For New Years eve, my friend and I went to his dad's family. His dad and his little sister, came to my friend's appartment to get us and bring us to Weesp. We had some tea and Oliebollen, a good Dutch pastry that is served on New Years, olie means "oil" and bollen "balls", and talked. My friend's little sister showed me her new nice rabbits. One was really scared though! They were named Snoopy & Snuffel. Very cute animals.

After that my friend, his brother and I played Risk. They tried to teach me how to play that fun boardgame, and I ended up winning! We had to interrupt the game for a good dinner though. It was "Gourmet" and it was excellent. It was my first time eating that, and I like the concept. My friend's step-mom, must have spent a lot of time getting all the meat, the vegetables and the other good food ready so we can all cook it in our little pans. It was very good.

In the evening, we played Sjoelen, a Dutch game (Picture 6). You have these little round pieces of wood that resemble hockey pucks you have to slide on a board to little openings at the end each worth a different amount of points. Here are the final scores: my friend's dad 485 (Picture 7), my friend 475 (Picture 3), my friend's stepmom 441 (Picture 5), my friend's brother 439 (Picture 2), me (Picture 4) 416 and my friend's younger sister 151 (Picture 1 but she dropped out after a while so maybe she would have been 4th and me last!).

After Sjoelen it was time to get the fireworks ready for the New Years. My friend's dad popped some Champagne and at midnight we all wished each other New Years greetings. After we went outside and it was fireworks time. It was so nice, they were everywhere!! We also participared in lighting some. At first I was reticent about lighting some myself but then I did it. It was so kewl!! I wanted to light more and more. (Pictures 9 & 10) I didn't like the loud ones though, they hurt your ears! It was amazing, the fireworks went on for quite a while, and like everyone lighting them, which is absolutely illegal in Canada.

After the fireworks, my friend's and I went inside while everyone else went to greet friends and family. Then everyone came back inside and had good fish on little crackers and watched TV. And then it was bedtime. It was one of the best New Years I've had. No no, I think THE BEST.