Whiplash of the Mind

I've now read more books during our second year in Berlin in the first month than I did all of our entire first year.  Crazy!!  My first book was a quick read about an American family in Berlin titled Achtung, Baby  So much of this book I related to and parts I felt I could have written myself as it mirrored so much of our first experiences here.  The author had younger children, a baby who eventually went to Kita (preschool) and a slightly older child but a lot of it was more geared toward younger children.  There were a lot of facts and figures, all quite important but I skimmed the last bits.  The things that stood out, other than how much of her life here that I could relate to, were the play based learning that she raved about here in Germany, particularly in earlier years.  The US seems to have been pushing kids harder and harder and earlier and earlier.  Both of our kids attended Co-op preschool in West Seattle from when they were one year old until they went to Kindergarten.  That means we started as a family with Josie as a one year old in 2007 and ended with Benjamin just before he started kindergarten as a 5 year old in 2015.   Eight years we invested in this program and the program invested in us and our family.  Actually nine if you include the year I taught Spanish part time for one of the four year old classes.  Co-op preschools are based on a very similar philosophy that young children do most of their learning when they are playing and interacting with others.  There is very little (if none at all) direct instruction.  There were various projects and themes and a TON of amazing scaffolding but it wasn't taught in the traditional teacher directed way that a lot of US preschools and early elementary schools do it.  We have noticed that even at the kids' elementary school here, the academics are not nearly as rigorous, especially in math.  We've been told that at 7th grade (middle school for JFK) is when things really become more difficult and then in a very short amount of time - a year or two- the German system bypasses the American system and by high school the classes and demands are more difficult and rigorous than the American counterpart.  Our children have been learning SO so much living here and going to school here and not all or even a fraction of that has to do with academics.  And this co-op preschool experience not only laid the most amazing foundation for both kids but it brought to all of us some of our best friends.  So thankful for my co-op years.  OK, quite a tangent....
My second book that I read since returning to Berlin was Handmaid's Tale.  I really had no idea what this book was about.  I knew it was all the rage with the Netflix series that was based on it and other references to it in social media and current politics but really didn't know what to expect.  I read it quickly and was really blown away by the concept and the parallels to even the current treatment of women.
I'm just now finishing The Power and again I had absolutely NO idea what it was about.  I had seen it chosen as a book club book by both friends in Berlin and Seattle.  While in Seattle my friend, Athena said she was done and for me to take it.  So I did.  I so rarely have physical paper books. I normally read on my Kindle.  What a treat.  And what a complete mind trip as this book was nearly the opposite of Handmaid's Tale.   For every bit of power or equality that The Handmaid's Tale takes away from women The Power give it back and then some.  It was like going through a mental whiplash of sorts going from one book to the other.
My next book I do have an idea what it is about because I just watched the trailer for the upcoming movie with Steve Carrell and bawled - big, ugly tears! Wow.  Beautiful Boy will be up next.  Another gifted to me actual paper (hardback no less, just like The Power!) I'm thrilled to have the energy and time to read again.

Speaking of reading, Benjamin has been blowing us away with his reading.  I've never known anyone to read so fast or furiously.  He had finished all of his summer books with a week to spare of summer break.  The school was only checking in books for his first week back and then his library day wasn't until today (Friday) so on Monday we decided to download a book from Seattle public library.  He decided to give the first Harry Potter book a try.  Josie had re-read the first one over the summer and is now reading the 2nd one in German!!  So, he thought he'd give it a try.  He was extra motivated because Josie REALLY REALLY didn't want him to start reading the series for fear that he would pass her up. She is reading in German which takes much more brain power and time.  So, that only fueled his fire to read it, read it quickly and like it.  Which he did.  He finished the book less than 3 days from when he downloaded it!!  Crazy.  Thankfully his best buddy Clayton had the second one to loan him as we were on a long wait list at Seattle Public Library to download book #2.
Josie is really reading a ton too. She typically isn't as fast as Benjamin and especially not when it is German.  I remember reading my first few books in Spanish and it always felt like such an accomplishment.
Thankfully we will all have good books to take with us on our upcoming trip tonight.  Our first adventure for Berlin 2.0.  We are off for an early birthday gift for Josie.  She planned where we are going and our daily itinerary for the next few days.  She has always wanted to go to this country.  Hoping it meets or exceeds all of our expectations...

Weekly Food Find

Marty had an appointment today in Charlottenburg so we decided to find a new to us restaurant for lunch.  It is on our goal list to go to a new area of Berlin and eat once a week.  We hit the jackpot today with our 2nd week of hopefully a year long weekly tradition.  I was told about a great Georgian restaurant that happened to be near his appointment.  Unfortunately when we got there we realized that it didn't open until 3PM.  Bummer.  But we looked up nearby restaurants and were so thankful the first place was closed because Mezem Berlin was out of this world.

It was a teeny tiny little place with maybe 4 tables to sit inside and three small, two person tables outside. There were a dozen or so huge bowls of main and side dishes including meat dishes, lentils (green, red, brown and yellow/orange) potatoes, green beans, couscous, red beets, red cabbage, okra, brussel sprouts, etc. and then a whole other area with dips - eggplant, hummus, tzatziki sauce, and so many other wonderful choices.  You choose a large plate (8 Euro) or a small plate (6 Euro) and then point out what you want them to pile on your plate.  We both got the 8 Euro plate but it was SO

much food that next time - and there will DEFINITELY be a next time - I think I will have to go for the 6 Euro plate.  I ate so much I almost made myself sick but it was some of the tastiest food I have ever had.  And the owners and workers were all so kind.
At the end of our meal they even brought us a small cup of hot, Turkish or Arabic tea. 
Marty's appointment was for personally fitted contact lenses where he will have to go back several times for fittings and

resizing.  Normally this would be a pain but with the promise of this restaurant afterward will make it all worthwhile.

Fall Funk

Well the weather is SLOWLY turning from summer to fall.  It seems weird to even write that as it was 90 degrees just a few days ago and is supposed to be in the mid 80's later in the week. But despite the still quite high temps there are some orange, brownish leaves on the ground and now our bike tires pop the many nuts littering the bike path as we roll over them.  There is also a chill in the air in the mornings and our bike seats had dew on them for the first time since early spring.  Speaking of weather and spring and I know I've said it before but I have never in my life lived this long without rain and with so much sunshine.  It was been sunny and beautiful weather here since the first week of April.  I have worn only summer clothes for nearly 5 months.  Sandals, shorts, skirts, tanks, sundresses.  SO heavenly.  I know the weather is about to turn and I'm trying to prepare myself.  I never have liked to say goodbye to summer.
With the change of seasons and the change in our daily schedule with the kids going back to school I found myself in a bit of a funk at the end of last week.   Sure, I'm loving the long days where Marty and I can go on long bike rides and go for a leisurely European style lunch but I feel like now that the kids are getting bigger and more independent maybe I need to find something more to do.  I will sign up for German classes but will likely start again in January.  I can't really get a part time job here.  I mean, I could but they are few and far between and not speaking German seems quite a hindrance.  I applied to sub at the nearby private school as they do the more traditional substitute teaching - just a day or two a week but haven't heard back.  I'm sure something might turn up but feeling like I need to be more productive with my days.  It is true.  The less you have to do the less you actually get done. 
The weekend was filled with soccer practice for both kids.  Then we went to look at a house that is for sale right next to one of my closest friends here.  It seems a rental house here would be such a great investment.  This one would need a major remodel and we likely wouldn't even live in it ourselves if we happened to get it but it is just a few blocks from the school and we know real estate and rental properties in this area are highly sought after.  There would always be a demand for it.  Our property managers from Cottbus even drove up to look at it with us.  Later in the afternoon we went to our favorite Indian restaurant and were seated at the very last table way in the back and at the very next table were seated our friends -who we rarely see!!. How cool was that??!!  Great to see you Bridget, Tesh, Luke and Elia 😊

End of First Week Celebration

On Friday we planned to go to our favorite ice cream shop to

celebrate a successful end to the kids' first week of 3rd and 6th grades.  Benjamin had already invited Clayton over for an after school play date so we thought how much more fun would the celebration be if he could invite his best buddy.  And then, because the boys had their first soccer practice the next morning at 9AM we thought,

well, why doesn't Clayton just stay the night.  Thankfully, his mom agreed to our very last minute plan and the boys couldn't have been happier.  It was Benjamin's first sleep over here in Germany but probably only his second ever in his life.

Josie also had made plans with her good friend, Aurora, to come over after school and because they also had soccer practice the following day, it made sense to have Aurora spend the night too.  Other than a huge fight between the kids on which movie to watch, it was all rather uneventful and they all had fun.  And, most importantly, they were all asleep by 10PM!

We made the mistake last year when we celebrated with ice cream after Benjamin was accepted into JFK of each ordering our own ice cream concoctions.  It started out so awesome.  WOW!  These huge ice cream creations for 5 Euro a piece.  Yum!  But halfway through we realized it was just way too much.  This time we ordered 3 to share between the 6 of us and it was still way too much!!  Too much but still very VERY yummy.  Here is to a great new school year!! 

Gaining Years or Subtracting Them?

I often wonder if we are adding years to our life by living here or taking them away? On the one hand we are exercising in more practical ways here.  Without a car, we bike or walk  nearly everywhere so by default even if we don't "workout" we are using our bodies for things in our daily life that we typically wouldn't do in Seattle.  We have to move to get anywhere - to drop off or pick up the kids from school, to get groceries, to go to Dr. appointments or school meetings or soccer practice or anywhere we have to walk or ride at the very least a mile each way.  Our brains are constantly taking in new things and for me a new language daily, hourly, sometimes by the minute.  That has to be better for reducing memory loss and warding off Alzheimer's  disease than doing crossword puzzles or sudoku games, right?
But then I think about how old my body feels when  I ride my bike over cobblestone roads and my teeth chatter and my back twinges and moans.  My neck feels a shot of electricity and my arms and shoulders shake.  I hate riding over cobblestones.   And I've had two, actually three falls on my bike.  None of them major and no broken bones but bruises for sure.  Just before we returned to Seattle I was riding with Benjamin home from school and our bikes somehow collided just a bit and I went flying into the street.  He stayed upright but I went skidding across the street.  My bag, which was in my bike basket, went flying into the street as well.  Thankfully there were no cars going in either direction which would have made it far worse.  The bike and my whole left side were pretty banged up and my nerves were shaken but I was OK. 
This past week Marty and I spent a couple of hours at the lake (Schlachtensee) without the kids while they were at school.  We swam across and back in glorious 85 degree sunshine.  While we were swimming I thought how good this is for us.  To have the time and energy to be able to enjoy a swim in the lake mid day, mid week.  I thought, oh, this is a time we are definitely adding years to our life.  But then, on the way home, my bike tire caught the edge of the bike path so that when I over-corrected sent me into the hedge/chain linked fence.  I didn't fall outright but ended up with a couple serious bruises on my thigh where I ran into my bike.  So, maybe that day we ended out tied - added a bit while swimming in the lake and took them away after running into the fence.  Give and take... hopefully in the end we will have added more years, memory and life to our lives than taken away. 

Successful First and Second Days

The back to school fairy visited... Josie was too
cool for a pic though. 

I always feel like the first day of school is not the hard part.  Sure, there is the whiplash of going from a long, leisurely summer smack into a hard, fast schedule timed by a bell (or in JFK's case a light) but the first day there is a lot of excitement and adrenaline.  It's the second day that is more telling in my opinion. 
Thankfully, both kids gave their new school year two thumbs up on day one and on day two. 
Benjamin, even though he didn't have any of his good buddies in his homeroom class, said he saw most of his friends at lunch, recess and Partner Tongue (German) class.  He didn't seem phased one bit by not being with his good friends and walked out of school both days with an enormous smile and when asked how his day was on both days he replied with an overwhelmingly enthusiastic "It was Awesome!!"  He rarely seems this happy at any other point in the day or his life.  He walks out of school (last year and so far this year) so incredibly happy.  Which, of course, makes us so happy as well.  Last year Benjamin's school day was over at 1:05.  A couple of days a week he had after school activities but on the days he didn't Marty (and sometimes if I wasn't in class, me too) would meet him and bring him home.  This year his school day ends at 2:10 which cuts it a bit close for Marty to pick up and then race home for his radio show.  On the first day, though, Marty really

wanted to be there to see Benjamin come out.  Marty said he wasn't going to make a habit of it as it really is a race to get back but on the ride to school on day 2, Benjamin said "thanks so much for picking me up yesterday.  Can you do it again today?"  Marty being the softy agreed, much to Benjamin's pleasure.  It really is one of the best parts of the day seeing him run to us with his huge, happy smile exclaiming how great his school day was. 

Josie is off to a good start as well.  On the first day she was pretty upset that her favorite art teacher had returned to the states.  She hasn't met the new art teacher yet but she really liked the old one.  She was also upset that she won't get as much library time as last year and there was one more change that I can't remember that she was upset about.  She had a couple of tears (emotional outburst about something- #HORMONES!!) but within minutes was fine and happy again.  She is with all of her same friends and her same teacher so not much has changed for her.  Her number 1 complaint about school here is that it is too easy, particularly in math.  It seems we have a plan in place already for this year to help push her ahead and keep her challenged.  I'm really really hoping this works out. 
Yesterday Benjamin needed help writing out his class schedule in his homework folder.  Josie to the rescue.  She loves helping him do stuff like this.  They fight an awful lot but seeing them laugh and talk about their school day and enjoy each other like this - even if it is just a short time - makes my heart burst!
Here is to a GREAT year two at JFKS in Berlin!
Marty and I are adapting to our empty nest during the day.  Yesterday we went on a 7 mile (40ish minutes) each way bike ride to a cool, authentic Greek restaurant near the middle of Berlin.  It shouldn't be but still is shocking to ride this far in a bustling, large European capital city and be on a fabulous bike path the entire time.  Today, the temps are supposed to be mid to upper 80's so I think we are headed to the lake once we get our work done here.  Not missing the kids as much now as I did on day one...

JFKS - First Day of 6th and 3rd

And another "oh what a difference a year makes" feeling.  The first day of school at JFKS and the kids were not one bit anxious and were every bit comfortable and ready.  They went to sleep last night with no hesitation - maybe this had something to do with staying up way too late on Saturday for our Back to School party and running around the zoo all day, but no matter, they went to sleep extra early with no butterflies or anxious thoughts.  They also both woke up raring to go and excited for their new school year.

Josie's 6th grade class is really just a continuation of her 5th grade class.  They do a looping system here where their classmates and their teacher stay together for two years.  So Josie will not only be in her same classroom but with her awesome teacher and all of her friends.  It was kind of like a long Spring break in that way and not a summer break.  She had her clothes all laid out and her FOUR bags (library books to return, backpack, school supplies and sports bag) ready.

Benjamin will be at the bottom of the looping schedule and thus will get a new teacher and all the 3rd graders will be mixed up

between the 5 sections of 3rd grade.  He really wanted to be in class with some of his best buddies, which he wasn't and thankfully didn't seem one bit phased by it.  In the end we reminded him that last year he didn't know a soul and made great friends, most of which were not in his Homeroom class, so even though his best

friends aren't in his class he will still have plenty of time to see them at recess and lunch.

Now Marty and I are back home, I'm still cleaning up from our party and Marty is doing some work. The house is so SO strangely quiet and I'm not sure if I like it or not.  New routines are hard at first for everyone.  Normally the first day of school I'm so ready for the kids to be back and for me to have a bit of quiet to my days but this year I could have used a few more weeks of this glorious summer.  Granted, the summer break here is

only 7 weeks long compared to the normal 10+ in Seattle but the kids are getting older and are just a lot more fun to have around.  Hoping for a great day for both kids.  I cannot wait to hear all about their days in a few hours.

 And HERE is a flashback to Josie's first day at JFK

And HERE is the link to Benjamin's first day.
They both look so young!  Crazy how much they grow, in every way, over one year.
Here's to the best school year yet!!!

Back to the Zoo

Last year around this same time we bought our family a yearly zoo membership as we were anxiously waiting to find out if he would be accepted into JFK school or if he would attend another local school.  It was a stressful time but also a really nice time.  It was just him and I for nearly two weeks as we waited for him to be accepted and then be able to start school.  We have so many fun memories there together.   We lost count but we probably went there no less than 7 times over the course of two weeks.

  I've said it many times before that I am not a Zoo person or a Zoo fan.  After having spent quite a bit of time in Kenya and Uganda I have never really enjoyed going to zoos and have always felt sorry for the animals being cooped up in these relatively small cages.  I guess one could argue that a life in a zoo is pretty sweet for wild animals as living out in nature is much more challenging and dangerous but you could also argue that it is much more fulfilling, exciting and satisfying.   However, I have come to really love the Berlin Zoo.  Partly due to the fact that the

way it is set up allows you to feel much more in touch with the animals.  Their enclosures border on being maybe a bit too little or too unobstructive.  But the other really important reason that I love this zoo is because of all the time Benjamin and I spent there together last year.
Because our yearly membership was expiring soon we decided a trip to the zoo should be our last day of summer activity.  This time we invited our friends and old neighbors, Nils and Aurora to join.  What a difference a year makes.  Last year at this time we hadn't even met them yet even though they lived right behind us.

Back to School Bash

Before we left for Seattle, Marty suggested we throw a back to school party to utilize our enormous deck which we just have not used nearly enough.  We finally got some furniture out there and so we took a family poll on who really wanted a back to school party and unanimously voted to go ahead with it. 

We originally had a list of 75 people but I vetoed that idea and declared that was MUCH too large (foodwise) for me.  We narrowed it down to about 50 of our favorite people and around 40 were able to come.

We borrowed some party supplies from friends and got most of our supplies via bike/bike basket and backpacks.  Yes, it was a pain in the rear but I'm constantly amazed at how much I can haul, just me and my bike.    We borrowed our friend Fionnaula's car for the drinks though, because that would have been nearly impossible.  Throwing a party in Berlin is MUCH cheaper than in the states even if it is more work to actually get the supplies.  For

44 (.51 liter) bottles of beer and 8 bottles of wine it was only 57 Euro!  The alcohol is crazy cheap here!!  On the other hand, three teeny tiny bags of ice were 12 Euro, so maybe it all evens out in the end.  Good thing we had the foresight to save the ice from their ice excavating a few days before.

One of my requirements for food was for something that I could make ahead of time and something that would freeze if not eaten.  I came upon a veggie chili that I make frequently and found a great, new to me, meat chili recipe. Marty says the meat chili was one of the best things I've ever made.  I used this recipe but improvised quite a bit (couldn't find Anaheim chilis or fire roasted tomatoes or chipotle pepper sauce. Plus a little more of this and a little less of that but pretty much followed the recipe.)
Both chilis were made during the week so that the day of the party all I had to make was an ENORMOUS vat of gaucamole.  What is a party without Gauc?!   I also made a huge thing of

Caprese salad and a tomato, cucumber, red onion salad.

Maybe Josie's work on Overcooked is transferring to the actual kitchen as she was quite a help with making the guacamole and setting up the cookie platter.
Marty and Benjamin

set up Cornhole in the back yard. The cornhole game was hand made by our wonderful former downstairs neighbors who sadly moved back to New Mexico but left us their game.
Our friends showed up and we ate and talked and laughed and

drank and caught up after the summer and the kids played games. It was the perfect weather to be out on the deck.  What a lovely night with friends.  It is so strange to think that only a year ago none of these new friends existed in our lives.  So SO thankful for all of our new friends here in Berlin!!

Summer Ice

The kids have been trying to come up with fun craft ideas to work on these last few days of summer.  One of their ideas was a cardboard "clothes folder"  Benjamin was very excited to demonstrate its functionality.  Haha!!
They also really wanted to freeze a bunch of small lego pieces and toys in big tubs of water in the freezer and then excavate them.  We have done this many times in Seattle when the temps drop below freezing we would put toys in large plastic

containers and leave them outside overnight.  The next day they would take small tools and chisel their toys out of the ice.  It took more energy to freeze them in the freezer but it was much more enjoyable to excavate on the sunny deck, that is for sure.
And then after they got their toys out Marty and I decided to keep the ice intact and reuse the hunks of ice in our beverage coolers for our upcoming party.
The other nightly or morningly (is that a word?) activity is this new video game called Overcooked.  Marty even plays it.  I'm not really a video game player.  But I have to half laugh half cry when I overhear them playing this.  It is a cooperative game where they work as a team to get a certain number of meals out (they have to gather the ingredients, chop, cook, avoid rats, etc.) to the hungry customers.  Their conversation goes something like this: Hurry, get the tomatoes. No, not the mushrooms, the tomatoes.  Chop them,

hurry.  Come on, chop the tomatoes.  Uh-oh.  The soup is burning.  The SOUP IS BURNING.  Grab the soup.  Someone do the dishes, Hurry, Someone, do the dishes.  Oh, no... the rats, watch out, here come the rats.  It is funny, until they yell at each other so much that someone's feelings get hurt. But I really like that no one is shooting anyone and they are working together as a team.  It would be nice if they wanted to transfer their cooking skills over to real life and help me in the real kitchen 😄

Abenteuerspielplatz Day 3

We headed back to the Abenteuerspielplatz in Prenzlauer Berg for our final visit before school starts.  This time Benjamin's best buddy, Clayton, and his little brother, Gavin, also joined us.  Benjamin was thrilled to have some friends joining and was equally as excited for the cooler temps because that meant they would likely open the shed for building materials. Josie is excited because her friend, Ella, and a couple of other girls she had met previously there are also at the park. 

We met up at the Sbahn and rode into the city together.  Once there they were off and running and barely said goodbye.  I headed to the nearby park and read my book in peace for a few hours.  I finished Handmaid's Tale and am now reading The Power.... talk about whiplash of the mind.  Both books are good and mostly I'm just happy that I'm finding time and energy to read again.
Our friend, Hollis, brought her three boys to the

Abenteuerspielplatz and she and I shared food and a beer at the Indian restaurant next door. Sadly, Hollis and her family are moving back to the States on Thursday so this will be our final Berlin

outing before they take off.
Again, the entire 5+ hours I don't hear a word from the kids.  When I go to pick them up at 5:30 they seem to be having a ball and don't want to leave.  We eventually make our way out and onto the train to head home.  Abenteuerspielplatz success for a third time. 

Happy, tired, sweaty kids at the end of the day

Loving Life at the Lake

Often times our life here feels like a very long vacation.  Mostly this is due to Marty's work schedule and demands being so completely opposite of what they were while in Seattle.  Not only does he work later in the afternoon rather than the very first thing after (sometimes before) the sun rises but he has somehow managed to squeeze his usual 5-6 hours of "outside of radio work" into about 1-2 hours.  Partly this is due to the fact that he has delegated to his amazing assistant who has managed to not only hold down the fort while we are away but take on so much more of what Marty used to do.  Another big factor is that he can work completely uninterrupted since everyone in the Seattle area is asleep during our day he doesn't get new things piled onto his plate.

Because even our weekdays feel much like weekends or vacation especially during the kids' school holidays, the weekends don't hold as much allure.  Although on Sunday it really did feel like we were on vacation.  We woke up late and decided to ride our bikes to the lake via Mexikoplatz which is where we normally stop for pasta and ice cream.  However the ice cream place doubles as a breakfast buffet in the mornings.  When we used to travel to Berlin on vacation in the summer we all relished in the fact that every morning we would be treated to the most awesome breakfast buffet.  So living here we have missed that and this little ice cream shop/breakfast buffet in Mexikoplatz was just the thing to make us feel even more on vacation.
After we've stuffed ourselves we continue another 8ish minutes on our bikes back to Schlachtensee.  Since returning to Berlin this summer we have spent more time at this lake than probably anywhere else.  We have so enjoyed swimming in the cool water and taking the edge off the hot, stagnant air.
We swim around for a few hours and then decide to ride back, shower, chill for a bit and then bike to a great Greek restaurant for dinner.  We eat out a LOT more here because it is just so cheap to do so.  Eating out here is EASILY half what it would cost in Seattle.  We end the wonderfully relaxing Sunday with a stop by the local Eis (ice cream) cafe before coming home and sitting on our deck reading our books.  Awwww.  Summer.  I. LOVE. SUMMER.  Always have and always will.  One more week before the kids start school.

Readers - Two of Them!

 The kids have been the MOST amazing readers over this summer vacation.  We had 7 weeks total.  Four weeks we spent in Seattle and then we have had two weeks back here in Berlin with ONE more week left before summer starts.  Each of them were allowed to check out 10 books for the summer break.  This is the coolest idea and I don't really know many schools that would do that.  Normally we just would head to the Seattle Public Library over the summer which is great but there was something about having a bunch of books on hand at your disposal that really prompted them to read and read and read. 
With 6 weeks of vacation under our belt Josie has read (some of them were a reread) all 10 of her checked out books.  She is now

reading a book she downloaded onto her Kindle from the Seattle Library and thinks she will probably finish it before school starts.
Benjamin has read 5 Percy Jackson  novels along with a bunch of other Greek Mythology books.  I actually limited his Percy Jackson books to 5 when we left school because I figured that there was NO way he would be able to finish 5 whole books in 7 weeks.  Well, he has proven me wrong.  He is really the kind of kid that really REALLY gets into something and then it is hard to pull him away.  He can read around any kind of

noise or on the bus or the train or really anyway.  It is quite remarkable.
So SO thankful for my readers.
I have mentioned that last year I read a measly two books which was such a disappointment.  I loved to read but last year my brain was so full with the move here and then taking German language classes that I just didn't have much bandwidth left at night to read.  Well, in the two weeks we have been back I'm nearly done with two books.  Just trying to keep up with the kids.  😉