We voted!

We got to ride our bike inside the voting hall. Cool!

We're back...

It is very hard to believe that we are now back in the USA for good. I keep feeling like in a few days we are going to hop on to a plane to head back to the UK but, alas.. not. However, we have been keeping our days very busy. Brent has been super lucky and got hired for an art instructor position only 1 week after getting off the plane (he had his first interview via skype in Scotland in August and the company jumped at hiring him as soon as we were in MA). I have had many interviews at wonderful companies for amazing jobs.. more interviews scheduled this week for Monday AND Tuesday at 2 different opportunities  I know the right one will happen for me soon.  Below are some adventures since we have been back in Boston.. or FALL fun as you would call it (or Ruby's adventures in her pink shirt. ha!).

Ruby and Grandma Jane make Matzoh Balls for Rosh Hashanah

Ruby tries making her first matzoh ball. YUM!

Up in Maine for the State fair. Ruby loved the 'moos'. We also saw cows, sheep, rabbits, goats, steer, oxen.. lumberjack competitions, baked goods competitions.. just about everything!

stopping for a snack at the state fair.

on our dock at the lake house.

Brent and Ruby on the dock.

myself, Ruby and Grandpa Dave.

Pumpkins at the farmstand in Maine.  This is a lovely stand by our house with veggies, fruit, meat, jam, cookies, wild flowers... pretty much everything.

We took a 3 mile hike atop a mountain not far from our house. Views and more views. It was quite a hike!

Amazing views.... we were the only ones at the top.

Back in Boston, we took a trip to the Museum of Science for some experiments.

Ruby is now obsessed with these cars... although she has not mastered moving in one yet.

Later that week, Ruby and I took a trip to a farm for apple picking and more 'moos'.

We now call Ruby Snow White as she truly LOVES all animals.

Down a slide at the apple picking farm.

Apples!

More apples!

Pumpkins!

A field of orange dots.

The journey ends tomorrow...

 Dear Brent & Ruby,
I do and don't believe how fast these 2 years have passed.
We return to the USA tomorrow 2 years to the date of our departure. I remember the day we left. Me, 5 months pregnant and weeping with emotion in so many ways - nerves, excitement and mainly scared about finishing this pregnancy alone in a country where my closest friend is 5 hours away - but, a phone call nonetheless, and that in itself was comforting. I also felt comfort to be living in the UK, a place I call my second home.. you, thrilled to be starting a new journey. Over what we have accomplished in the past 2 years, I feel yes.. the end has come.

In the time that has passed, I have learned to relax more, breathe deeper, let go more, remember what is important in life, learn to live without a TV, without what I once viewed as important possessions (the latest Marc Jacobs handbag, the cute shower curtain from Target, matching wine glasses, an iphone 5) and to take what is given to me and be happy with that.
I have learned to appreciate a land where it rains everyday but, the people are amazingly friendly and when it IS sunny, it is the most beautiful sky you have ever seen. Through my baby girl, I have learned that even if it is raining, we can head out to the playground and still have fun looking at the ducks and trees.

I value my relationships more than ever. Being over 30 (ahem), and busy in life, I am secure with my friendships and have learned the difficulty of meshing with new people as I did in my 20's - the ever fear of judgement because we are older and well, because of that have more stories to tell - and that 20's type of meshing will never happen again, so cherish these relationships, build new ones but never expect that same chemistry as your 20's.

I've met new people whose concerns about life are far more simple than - how much is in my 401k? when will I buy a house? what college is my child going to? what is on sale for black Friday? People who still have worries like the rest of us but, simply appreciate more what they have and do not feel the need to stress too much about the future and what cannot be done in the present. I've met extremely creative people and embraced their creativity without judgement. I've tried to build a deeper understanding to the perspectives of others.

I have traveled for hours and hours on airplanes to places and had wonderful adventures. I rekindled relationships with old friends. Friends whom I know I will see again one day. Friends whom I think about every day and appreciate how lucky I am to have them in my lives.

I have spent EVERY day with my baby. Every night I sing her goodnight and every day we have a new adventure. My baby whom I had in a different country, on a different healthcare system with different names of prescriptions and ways of caring but, none 'better' than what my American mummies have experienced... some better if you ask me. Far less complicated. Home care visits and immediate attention if it is needed, even for the smallest concerns. Never any judgement that I was from a different place.
My biggest concerns were.. what will we have for dinner? Is the farmers market open today? shall we go swimming or go to a playgroup? or maybe to the baby and mummy movie?  scratch that, let's just go to lunch mummy and Ruby.  I have spent every day with you, my Ruby boo.. that is all going to change. You don't know it yet.. but it is. Your world of mummy and daddy is soon going to be changed with more people and more places... Those that know me know that I never imagined myself to be a 'stay at home mum' type.. but I cannot explain how lucky I have been.  I enjoy your company.. you're fun to be with. Sincerely you are.

And.. to Brent, my partner in this journey.. we only know how special each day has been. With only eachother, we have experienced something that nobody can duplicate. We are eachother's best friend. I congratulate you on your hard work and accomplishments, I know it hasn't been easy... and love you very much. Happy Anniversary... and it's only our 3rd Anniversary. I welcome what is the next chapter with open arms while closing this one with misty eyes and a full heart.
To the end.. and another beginning...
Haggis!
Love,
Tricia (mummy)

Fall is coming to Germany

My Ruby playing in the last of the sunflowers... (taken in the park by our apartment)... which, was once an airport.

East German living. A day out at the DDR Museum

Ruby and I decided to have a Mummy and Ruby Day out and visited the DDR Museum... 

 On the way, we stopped at the Berlin Space Needle for a photo. The Fernsehturm (English: television tower) is a television tower in the city centre of Berlin,Germany. Constructed between 1965 and 1969 by the former German Democratic Republic administration who intended it as a symbol of Berlin, which it remains today,as it is easily visible throughout the central and some suburban districts of Berlin. With its height of 368 meters, it is the tallest structure in Germany. 
The top is like a big disco ball.

 The DDR museum was surprisingly awesome for toddlers.

Its exhibition shows the daily life in East Germany (known in German as the Deutsche Demokratische Republik or DDR) in a direct "hands-on" way.  Walking through, I actually learned SO much more about what it was like to live in this society.. socially and culturally.

Here's Ruby in a sample DDR living room.

 She immediately found the 'hello'.. and played with the dial. How retro!

 Ruby types a letter to some friends.

 Experimenting with some spy equipment.

 Playing with some DDR toys.

Super fun!

An ode to yoga in Berlin

Oh yoga, how I have missed you. Thank you Berlin for helping me get back my center and focus within my body... and thank you to Samantha, the English yoga teacher at the center I have been attending. I can now in all sincerity say I feel 110% back after baby... plus I completed crow pose PLUS headstand today - which, I have never done and made me feel confident, strong & amazing! OMMMM......

Art show countdown...

Ruby enjoyed a day with Daddy where he took her to the Guggenheim Museum and stopped for a photo opp by the Brandenburg Gate.  

Click here to read more about this world famous landmark modeled after the Acropolis in Greece.

 This is the building that is hosting Brent's art show.. believe it.  He was here every day this week working on the installation team.. more GSA graduates began to trickle into Berlin this week, which was exciting.

 There are other shows in the building as well but Brent's has the most impressive interior space.

Brent installed his work on the top floor... here's a sneak peek.

We also enjoyed one of the last hot days of summer with our friends Penelope and Penelope's mom Michelle at the swimming pool.  The water in the baby pool was a bit chilly for Penelope but, she was determined to keep playing. ;-)