooden rollercoaster Joris and the Dragon.


Hehehe, my companions were too busy screaming on the ride to notice the dragon, good thing we had already gotten a good look while waiting in line:-D


Dare devil R. is ready for his first upside down rollercoaster The Python!


Two loopings and a corkscrew, oh yes, what a ride!


All four us are excited to go on the Dark ride Vogelrok:)


Another hungry garbage can, the most famous one: Holle Bolle Gijs. He keeps asking for trash to gobble up and politely says thank you when you feed him!


On our way to the exit we have just enough time for a quick visit to Pinocchio in the Fairytale forest. Can you see him?


What an excellent day.

Went on a daytrip to The Hague last weekend, to have a festive lunch with my sister in law G. and darling nephew R. at the Haagsche Snoephuys (Candyhouse:) I traveled back by train with my brother and R., who wanted to draw his own version of the Impala colouringpage I coloured for the Land of Art:)

Last weekend we celebrated Sinterklaas. Here are some photos:)


Last minute attaching of the poems:)


Just while dad Jaap was in the bathroom, someone pounded on the door, threw in pepernoten (candy cookies) and then Ruben discovered Sinterklaas left a basket full of presents in front of the door! Woah!


First tiny present has a poem explaining they have to find big present number two with a particular wrapping...


Ruben dives into the basket to find the next present:)


Unwrapping is very exciting!


Hans got a girlfriend from Sinterklaas (ahw)


The poem hopes he finds a real life girl again soon;)


Hmm, another prank present from Sinterklaas: his helper Pete has hidden the real present, but where?


Jaap gets a big container to ship furniture to Australia, when they move there (next year?)


Ruben is excited about the big tube of handcreme his mom Gayleen got.


Click here to see how it was made!


Grandma Ina gets a piece of art to inspire her next painting:)


Once again Ruben is eager to help with the unwrapping:)
We had so much fun!


Aaand this is my loot \o/

On Saturday November 15 Sinterklaas arrived in the Netherlands. We went to welcome him in Scheveningen harbour and then watched the parade in The Hague. Here are some photos!


The first boat filled with presents and Pieten... no Sinterklaas yet


The Pieten threw lots of pepernoten and marshmallows! Ruben even caught some in his hoodie!


There it is: the big boat with Sinterklaas, can you see him?


Look at all these faces filled with anticipation *grins*


Yay! Hello, Sinterklaas! *waves*


So. many. people.


Final view of Sinterklaas before he got off the boat and on his horse for the parade. We take a break from standing in the rain and take the tram into town for a quick lunch before we catch up with Sint again. (The parade takes four hours (4!!!) to travel through all the neighbourhoods)


The stork is the symbol of The Hague:)


From the citycenter we took a bus to get back on track and find the best spots for the parade. Came across this gorgeous fountain.


And when we walked around we saw this DivaPiet; she sang opera songs!


Found a good place to wait; just when this car announced the parade would start in five minutes...


Such an amazing parade with bands playing, Pieten on bikes and donkeys and... look!


A big old firetruck!


Wahey, so cool!


Of course we were all really waiting for Sinterklaas...


There he is!


Oooh, it is a little intimidating;)


*waves*


Bye, Sinterklaas!


As a special finale there was a very loud train, or as Ruben called it a "treinauto!" - a trainCAR! Lots of steam and a very loud horn.
The end.

One more photo though. Because at the end of the day, brother Jaap accompanied brother Hans and me to the tram and we made an alp that I'd like to share:


Me and my "little" brothers:)

J.