Something tangible from grandpa at home

The extreme heat is over. The only tolerable place was the little pool in Westerpark, where all the children and parents sought some refreshment. An ice cream on the side and I could have lasted a few more weeks like this, but it is also nice to have somewhat ‘normal’ summer temperatures, if only for my wardrobe: I could think of nothing else but shorts and a T-shirt in that hot weather. In my search for some nice shirts, I stumbled upon ‘Wander to Wonder’, with cool prints that really brighten up your basic T-shirt. They also have beautiful sweaters in the collection, so I can't wait for the temperatures to drop to extreme cold. Well, figuratively speaking, of course.

Last weekend marked two years since my father passed away. An incredibly intense period, as Otis was born five weeks prior. I am so grateful that these generations met each other and I have very dear photos of Otis with his grandfather. My father used to race at a high level and had a whole collection of miniature Porsches. No idea if they are worth much, but I didn't hesitate for a second, unscrewed them from their bases, and they are now in a drawer for Otis to play with once he is a bit older. Of course, my father will always live on through our stories, but this way Otis also has something ‘tangible’ from grandpa at home.

‘Are you having twins?’ I always reacted somewhat irritated to this question during my pregnancy with: ‘No, it’s just one,’ not realizing they were talking about Otis’ zodiac sign. I never understood why this question is always asked: as if you immediately know what character such a little one will have. But I must honestly say: I too had a horoscope made based on Otis’ birth date and time, and a lot of it is already true. As a child, I always found it cool to read about Chinese astrology, and those animals appealed to me much more. When I saw the beautiful bracelets by Maria Kooistra with Chinese zodiac signs, I immediately called my ‘shopping partner in crime’ Marly and we ordered a copy together: if people now ask what zodiac sign Otis has, I can at least show the Chinese variant on my wrist.

Although Otis is not yet in school, I do get that vacation feeling thanks to all the kids of my friends. What a joy to do fun things together and see those little ones enjoy. If you have zero inspiration for a moment: we have visited this Amsterdam kids list with great pleasure.

• The Toverknol: a children's theater in the heart of the city where a new performance is shown every month. They have two shows: one for ages 1-4 and one for ages 5-10. The little ones can dress up and afterwards they can dance wonderfully on stage.
• Little pool in Westerpark: the perfect place for some refreshment and water fun.
• Nemo: a delightful hands-on museum about all kinds of technical gadgets.
• Artis: remains a favorite. Be sure to have a nice lunch at De Plantage: they have a delicious menu and the little ones can entertain themselves next to the birds.
• Candy Castle: a play paradise full of bouncy castles, slides, and ball pits. Everything for your child's enjoyment, right?