Krakow

We woke up Saturday morning and I was only feeling about 50 %.  I had the pack of Wonder bread Marty had bought at the grocery store the night before and brought several slices with me down to breakfast.  It was the only thing I could imagine stomaching.  I toasted it and ate several pieces.  Still feeling a bit ill but I was determined to see Krakow.  I had booked us on a free walking tour of the city.  Every city we have been to here in Europe we try to do these Free Walking Tours and not just because they are cheap - they only ask for a tip at the end which we happily give generously.  But the fact that you can reserve a tour but not have to financially commit to

it is perfect for our style of travel.  Things change last minute and I never want to be too tied down when traveling.  Plus the guides we have had so far have all been amazing.  Normally history or anthropology or art history majors or teachers. People who are really passionate about their city with loads of historical information and almost always a spot on restaurant recommendation.  Krakow Free Walking tour was no different.  Although it was cold and the kids complained a fair amount about being cold, and walking too much and being bored they really did learn a lot and were able to retain it when we talked about the city later that day.

After the tour we went to a "Milk Bar" which is apparently their idea of a cheap diner and there are many of them.  My friend, Liz, who had lived in Krakow recommended a few places to me and we went to the Milk Bar she suggested.  It was awesome.  A plate of pierogis (like dumplings) a huge schnitzel platter and an omlette meal plate.  No drinks this time other than water but the entire meal with tip came to 12 Euro.

After lunch we walked around a bit more and to another one of Liz's recommendations which was this cool chocolate lounge.  There was a long line to sit in the back of the restaurant and the outside (in plastic tents with heating lamps) was all full but there was room in the front part of the restaurant.  After sitting down and waiting for 45

minutes we realized why no one was sitting up there was because every time the front door opened a large draft of arctic air blew in.  We stayed mostly coated up and were fine.  The kids each picked a treat and we all shared.

By then we were all pretty tired to so headed back to the hotel to rest.  But after many card games, book reading and some screen time we decided we weren't necessarily starving but would be pretty hungry if we didn't go get something

for dinner.  The walking tour guide had recommended this cool, all vegan burger place so we headed back to the center of town with this place in mind.
It was really super good.  Even Benjamin liked it.  I'm always amazed how people can cook such delicious things that are completely vegan. We eat very little meat and I do vegetarian all the time but vegan is a whole other level.  Like no eggs or dairy for the sauces.  Whatever they used it was amazing.  We all left stuffed again with not even room for an after dinner treat.

Auschwitz

When we decided to visit Krakow we knew that within an hour was probably the most infamous concentration camp, Auschwitz.  We debated long about if the kid are old enough to handle this place and its heavy, dark past.  We knew that Auschwitz would be referenced so many times in their lives and we wanted them to know that it was real and that *it* should never happen again.  No matter how you define *it* - racism, oppression, destruction, devastation, ravaging, genocide, mass murder, etc. Never again.
On Saturday morning we woke up with the intent of driving to Birkenau - Auschwitz II first and then on to the Auschwitz I - the museum, after.   We arrived at Birkenau by 10:30 or 11. It was just an hour or so drives from Krakow and through small back, windy roads.  There are houses and small stores and restaurants within just a few blocks of the actual work camp.  Before we got out of the car Marty reminded them of all that we talked about over breakfast as we tried to explain to the kids what had happened at these work camps.  He reminded them that there would be no joke or laughing.  Marty tends to try to lighten the mood on things by joking.  The kids knew he was serious when he said - NO laughing, no joking.  This place is a memorial and out of respect to the people who lived here we need to recognize how horrible it was and what those people went through.
The kids, to their credit, took it VERY seriously.  It was a very cold, wet, winter day.  I'm sure if you were to visit in the heat of summer you would be able to imagine the misery of not enough shade or water but visiting it in the winter really was somber.  Trying to imagine these people (over 125,000!!) were forced to face.  Without proper clothing, without proper nutrition, barely any heat and then forced to work or just sent to die.  It was brutal but we did our own self guided tour and so were able to tailor what we said and how we said it to the kids. In the end they definitely were able to grasp that beyond horrific things were done to an unbelievable amount of people on this land just 70 ish years ago.
After Birkenau we drove to the Auschwitz I with the intent of going through the museum. It was December 28th and like I said very cold and bleak and so we did not expect to see the lines we saw there.  We stood in line to get in and then realized that we needed a prebooked ticket which we did not have.  So walked around the outside a bit and then were planning to grab lunch and head to the Salt Mines.  Unfortunately on the drive out I started feeling sick.  I'm not sure if I had what the kids had or it was food poisoning from breakfast but as we were driving through the windy roads I just lost it... several times.  It was like your worst nightmare.  We were an hour away from the hotel, the hotel was no where near any place with food, the kids were starving, I was barfing, we needed to get somewhere as there weren't any "pull out on the side of the road" type places.  Marty forged ahead without his co-pilot to give directions (our car did not have GPS) Every small little place we tried to find to eat was closed and then there was a car crash that blocked an entire direction of traffic making it take 4 times the length of time to get somewhere.  Marty finally found an open, small pizza place.  It looked like half dirty, old laundromat and the DMV.  There were 2 or 3 small little tables but the kids were starving and I just wanted to go to the bathroom and wash my hands.  But, NO bathrooms here.
Marty and the kids sat and ate and I walked around the teeny, tiny village looking for a public bathroom.  I finally found one in the public library upstairs.  I love libraries and always have and even half way around the world I know they will be friendly and have toilets.  And they did.
After pizza we still had plans to go to the salt mines. Everyone said we should just go back to the hotel but when you travel the way we have been traveling with just 2-3 days in each city, if you scrap a whole half of a day that leaves you with very little.  I said I could rally and we should go to the salt mines anyway. Unfortunately within minutes back in the car I was already throwing up again. So Marty made an executive decision and we just drove back to the hotel.  I barely made it out of my clothes and into my pajamas before collapsing into bed.
The kids were in heaven.  Their favorite thing to do on vacation is just sit around the hotel room playing card games, reading or having screen time.  Their dream vacation time was topped off when Marty suggested he go and get me a few things in case I felt hungry overnight - crackers or white bread, bananas and apple juice.  He and Josie found a huge grocery store and right next to it a McDonalds.  We NEVER eat McDonalds and we never bring food back and eat it in our hotel room.  Benjamin was SO happy but was so confused.  We normally only eat McDonalds about once a year and back when we landed in Mallorca it was the easiest thing at the airport.  He said "No, wait.  We already had McDonalds for this year!!"  haha.  So my loss and their gain.  They were happy campers.

Drive to Krakow - Dinner in Katowice

On the 27th of December, the day after "2nd Christmas" we rented a car to drive to Krakow, Poland.  We have been SO lazy so far this vacation sleeping in well past anything we ever have before. We don't even go to bed that late.  I really think it is our body's way of hibernating.  The sun sets around 3:45 (!?!) and doesn't rise again until around 8:20.  Making a very long, dark, sleepy afternoon/evening/morning.
So we didn't go pick up the rental car until past noon and after packing up the car it put us on the road for our 6 hour drive not until nearly 2PM.  So unlike us.  The sun only had an hour and a half before setting.  But we were all in good spirits and ready for our first official road trip.  Even though we told the kids a road trip is usually when you go to more than one place.

As it was nearing 7pm we were driving through Katowice and we were all getting hungry. Travel snacks had been devoured within minutes of starting the trip and I looked up a restaurant that we found with barely any trouble and it turned out to be one of the best meals we have had in Europe.  Just a small little pub type place called Mr. Fox Pub. 

It wasn't that the food was all that delicious, although it was super

good but everyone was happy with their order.  Burger for Benjamin, pizza for Josie, spaghetti bolognese for Marty and I got a grilled halloumi cheese salad. Everything super tasty and perfectly cooked. I also had definitely the best beer I've had since arriving.  Some Polish IPA.  It was SO good and then to top off the great meal, the staff were allsuper friendly and our bill with tip was under 25€.  People had told us that Poland was really inexpensive but we didn't think we would notice a difference because we consider Berlin inexpensive but yes, Poland was even more so.
We walked around for a few minutes after dinner to see just a bit of the city and then hopped back into the car for the final hour of our journey.  We arrived, tired and ready for sleep.

Christmas #1 and #2

Christmas morning came with the excitement it always does when you have kids.  Thankfully, they sleep in now until nearly 8AM.  I had made a couple of overnight breakfast recipes that just needed to be popped in the oven so I made some coffee, put the two dishes in the oven and then we sat down to open "Santa" gifts and stockings even though neither of them believe anymore.

Normally I'm pretty good about cleaning up the mayhem that transcends a room after opening so many gifts but for some reason I just let it go.  We sat down among the already very messy living room and opened more gifts.  A lot of the gifts were things that Marty brought back from Seattle.  Things we had to leave because our first move here was just for one year and many things we could do without for just one year.  One year turned into two and those things - many birthday and Christmas gifts from past years- were just sitting in our basement.  It was the very best of re-gifting.

One of the gifts the kids received was a gift certificate for a "family pack" at the movies.  Normally I never buy movie snacks.  I make way better popcorn, I personally don't like the theater popcorn (way too salty) and who really needs a HUGE soda.  The family pack is for 4 movie tickets, 4 bags of popcorn and 4 sodas.  The kids like the snacks as much, if not more, than the movie.  So on Christmas day, without any other plans, we decided to head into town and redeem their movie gift.  We got the family pack and the kids were thrilled. We saw Mary Poppins and it was really a nice change to watch a wholesome, lighthearted, fantastical movie. 
The next day we were invited to our friend Juli and Luke's for Boxing Day or as the Germans refer to it "Second Christmas" Josie was feeling sick all morning and into the afternoon.  She slept on the couch for hours and by the time it was ready to leave we decided she should just stay home. 
Juli made a delicious ham with potatoes and fancy dessert.  All the comforts of a gourmet meal that I don't have time or energy for.  So good.

Just missing Maya (who was under the table) and
Josie who was home sick. 

Along with Juli, Luke and their boys there was also our friends Anja and Kyle (the 6 of us adults are part of a Supper Club but we are all so busy we don't get out as much as we would all like) Also Anja's mom and dad were there visiting for the Holidays from London.  Such a VERY nice and fulfilling (in every way) 1st and 2nd Christmas.

Frohe Weihnachten

We weren't sure what to do with our first truly solo Christmas - just the four of us.  Marty knew he wanted the traditional German hot dogs and potato salad for dinner.  He grew up with this and since we are here in thebirthplace of German hot dogs and potato salad it was easy to just pick up at the store.  They have about 6 different types of potato salad at the German butcher shop and everyone here must have the same tradition as the line to purchase this was about 15 long and out the door.  We bought a couple smallish containers of potato salad so we could try two different kinds.  They were good but nowhere near as good as when Marty's sister, Liz, makes it for Christmas.  The hot dogs here might be better though.

All the kids wanted was to open gifts, which were growing in number under our petite little tree.  Benjamin had a couple of melt downs in the waiting process.  And

all I wanted was for us to get out of the house and to one of the dozens of beautiful Christmas markets all around town.  Truth be told, I really just wanted a family photo and what better place for it than on Christmas Eve at a Christmas Market.  I wanted Marty to see the beauty of Gendarmentmarkt and I was hoping it would be somewhat less crowded than when Simone and I went there last week.

After a big of cajoling and an after photo treat the kids put on a smile and although Josie's eyes are a bit squinty, we got one.
The after pic treat was a waffle this time and, of course, they had to have whipped cream on it and then they couldn't eat it without just slurping it off the top which they did happily.
With sticky fingers and faces

we walked around the market,saw a performance but a couple of very talented gymnast/circus type performers, Benjamin was flirted with and handed a small candy by one of the famous Angels of the market. 
We trained it home and then walked from the sbahn on a frigid and bitterly windy night.  Inside the warmth and light of our apartment Marty and I had the hot dogs and potato salad while the kids enjoyed a smorgasbord of food from the very full fridge.

Finally it was time for gifts and the kids were very excited and very thankful for their many gifts from many different family members.  Some of the favorite gifts were things that Marty picked up while he was in Seattle from our basement where we store all of our prized possessions while renting out the rest of our house.  Marty searched through boxes and bags and found some of their favorite things that they had left behind in the move.  Big hit!!

Friends, Food and a Full Fridge

Blurry pic but Josie and
Elia are both so preteen

We have been very fortunate to meet some pretty cool people here in Berlin and in particular some pretty amazing families. We hang out here more families and families than we did in Seattle and I think it is because here we all started making friends at the same time.  And as it has turned out many of the families here have kids the same ages as ours.
On Saturday Beth, Maya and Louis came over.  Sadly, Jochen, had a bad cold and had to stay home last minute.  A very fun night of food and laughter. 
Sunday night our friends, Bridget, Luke, Elia and Tesh came over.  Bridget and family moved here 6 months before us and she was friends with one of my West Seattle friends, Sarah.  Sadly, our kids attend different schools so even

Benjamin and I made
a Christmas tree bread thing

though we live relatively close together we don't see each other near enough.

My fridge here is
never this full. 

One of the very nice side effects of having two dinner gatherings at our house back to back was a ton of left overs.  I even went to the store to buy extra food storage containers on Saturday before making the food.  I now have a FULL fridge to eat out of for the next several days until we take off on our after Christmas road trip.  Which is a good
thing because all grocery stores are closed the 24th after noon, and all day on the 25th and 26th.
Not any good pics but so much food and great times with wonderful friends. 

Winter Solstice - Game Night

We acknowledge the Solstices so much more here.  Party because the light during the day is an hour more or less on that day depending on if it is Summer or Winter Solstice.  And it is significant in both seasons to really take note of it. 
These past few weeks it has been dark, like really dark, when we leave for school by bike at 7:40.  We have to wear our reflective vests and be extra careful biking.  And it is starting to get dark by the time Josie gets out of school and completely dark before 4 PM.  I think sunset time in Berlin on the solstice was 3:55 PM! 

So we make a bigger deal of it here, partly because it seems Europeans acknowledge it more but also, at least for the winter solstice, we are so SO happy that the tide is now turning and the days will now slowly be getting longer.  To know you made it to the darkest, shortest days feels like an event to take note of and mark in some way.

Last year we did it right and went to the Tropical Island with the Neves.  What a way to celebrate the shortest and darkest day of the year by spending it on a warm, sunny "beach" an hour outside of Berlin.  This year we didn't have such big plans but the night before we decided to have a family game night with game snacks.  The kids were super excited.  We played hours of games after dinner until we were all too tired to play anymore.
Happy Winter Solstice 2018.  Bring on the longer, brighter days.

One of Those Nights

It was one of those nights.  One of the good ones not the not so good ones. Trust me, we have plenty of the not so good ones too but they aren't nearly as much fun to experience nor to write about later. 

Thursday after school we decided to head to our favorite Indian restaurant for an early dinner.  Marty didn't have to work and neither kid had after school activities.  Remarkably no one pitched a fit about going out to dinner or the restaurant of choice.  This NEVER happens.  

We left to catch a bus because we are all (at least the kids and I) a bit over the riding our bikes in the cold, dark weather.  We have to gear up with face masks, gloves, reflective vests, etc, etc.  But once we realized the next bus wasn't coming for 10 minutes we decided to walk to the Sbahn.  It was a cold but very pleasant night.  We laughed and talked the whole way and NO ONE complained.  

Because we were all in such good moods, the kids especially, we even let them order a Mango Lassi (to share, of course, we didn't go crazy 😉) We enjoyed dinner and then when it was time to leave we saw the bus we wanted go right by.  Bummer.  Then another bus we could have taken went by as we were walking to the bus stop.  Bummer again.  BUT.. to top off the nearly perfect night, within a minute of waiting at the bus stop the bus we originally wanted but wasn't scheduled to come for 12 minutes came pulling up. 

Connections, both relationally and transport-wise were spot on.  Marty and I looked at each other on the bus on the way home with that "wow, this was a great night!"  And then we both smiled and said "soak it up and don't say anything to jinx it" 

Darkness and Street Cleaners

 Today was the last day of solo morning school drop off.  Normally Marty bikes them in and I typically follow but leisurely, after I've cleaned up breakfast and am able to avoid any potential hassles, fights or fits.  Inevitably, a few times a week, someone has a bike problem or Josie's coat is too puffy or Benjamin's gears are sticking or someone is biking too fast or too slow and it ends up in a bickering disagreement just before school.  Marty is much cooler in these scenarios and since we have moved to Germany I have very thankfully turned over this duty.  This week has actually gone much, much more smoothly than I would have anticipated.  In the 7 days of solo school drop offs we only had one minor fight on our bike ride in.  I call that a win.  I'll be very grateful for my partner to be back in all ways but especially morning drop off.
Every day while Marty was gone I'd snap a pic of the kids with "Drop off Success!!"  It really felt good to get there in one piece... or three pieces I suppose.  The street we ride to school on turns from a very quiet residential street during the rest of the day into a one way complete chaotic scene from about 7:20 until 8:00- right in the middle of when we ride to school.  There is a hospital on this road as well as an assisted living facility.  There are always delivery trucks and SO many people using this road to commute to school and work.  Because there isn't enough room for 2 cars going in opposite directions, cars are always pulling into the few parallel parking spots on the side to let oncoming cars go by.  It is also a windy road so you can't really see around the next bend.  Drivers are rightfully very annoyed by the congestion so there is less patience and more frustration.  And of course, it is one of the very few streets without a bike path so we have to ride on the street, along with the frustrated drivers.  We often pop up on the sidewalk to avoid the cars but there are so many people walking that this isn't always a good solution either.  Thankfully, this stretch is less than a mile and takes only 5 minutes but still.  Getting to school safely and happily is a big deal.  The picture shows how incredibly dark it is when we get to school.  Just 3 more days until the shortest day of the year.  YES, I'm counting.  The days are so short here in the winter.

On the way home I noticed these street cleaners.  They really have an amazing system here.  There are TONS of deciduous trees here. Most streets are lined by beautiful Linden, Oak, and Maple trees.  When they lose their leaves it is a mess but the mess doesn't stay for long.  The street cleaners (Government run) start in October when the leaves start coming down.  Then on some set calendar they come back about every 2 or 3 weeks and methodically clean the streets.  EVERY street.  Our tiny, cobble stone street gets cleaned the same as the main thoroughfares.  They start with leave blowers and then make piles.  The next day they come pick up the piles.  It is a big production.  Getting to school on the day they were cleaning the street we bike to school on was particularly harrowing.  Today must be one of the last clean ups for the year as there really isn't much left living on the trees anymore.  They are mostly bare.  There were about 5 people one behind the other sweeping the streets and then a truck comes and picks up the piles.  It really is a pretty impressive system.  The streets, sidewalks and bike paths are almost always completely bare.

On the Fence

Do we stay or do we go??  It is the question that has plagued us for over a year now.  Last year this time we were signing a lease for our current apartment and moving from a furnished house into an unfurnished apartment.  We went about furnishing the entire apartment in under 3 weeks. - beds, desks, tables, chairs, towels, dishes, vacuum cleaner, washing machine, drying rack, pictures, mirrors, hangers, toilet brushes... it was overwhelming but we did it.  And the entire time we were doing it we knew that it could all be just for 6 months of use.  At the time we still didn't know if we would stay a second year.  And now, since we have returned for our second year the thought of staying a third or even a fourth year here is front of mind most days.
I really sit so squarely in the middle of that fence that a slight breeze from either side has me toppling over.  But not for long because then a breeze from the other side comes along and pushes me back to the center to wait for the next breeze.  Honestly, it is quite exhausting.
There are so many things here that we know are better for us and better for our family.  Very top of the list is the kids school.  It is top notch, world renowned and is filled with great kids, parents and teachers.  We feel very thankful for the school and know that in the long run keeping the kids here at this school is a better option than the good schools they came from in West Seattle.
We also know that our family life here is much better.  Marty's work hours and attitude is so much more livable.  He is present, he isn't always tired, he is involved with the kids and is available most of the week.
The culture here is really better for raising kids.  There is so much freedom and scaffolding as they grow into independent adults.  The experiences they are getting here - from public transportation to awesome field trips to becoming bilingual/bicultural to our awesome travels around Europe - those are not available in the same way in Seattle.
All of this doesn't even include the political climate in the States right now and that by living here we aren't daily assaulted by what the government is doing.  We don't have to worry about our kids being shot in school or in a park or in a theater or church or.... Health care here is amazing. So many really positive, healthy, incredible things here.  Things I truly love.
And yet, given all that, we have our families, friends and roots in Seattle.  After Simone left I felt homesick for my family and long time friends.  I have met some incredible friends here, many will be lifelong friends, I'm sure of it but there is something different about the roots I have with friends in Seattle.  I miss my family.  I miss my friends.  I miss the familiar.  I miss my house.  I miss an easy and relaxing trip to the grocery store, I miss my garbage disposal, I miss the ease of having a car, I miss the friendships both of my kids have with their bestest of friends in Seattle and I miss the families that they each come from, I miss knowing what is expected of me and communicating with the random stranger.  I miss all those things and yet I don't feel like our family is done here yet.  And so... I sit.  Squarely in the middle of the fence with two really awesome options on both sides of that fence.
Marty and I keep saying that we really just need to make a decision and stick with it.  And this time it feels like if we stay in Germany we need to make it for 2 years.  One year goes by so fast and if we stay we really need to put down roots here too.  I sense in all of us a bit of hesitation in putting down roots because what if we leave again in 6 months.  I don't buy that extra frying pan or nicer sheets because we can all deal with what we've got for 6 months.  Marty can deal with his squeaky bike that is falling apart for 6 months but if we stay it would be nice to invest in some of those things.
The fence.  I'm in the middle of it wishing there was some big sign pointing us in the right and best direction. Until then, in the middle of the fence I shall sit and try not to think about either side too much.

Third Advent

On Sunday we had a very leisurely day around the apartment in the morning and early afternoon which all of us desperately needed.  Josie spent most of the morning working on homework. Benjamin did too but he has far less than she does.  I went on an hour long walk by myself while the kids read.

In the afternoon we met Clayton, Gavin and Shantal at the Zehlendorf Christmas Market.  We keep meaning to go and we finally got the chance.  And to go with friends makes it all the better.  The kids had such fond memories of "ice skating" - it is not real ice but fun all the same - with Elliott and family last Christmas so I was worried that this year wouldn't live up to last year and probably for Josie it didn't but Benjamin had a ball with his buddy and Josie was an incredibly good sport skating around with her brother and his friends.  She even played along with their little games and pushed them on the plastic toys.

I promised them a treat.  They had a hard time deciding but opted to split a long gummy snake thing and a chocolate covered apple.  It was SO cold I decided that if they

saved their sweets they could also split a hot cocoa while I enjoyed a warm gluhwein.  I never really understood it before but now I see it is a winter drink meant to be shared with friends outdoors and it really does warm you up.

They guzzled down the cocoa in no time.  Our tummies were all warm and ready for a bit more homework, lighting the third advent candle and an early to bed night for all of us. But not before the kids lit the third advent calendar candle and Benjamin helped Josie study for her Social Studies test.  It isn't normally like this, the two kids sitting side by side actually helping each other but when it happens it is beautiful.

Happy Third Advent from Berlin.

Last Full Day on the Town

Simone's final full day here was on Friday.  We made the most of it.  After our Street Art tour the day before I still wanted to show her the East Side Gallery. I'm sure this was just too mainstream and/or pedestrian for the Street Art Tour which was very up and coming and not nearly 30 years old like the

East Side Gallery. But I knew Simone would love it and I hadn't been there for many, many years.  I think the last time I went was when Josie was a baby.
We hopped the train

and found our way very near where we started the Street Art tour the day before.  Kruezberg really is the epicenter of street art even though it permeates the whole city.
It was bitterly cold.  One advantage to this was that we were one of

just a handful of people there.
We enjoyed the backside which was more graffiti than the front side which was commissioned art murals.  There were just a few people here and there until you came to the famous "kiss" mural.  There were busloads of people in front of that painting.

After braving the cold - it was the coldest it has been today.  A slight wind with temps at 32 but a feel like of 23.  Brrrr.  It was COLD.  Simone had found this totally hipster place for lunch.  It is  hotel with an attached restaurant.  It was all farm to table and very fresh.

We both ordered the Lunch special which included a soup (pumpkin) a fresh from the garden salad (with tahini dressing) a small main dish - I had sausage with polenta and it was DELICIOUS.  She had duck croquette and it was OK, but she loved it.  Along with gingerbread cake with blueberry cream.  The gingerbread was a bit dry but otherwise everything was so very good.
I had to run to go pick up Benjamin after school and Simone stayed to explore more.  Our plan was that I would meet her back at Brandenburg Gate and we would go to one of the most famous Christmas Markets in Berlin that evening.    Julie came over and hung out with the kids for awhile which

made me feel all the better about leaving them, again.  The week with Simone has been so very good but with Marty gone I have felt pretty divided.  I want to be with my friend but know I am needed around the house even more than normal.  I know the kids needed me more this week and I was quite frankly much less available than normal.  It isn't often that one of your best friends comes to visit.  I really had to prioritize.

So when I arrive downtown Simone is feeling pretty lousy from a sudden onset cold.  It is just the perfect capper to our our week.  First Benjamin gets sick, then Josie then the friend who was going to watch the kids on Thursday so I could stay out letter, her kids get sick and then finally when it is just Simone and I on our one free night out, she ends up feeling sick.  She toughed it out and we headed to Gendarmenmarkt.  It really was the most beautiful of all the markets we have been too.  It is in between the Berliner Dom (cathedral) and the French dom.  It was really really pretty but unfortunately we were not the only ones who thought to go there on a Friday night.  The place was absolutely packed.  It was hard to walk let alone try to see anything at any of the booths or buy anything.  The lines were so long. We both felt pretty claustrophobic and opted for a bratwurst that we could just walk around with.  Right when we were about to call it quits we found a small tented area where were able to finish our brats and order a gluhwein.
It was a nice way to end a very nice week.  So thankful that my two worlds collided even if for a short time. It started a bit

disappointing with my canceled trip to Copenhagen, Marty being gone most of the time.  He would have been fun to have around as we were sightseeing but also the fact that because of his absence I was single parenting it the entire time Simone was here was pretty hard.  I felt pulled in different directions.  I have to say that neither of the kids nor Simone made me feel badly for not being with them more but I just felt like I should have been there for all of them more than I was.  Then Josie getting sick and missing school and then my friend's daughter getting sick when my kids were supposed to go there after school.  It really was just one thing after another.  But in the end it was a SUPER nice visit.  Simone is truly a go with the flow traveler and friend who is like a sister and has known me for 30+ years.  She reminded me to take care of myself. She reminded me of things I like to do for myself and dreams I've had.  It is funny after being a mom for so many years and then uprooting our entire family for the move I had forgotten who I was in many ways.  Simone's visit was good for my heart and soul and brought me back to who I was and who I am now.   Thank you, Simone!! 💗💗