I'm Dreaming of a White Chreaster....

Amelie receiving a Chreaster present.

So we woke up this morning to a city bathed in white snow. We feared it could malign our plans to go to a farm, but luckily it melted by 11:00AM. By noon, we were at the Kinderboerderij Bijlmerweide, which was about 15 minutes away. It is subsidized by the government and is run by volunteers.

We were greeted by all sorts of Easter bunnies and there were a bunch of activities for Liliane, some games, a tractor ride, an egg hunt. Liliane employed her animal sounds to a giant sow named Polly. We also saw an angora goat, some baby goats, peacocks, cattle, donkeys, chicks and chickens. There was a nice playground and although it was rather wet, Liliane took full advantage of it. The snow came and went a few times while there. After about two hours, we went home.

Upon return from the farm, Peter Cottontail had set up an Easter egg hunt for Liliane that consisted of three Kinder-brand chocolate eggs with prizes in the middle. She found two right away and one remains outstanding. For our Easter dinner, we will be having almond-encrusted turkey, petites pommes and green beans. Neither Dan nor I can take credit for preparing this meal, all thanks goes to our local supermarket, Albert Heijn. Dessert is Bonne Maman brand creme caramel.

^--

the elusive egg is not upon the books or in the mouth of the alligator (at far left). It is elsewhere in the picture.

Oranje Piet

Once a millenium, when a leap year coincides with misaligned intercontinental Daylight Savings and transatlantic relocation disrupts Yule time, Christmas and Easter fall on the same day. This day is, of course, called Chreaster. This year was a 'White Chreaster'.

Anyway, when this miracle occurs Santa and the Easter Bunny get into a huge legal battle over marketing rights and sales at Macy's. While they are distracted, their roles are subversively commandeered by the crafty and wily Oranje Piet. Oranje Piet is a master of disguise and a master of the obvious. He is the younger and more handsome brother of Orange Julius. In the off-season he enjoys watching 'Dancing with the Stars'. As his orangeness attests he is obviously Dutch. He is in no way affiliated with Black Piet. This year, due to the unexpected snowfall, he donned an orange fleece and protected his floppy bunny ears with a waterproof hot/cold Trader Joe's bag. Big pimpin' track pants are a standard accessory.

So while the children are sleeping (a difficult time to predict in this household), Oranje Piet flattens himself ala Flat Stanley and slides beneath the door. He then opens the door to bring in his sacks o' goodies which do not have the same magical flattening powers. Creeping silently down the hall, he noiselessy navigates into the children's room and places a bevy of presents beneath the Chreaster Tulips. When they awaken, the children are horrified to discover an overgrown rabbit man in an oversized tea-cozy hat prancing around the coffee table. But when they oversome that horror, they do notice the gifts! Opening commences with gusto. To the outside observer, one might suppose that the objective was to preserve the wrapping paper and obliterate the contents. When all that's left is the clean-up, Oranje Piet promptly flattens beneath the door and dashes off to the next household in his Skoda wagon. Yes, Piet is sporty and thrifty!

Until next Chreaster (999 years hence), we'll miss you Oranje Piet!