Saint Nicholas' eve is celebrated in the Netherlands on December 5. It is the present-giving occasion in the Netherlands (after birthdays). Sinterklaas is assisted by many mischievous helpers with black faces and colorful Moorish dresses, called "Zwarte Pieten" (black Petes). Their blackness may have been inspired by black slaves, but today the more politically correct explanation that their faces are "black from soot" (as they have to climb through chimneys to deliver their gifts) is used. Sinterklaas has a long white beard, holds a long gold colored staff with a fancy curled top in his hand, and carries a big book with all the children's names in it, and whether they have been good or bad. He rides the roofs on a white horse. Each year in November Sinterklaas arrives by steamboat ''from Spain" (row below, middle).

Luna and Opa Tano (row above, left) welcome Sinterklaas to Spijk (row above, right). Luna shakes his hand (left) and poses with Sinterklaas (row below, middle) and Zwarte Piet (right). She is a little apprehensive about walking with Zwarte Piet (row below, left). After a fun-filled afternoon, she returns home as a beautiful butterfly (row below, right).

Traditionally, in the weeks between the arrival of Sinterklaas and the 5th of December, before going to bed, children leave a carrot in a shoe as well as some water for Sinterklaas's horse, sing a Sinterklaas song, and will find a present in the shoe the next day. Luna does not have a carrot, so leaves some rabbit food, hay, and water for the horse (row below, left). Sinterklaas, in return, leaves her some candy and a present way too big for her tiny shoe (row below, middle). Luna is excited to find a Disney princess toy the next morning (row below, right).

Hip, Hip, Hurray!
Tante Daan is 30 years old (right)!

Luna and Lior go to Doesburg to celebrate Tante Daan's birthday.

Jeanne is the daughter of Sandor, a colleague of Esther-Mirjam's, and Leontine. She is about Luna's age and has a brother who's a little younger than Lior. While Luna hangs out with Jeanne (left and right), her brother does so with Job.

Sinterklaas also visits the Radboud University Nijmegen, giving Luna an opportunity to jump with Zwarte Piet (row below, left and right) and swing with mom (row below, middle).

When mama goes to work, Opa Ben and Oma Alie put Luna to work by making her go grocery shopping (left and right). Luna, in turn, puts her grandparents to work by taking lots and lots of time strolling through the supermarket!

When Opa Tano wins a princess crown in a contest, he knows who will enjoy wearing it and who will enjoy taking pictures of her daughter wearing the crown (row below)!

Sinterklaas also makes it to Albert Heijn. Luna leaves her shoe there (row below, middle). She is somewhat excited about meeting Zwarte Piet again (row below, left) and seems rather bored with hanging out with Sinterklaas (row below, right). That is, she does go back to him over and over and over again, until he says to her: "Is that you again?"

Poor Opa Ben had to undergo back surgery yet again. Luna pays him a visit in the hospital, where she gets to have a drink (row below, left), eat chips (row below, middle), and watch television with Opa Ben (row below, right). As a result, Luna quite likes hanging out in the hospital.

While Opa Ben is in the hospital, Luna spends a night at Oma Alie's. The poor girl suffers from the stomach flue and throws up three times that night. Fortunately, she feels better after having had a bath (left and right). Luna is practicing for a photo shoot with Annie Leibovitz, as you can see.

The Sinterklaas fun continues when Luna goes to the circus show "Piet en de Politie" (row below, middle). She gets to dance and pose with Zwarte Piet one final time (row below, left and right). It is almost time for Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet to go back to Spain.

Hip, Hip, Hurray! Opa Tano and Oma Naatje celebrate their twentyfifth wedding anniversary with a big party (row above, middle). What Luna likes best about the party is the french fries she gets to eat (row above, left). When Opa Tano wants to make an announcement, Luna goes over to him and volunteers to sing a song (row above, right). This completely spontaneous action warms her mom's heart. Who cares that Luna sings a Sinterklaas song even though the old man is back in Spain already?! Luna tries to get Sebastiaan to dance with her (right), but Tante Daphne's son is not too thrilled (left).

Luna is lucky that her friend Victoria is also at the party (row below, left). That is, when there is dancing to be done, Luna calls in the help of her happily obliging mom (row below, middle). When it is time to leave the lovely party, Luna helps mom push her little brother's stroller (row below, right). It seems only yesterday that Luna had to be pushed like this. Uh oh!

Luna's birthday celebrations start a day early, at day care center Heyendael, where Luna offers treats to the children (left). They all sit down at the table (above), play music, and sing songs (right) for Luna.

Hip, Hip, Hurray!
Three years old!

Our little princess gets a big princess birthday cake (row above, left) with no fewer than three candles (row above, right). The house is decorated with flags and balloons, while Karine, Opa Tano, and Oma Naatje come over (row above, middle). Opa Ben and Oma Alie are not pictured, but they will also be back for the celebration of Luna's birthday on Sunday. One cannot celebrate Luna's presence amongst us often enough! Her mom gives her a Winnie the Pooh "laptop" (top left), though she seems to prefer the balloon (top right). Luna gets lots of phone calls (bottom left) and has fun playing with Oma Naatje (bottom right).