Memorial Day party?

Yes, absolutely! In our first year in the USA it seemed very strange to me to have a barbecue party on this particular day. But we are obviously getting more American: we hosted a small party on Monday too! We put the flag outside, turned the grill on and enjoyed the time with our friends!

Parents day off

Imagine that! Jakob gave mom a dad a day off, he went again for a camping trip with the scouts (over night). How did we spend it? In the city, of course! Drinking prosecco and...

...listening to piano music in Washington Square Park and...

remembering how our life used to be (decades ago). ha, ha

Mothers Day in the USA

"Do they celebrate Mothers Day here?" we asked arriving in the USA exactly 6 years ago... We still lough about it.  Like many other things we had to learn, in this particular case that Mothers Day is almost as important in the USA as Thanksgiving. Six years ago we wanted to go out for dinner on this day without reservation...how naive! But now we always remember our special anniversary: May 13 2006 - first Day in the USA!! And Mothers Day, of course!

 Breakfast decoration for me from my boys!

Dear visitors from Germany

Yes, we had company again: my parents came for a visit. And stayed for two weeks. A wonderful and very busy two weeks (because we had to make use of every single minute). Germany is not exactly around the corner, so we can see each other mostly just once a year. 

Our schedule was full. 

Most important: they got the chance to watch Jakob's soccer game and to enjoy his saxophone play at the school concert, and they attended a scout meeting, the departure for a camping trip included. They even picked him up from school. 

What else? We went to NYC (of course!), explored Brooklyn and Soho, ate at Spice Market (our favorite!). 

We made it to Connecticut to visit our friends. 

And to Montclaire, finally. And we did some shopping, as usual. 

And shared some good dinners, good wine together  (a lot of coffee) and talked for hours. 

My parents truly enjoyed each minute in the USA (except the one at our yogurt ice cream place...ha,ha). 

I think they understand why we decided to stay here. Hope so.

Ps. Joey looked very depressed after they left (my dad and he were best buddies...)

Signing the Constitution in Philadelphia

Yes, we did it - but just in the Museum of Constitution in Philadelphia! What a great city! Just a little more than two hours drive away and we haven't been there before.

After visiting the main attraction (The Independence Hall,  The Liberty Bell and the Museum, of course) we left the old town and just strolled through the city for hours. I loved the small street with the red brick townhouses in the south and all those wonderful street cafe's. 

Much more relaxed than NYC.  

Most impressive building: Kimmel Center for The Performing Arts. Wow!

And we ("foodies") enjoyed our dinner in an really amazing Cuban restaurant.

Already looking forward to going back! Let's hope it doesn't not take us again six years...

Visitors from England

We got company from far away: our friends came to visit us for the first time. And they brought their 18 months old son - so cute! 

We had a lot of fun together and so much to talk about, after 7 years...

 I think they spoke English... (ha,ha) just joking! 

And Jakob discovered his baby toys again while playing the older brother for Findal. Well done!

Our fiends experienced the American way of life in every detail, including the hospital, unfortunately... But I hope this will be not the only memory they take from here, especially after a visit in NYC!

Growing up

I don't mean my 44th birthday which we celebrated on Friday a week ago. 

It was the same day Jakob went with the scouts for a camping trip over two nights. He took his sleeping bag and his backpack, waved a good-bye and left. 

I could swear when I picked him up on Sunday he looked older, but happy.