Happy Holidays from the Stone Family

This week Connor is

Silly

Laughing at his own "potty talk"

Curious about everything

Learning how to be a friend

Napping every 3rd day

Ole Ole Ole Ole!! Go Gauchos!

Connor and I (DAD) visited my old stomping grounds (Isla Vista) and watched the UCSB men's basketball team take on Fresno state Saturday night. To kill a little time before we met up with the Deakyne's (Tim, Jenny, TJ, Maggie) we stopped into the iconic IV surf shop. I found a cool visor that I wanted to buy. As I was checking out, I mentioned to the 19 year old sales girl "that there are not many visors anymore, they must be going out of style." She politely, countered by saying "naw...her dad wears them all the time." Ouch!

After that we ate dinner at my old favorite burrito place in Isla Vista, Freebirds. MMMM!! I need to eat there more...Connor shared a quessadilla with his friend, TJ in which he called it a piece of pizza.




Connor spent a lot of time with TJ on the bleachers playing with a firetruck and bus while Tim and I talk Gauchos. He also loved the band. The basketball game didn't seem to be interesting to him unless someone was hurt.


By the way, the Gauchos crushed Fresno State!

On the go

Here are a few ways we passed the time while traveling.

Played games.

We made up a game we called euros. We'd use our euros to make a picture and the other person had to get what it was. This was a great way to pass time while waiting for our food or the check at a restaurant. Connor loved this game and it was great to watch him get creative. We also played it for a long time the night Chris was sick while we were at the lake and so we all hung out drank a lot of sleepy time tea (yes, I brought that and Connor developed a little addiction).

Slept on trains.

Slept in airports.

Cute boy but bad airport lighting.


Played PS3


The Chris showed Connor how to play the racing game at the free playstation console in the airport. Notice the colorful kids area in the background that I thought Connor would like but he was way more into the video games with dad. You can imagine the fight it was to get him (Connor not Chris) to leave the playstation to go to the gate.


Made friends...
Connor made friends with a little french boy named Cosomo. Cosomo did not speak English and Connor does not speak french yet they happily played & laughed together.




Connor was such a great traveler. He really showed us what a great kid we have.

Where to next?

My favorite pictures from today

Love

Amsterdam

Connor slept a good portion of the ride from Paris to Amsterdam. We took the speed train again which we all really enjoy. It was so nice to not have to: check in, go through security, take off shoes, unpack stuff, show up extra early etc etc. We really enjoyed the simplicity of traveling by train. You buy your tickets online show up and get on the train, there are no seat belt signs and there is a food and beverage car always open, big windows and we particularly enjoyed the seats that face each other.

Amsterdam is a beautiful city with lots of trees, canals, museums, and that charming dutch architecture and a gazillion bikes.


After we dropped our bags off at the NHR cooperate apartment we immediately went out to explore. We turned a few corners and ran right into a carnival. Connor was mesmerized by the ferris wheel so we jumped right on. About 20 seconds after climbing aboard Chris and I remembered why it has been about 20 years since one of us had ridden one. That 1st trip around we were both a little queasy and doing our best to hide our fear from Connor, but then by the 2nd go around we were starting to relax and take in the view.



We had a great dinner with some of the NHR folks from the Amsterdam office. A very warm, fun, and interesting group. From left to right: Glenn, a Minnesota native and Vikings fan, NHR Board member who manages NHR's Amsterdam and Singapore offices. Alyssa, his fiance who was born on the east coast and raised in Amsterdam and London. Lucie, her parents are from Spain and she grew up in France. Her husband, Doron grew up in Cali, but his mom is Swiss and now is settling down in the Netherlands with Swiss passport. Go figure! We hope that we will get to visit with them soon or they will come out to SB.

Below is the view of the canal from the coorperate apartment, at night the bridge is lit up with a string of white lights.


We did go to Amsterdam so Chris could work and he did. While Chris worked Connor and I explored the city.


We took a boat tour.



Here is a cool drawbridge.



We found yummy crapes :-)


And another park.

I love Paris

On our way to Jardin du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Gardens)


Perfect tree lined park.

Behind us the Luxembourg Palace


I've never seen one of these before.


These bikes were everywhere in Paris. They are peddle & electric. You can rent them from a kiosk with a credit card. hummm

Many many beautiful fountains.

I love the fall bouquets.

That is my "brrrrrrr it's cold face".

I love Parisian cafes.
Connor and I raising our glasses to Paris may we be fortunate enough to some day come back.


The Champs Elysees is the most famous street in Paris known for its shopping and cafes. At the end of the Champs Elysees stands the famous Arc de Triomphe.



Behind me is the Louis Vuitton Flagship store . . . thank you Chris ;-)



We took the Bateaux-Mouches boat tour. We sat outside on the upper deck as we cruised down the beautiful tree lined Seine river viewing Notre Dame and several other Paris highlights. It was an amazing experience.





Paris has the best street food. Connor and I loved the crepes and Chris was a fan of the cheese covered sausage in a baguette.


One night we took a lovely walk around the city. Here are some night shots.


I love this picture Chris took. He is becoming quite the photographer.


We did not tour the Louvre but to see it lit up at night was a sight to be seen.



We found a great carousel that Connor rode about 10 times.


Tour Montparnasse 56 is a skyscraper in the middle of Paris that has a cafe and 360 views of Paris. For us it was better than the Eiffel Tower because you can eat, drink & relax while viewing the city including the Eiffel Tower. We stayed there for hours watching as the sun went down and the city lights came up. It was breathtaking. I have never seen such an amazing view in my life. The above picture of the Eiffel Tower is from Montparnasse 56 and below is a picture of the skyscraper it's located in.


The roof of the skyscraper was not crowded and a perfect place to run it out...



Inside was the perfect spot for cocktails.

And I have to say how much I love this little red cable knit sweater with wood buttons that Connor has on, he looked so cute in it.

This picture does not do the view justice.

The next day we went to the Eiffel Tower.


There was a cute park near the Eiffel Tower for Connor to play at.


At the train station getting ready to head to our next adventure . . . Amsterdam.