We awoke to an unexpected sight this morning. Everything was covered with snow! Even though it stays very cold here during the winter, it rarely snows. And since we don't watch the local news (we couldn't understand it if we did), we did not expect the weather that blew our way. It started snowing very lightly about noon on Wednesday, but then it stopped a few hours later. I thought that was all we were going to get. It gets dark here by 5pm and all the stores also close around that same time, so after school and work, we really don't see what is going on outside. Apparently it snowed all night! Traffic was very slow this morning since this is not common and therefore most people here are not used to driving on snow covered roads. But that is relative I guess, because there really is very little traffic here anyway since the majority of the locals ride their bicycles everywhere, even in the snow! However, many people where walking their bikes today instead of riding them.
Justin loves the snow and he told me that Bruiser (his puppy dog) likes it too! The pictures below are of the pond next to our house that is almost frozen over. The first picture is Wednesday morning and the second one is Thursday morning after all the snow.
Lauren and I were making Christmas cookies together the other afternoon. I told Lauren that my favorite ones to make were the Christmas trees and stars. Lauren said "I like the angels because they remind me of how much God loves me." Oh how I love her!!! And speaking of angels...
Yesterday evening was the Christmas program at Lauren's school. The students' practicing and preparing was obvious and they did amazing. Of course, I was partial to the beautiful Angel! Lauren makes me proud everyday, but I think last night was one of my proudest moments as a mother so far. Lauren's class program was titled "The Sleepy Shepard". She was the angel and the only student in her class' program with a solo. Watching her on the stage I could not have stopped smiling if my life depended on it and I had tears in my eyes at the same time. I always call her my angel girl and she was the perfect angel last night. She was so poised and quite the performer, which doesn't surprise me since we see her putting on some type of performance everyday at home.
On another proud note, Lauren received the Head Teacher's Writer's Award this term for her class. Also, at our parent-teacher meeting for this term, Lauren's teacher had nothing but wonderful things to say. We really love the school and teachers and are so proud of how great Lauren is doing.
Tonight was the big Sinterklaas celebration and the end of the treats. One of the families from Lauren's school threw a big party for all the families of the school with an appearance from the "real" Sinterklaas, or at least the real one of Assen. A great time was had by all and it was wonderful for them to open their home up to all of us. The evening started with entertainment by a clown for the children until it was time for Sinterklaas to arrive. Then it was singing, joking and presents for all. Lauren got to sit on Sinterklaas' lap for a long time while the Zwarte Pieten were making jokes and doing magic and she really liked that. Justin received a Dutch bus and Lauren received a Littlest Pet Shop Set and they were both extremely pleased.
After a great evening of partying, we came home and the kids were getting ready for bed when the doorbell rang. Outside the door was a sac of presents from Sinterklaas and the kids were ecstatic. Tomorrow Sinterklaas will get back on his boat and travel back to Spain until next year. This is another Dutch tradition that the kids have really enjoyed.
