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The changes in the life of our Moon
Child just keep coming! Fortunately, she is a star at adapting to new
situations. When Luna enters her twentyfirst month on Planet Earth,
she goes to a new day care center, "de Imme" in Apeldoorn
(top row, right). Luna carries her lunch box (top row, left) and she
has her very own basket (top row, middle). The children sit at the table
(top left), while Luna goes exploring and discovers a very cool truck
(top right). Two of the women who take care of Luna are Léonie
(bottom left) and Simone (bottom right). Luna loves to hug everybody,
but the recipients of this honor are not sure what to think of it (bottom
left). To distract her, she gets something to drink and is shown the
fish (bottom right). |
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Luna decides it is high time to visit
Oma-Mama Spann, who is expected to turn no fewer than 100 years in November!
While there, she has the most fun playing with the walker (far left).
She is grateful for the visit and thanks Oma-Mama Spann with a kiss
(middle left). |
While at Oma-Mama Spann's, Luna also
gets to enjoy some chocolate (middle right). To teach her about healthy
eating habits, Oma Naatje feeds her some fruit afterwards (far right). |
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While Luna visits Opa Tano and Oma Naatje,
their neighbor, Victoria, comes over to play with Luna. She is greeted
with a big hug (far left) and tries to teach Luna to play the piano
(middle left). |
Luna is quite a musical lady, and it
would not surprise us if she became a conductor, musician, or dancer.
She practices alone (middle right) and with the help of Opa Tano (far
right), whom she distracts from eating his fruit. |
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Luna gets to meet and greet lots of
animals while visiting Opa Tano and Oma Naatje. Victoria shows her one
of her many rabbits (far left) and Timo comes over for a big hug (middle
left). |
Opa Tano and Oma Naatje have recently
acquired two donkeys, much to the delight of Luna (middle right). She
also enjoys the neighbor's horses (far right). |
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While escaping everybody's attention,
Luna goes for Opa Tano's reading glasses and is a little surprised by
what she sees (far left), but enjoys getting caught wearing the glasses
(middle left). |
Luna gets to try a few additional musical
instruments while visiting Opa Ben and Oma Alie (middle right). She
also shows them that she is now able to comb her own hair (far right). |
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Luna is great at playing by herself,
and still enjoys hanging out in her play pen. She has fun playing with
Tante Daniëlle's hospital while spending a day at Opa Ben and Oma
Alie's (far left) and is kept busy with lots of other great toys (middle
left). |
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Luna gets to visit Het Loo again. No,
this is not a "loo" but the former royal residence. The "Great
Garden" lies privately behind the palace. This Dutch Baroque Garden
is characterized by perfect symmetry, axial layout with radiating gravel
walks, parterres with fountains, basins, and statues (top left, bottom
left). Aunt Kerry (top right) is the reason for Luna's outing. Kerry
and Esther-Mirjam know each other from graduate school at Stanford and
have kept in touch ever since. Kerry visits Apeldoorn along with other
European hot spots such as Rome, Madrid, and Dublin! Kerry, Hans, and
Luna enjoy strolling through the Loo gardens (bottom right). |
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On a sunny Sunday morning, Luna and Esther-Mirjam
have fun on the playground adjacent to their home. The slide is clearly
Luna's favorite (top row). She no longer needs any help, much to the
amazement of her mom, though the latter makes sure to stay nearby "just
in case." Luna also enjoys the other play things (left and right).
With so much fun, she does not mind posing for a few close-ups in between
(bottom row). In Esther-Mirjam's biased opinion, her daughter grows
more beautiful every day. But that is what moms are for, eh?! |
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On that same sunny Sunday, but now in
the afternoon and joined by Hans, Luna and Esther-Mirjam go boating
in Giethoorn (left). The village of Giethoorn (population 2,500) is
unique in the Netherlands thanks to its bridges, waterways, and punters.
Here, you will find peat cutters' houses, old 18th and 19th-century
farms nestling between the trees and wooden bridges. The best way to
appreciate all of this is of course from the water. |
Believe it or not, Hans is more worried
about Luna's safety than Esther-Mirjam, so he makes Luna wear a life
vest after a while (right). Oh no, that should be "personal floatation
device"! Fortunately, there is no need for Luna to try its life-saving
or floatation powers. |
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Hip, Hip, Hurray!
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