Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet

Christmas is a very festive time of year here in the Netherlands as much if not more than in America. It is celebrated different and spread out more. It started this year on the night of November 16th. Children place their shoes next to the fire place so that when Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet come into town, they can fill the shoes with treats and/or presents. Our kids made sure to place their shows out and behold, he even visited the Americans:



On Saturday morning the 17th, the kids found their shoes full of goodies. Later that day, Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet rode into town led by a band and surrounded by other Zwarte Piets handing out cookies and goodies. Unfortunatly, we were not aware that this would be happening until after he had arrived. I went to the store by myself and heard the band from a distance. By the time I realized what was happening, Sinterklaas was in the town plaza by in the center of the mall and was singing to the crowd. I hurried home and grabbed the kids and we were able to see him before he left.

Next, on December 5th, Sinterklaas should visit each house and leave presents in a nap sack on the doorsteps for the children. This is in celebration of the birthday of Sinterklaas on December 6th. We all hope he visits our house.

We all know who Sinterklaas is but Americans are not familair with Zwarte Piet. He is Black Piet, the helper of Sinterklaas. Whenever Sinterklaas is around, you will find several Black Piets. Kristal and I were in the mall this morning and there were 3 Black Piets, one on stilts, handing out balloon animals:





In a different mall, we say a display of Sinterklaas and a small Zwarte Piet:



Last but not least with Christmas is the fact that here one day of Christmas is not enough. The 25th is celebrated as normal but also the 26th is celebrated. Officially this is Boxing Day. A day to box up all your old crap that was replaced on Christmas, at least that's how I look at it.

If you would like to learn more about Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet, CLICK HERE.

Family Shopping

Friday November 23rd we decided to hop on the Metro and take a trip to a large shopping mall about 4 kilometers from our home which is near Novell. I have been there a few times during lunch but wanted to take the family to see it. Hannah, as usual, had control of the camera and took some pictures on our way:


Us walking near our home on our way to the metro. Notice the brick roads. Most neighborhood roads are brick. Only main highways and freeways are pavement. This brick road was just replaced a few days before.


Hannah wanted to show what the metro looks like. It is an elevated train in some areas, like near our house, but underground in other areas, like near our church.


We didn't take many pictures on the shopping trip but I took this one of one of the most beautiful buildings I have seen yet. Well, I don't know if the building is so grand, it was more the sign on top. If I was to turn around from here, I would be right in front of the megastores part of the mall. The mall we are at is called Alexandrium. It started with one mall but they have connected 2 more malls in the last 10 years so there is now Alexandrium I, II & III. This mall is massive. I would compare it to University Mall, Provo Towne Center Mall and maybe South Towne Mall connected. I have not been able see all of it yet, but I am sure someday I will.


The kids all had some spending money for their birthdays from Grandma Peck and Great-Grandma Otteson. Although Alex's birthday isn't until February, we did not want to leave them out. They all scored with many toys. Since we have not yet had their boxes with the few toys they kept shipped, they are really happy to have new ones.

Family Time

So far we have not done too much in the area. We are still getting used to the area and the things that the area provide. Within 5 minutes of our house is a shopping mall with about 100 stores including 2 grocery stores, a library, our bank and the metro. We have spent a lot of time walking the mall and generally just hanging out. Our family has also spent a lot of time playing with cards. Here is a picture Hannah captured of us playing solitaire both with cards and on the computers in out living room:



We do not yet have our computer room set up or purchased a DVD player so the computers tend to be at home on the coffee table or in our laps a lot. Sometimes, there is actually enough room on the coffee table for little boys to crash:



Right outside of our house is a little pond that always has ducks in them:

Our Home

Before moving to the Netherlands, we were told that to "think small because everything is smaller". We have found that this has been the case, mostly. The home we expected would be very cramped with small rooms. This has not been the case at all. The home Novell got for us is a standard home with 4 bedrooms 1 full bath and 1 washroom. The 4th bedroom is actually the loft area which Isaac and Alex are sharing as well as calling it the play room. The entire house had hardwood flooring except for the kitchen which is tiled. It is about 150 square meters which is about 1600 square feet, with each floor being about 50 square meters. The levels are seperated by spiral staircases which are kind of weird. Here is a picture of Isaac climbing up to his room:



Here are some pictures of our house. Some of you may have seen some of them but there are also new ones so PAY ATTENTION!!!:


Front and Back Yard


Bedroom


Bathroom


Kitchen


Family Room

Welcome!

This is the first post for The Peck Family blog. I will make this short and sweet as this will be more of an introduction. As most of you know, we are now in Holland for work for Novell. We arrived on Friday, November 2 and so far, have enjoyed the experience very much. We created this blog so that all family and friends can keep up on what we are doing and view some pictures.

Yesterday we went to church here for the second time and meet many new people. Everyone has been very nice and been willing to help whenever needed. We have chosen to listen to most lessons in Dutch to hopefully help us learn faster but translators are always available. During Sacrament Meeting, someone sits on the stands and translates via headphones. We met a young women from Orem yesterday that is here because she is studying music. She plays the flute. A new missionary was in the ward from Logan. It is amazing that you can travel 6,000 miles and still run into people from your home state. Of course, I doubt this would ever happen without church but I will take it any way I can get it. A missionary mentioned that it was great to hear a Utah accent. I thought I would never hear that in my life. Anyway, above is a picture of our church.

Our home is probably temporary. Novell signed and paid for a 3 month lease for where we are currently staying. The address is:

Merellaan 139
2903 GC Capelle aan den Ijssel
Netherlands

Just so you know, Merellaan 139 is the Street Name and house number. 2903 GC is the Zip Code and Capelle aan den Ijssel is the City. My phone number is +31.6.535.46866. This is my mobile phone for work but anyone can feel free to call anytime. Currently Kristal is holding on to the phone so I can reach here when I am at work. Kristal will have a phone probably by the end of the week. Later I will upload pictures of our house but for now, I must go.

Joke Archive

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

A woman went to her priest with a problem. "Father, I have two female parrots, and they only know how to say one thing. All they ever say is, 'Hi, we're prostitutes. Wanna have some fun?' "
"That's terrible!" exclaimed the priest. "But I think I can help. Bring your two female parrots over to my house, and I will put them with my two male parrots whom I taught to pray and read the Bible. My parrots will teach your parrots to stop saying that terrible phrase, and your female parrots will learn to praise and worship."

The next day, the woman brought her female parrots to the priest's house. His two male parrots were holding rosary beads and quietly praying in their cage. The woman put her two female parrots in the cage with the male parrots. The females said, "Hi, we're prostitutes. Wanna have some fun?"

One male parrot looked over at the other male parrot and exclaimed "Put those beads away, our prayers have been answered!"

---

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Two elderly couples were enjoying friendly conversation when one of the men asked the other, ”Fred, how was the memory clinic you went to last month?"

"Outstanding," Fred replied. "They taught us all the latest psychological techniques: visualization, association, etc. It was great."

"That's great! And what was the name of the clinic?"

Fred went blank. He thought and thought, but couldn't remember. Then a smile broke across his face and he asked, "What do you call that flower with the long stem and thorns?"

"You mean a rose?"

"Yes, that's it!" He turned to his wife, "Rose, what was the name of that memory clinic?"

---

Monday, September 1, 2008

"The female dormitory will be out-of-bounds for all male students, so too the male dormitory to the female students. Anybody caught breaking this rule will be fined $20 the first time. Anybody caught breaking this rule the second time will be fined $60. Being caught a third time will incur a hefty fine of $180. Are there any questions?"

At this, a male student in the crowd inquires, "Er... How much for a season pass?"

---

Friday, August 29, 2008

A man was seen fleeing down the hall of the hospital just before his operation.

"What's the matter?" he was asked.

He said, "I heard the nurse say, 'It's a very simple operation, don't worry, I'm sure it will be all right."

"She was just trying to comfort you, what's so frightening about that?"

"She was talking to the doctor."

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Thursday, August 28, 2008

A New York lawyer went duck hunting in eastern North Carolina. He shot and dropped a bird, but it fell into a farmer's field on the other side of a fence. As the lawyer climbed over the fence, an older man asked him what he was doing.

The lawyer responded, "I shot a duck and it fell in this field, I'm going to retrieve it."

The old farmer replied. "This is my property, and you are not coming over here."

The indignant lawyer said, "I am one of the best trial attorneys in the U.S. and, if you don't let me get that duck, I'll sue you and take everything!

The old farmer smiled and said, "Apparently, you don't know how we do things here in North Carolina. We settle small disagreements like this with the NC Three-Kick Rule."

The lawyer asked, "What is the NC three-Kick Rule?"

The Farmer replied. "Well, first I kick you three times and then you kick me three times, and so on, back and forth, until someone gives up."

The New York attorney quickly thought about the proposed contest and decided that he could easily take the old southerner. He agreed to abide by the local custom.

The old farmer slowly climbed down from the tractor and walked up to the city feller. His first kick planted the toe of his heavy work boot into the lawyer's groin and dropped him to his knees. His next too kicks caused the lawyer so much pain that he just about gave up. However, the New York lawyer summoned every bit of his will and managed to get to his feet and said, "Okay, you old redneck southerner, now it's my turn."

The old North Carolina farmer smiled and said, "Naw, I give up. You can have the duck."

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Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Recently a teacher, a garbage collector, and a lawyer wound up together at the Pearly Gates.
St. Peter informed them that in order to get into Heaven, they would each have to answer one
question.

St. Peter addressed the teacher and asked, "What was the name of the ship that crashed into the iceberg? They just made a movie about it." The teacher answered quickly, "That would be the Titanic." St. Peter let him through the gate.

St. Peter turned to the garbage man and, figuring Heaven didn't REALLY need all the odors that this guy would bring with him, decided to make the question a little harder: "How many people died on the ship?" Fortunately for him, the trash man had just seen the movie and answered, "about 1,500." "That's right! You may enter."

St. Peter then turned to the lawyer. "Name them."