Swedish Friends

The day after we returned from Turkey our good friend, Toby, and his 4 kids and wife came to Berlin for a visit.  None of the kids had flown before and it had been 11 years since his wife, Susanne, had taken a flight.  We felt honored that Berlin warranted such a first for them.

Josie made yummy Halloween
treats for everyone. 

We first met Toby MANY years ago on our yearly vacations to Europe.  He was dating a friend of ours, Tracey, and they would meet up with us in Berlin and then travel around with us.  He was also so fun and kind.  I remember the last time we saw Toby was in March of 2007.  Josie was a mere 6 month old and at the time Germany was in a bit of a negative birth rate thus making Josie the most loved thing on the streets.  Literally, people would cross the street to come and ogle and pinch her cheeks and try to make her smile.  Josie was the easiest baby and so she normally took to this extra attention quite well.

Photo from 2007 on a ferry in Venice.  Toby
in the middle. 

We met up with Tracey and Toby in Berlin, we then headed to Cottbus and then onto Italy.  Toby would often offer to carry Josie in the front pack and really doted on her.  So it is strange to think that this was the last time we saw him.  Tracey and Toby broke up and both are married to other people now.  Toby has a 10 year old girl who hit it off instantly with Josie.  He has an 8 year old son who hit it off instantly with Benjamin and then boy/girl 6 year old twins. 

They came over to our place for dinner on Monday and Tuesday we headed to the zoo.  It was a strangely warm (nearly 70 degrees) and sunny and we all enjoyed wandering the zoo together.