We went to the screening of Why We Cycle today, a lovely Dutch movie about the hidden beneficial effects of bicycling. After the film I was part of a panel discussion.

The screening was in the Northeast library in Capitol Hill. We arrived just in time, and found good seats on the front row. There was coffee, stroopwafels and Christmas cookies to all five of us where happy (I think the kids had three cookies each).

It was a beautiful film, very well made. It was fun to hear the interviews in Dutch, the kids picked up on it too. At one point we saw twin boys in a bakfiets -- they looked very much like Leo and Adrian!

The panel was fun too. Other folks on the panel where Katherine W. who lived in The Hague for two years, Jeremiah Lowery, Advocacy Director at WABA and Alan Page, an attorney and artist from DC.

The screening was organized by Greg Matlesky and underwritten by The Daily Rider and Friends of the Northeast Library (thank you).

The kids were very well behaved. They patiently sat through the one hour movie, and even the beginning of the panel after which Sasha took them to roam around the library. Once we were in the car (!) to go home, Adrian fell asleep right away. Everyone's a little under the weather it seems.

The boys were downstairs at 7.30 am, and they are doing Paw Patrol "werkjes" over breakfast. They really enjoy it.

Adrian asked: "papa, hebben Sinterklaas en Piet deze boekje gemaakt?"

We were there early -- right at 12.30 pm -- and the kids all knew what to expect so they enjoyed things more. They played with the Pieten in the beginning, had some pepernoten and looked around with curious eyes. The organization is excellent each year, this year was very smooth also and it was clear that the crew was having a lot of fun too.

Adrian had a long conversation with one of the Pieten. I overheard him say that he didn't like her feather (it was yellow) but that it needed to be black, haha. He has strong opinions, our dear Adrian.

Adrian had big plans to talk with Sinterklaas -- "ik zal hem vragen hoe hij op het dak komt en het paard" and he was going to sing a song. But once he was invited to come over, he was quiet and subdued, the sweet heart. Leo was shy also and when he was done the whole room cheered him on, so nice.

Nora had made a drawing for Sinterklaas, a mijter and they had a short conversation. She is never shy.

In the evening, Adrian told us something funny. He has told Sinterklaas that he is "boef lastig" and that Sinterklaas' mouth fell open in surprise, haha.

Adrian telling a Piet he doesn't like the feather in her cap, haha.