Naz meets his family

Naz's first trip over the big pond, if you will, was a big hit! March was quite a month as we packed in as much as we possibly could. New baby passport in hand, we traveled 26 hours door to door, each way, to spend time with all six grandparents, to meet the Bonds-Pate side of the family, to see beloved friends, and of course to eat fish tacos!

We started with a few days in Houston with Mimi and Pops, otherwise known as Adam's parents. A friend of Miriam's hosted a delightful babyshower for us, and even though I was extremely jet lagged, Naz did great! He cooed and smiled, I think he even pooped for them. Then we packed everything up and headed to Austin.


In Austin we spent time at Nana and Sampa's house, otherwise knows as Sam and Connie (Sera's Step-daddy and Mom). We had such a heavenly time relaxing, going for walks to the farmer's market, spending time with friends, and eating a taco everyday.




Then the aunties and uncles blew into town for a big music festival, South By SouthWest. Naz took in his first full day of music in style, sleeping through two punk shows. He again wowed the crowds as people approached us all day asking if they could take a picture of this adorable baby decked out in his tye-die and noise reducing headphones. A great day!



Nana turned 32 while we in town, and so we all spent some time celebrating our Mom, wife, and Nana. There was a bowling party, a sushi dinner extravaganza, and a pictureque night by the pool sipping wine, eating steak, and listening to Jordyn and Joel play guitar. We miss our families so much, and nights like that one are what we conjure up on days we are feeling particulalry far away and alone. It was really special.
And just in case you thought all of that might be enough, the third set of grandparents came to town: Grandpa and Grandma Bonds! It was the first time Naz was meeting them, and he was so excited (he told me so). We spent two days together walking by Town Lake (which is really a river, but who is counting???) and eating ribs! We miss you and can't wait to see you both again this fall.




I would be completely remiss if I didn't include this yummy picture of my favorite Mom, besides my own obviously, Erin. Here she is loving my baby, as I have loved hers now for 12 and 10 years (is that possible???). Thank you for inspiring me to be a Mom, Erin. I hope I can do this even half as gracefully as you do!

And here is Naz with his new friend, Leilani, who came to Austin to do some COHI work with me while I was stateside. So loving!

Here we are, in line at security starting the 26 hour return trip. We miss you all, can't wait to see you soon!

Going Dutch

For Passover holiday this year we decided to return to Adam's ancestral home place: Amsterdam. Adam's mother was born here and for a reason that continues to escape us, her family decided to leave to move to Canada???? Well, had it not been for that move there would have been no Adam, so I can't complain too much, but we are seriously considering a return trip for this Rosenbloom-Bonds clan for an extended period of time as we found we, well, loved it. All of it: pickled herring sandwiches, the green green parks spotted throughout the town, water at every turn, trains and buses running on time with special space allocated for strollers, and of course, the relaxed atmosphere of Europe in general.

The streets all have several lanes: two for bikes, to for cars, two for pedestrians, and two more for the trains. Needless to say one can't wander aimlessly too much, and it took us a while to get used to having to look before we crossed so many times, but we made it.





We rented a flat directly across from Oosterpark, here is the signing pointing the way to our house.

Here is the front yard, gorgeous....



The view out of our windows was of the onion domes atop the spires of a local Museum with the trees blooming pink and purple buds. Here is a pic of Naz and I enjoying a sunset from the kitchen window.


People keep asking us, so what did you do in Amsterdam? And sheepishly we admit that we walked, and little more. Here is one of the many streets we enjoyed, just wandering but far from lost!



I mean we ate great food, mostly at the flat where we cooked and packed picnics, we saw some art, we checked out coffeeshops, Adam saw Boby Dylan. We visited old friend we love and miss. Here are Meike and Olva, our Dutch friends we met in Tibet and shared a car with for 10 days on our way to Nepal.


We spent as much time with these two as we could. They fed us brilliant homecooked meals, as well as some impressive Indonesian. They also were kind enough to give up thier own bed one night so we could stay with them after we'd missed our flight back to Israel, oops! I am including this because many aspects of thier life are inspiration for us in settling down one day: thier hallway lined with books is just one!


Naz worked hard pushing out his first two teeth, learned to sleep in the stroller, rode the trains, and melted hearts. Here are some images for you to consider, with some brief notes to clue you in to thier contents:



Here Adam introduces Naz to our first coffeeshop. Really, we really just had coffee!

This is Adam's family friend, Dafna, who met us for a lovely breakfast one day. Really, she looks like a Rosenbloom, doesn't she?

Here we are walking in the sunshine with our good friend Natalie Kapp who came to spend the weekend with us, taking a break from Geneva where she lives these days. Was delicious to see her, thanks so much for coming, Dr. Kapp!

Adam and Naz enjoyed so much time together, here they are getting ready to take a shower washing of the day's grit and grime (ahahahhaha, right).

We tried lots of new foods, including some spinich that Naz is sampling here at a cafe at Oosterpark.

Starry Night, anyone?
Dad and son enjoying a train ride to check out the tulips in the countryside.


Tulips, windmills, and Mom. What a great combo!


One of our many afternoons spent enjoying a beer and some herring at a cafe in the warm spring sunshine.

We will leave you with this gorgeous smile from our little wonder. We had such a perfect trip, and we really do hope to be able to live in Amsterdam someday soon. Shall we reserve a room for you now?

Lots of love,

Adam, Sera, and Naz