Well, nothing like a little emergency to keep us on our toes. Nana arrived from Colorado and we leave for Germany tomorrow. Unfortunately, little Ava fell off her bike this afternoon and had to get stitches in her chin...she was very brave, but its such a bummer this happened just before we leave. Marc reminded me that at least it happened today and not tomorrow...always looking on the bright side :). Here we go....

Thoughts about our trip before we leave: As a true cancer, I am having pangs of not wanting to leave home (especially because we just moved in after a 22 month remodel - photo over there...) and Marc (you will see his photo once he joins us in Dublin)

:). This trip is important for many reasons and I know that once our plane takes of from San Francisco, I will be happy to be on it.

My Mom (Nana) arrives in 2 days. She is the reason we are spending the first 4 weeks in Germany. Nana is German - acutally Estonian (is that a word?) by birth, but raised in Germany. I am taking my 3 children to Germany with Nana to visit and experience where she lived. My Oma passed away in 2008 and we were not able to attend the funeral, so this trip is also significant because we will visit her grave (and Tante Es' grave) and say a private good-bye. My Mother's history could fill a book - with the right author, it would be a page turner. Her life has been anything buy typical and is marked by sadness from the beginning. Her spirit and zest for life betray that sadness and constantly amaze us. More on her history later.

We start our German adventure in a small town called Kuhlungsborn - in northern Germany, right on the Baltic Sea. A former East German town that has been re-born after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Nana and I were there in 2003 together and I can't wait to go back with the kids...

Right now I am trying to get organized for our trip, while also working on our school auction and finishing up house details. My dear friend Kacy and her family left for Europe last week and she is sending me stream of consciousness emails with tips and thoughts...her kids think her emails are long-winded, but I love every word. We are trying to meet up in Austria or Germany....hope it works.

We're off!

After much planning and packing and re-packing, we leave for Europe today! Everyone is very excited. Here is a quick overview of our itinerary:

• Germany with Nana for 4 weeks (from the Baltic to the Alps). Driving on the autobahn from the north to the south...yikes! Yes, I am taking a gps! I know you are laughing at me Mike :)
• Ireland for 2 weeks (visiting Marc's sister Marianne and her family and going to our nephew Patrick's wedding!). Marc joins us in Ireland!!
• Fly to Spain and take a ferry across the Straights of Gibralter
• Morocco for 4 nights in the Kasbah
• Costa del sol - Marbella, Spain for a week of sun

We are excited, but I am a bit nervous (traveling with a 5 year old and a 79 year old!). Boys promise to help me :)