For the past eight years we have held Dylan's birthday party for his friends the first weekend in December, to coincide with Sint-Niklaas Day...since he is our Dylaney Niklaas...and to keep it distinct from Christmas. We celebrated as a family on his actual birthday. But this year, we are only have one party, on his actual birthday. Still we are going to celebrate today with some Dutch-inspired treats. Quick background: I lived in Holland for three years as a kid. I went to pre-school and kindergarten there. I spoke Dutch fluently; well, fluently for a five or six-year-old. And I thought that I really was Dutch. I lamented my black hair, brown eyes, and weird name; I wanted to look like my friends. I swore to my mom that when I turned eighteen I was going to dye my hair and legally change my name to a Dutch name. Thankfully, that was a fleeting fancy. I am very happy with my dark looks and unusual name now. But I still have my klompens and I still put carrots and celery in th...