Eliot's Travels

Pakjesavond - December 5

Gina and Ap invited us over for Pakjesavond (evening of packages). They had celebrated with Ap's family over the weekend and were going to be home this evening. It was very nice to spend this evening with a Dutch (and American) family.

We had a nice traditional Dutch dinner - stamppot. Stamppot is basically a mashed potato dish, like a hash. You cook the vegetables and potatoes and then mash them up together. Often rookworst (smoked sausage) or bacon is added to the mashed potato mixture and sometimes raw veggies. Albert Heijn carries premade stampport or the ingredients cut and ready for cooking it. Gina served a sampling of three different kinds: boerenkool (kale), sauerkraut, and hutspot (carrots and onions).

The four boys enjoyed their yogurt - or at least their little toys that came in the top compartment of the yogurt. We decided that it would be better to put the toy in the bottom part of the container.


When we were mostly finished with dinner, there was a loud knock on the back door and immediately another one at the front door. Gina, Martijn and Merrick ran to the front to see who was there - no one. BUT there was a big burlap sack filled with presents. We checked out back, but no one was to be seen.

After dessert and singing songs, we opened up the zak van Sinterklaas and opened presents. First out of the bag was Eliot's - a green GeoMag set. Martijn and Merrick each got a nice book from Sinterklaas. The Zwarte Piets like to cause trouble for the adults and give them surprises. One of the packages in the bag was labeled for Miles. He opened it only to find newspaper. Gina exclaimed that newspaper indicated a trick from the Piets. Sure enough, under the newspaper was another present marked for Jim and Whitney. Jim gots lots of help opening the gift - a colorful set of kitchen towels (one for hands and one for dishes). There were several surprises for Jim and me: Holland flag toothpicks, more kitchen towels, and bag of sponges. Merrick and Martijn got some colored craft paper.

Miles gets some help from Merrick opening his small emergency vehicles - politie, ambulance, and brandweer.

posted by Whitney @ 2:54 PM