....and a happy new year!

Time flies when you are having fun so I guess this vacation would be called awesome based on the lightening speed this vacation has gone. We got out of school on 12/18. Way back then it felt like this break would be an eternity! On Wednesday l and o went to Crackpots to create some gifts to mail to loved ones. Then that Thursday they had their first full day ski lesson on Eldora Mountain. We are so glad we signed them up for this lesson. It was amazing how much they can learn when being taught by the experts! Once the weekend arrived Justin also began vacation. On Sunday we headed back to Eldora for some more skiing. And just like that it was Christmas Eve. I worked hard to make a tasty batch of my Mom's lasagna. We enjoyed some yummy appetizers and then we went to a candlelight service. We walked out of church to see the ground covered with fluffy snow. When we came home we opened some gifts while dinner heated up. We all settled into bed by ten pm. On Christmas morning I got a Breakfast casserole in the oven and then we enjoyed opening some gifts. Laurel wrote me a beautiful note and Owen gave me this great mirror locket with Paris artwork on it. I also love the book Justin bought me- Ramble Colorado. We headed over to our friends' house around three. There we enjoyed great company, games and a delicious ham dinner.

The day after Christmas we went to see The Hobbit. Laurel also had her first babysitting job. Justin and I met with a realtor several times to prepare an offer on a home.... Time will tell what comes of that. Thursday I bought the one thing I said I was going to do when the house sold- good hiking boots. We also did the one thing Justin wanted when the house sold- Going out for a big steak. On Friday we took a family ski trip to Eldora. We were not the only ones with that idea! The single digit weather did not keep the crowds away and seats in the lodge were much harder to come by than seats on the chair lift.

So already that brings us up to our last weekend of break. To start, L had her first ukulele lesson. Then we enjoyed one of her Christmas gifts- a traditional tea party. This weekend we went to see another movie I was psyched for from the first time I saw the preview- Les Mis. It did not disappoint. Every time I go to Boulder I find something new to love.
For New Year's Eve we will enjoy some cheese fondue followed by chocolate fondue and board games. Then it will be time to start working on some New Years resolutions..... Two of which I know will be more exercise and move into a new home.

My heart is heavy

First the good news... On a very personal level, this week was great. We sold our house and we have the burden of paying for two homes lifted. Soon we will be able to start shopping for our Colorado home.
But the happiness and relief I was feeling from this personal joy was quickly replaced with great sorrow for the tragedy that occurred in Newtown on Friday. I do not think a news story has ever saddened me the way this news story has... Not Columbine, or 9/11 or the Challenger Disaster. I clearly remember where I was and what I was doing when all of those news stories broke. But I hope I will never live to hear a sadder story than the Sandy Hook Elementary Massacre. Maybe because I taught first grade and I can picture myself in the same shoes as those teachers. Or maybe because I am a mother who sends her children off to school every day thinking we will see each other eight hours later. I actually need to stop reading the news because it is paralyzing me with sadness.

I try not to turn social media into political platforms. But I do wish someone could explain to me what sane reason anyone needs to own a semiautomatic? Honestly. There just comes no good of a weapon like that in the hands of civilians. How many more innocent people need to die before they admit that the second amendment was not intended for weapons like this? The only hope I have is that the awfulness of this event will make congress, and more importantly our special interest groups, (since they seem to have the real power) realize that our so called rights have gone way too far when someone acquires the means to burst into a school and assassinate six year olds.

Like everyone else I am grasping for some good that can come of this. Laurel stated the obvious- that if we can't feel safe at school, where can we feel safe? I replied that maybe, just maybe the awfulness of this event will force people to stop being so political and finally do what is right.
This week I was not surprised to learn that Teachers stand up to a gun man when the time comes to protect their students. But will Congress stand up to the NRA?

Celebrating Denise

On December 16 my sister Denise would have turned 40. Her life was cut short after she was in a serious car accident while studying in Russia during her junior year of college. Even though she has been gone for awhile, I still feel her spirit strong. I think she, more than anyone I know, would understand why we moved to Colorado. I know if she could write me a letter she would say- life is short. Live your life. She once said you can stay in your room and be safe or you can get out there and see the world. Staying in Denville certainly felt safer but I am grateful for all the experiences we are having here.

I really miss Denise and wonder what my life would be like had she not died so young. But at the same time I know I am a stronger person and my relationships with my family are stronger because of the hardships we have been through. Since I can't bring her back, rather than dwell on the loss, I can celebrate the gifts that she has given me. Some of these gifts include compassion and understanding when others suffer a loss, trying to make everyday count since it can all change in an instant, and keeping it all in per perspective about what REALLY matters!

I certainly thought this whole live your dream and fate would just make everything fall in place. But it is not like that at all. But we are all really living. Now we are back to hiking on the weekends, spending family time together and really feeling alive. In some ways the struggles have only confirmed that this is what we really want. If nothing else my children are seeing us struggle while still keeping our sense of humor and staying strong. Everyday we all learn something else about ourselves and each other and it only makes us more prepared for whatever lies ahead.

Top Ten Things I Am Thankful For

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, here is what I am thankful for.
1. A Very Amazing Husband: I know there are many ideas I have that anyone else would say NO WAY! But I am grateful that Justin not only supports my ideas but actually helps to make them reality.
2. (Related to #1 since Justin's supported my visit to see Renate and her whole family) I am thankful that Renate reminded me that I actually DO like to cook- I just needed to add a few quality tools to my kitchen. After seeing Renate effortlessly prepare tastey healthy food every day, I decided to put a little more effort into my kitchen habits... I still have a ways to go but very thankful to Renate for the inspiration.
3. Friends and Family who know when to talk and when to keep quiet. I know my idea to head to CO sounded crazy to most. But I appreciate the support when I needed it and not telling me what you were really thinking.
4. Becoming ever so less of a worrier - There were such big unknowns these past few months like if I would get my teaching license in time, when Justin would be able to join us, when the house will sell, wondering if there was something more to Owen's frequent and intense migraines... that I simply had to learn to worry less or else I would be crippled with worry that wouldn't change any of the outcomes anyway.
5. Thankful for Change: Change is not easy but it is worth it. I am grateful that we had the guts to try a new place out. If nothing else we are making new friends and finding new places to enjoy on the weekends.
6. Music: Music has been a big part of this move. On our drive out, the three of us would sing along to The Plain White Tees. Then when we got here we would all share the same bedroom until Justin got here and fall asleep to The Lumineers. I also made a playlist for each child to play when they are feeling down. Now that we are settling in we enjoy live music when we can. Overall music is just a great way to feel alive and connect with people.
7. Can't say it enough- I am grateful for my health. Just got a note from my good friend that her infant son is in icu. In a second everything can change. That it is why I try to keep it in perspective and enjoy life. It sounds cliche but there is nothing more important than the health of our loved ones.
8. Thankful that my children share so much with me, even though sometimes it hurts to know when they have been hurt, I am grateful that we talk, laugh and enjoy each other.
9. Thankful for traditions- old and new. I love all the things that make the holiday season special. I look forward to keeping some of the old traditions and also starting some new ones.
10. Thankful for laughter. Most of my favorite memories involve either awesome food and funny, funny stories, or both. I hope, above all, no matter what comes our way, my family will always remember the importance and joy of laughter.

Giving Thanks

Giving Thanks
It has been awhile since updating this blog. Way back in August I was hoping that by Thanksgiving things would be settling down a little. It looks like that is happening. Here is a little run down of what is happening here:
Laurel is doing a good job with school. The weather is cooperating well and now that we fixed her flat tire she is back to biking to school. I am really happy with her school and the balance that she has- learning a lot of school but also growing as a person and having time for family outings and cooking. She really enjoys chopping and experimenting. Lately her specialty is a killer tuna sandwich.
Owen is still going strong with scouting. This weekend he is making a rocket for the space derby. Last weekend he helped collect food for the local pantry. He is also in a jump roping group at school. Soon basketball will be starting up.
Justin likes his new job. For the first time he has his own office and Boulder is a nice place to work.
We have an offer on our house in NJ and hope to close before the holidays. That will be a wonderful gift. Then we can start looking for a place to call home here. As much as I was surprised by the hot weather in the summer, I am equally pleased with the warm autumn. It has been a wonderful month- lots of sunshine, warmth and time to be outside. Last weekend was the first weekend we got to enjoy Colorado as a family. On Friday Owen and Justin and I went PlanetBlueGrass in Lyons to see a bluegrass band. Then on Saturday Justin and I went hiking up to Button Rock for a really nice hike. On Sunday we all took a family bike ride which got cut slightly short because of a flat tire. There are these things called goatheads out here and they really do a number on our east coast tubes. I have since ordered new tubes for our bikes that are much thicker and resistant to these thorns.
Well- now that I have been mostly positive I can mention a little bit about the reality of moving. There is still a lot of drama in the Robbins house. I am not sure how much is pre-teen hormones and how much is from the move but there are certainly days that I think I am in over my head in the world of parenting. Some days I think it is impossible to be a working mom and other days I think it would be impossible to be a stay at home mom. So the bottom line is- it just feels impossible. But then there are those wonderful moments of playing catch with Owen or snuggling up with Laurel or taking a great walk with Justin and it all feels right. And those are the moments I try to focus on.

Two months

Subject: update from helen

Last Friday marked our two month anniversary and also the end of the first marking period at school. For the most part it feels like we have been here for years. I am not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing but I cannot believe all that has happened in only two shorts months.
L and O continue to make me proud and I wish I could be as strong as they are. O ran for student council and he wrote a great speech and created really funny and original posters. It was 100% kid effort and if it was based on his speech and credentials, he would have won but alas we all know that school elections are more of a popularity contest than anything else. But it was still great to see him excited about something and if nothing else I think it helped him come out of his shell a little since people would come up to him to say they liked his posters.
L really enjoys her independence. She often rides to and from school on her bicycle and stays after for various reasons.... anything from a new direction fan club to a worm club (yes- collecting worms for a worm farm.)
It is really hard to be this far apart from Justin. We are all happy and excited that he gave his two week notice. He accepted an offer for a job in Boulder and will begin there on 10/29. It will be really good to have the Robbins family together again.
One of the best things about being here is all of the time I get to spend with L and O. It really is just the three of us for now and we spend a lot of time enjoying the simple things like swimming, cooking, and exploring our new town.
Here are a few surprises about moving 1700 miles away:

As much as I thought technology would keep the sting away, there is no substitute for a real hug and I miss all our friends and relatives. I try to focus on how fast time goes and that we will be visiting before we know it but on a bad day it is a scary feeling.

So far life is not less stressful at all. For example last week O was home sick with a 103 fever, L got stranded at school with a flat tire and I am still working long hours. I REALLY REALLY hope things settle down but I am starting to think life is simply stressful and there is no escaping that. But even still I am happy to be living here and exploring new places and people.

Longmont had their first snow two weeks ago -according to the paper it was the earliest snow since 2000. I hope that means a snow-filled winter. Since we live in an apartment I do not need to worry about shoveling and O and L got this great passport to ski- 3 free lift tickets at 20 different resorts. So hopefully by the end of winter L and O will be actual skiers.

Well that's about all to say for now. Hopefully my next update will have the words SOLD in it!

One month anniversary

On Wednesday it was our one month anniversary of living in Colorado. This month has been one of the hardest months of my life. I have new found respect for single parents and I hope we will return to a nuclear family soon. I am amazed at how much my children have grown in this past month. Laurel now bikes 2.5 miles each way to school most days. Owen has had it very hard. I think fifth grade is a tough time to switch schools, especially since he had so many friends in Denville. But I also know in time he will make more friends here while still staying in touch with his NJ friends and eventually his world will become bigger with new experiences here. Justin has been visiting this week. It is so good to have him here.
There have been a lot of surprises and stressors but even with all of that, it still feels really good to be living here. I enjoy getting to know the students at my high school. With every week LHS feel more like a community and less like a job. I am so excited to explore the beauty and seasons of Colorado.
Note: I never did finish this and now too much time has passed so I am just going to post and move on.

How to buy a bed in five minutes or less

We are settling into Colorado. A lot has happened in a week. After about five trips to Target, a kind coworker helping us get a table from Craigslist and a bed delivery on Saturday morning, and Owen's purchase of a couch at Target, our apartment feels more like home everyday. Thursday L and O had their first day of school and they both came home with huge smiles which is all I could ask for. My first week went well and I look forward to getting to know the staff and students better next week. Tomorrow morning I should finally get to go for a walk and I will try to take some photos to share. It is really hard to believe we have only been here a week. It already feels so much like home. The only thing missing for now is Daddy! Nana came to visit our first week and she did a great job of getting the kids all settled and ready for school. Justin will arrive around my birthday and Grammy will visit soon after that. This photo below is a view from the walk I took Sunday morning. I have been composing this tiny blog all week so that is why the time references are off. At any rate today is our one week anniversary of living here and so far, so good. You likely won't hear from me for awhile since I am quite busy getting L and O off to a good start and adjusting to a new job.

One last day

This morning we found a bakery with smaller Danish so Owen could try more variety. But both of us still find our favorite to be the sesame/poppyseed/ buttery, light with a hint of sweetness. I need to find out if I can bring these home on the plane... What better treat for Justin and Laurel than a Danish made by the Danish?

Many good trips have some sort of theme... Some people visit stadiums at each city, others focus on fine museums... One of my favorite themes is microbrews but not so interesting to a ten year old. As I look back on this trip I would say it was somewhat of a sweets and treats theme. While we were on the night train our Swedish roommates said that while they do not have Swedish fish, they do have some of the best candy in the world. Owen and I had to look into this for ourselves so we took a short train ride to Malmo Sweeden in search of the perfect candy. We were not disappointed when we got there and saw just about every shape and flavor of gummy candy. My favorite shape were these tiny monkeys. Owen really liked the tennis ball gum and mushroom marshmallows.

When we got back to Copenhagen we had one "must do" left on Owen's list. He really wanted to get a bike to ride around this bike-loving place. We walked over to the tourist place to get a place to go. The. We walked about a mile to the place suggested. He told us there were not any child-sized bikes left. Who would think a place filled with bikes would have so few rentals? Owen was really disappointed but I told him it is always good to leave something for the trip back. We managed to find a positive side by coming across a really cool park that we never would have enjoyed if we were on a bike. Then we leisurely walked around the pedestrian area and enjoyed street performers and people watching.

This photo was one of our last stops. We passed the station of Hans Christian Anderson daily but this time Owen hopped up on his lap. Time to pack up now and head back to the states- a quick stop in NJ to change bags and then off to Colorado!

Exploring Copenhagen

First off I forgot to finish my notes about our first night in Copenhagen. We arrived at our B&B which turned out to be an excellent pick even though I pretty much just went online and picked whatever one was available for my dates. We are staying in the front part of a Danish couple's beautiful apartment. We are in a large room with a private bath. It is closed off from the rest of their place so we have our own space but they are only a knock away whenever I have a question. We went out for a quick bite to eat and found a bank to change our money into Danish Kronners. Then we got picked up by Ben's friend,Thomas. (They met while studying abroad in Australia.). We went to a BBQ with Thomas, his wife Susan, and their two younger children. There was so much to enjoy about this BBQ. First off, Thomas and Susan are both incredibly friendly people and it was a pleasure to chat. I also really enjoyed seeing how friendly the teens were. They would come up and shake hands with every single adult and say hi. The children start learning English in the third grade so Owen was talking to many of the children. They were all so friendly and incredible at speaking English. It was just such a wonderful way to start off our visit to Copenhagen.

The most appropriate way to start a morning in Copenhagen would of course be with espresso and a Danish. They were so good Owen had to go back in for another.

Next we started to walk off our breakfast. One of our first stops was to see the changing of the guards. While it was not on the scale of Buckingham Palace, it was better in some ways because there were no crowds and we could practically stand along the guards as they paraded around. This entertained us for close to an hour.

We continued to walk around Copenhagen and enjoy popular and less popular sights. The little mermaid was crowded and we both enjoyed the genetically modified mermaid further up the path. At this point we hoped to ride the free city bikes around but they only had one size and it was too big for Owen to safely maneuver through the heavily used bicycle lanes. So we moved onto plan B and hoped on one of the many boats for a harbor cruise.

While on the Harbor Cruise we noticed a sand art display so we walked over to take a closer look. This was AMAZING. There were dozens of sculptures - with each one more incredible than the one before. At the end they had a huge area for children to build sand castles of their own. So I enjoyed a coffee while Owen played in the sand.

We finished off our day with a visit to Tivoli. This is a unique amusement park/ garden/ eatery place. It is hard to explain unless you have been there. But we loved it. The rides are fun and sometimes a little too thrilling. The restaurant choices are endless and delicious and there are areas of gardens and paths that are so magical you would think fairies live there.

Copenhagen

This morning we woke up and went down to the dining car for breakfast. Owen had hot chocolate and a croissant. I had coffee and a roll. While we were eating we learned that the train was three hours behind. So it turns out we did not wake up in Denmark after all! But now it is 9am and we did just cross over to Denmark. This extra time on the train gave us the chance to catch up on blogging. So next time we have Internet access I can put the last few days up.
Yesterday I got good news from Colorado Department of Education. The email said: Your application has been approved. I am licensed to teach elementary classroom, k-12 library and 7-12 Social Studies. I am happy and relieved to know that my paperwork is in order, I now have an official offer from my new school and I will begin working at Longmont High School on Monday.

Savour the Journey

The title of this entry is the German train (DB) slogan. It is a great piece of advice for life- enjoy the ride and don't always focus on the destination. Getting there should be as wonderful as being there.

This morning Owen and I walked up to the store to get a few items to bring home to Laurel. I will miss this supermarket. I love going to food stores in other countries and just browsing. I admit I find the candy aisle most intriguing. After that all seven of us went to Freiburg so the children could play with boats in the canals. They enjoyed this for hours.

Then we walked around, enjoying all the charm and beauty of Freiburg. These photos are just a sample of the beautiful buildings and stone mosaics that make up Freiburg.

On our way home we stopped at an ice cream store to get spaghetti ice cream. Not sure if you can tell from the photo but it is vanilla ice cream pushed through a spaghetti machine and there there is strawberry sauce and white chocolate on top. We ordered a big one to share and it must have been good because while I was chatting with Renate, Owen ate it all up!

After ice cream we stopped at two parks and played in the creek a bit. Then we came back for a final packup. Renate made a delicious dinner of toast with fresh tomatoes and goat cheese- I sure will miss her meals. Then we all headed to the train station for a final farewell. We had a great time and I tried to just smile and think of the fun-filled week but it was not possible to say goodbye without a few tears. I know it will be some time before we save up for another round of plane tickets. But it is so great to be with Renate and her family, I also know we will figure out a way to get together again sometime. Our train came, we hugged, said chuse and waved goodbye out the window. We were sure to get on the right part of the train since the front cars are splitting during the night and heading to Moscow. We are in a full sleeper car: mother and thirteen year old daughter from Denmark, young man from Sweeden, Owen and I and a quiet man of unknown origin. So goodnight for now and when we awake we will be ready for the next part of this European adventure - Denmark.

Guest Blogger Owen in Paris

Bonjour! Today we went to Paris. We got there by taking three trains. A train from Freiburg to Offenburg, Offenburg to Strasbourg and then TGV high speed train to Paris. When we got off the train we started to walk towards Notre Dam. On the way we stopped for a nice French croissant and elephant ears. Then we got on a hop on, hop off bus to see the sights. It was very fun. First off we saw the Arc de Triumph. We did not go up but it looked really cool and we took lots of photos. Then we saw the Eifel Tower. It was really awesome. I got some ice cream at the Eifel tower.

Next we went to the park near the tower. After that we got back on the bus and went to the Louvre. We saw the Mona Lisa. My favorite artwork was Hercules fighting the three headed Hydra with his club. My mom was surprised that the line for the bathroom was much longer than the line for the Mona Lisa. After that we got crepes which were delicious. While we were eating our crepes a group of girls ran up to us. Apparently they were pickpocketers and they asked us to sign a petition. My mom put her hand on her wallet and said no so they did not take anything.

Then we went souvenir shopping. I got a little Eifel Tower, a beret and a little surprise for Laurel. We got back on the bus to our next stop- Notre Dam Cathedral. We went inside and I lit a candle and said a prayer. Then we saw really cool big stain glass windows. We headed back to the train station. I enjoyed a delicious ham and cheese sandwich. We also discovered an excellent candy store. They had coffee flavored gummy candy. We got on the train to head home and ate our candy for dessert. We did not get back to Renate's place until almost midnight but it was a supercalafragelisticexpealadoudiuos day!

Sunday Funday

This morning Owen and I went down to the creek for more playing with the boat. Later Rahel and Renate joined us. Then all seven of us used a car-share to drive to Glottertal for a Summerfest where Daniel's band (Renate's brother) was playing. We also met up with her parents. It was a fun, restful way to spend a Sunday.
Since this is a short blog I will also comment on two things: Travel and Children and Books as Friends.

Travel and Children

As much as I miss Laurel and Justin, I am so happy with Owen. So many times a day I see that brightness in his eyes as he sees a new sight or enjoys a simple pleasure. It is easy to enjoy the details with just one person to keep happy. I am also grateful to be with Renate and Andy and their wonderful family. They have the pace to their life that I will strive to achieve. Everyday Renate prepares a wholesome meal that always includes that secret ingredient-love. Owen and I have only been here a week but already I have seen Owen's confidence with new situations improve and a better sense of adventure for trying new things. Today he waited on line for face painting and asked for a Schnurrbart- if you are not sure what this is, check the photo below.

Books as Friends

Thank goodness we went to the bookstore before heading to the airport last week. Owen has already finished his first book and is reading his second- Greggor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins. (Btw- thank you James for the suggestion.) My friend Wendy gave me the perfect book for this trip. It is called The Power and it is a follow up to The Secret. At a time when there are so many unknowns and big changes going on, it is the ideal thing to be reading. So many parts are like the advice friends would be giving me if we were walking or hanging out. Most important, it reminds me that a positive attitude is the biggest factor so whenever I start to get nervous I repeat my summer of 2012 mantra- everything is going to turn out wonderful. What I like most about this book is that there is a lot to practice and think about. So I can read for five minutes and then think about it for the rest of the day. This is not the first time that I have read a book at that "just right" time in which the message in the book is almost like being with a good friend- but maybe even better since I can underline the sentence or dog-ear the page and go back to "visit" whenever I need to.

Exploring Freiburg

Today we enjoyed the city of Freiburg. This is my third time in this city (1989, 1995, 2012) but pretty much everything I did today was still new to me. First we want to a small farmers market near the train station. Then we went to a much larger one near the Münster Cathedral. Owen got some Wurst. Then he bought a little boat so he could sail it down the small canals. According to Wikipedia: Bächle are small canals which crisscross the streets of the inner city. These canals were once meant as a way to fight fires in medieval Freiburg. The locals say that if you accidentally fall or step into one, you will marry a Freiburger. While he played with his boat I sat at an outdoor cafe and enjoyed some potatoes and vegetables with cheese. Next we went to a large German department store to get a kitchen gadget that I like that Renate has. We also looked at a large display of Swiss chocolate and the children's toy section. Next we walked over a bridge to the beautiful Botanical Gardens. From here we went up an incline railroad to a path that went upward further to lead to a lookout tower. The tower spiraled up about 160 steps for a panoramic view of the city and surrounding mountains. When we came down Owen got a few more canal runs in with his boat while I enjoyed the street musicians. Then we took a tram a couple of stops to the river. Here we went to a little cafe along the river and I enjoyed my first beer in Germany. It was a beautiful place to sit and chat and people watch. Then we came back to Renate's apartment and finally got to FaceTime with daddy.... The first time all week since he was in Boston for work. After we caught up with him we joined Andy, Rahel and Noah for a bike ride to a very fun outdoor pool. Owen must have gone down the waterside at least thirty times. And each time his grin was as big as the first time. I love seeing him so happy and enjoying this special trip.

Basel Switzerland

This morning we went to the bakery for breakfast. Then we took the train to the bank to exchange some dollars. The rate was a dollar gave me .78 Euro.... Not like the good ole days but at least slightly better than six years ago. We took an hour train ride to Basel Switzerland. And again we headed to the bank to change Euros into Swiss Francs. Even though the Euro is quite standard it happens that for this trip it will only work for France and Germany. Owen was hoping to get some fondue while in Switzerland but we were quickly reminded of the same thing I think every time I come to Switzerland- this is a cool place but BOY is it expensive. The menu said just plain fondue would be almost $50 per person! Renate came up with an excellent solution- buy Swiss cheese at the market and go home and make our own fondue. So we went back to the market and Owen got lamb sausage for lunch instead. Then we started what was supposed to be a 45 minute walking tour. But of course I got lost. We crossed over the Rhine and chose to take a very cool ferry back- no motor- it simply uses the current and a cable to keep it from going down too far. It was fast and quiet and totally worth getting lost and walking for an extra half hour. When we got back on track Owen said- Mom- this is where we started. But I was determined to find this really cool fountain so we kept walking and thanks to the many kind English speaking people, we made it Tinguely Fountain. I had never heard of this fountain or artist but we loved watching and hearing all the ways that the water moved and sprayed. I tried to add a video to my Facebook because the still photo just doesn't show how cool it was. After awhile we walked back to the market square. Renate bought fresh swiss cheese- half pound swiss, half pound Gruyère and then we got on the train returning to Frieburg. When we got home Renate made fondue feast that was certainly better than anything a restaurant could have prepared. Owen and I hope to make this for Laurel and daddy.

Today on the train we started a list of Awesome Things We Love about Europe
Seeing Renate, Andy, Noah, Rahel, and Timo
Fresh baked bread
Trains that go everywhere
Swiss chocolate
Fondue
Fountains
Architecture older than the USA
All of the nice people who help us even though we cannot speak their language

Europe with Owen Guest Blogging

Today the ticket lady came and woke us up at 5:30 AM. She said we were twenty minutes away from Freiburg. We got off the train and took a tram to Renate & Andy's apartment. We saw the nice apartment and the happiest person to be home was Timo who laid on his bed and played with his feet for quite a long time. We went to a store and got fresh food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I picked out a kiwi and noodles. From there we went to the bakery to get fresh rolls. Then we came back and ate breakfast which for me was a buttered roll and grapes. After breakfast we went to the park and climbed on the big potato rock. Then we went on the big swings and followed the daycare kids to a river path. After that we went into the back yard. Rahel and I found two pieces of rope and a board. We made a swing out of it. Next it was time for lunch. My mom loved the broccoli and sauce. I ate rice and milk and a kiwi. After lunch we went to a zoo. We enjoyed watching the gibbons family. Then something crazy happened. A teenager went to take a picture of the lemurs and there was an electric fence. She accidentally shocked herself and then she dropped the camera. A monkey got a hold of the camera. The monkey started swinging the camera. Then he went to the pond...and dunked the camera into the pond. After that he dropped the camera from a tall tree. That camera was definitely broken but maybe the monkey took a few good photos first! After the zoo we came home and had dinner and showered. We are going to bed early so we will be well rested for a great day tomorrow... Check in tomorrow to hear what fun we find!

Heading Towards Freiburg

This morning we woke up an enjoyed a nice breakfast. Then we packed up everything and started biking towards the train station. We stopped for lunch at a park. Owen finished his beef jerky and had a buttered roll. I enjoyed Renate's yummy brown bread sandwich with butter and parmesan cheese.... It just isn't Germany without a cheese and butter sandwich! We returned the bikes at the rental place and enjoyed a nice ice cream cone before heading on the first of three train rides. In Lübeck we got on a double decker train to Hamburg. Then in Hamburg we boarded a night train to Freiburg.
While waiting for trains we made a list of some German words that Owen knows. Here they are but most are spelled the way they sound so we remember how to say it:
Ich Mac stein- I like stones
Banhoff- train
Vas is tas- what is this
Zug - train
Chuse- goodbye
Ve gates- how are you?

Tuesday July 31

Today will be our only full day on the island. Renate's family arrived last Thursday. Owen and I slept well and seem mostly over the time difference. We began our day with a nice breakfast. Then we biked over to the nearest place with food so Owen and I could get provisions for the day. Owen was eager to get some European chocolate also. After that we came back to relax. After lunch Owen gave Rahel and Noah the m&ms and the Crayola crayons. Then we headed over to the monkey tree and beach. Owen, Rahel and Andy enjoyed a refreshing swim. As we started biking, the rain clouds came so we stopped at a campground for cover. Then it stopped raining so we went to a park with trampolines, fun swings and a spinning ride. Soon it was time to head home and prepare dinner. Btw- spelled the island wrong yesterday- it is Fehmarn.