Sinterklaas Surprises...

Every year the adults do a gift exchange for gifts from "Sinterklaas" called "Surprises."  (Pronounced "Soopreezes")  But it's not just any old gift exchange... the gift comes hidden in some handmade contraption which is somehow significant or representative of the person receiving the gift.  And it is accompanied by a poem, also very creative, usually funny, and specific to teh person.  And they don't mess around... last year mine came in a handmade, wooden jet plane, which read "Katjet" on the side...

Since we cancelled our trip, we had to send pictures of ours, and will deliver them when we go in January.  So I thought I'd also share them here...

My gift was for Anna, who loves Bingo...

Yes, that is one big styrofoam ball!

The poem read...

B is for Bingo,

I heard that you love it.

I is for Inside,

I think there’s some chocolate.

N is for Naughty,

And we know that you’re not.

G is for Goodness,

Since we know that’s your lot.

O is for Open,

So let’s see what you GOT!

Inside was a lebkuchen tin from Schmidts.

Bas's gift was for Peter... a giant lottery ticket!  Even says April 1, 2010... Bas taught himself Photoshop to do this!

We wish we'd been able to make it, but as you can see in the picture, we've already gotten a foot of snow this week, and with more expected tomorrow we didn't want to risk being on the roads!  I woudl share his poem, but of course it's in Dutch!