Day 1 Part 1

Things did, in fact, look and feel much, MUCH better in the morning.  We slept decently.  Not great but enough to all feel human again.  We were up for good before 6 AM and all of our suitcases and bags were unpacked and put away before 8AM.  We were feeling quite accomplished.  It was starting to fe
el more like home and after a bit of sleep and a fresher perspective we were starting to feel a bit better about it all.  Again, the kids were having a ball in the new space.  Discovering all the little nooks and

crannies.  And let me tell you, this house has more nooks and crannies than I've ever seen in a house.  For the first day I couldn't really figure out where things were but it was more fun than overwhelming.  It is amazing how sleep deprivation can rob you of your senses and sensibilities and all of your coping mechanisms.   We stow our empty suitcases and are very very hungry again.  This starving thing is becoming a theme.  We decide that since we have a car we really should take advantage of it and try to pretend we are just on vacation.  Marty found a restaurant with great reviews so we hop in the car and head out.

 It is called Restaurant Bastard.  The kids hadn't really ever heard that word before but once we told them it was considered a curse word in English they enjoyed saying it over and over, of course.  We were either really super hungry or it was some of the best and most beautifully presented food we have ever had.

We happily gobble up the large breakfast and then head to a nearby park.  Marty went to run a couple of errands and while at the park Benjamin says he REALLY has to go to the bathroom.  #2.
And, of course, I don't speak German and there are no bathrooms anywhere.  This no, free public bathrooms anywhere is going to be the end of me this year, I swear!  And no free water at restaurants.. but I digress.  We go to the nearest open restaurant and they say that we can't use their bathroom because we didn't buy anything there.  I don't have any Euro.  We decide to head back to Restaurant Bastard and not only did they have delicious food they also were very kind and allowed us to use their very clean and free bathroom.  Thank you again, Restaurant Bastard.
After a filling breakfast and some park time we head to the grocery store for a few staples.  Grocery stores in different countries are always so interesting to me.  A couple of observations early on:
1) Bread is very important to the Germans.  They have all different types of loaves and rolls at every grocery store that are freshly baked.  Most Germans buy fresh bread daily. 2) Alcohol is VERY cheap.  It's almost like they are begging you to drink.  A six pack of beer was 1.65 Euro.  Bottles of red and white wine were between 1.50 and 5.00. Granted we were at Aldi which I hear if more like Trader Joe's.  (They even sell TJ's brands there as the owner of Aldi is the brother of the owner of TJ's) 3. Eggs come in cartons of 10 not 12. I'm sure there will be more grocery store observations to come.
We stock up, head HOME and it is already starting to feel like home.  Put groceries away and the kids happily play in the back yard and in their bedrooms, together and separately.  They are truly amazing in how they have adjusted to this new life so quickly.  In no way do I think we have avoided homesickness or the bumps and bruises of this huge undertaking but I have to say that both Benjamin's and Josie's reaction and their ability to embrace this move has taught both Marty and me huge lessons in how resilient and courageous they both are.  We will both get there too it will just take a bit longer.  We are both SO so proud of them.  There even has been less fighting than normal and they genuinely seem to like playing and hanging around together.  Fingers crossed that this will last!