St. Nicholas Day 2011

All of the presents arrived and Bridger was one of the first to sit on St. Nicholas' lap.  Hooray for Bridger!

Eric was treated to his first St. Nicholas Day with the Vuyk family.  He is still around so we didn't scare him off!  LOL!

Bracken was so excited to get his turn and his present.  Thanks St. Nicholas!

Casey was excited to get his gift too - hmmm...he and St. Nick have the same eyes.

Maddie wasn't too sure about that guy in the white beard.

Cru wouldn't have anything to do with St. Nick - this was his first experience too!

Apparently Pam was a good girl - she got a fun present from St. Nick

Brenden is an old pro and loved to have his turn.  That looks like a good gift!

It's hard to believe that we started this tradition when my dad had his own young family - so happy that it continues.

I love St. Nick too - love the tradition and love that this gives us an excuse to have the whole family together!

Danny was a good sport - he looks pretty excited to get his gift!

My grandparents came to the United States from Holland - I am a second generation American Citizen on my dad's side of the family.  When I was a little girl my grandparents introduced the family to the tradition of St. Nicholas.  In Holland the Sint arrives on December 6th with his sidekick "Pete" who helps him deliver presents to the wooden shoes of all of the good children.  He comes from Spain on a steamboat and rides a white horse.  We always leave our wooden shoes out with carrots for the horse and they are always gone after St. Nick has visted.  We eat traditional food and the adults are in a drawing for the gifts - each person is given someone in the family to purchase a small gift for - they then have to wrap it and write a poem to go with it.  St. Nick brings the gifts for the children.  What a fun time and a great tradition for our family.  As you can see we have a lot of fun!