Please check this post periodically as I will be adding updates to it every few days.
Thursday, April 30
Germany is loosening certain restrictions (play grounds, religious services and zoos opening as long as hygiene rules are followed), while it has extended contact restrictions that were due to expire on May 3 to May 10.
{We’ve become accustomed to wearing masks in stores and on public transport.}
This weeks, 10th graders returned to schools, while other older grades will start next week.
No word on when our boys will likely return to school, but they continue their distance learning with Math, English and German as required topics. Science, Music, Art and Sport are optional.
We planted seedings as a part of Ben’s science work.
{They’ve become quite the little balcony gardeners}
The boys also have acquired new skills. Ben learned to rollerblade and bicycle in the same night, while Isaac learned to scoot on a big kid two wheeler.
I took the boys to Tierpark (one of Berlin’s two zoos and the largest animal park in Europe) on the first day it opened. The number of tickets sold were limited and any inside exhibits were off limits. We still had a nice time.
{Isaac is my Tiger King}
Overall, we’ve been lucky. The weather has been nice, we’ve had enough food to eat and the boys are old enough to be left alone so Dave and I can have “date walks” and pick up food to bring home (and enjoy a glass of wine while we wait).
Please stay safe! 🙏🏼
Tuesday, April 21
First things first, Octoberfest has been canceled! I know in the grand scheme of things, this may not seem like a big deal. But to me, it signals Germany’s seriousness in keeping its citizen safe. Which speaks volumes that an event five months from now has already been cancelled. I feel we are living in a new reality, folks.
Next, there have been many updates here in Berlin.
The Berlin Senate met yesterday and provided COVID-19 updates as follows. After talking with family and friends in the US (including Georgia), I sense very different views towards hygiene standards and guidelines. The bottom line to me is to be more careful than you think you need to be. Please stay safe everyone. 🙏🏼
Wednesday, April 15
{Indispensable protective measures against Corona. Stay at home, stick together! Wash your hands, Sing 2 X Happy Birthday! No kisses and hugs, but smile more often! Don’t panic, don’t hamster, help each other!}
This is our second week of Easter break and instead of being in Florida right now with family, we are a family of four in Berlin.
{Frozen in Time}
Dave’s work has drastically picked up and he has been working long hours. 
{Grünewald}
However, he has taken a few days off so that we can explore Berlin with a car share.
{Relaxing at Britzer Garten}
We have been to Grünewald, Berlin Insel, Treptow Park, the Soviet War Memorial and Britzer Park.
{Having fun in the sun}
With warmer weather, I have left the boys and taken many long walks and bike rides. These have been very grounding for me and my mental health.
{Britzer Garten}
{Afternoon stroll together in our neighborhood}
Like most people, I’ve been running a personal diner out of my home. Cooking three meals a day for four people has caused us to run our dishwasher every night.
{Passover Seder – no shirts required – with family via Zoom! Isaac was wiggling a loose tooth that he has since lost.}
{Me and my cuddle bear}
But it has been a nice slow pace. It’s not always easy, but I am fearing a return to “normal”, whatever the new normal will be.
Chancellor Merkel will be meeting with her sixteen state prime ministers today to decided next steps as the current COVID-19 restrictions are set to expire on Sunday. Early news reports are speculating things will remain on lockdown until May 3, the earliest. We will see.
{Quiet cemeteries have been one of my favorite places to walk}
Tuesday, April 7
Today’s sunny and warm weather adventure included a stop by the Gelateria as well as the Kosher shop for matzoh.
{First shorts day of the year}
We had to wait outside the kosher shop for several minutes while the shop cleared out. They boys stayed outside while I picked up a few things including matzoh, matzoh ball mix, kosher for Passover smoked salmon and hummus, new kippah and Israeli Bazooka Joe chewing gum (the boys’ reward for waiting so long).
{In line at our neighborhood kosher shop}
We seem ready for Passover, which starts tomorrow night.
{Getting ready for Passover}
And many thanks to my Israeli friend, Limor, for sharing this video.
We finished the night with FaceTiming friends and playing Minecraft.
As a treat, we had a pre-ordered delivery from Fräulein Kimchi and Humble Pie. Sarah (Humble Pie) is a Tennessee native. We enjoyed her Southern Thanksgiving buffet in 2018. If you live in Berlin, please get on their email list and order when they return in two weeks.
{Dinner was delivered courtesy of Fräulein Kimchi and Humble Pie – including BBQ, mac ‘n cheese and Nashville Hot cauliflower}
Monday, April 6
Monday morning and early afternoon were spent decluttering and scrubbing the apartment. I have found such satisfaction afterwards walking on our floors barefoot not feeling so much as a crumb, speck of sand or spare Lego.
We were given a glorious day with sun and 73 degrees. I lured the boys outside with the promise of Brammibal’s donuts. After a thirty minute walk in the sun, the boys crumbled against the front of the shop.
{So tired and hot after our sunny and warm walk to Brammibal’s}
They were revived with some shade and water and picked up their normal banter and pep.
{Sugar and shade helped revive the boys}
We crossed through Teutoburger Platz to get home and encountered a Coronavirus community board.
{Solidarity Against Corona}
Again, the boys were tempted by the trees which seemed to call them over.
{We miss our playgrounds, but have found an old school alternative}
Sunday, April 5
It was a glorious day outside. Dave was doing work and the boys were playing together, so I took advantage of the opportunity and went for a bike ride.
I ended up spending almost two hours in my bike riding to the Brandenburg Gate, through the Tiergarten, past the zoo and to Wilmersdorf and back.
{German and EU flags at the Reichstag}
Later that afternoon, we headed out as a family to Volkspark Weinberg for some more tree climbing.
{Ben climbing high}
This time, we were approached by the police who asked the boys to stop climbing.
{Isaac scaling a low hanging branch}
They said they wouldn’t like to see them get hurt and have to go to the already busy Krankenhaus (hospital). The boys were very sad since the playgrounds are closed and climbing trees has become their main source of outdoor fun.
I later looked up online to see if tree climbing was prohibited and didn’t see anything. So I told the boys we would have another chance to climb as long as they didn’t linger in one tree for too long.
{More prohibitions in Germany.}
Saturday, April 4
Spring has finally sprung in Berlin after last week’s snow.
{Success – a ten pack of TP}
I woke early today and went to Rewe on a hunch there may be some TP. I was right and snagged one of the last packages. So as not to disturb the boys (or maybe so as not to be disturbed by them), I dropped the TP and the few groceries I had bought off in our storage unit in the Keller (basement) of our apartment building.
I continued my walk towards Kollwitzplatz wondering if the weekend market would be open. It was.
{Properly spaced at 1.5 meter intervals at the Kolwitzplatz weekend market}
I arrived while the venders were setting up and there weren’t many people. I decided that my desire for fresh produce and eggs as well wanting to support the local farmers outweighed my fear or caution. So I picked up some beautiful eggs, bread, produce and smoked salmon (proud that I was able to easily do it all auf Deutsch) and brought it all home for a family brunch feast.
{Passing Stadtkloster Sagen on my way home}
That afternoon, we headed to Grünewald as a family in the car share that Dave and I scrubbed with antibac cleaner for twenty minutes before allowing the boys inside.
{Family hike in Grünewald}
We wanted to get outside the city center, but did not want to go to Brandenburg as we felt we needed to respect others outside the city. So Grünewald seemed perfect. And it was.
{At the Havel}
{The dudes}
As we drove home, Dave placed an order at the pizza shop down the street so we’d have an easy dinner.A very good call as we arrived at home after dinner time.
{Lost his front tooth}
During some after dinner wrestling (Isaac and Ben), Isaac’s front tooth popped out. We all wondered if the Tooth Fairy would be able to come. Thankfully, Jacinda Ardern cleared up the confusion. (I love her!)
Friday, April 3
We’ve been home from school, work, the gym and overall life for three weeks now.
{Isaac and I took one of Swami’s yoga classes through Kashi Atlanta}
We carry our ID and registration document (Amtliche Meldebestätigung für die Umzugsmeldung) every time we leave the house.
{Official stamp on our Anmeldung}
I go out every day for a 10,000ish-step walk and pick up a backpack and extra bag worth of groceries. I usually go in the morning when the stores are less crowded.
{I nabbed the third last package of TP at Rewe this week. The early bird gets the worm.}
Once this week I was able to find TP (six roll package, which should extend our supply by another week) and bought one package as stores are limiting customers to one TP package and one package of pasta per visit. I always pick up a new flower to add to my window boxes and now have quite a lovely balcony garden.
{My balcony garden is expanding with a new flower each day. This is part of my mental health strategy.}
The boys have been mostly staying inside this week getting their exercise with the Nintendo Ring Fit. I don’t even want to allow them to run around our shared courtyard alone as I don’t trust they will keep a safe distance from the other kids.
{Our shared courtyard, or Hof, was quiet this afternoon}
After three weeks of homeschooling, we are officially on spring break for two weeks. Gracias a Dios!
{Isaac, with chocolate milk on his face, finishing up his homework for the week. Spring Break has officially begun!}
{Ben’s self portrait art project this week}
The Berlin Senate has not updated its policy and the boys are scheduled to return to school on April 20, though we think they won’t return until May the earliest or even August.
Our lives, much like over half of the world or more now, have been extensively limited and we are coming up with creative ways to do the things we used to.
{Caught in the act of working hard}
Dave remains at his desk in our third bedroom/study all day on Zoom calls.
The boys are becoming pros at distance learning.
{Homeschooling in his PJs}
And I have started daily yoga and Pilates using mostly free online platforms.
I have also been cooking a lot! Almost all of our meals, in fact. Each week, we have been treated to a new loaf of chocolate banana bread. Today, I made a Strawberry-Rhubarb & Basil Shrub after discovering a display of giant containers of strawberries beside fresh rhubarb at the front display at Edeka.
{Making fresh Strawberry-Rhubarb & Basil Shrub}
The boys have now officially launched their YouTube careers on their channel “Yeet and Yetti”.
{YouTubers “Yeet and Yetti” filming their next upload}
And I took everything out of my wardrobe and dusted every corner. I’m already a minimalist, but did find ten things to donate.
{Freshly scrubbed wardrobe}
We are holding up. Are healthy 🙏🏼. And feel fortunate to be able to connect with friends and family here in Berlin and in the US each day. But I do have the feeling of being a hamster on a wheel. I’m not going to lie. It’s been tough. But writing this blog has been a nice distraction. I hope it’s provided a few minutes of entertainment for you, too.
Berlin Lubells: Stories of Life in Berlin from an American Expat Mom's First Experience Living Abroad 