Quick Quote

With my birthday coming up this month, I thought the following quote found on my Honest Tea bottle was relevant enough to share:

"Do not regret growing older. It is a privelege denied to many." -Unknown

Danke Lufthansa!

I received a check from Lufthansa today! Not just a partial payment for the laptop that was plundered from my suitcase on our trip to Berlin, but a complete - to the penny - reimbursement! This was more than I had expected but exactly what is deserved!

Easter Celebrations!

I hope everyone had a pleasant Easter Sunday. Katie made the trip from Chicago for a weekend visit - it was great to see her! We had dinner at my parents' house on Sunday. It was a delicious ham dinner and for dessert I brought carrot cupcakes that were topped with candied carrots. I am very proud of my candied curls and I now wish I had taken some pictures on Sunday from a non-phone camera (the quality stinks).


Bailey had an especially good Easter because it was her 2 year birthday! They grow up so fast, don't they? She got some gifts and had a fair share of human food to celebrate.

Berlin Bears.

The bear is a symbol we saw alot of around Berlin. Not only on their flag, but also on random statues about the city:

Brrr it's cold in here!

Over the past few days, our house has been getting progressively colder: 67... 63... and now 57! Our HVAC obviously is not working and we have someone coming to look at it tomorrow. However, in the meantime, we've started a fire, had some tea and are cuddling under blankets. At least it isn't the middle of winter...

Weekend update.

After a long week at work, catching up on things we missed during our Berlin vacation, Joe and I had a very relaxing weekend. It was nice to have a slow weekend without much planned.

On Friday we grabbed some dinner with my little sister and played some competitive ping pong games. Saturday was rainy and a perfect day to stay in. Although we did venture out for a Starbucks coffee when there was a break in the clouds.

On Sunday, Joe would usually play poker. However, the Department of Justice has shutdown most of the online poker sites; leaving Joe without his favorite hobby. Joe's dad also was an avid Sunday poker player and was left twiddling his thumbs. To fill his idle time, he took Mrs. Patrick to see the plant in Wickliffe and then they came over for an early dinner. They are both hoping to get their hobby back soon but it isn't looking very promising...guess Joe will just have to spend more time with me! Now isn't that lucky!

Berlin Photos.

Our first day in Berlin we saw the Reichstag (Parliament Building) as well as the Brandenburg Gate:

While Joe and his Dad played poker at the Spielbank Casino...

Mrs. Patrick and I toured the Charlottenburg Palace and the beautiful gardens behind it:

Otherwise we strolled the streets of Berlin. We went through the Nikolai Quarter, the reconstructed "Old Berlin."

Museum Isle: