Sinter Klaas Day

The van Wingerden family started a "new" tradition a few years back. It's actually an old Dutch Tradition, and we all love it. We don't celebrate on the actual Dutch Sinter Klaas Day - we celebrate when we can organize all vW's schedules to get together. This year it was Dec. 13th.

We started with a simple but family favorite meal: Pizza from Lorenzos! (sounds totally Christmasy doesn't it?).

Then we gathered around the fireplace and Opa read the true Christmas story from Luke 2.

Then all the grand kids found their wooden clogs lined up by the fireplace, and posed for the obligatory picture. Kayte, Jack, Gracie and Blake are on top. Hailey, Todd, Chatham, Hannah - holding Abby, Mak and T.J. Then Will in the very front (never too far from his Mommy)

Chatham read to us the opening of the riddles - each kids had a clue in their clogs, and the gifts were hidden around the house.

David read Kayte's Riddle - she wasn't too interested.Kayte loved her new travel bag and magnadoodle! Jack's riddle - of course all the older cousins help him to solve it.

TJ and his new Sudoku game - for the plane trip.Mak showing off his travel bag - did you notice they all got one? Plus something to put in it.
His riddle was my favorite:

No Doctorate, no Masters,

no Bachelors for me,

The reason I work,

I have Zero Degrees.

He found his 2nd clue in the the freezer :)

Grandma has a stack of gifts for each of the kids too - a little activity or book to put in their travel bags.


And to finish off the night we have our traditional snowman cake - which doubles as a birthday cake for Oma.