that's what friends are for

(Julia, Tati, Carola, and Mirjana)

One bright, huge and heart warming highlight of our Germany trip was visiting with three of my best friends, whom I have known for 20 years now. We had five days together, just us, with only two of our six children. Together in a little vacation home. I must say, I was a little nervous seeing them at first. We hadn't seen each other for at least 3 1/2 years or more. But the nervousness didn't last long and it was soon like we had never been apart. Although some of our partners wondered what we might do for five days in a little house together, if we wouldn't get bored, no way. We talked, talked, talked and talked some more. Over leasure breakfasts that seemed to last all morning, during walks through the woods, over lunch, dinner and in the evening around the fire place.

I was moved to feel so much friendship. We don't see each other much, but there is a foundation in our friendship that I feel able to share anything, my worries, my fears, my faults, my silliness, my loves, my adventures and everything else in between. We laughed, we cried, we hugged each other, we smiled at each other, we congratulated each other and thanked each other for this amazing friendship.

Saying good bye was hard, almost painful and for a moment I wished I could be closer to them. What made it possible to leave and find peace with leaving was knowing that I will always have their friendship, and they will always have mine.

(with almost all our children, sorry Lisa couldn't be there, Tati's second baby is on the way)

Dear Mirjana, Tati and Carola, this song below is for you. Thank you for your friendship.

Yours, Julia

Liebe Mirjana, Tati und Carola, das Lied is fuer euch. Ich bin so dankbar fuer eure Freundshaft.

Eure Julia

four generations

My families four generation. The mother of my mother, my mother, me and my daughter.

remenicing

Yes, our vacation in Germany has come to an end. All this time I didn't have to do anything that has to do with house chores. I did help my mom clean and helped out in the kitchen, but I don't think I was once in charge of a breakfast, lunch or dinner. Not to mention all three of them in one day. I was so far removed from running a household that the question "can I still do this?" crossed my mind upon returning. As wonderful relaxing and different from our normal routine as our vacation was, it was time to return to our own four walls. Since then the children are playing with their "new found" toys non stop. Sophia will say "it is so nice to be home" (es ist so schoen zu Hause zu sein) and Mateo keeps saying "home" (zu Hause).

Although I still have two weeks vacation before getting back to work, I am sure routines and normality of life will return very soon. Before that happens I chose some pictures of some of our treasured moments we had with friends and family in good old Germany.

:: strolling through the Japanese garden with Opa

::enjoying ice cream galore

:: mama enjoys her delicious ice coffee

:: watching big sister showing little brother the world

:: playing in great grandma's garden, where I already used to play when I was Mateo's age

:: riding the big tractor at aunt Vera's house

:: sitting around the fire at night with family and friends

:: relaxing in the evening at my parents pond

:: delicious outside grilling

:: reading train model catalogs with Opa

:: eating lots of this favorite dish

Thank you Oma and Opa for all these treasured moments!

adventure to the swim park

Yesterday we went to visit my Grandmother. She loves to swim and somehow she passed on the swimming genes to me as well as Sophia and Mateo. There is a new public pool in her town and she took us. They have a fabulous, long, windy slide. Sophia was not to get off it. Even Mateo enjoyed going down the fast path.

We lounged outside next to the children's swimming pool. It reminded me of old time when I used to go with my Grandmother swimming. We had a wonderful time.

:: happy after a ride down the slide

:: exploring

:: yay water fun with mama

:: beautiful smile

:: waiting for big sister

::with godmother Kathy (thank you for spending so much time with us!)
::more exploring

special places at my parents house

My parents bought their house 24 years ago and ever since then they put every moment, day, and vacation into creating beautiful places and spaces in and around the house.

Today I took my camera around and took some pictures.

new truck

I think Opa is happy to have a little boy around who couldn't be more thrilled to look, play and receive trucks and tractors.

Today Opa gave Mateo a new little tractor to use in a little sand pile, especially compiled for the little boy. Mateo could hardly talk, only say "oh da, oh wow"

I adore this little one!

vacation in holland

My absence from this little place called blog can be explained by our recent vacation in Holland. A time to relax, catch up with my family, visit the beach and watch sailing ships in the harbor. The last being a old time favorite of my dad and now passed on to Mateo and Sophia as well. ;)

Here are some of my favorite pictures from our trip.

::morning fog

::naked on the beach

::girl in the skies

::together
::admiring the vastness of the sea

::colors before the storm

:: picture that makes me want hold them a little tighter

::beauty