Family Time...Multiplied

The time flew by.  Literally.  They landed and as documented in the previous birthday post we hit the ground running.  It was beautiful and sweet and kind of surreal, if I'm honest.  I mean I never imagined that we, the parents, would be the ones to up and leave the States, or that our grown up kiddos would be the ones visiting us in Europe.  Checking out our new apartment, visiting all the local sites with us and then leaving again to head to their home.  Which is different than mine.  Shall I repeat that?  Different than mine.  As in, not living under the same roof.  Ok.  Since we've settled that business I shall continue.  Our time together was full of eating excursions, museum visits, outdoor activities and rest days.  There were movie nights, cards, board games, a 1000 piece puzzle, meals on the terrace and dance parties.  Of course.  The stories and memories are many and having all four of my Things together filled my heart to overflow.  So here goes, a concise rundown of our many adventures together.  Mostly in photos because I think they tell the best stories.

The first weekend was spent lounging around and allowing the jet lag to subside.  We took a few walks, went to church, watched movies and shared our favorite pizza delivery with everyone.  It was good.  The week kicked off with breakfast at Cafe Eiles, a traditional Viennese cafe.  Husband Jared had been waiting to show off his store with the girls so we walked to Kärnterstraße and browsed at Apple.  Our two favorite Apple employees posed for a few photos together, video was taken to show the gang back home and then we shopped.  The girls requested a Zara and Mango visit, two stores not available at home.  Husband Jared and I, along with the two eldest, trekked out to Grinzing.  An area within Vienna but on the outskirts.  It is quaint and filled with vineyards and heurigers.  Delightful.  Although the heuriger we were planning on visiting had not opened for the season so we dined al fresco at a local Italian restaurant, walked and talked and enjoyed this sweet time together.  It really is so much different once you are outside Vienna, although technically you are still in Vienna.  There was a visit to a proper beer garden and a walk around the amusement park.  Now my timeline may be off and my recollection may not be chronological.  Nonetheless, this is what we did while altogether.  There was a sister trip to Budapest sandwiched in between all of this too, you know, while Thing 4 finished up school.  He had exams and papers and projects this first week so he accompanied us when he was able.

Beer garden smiles.

This beer garden has been in Vienna for over 150 years, this was the view from our table.

Prost! 

Sisters in Budapest! 

Husband Jared in his natural element, the Apple store.  

For a taste of the arts we visited the Belvedere, Husband Jared was far too excited to show Gustav Klimt's "The Kiss" to the eldest two.  There was a trip to the Albertina for an impressionism and modernism viewing and The Natural History Museum, because we love animals and history!  More bakeries and cafes.  Fresh croissants in the morning and late lunches where we lingered over conversation and coffee.  We visited the palace, Schönbrun, the former summer estate of the Habsburgs.  There we meandered through the mazes, ran down the hills and took in a stunning view of the city.  To say we brought a level of rowdiness to public transport would be an understatement.  Everywhere we went, with the six of us traveling in a pack, we were once again the "monkeys at the circus".  For that reference you will have to go back a ways in the post log, think Turkey and the UK.  Anyhow, it was fun.  We wandered the streets of Vienna, mocked each other's navigational skills, became hangry on one too many occasions, had a hard time making decisions, because hello there are six of us, each with a different opinion!  Nonetheless, memories were made with every nuance and conflict and hug shared on the city streets. 

Antique book store we discovered on one of our strolls through the city.

Modern art exhibit at the Albertina.

Art exhibit in the rose garden, near the Rathaus and Museum Quarter. 

Also, one of my favorite photos of our eldest.

Outside the Natural History Museum.

Dinosaurs, watch out! 

Playing in the mazes. Everyone tried to climb to the top, 

in order to ring the bell of course!

One of three mazes, with a view of a larger than life fountain.

The bookends. 

Running down the hill and an impromptu photo shoot.  Just act natural!  

I hope I'll be holding his hand right into forever.

Shake sharing at Le Burger!  Yum!  

Since we were all together for Mother's day we made the decision to celebrate Mother's-Father's day and Husband Jared's upcoming birthday.  Because, why not?  For Mother's day the Things made breakfast for me, I wasn't allowed to cook, clean or prepare anything.  What a gift!  And then we went on a bike ride in the park, with five of us on a rickshaw.  That must have been quite a sight.  All of us squished together, pedaling and directing Husband Jared which way to turn and not to go and oh, watch out for that car!  It made my day!  For Father's day we all went to a SK Rapid match.  They were playing Salzburg, another big club here in Austria.  And of course Thing 4 wanted to show his sisters where he will be playing.  It was such a fun afternoon!  Husband Jared had a yummy dinner and homemade chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream frosting for his birthday.  Thankfully he was able to blow out all his candles!  I love celebrating with our people and for our people and all the in between.  

Rickshaw shenanigans! 

Breakfast by Four Things! 

Mother's Day family photos at church.

Rapid Match!

Super fans with the flares, never a dull moment.

My Things and Me! 

Outside Allianz Stadium.

Make a wish! 

I think that wraps up our time together as six.  Missing being six already.  But I do have the next time to look forward to.  That helps.  Also, these photos and stories help too.