It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

 This weekend things have gotten a little bit colder.

We woke this morning to thick frost on the grass and slightly frozen canals - winter is here! 

 It is only a matter of time before everyone starts strapping on the ice skates and gliding down the canals.

Thankfully we have been staying warm inside, putting up the Christmas tree and making a Christmas advent calendar (we will try to post pictures of that when it is all finished). The boys quickly went to work untangling the lights so that Mommy could hang them on the tree.

With the cold weather we have had to bundle up in many layers and Atticus was quick to learn how to put on his toque (aka: winter hat) all by himself and is so happy about it.

Here he is taking a break from helping vacuum so that he can put on his toque to stay nice and warm:

A couple weekends ago we went to the Naturalis, the Natural History Museum, to take in their new exhibit about whales and dolphins. Atticus loved checking out all the displays and videos. There were markers on the floor that were lit up and he would stand on each one to look at the corresponding display.

Here he is standing on one of the markers giving us his posed camera smile.

 And here he is with Mommy enjoying an interactive display.

 We are so happy to have some beautiful Christmas decorations up in our home now to add some cheer to the short winter days.

Love you all.

-The Clog Crew

Sinterklaas Has Arrived!

Sinterklaas came in on his boat from Spain to The Netherlands last week, but he arrived yesterday in Leiden. We dressed up in some warm clothes to join some friends downtown to watch Sinterklaas come in with all his helpers, Zwarte Piet (Black Pete). 

Here is a photo of Sinterklaas standing at the stern of the boat.

After Sinterklaas got off the boat, he rode around downtown Leiden on his horse, Amerigo, with many Zwarte Piet following and tossing peppernoten to everyone. Atticus didn't know what to make of all the people and noise, but we're sure that he will enjoy finding goodies tucked away in his shoe when he wakes up in the morning. 

Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet are visiting from Spain and will stay in The Netherlands until December 6th. If Atticus had been a good boy and leaves one of his shoes out with some carrots for Amerigo between now and December 6th he may just wake up with a sweet or small toy that Sinterklaas left in his shoe. He can even leave his shoe out more than once - lucky boy! He already tried leaving his pencil crayons in his shoe for Amerigo, but we advised him that that may not be such a good idea. Check out how happy he was after he stuffed his shoe:

And of course, here is a family photo of us waiting for Sinterklaas to arrive:

Thankfully, even though the weather was a little chilly, the sun was shining! 

The night before Sinterklaas leaves The Netherlands he will come and leave some presents for all the boys and girls that have been good. It is a time that children really look forward to.

Love and miss you all.

-The Clog Crew