Love this black and white

Big Tree

Now after some lighting issues we were ready to decorate the tree.  The children had lots of fun!  Finn mostly chasing the dog around the tree.  He did manage to get a few ornaments on...and off and then back on again.  Katie was our little decorator and she did a wonderful job. I am sure I have the prettiest tree on our street.

Rudolf working on the lights and a nice view of our little trees in the window

Katie and Finn both picked out a new ornement for the tree this year

 

This photo of katie in the bulb is really 2 photos. I liked her face in the bulb but the background was just our white wall so I added it to a photo of a pretty bare tree.

 

Little trees

Our tree came monday morning but we wanted to wait for daddy to come and help decorate the big tree. I had unpacked the christmas decorations a few days ago and to my surprise we had three little trees in a box. So me and the children thought it would be ok to do those with out daddy. I have posted before that this is the first time in four years that we have put a tree up. I think I forgot how magical it is.... the lights the music the ooohhhhs and aaahhhhs. Finn kept saying he loves christmas and he gave the bulbs names and even named the three tress when were were finished. It was really nice enjoying chirstmas for more than....what will santa bring me!

"blue inks"

I heart faces weekly challenge

I thought this would be a neat idea since we put up our tree today however it seems there where several on the page already!  Good minds think alike. In this photo with me is my daughter

Picking out our tree

We picked out our tree at a small local nursery in our town.  They are always so nice and friendly there!  My children have never gone and picked out a tree or at least not that they remember.  The last time we put up a tree was the year I was pregnant with  Finn.  Katie does not remember much of that time so it was a first for them.

After the tree had been found, the kids were allowed to pick out one ornament from the garden house.  I will have pictures of these later.

Our tree will be delivered on Monday YaY!!

December 5th

  

The big day has finally arrived.  We have set our shoes out the night before and now  we are waiting for it to get dark and the petes and sint to come!

The kids sit there shoes out and leave bread and water for the horse.

Next they sing songs and then they are off to bed.  When the kids get up in the morning the bread and the water are gone and there is one small present and candy in their shoes.  The children get to do this for the 3 saturdays before december 5th

SinterKlaas is jarig! Hoorah Hoorah!

 I am a bit behind on my post.  We have had a very busy first week of Decemeber.  Decemeber 1st was katie's birthday party so we have been very busy with that.  This past weekend we went to my in laws to celebrate SinterKlaas which is the dutch version of santa with all the gifts.  He comes to the netherlands in the middle of november and stay until his birthday on the 6th of December.  On the 5th he comes with the zwarte petes and leaves gifts for the children.  I have some collective photos from the last 4 weeks of SinterKlaas merryment!

Sinterklaas comes via boat from spain to the netherlands.  The Zwarte petes come before hand to make sure that everything is ready for his arrival!

Finn was a bit worried this year because in the netherlands you do not get coal if you are bad but  you get put in a sack and taken back to spain!

He had been talking about it for weeks worried that he would be put in a sac.

The boat with the presents came but somehow caught on fire!....This was very upsetting for a 3 year old finn!

In the end the firetrucks a came and saved the day!....with out Sinterklaas finding out!

This was the boat that caught on fire.

At last The Sint got off the boat to get on his horse and walk through the town