Bit by Bit and Biking

Every day since getting the keys to the new apartment we had the date December 19th on the calendar as THE DAY we needed to have the apartment in at least living condition. 
Josie's best friend since kindergarten, Elliott, and her family - who have become very good friends of ours as well, were landing in Berlin on December 19th to spend Christmas with us and since we were already paying double rent for our old place and our new place for the month we decided to cancel their Airbnb we rented and have them stay in our new apartment. 

And every day we got something done, even if it was small we saw progress but it was SLLLLOOOWWW going.  We doubted we would have it ready in time. 
Often after school Benjamin and I would bike over to the new place to get a few more things set up while Josie was at swim practice and Marty was doing his radio show. 

Biking in Berlin knows no season (well, I highly doubt we will bike when it snows... too slippery) but we all have bike masks and gloves and bright, yellow safety vests.  And I actually love my bike.  I've never been much of a biker mostly because I've had back issues and biking has always aggravated it and because we live in Seattle where the hills can be quite intense but here in Berlin it is flat as a pancake and a dream to ride your bike in. I have to say having the little pass through for my legs instead of a bar it makes it so easy to get off and on quickly for a crosswalk (which you get yelled at by car drivers if you don't actually dismount while crossing a crosswalk on your bike!) and my basket can hold SO much.  I never ever thought I'd like biking so much but when you are faced with either walking and carrying all of your stuff or riding your bike, which is SO SO much more efficient and fast, 

My purse and my hugely filled grocery bag.  Love
my bike and basket. 

and having all your stuff in your bike basket  - unless it is cold and rainy, I almost always prefer biking.