Vienna - October 2010

Vienna was really cold for the end of October, so we basically froze the entire time that we were there. We enjoyed seeing Schonbrunn Palace and the surrounding gardens and playground.

Outside the palace gates

A flying bird at the playground

Boys and dirt

The Gloriette at the top of the palace gardens

Allen and Kayla

The view from the Gloriette

It took us a few trams to find the tourist tram because we had an outdated guide book, but we were glad to be out of the cold.

While we were in Vienna we also went to a ballet at the opera house. We got 8 euro tickets and could barely see, but it was quite an experience! It was so quiet that you could probably hear a pin drop, and they basically asked us to leave at intermission because our kids were too noisy, even though they were being quite good.

Salt Mines - October 2010

Taking the train into the salt mine.

Our cute little miners!

The littlest miner

The salt mines are so much fun! There's the little train that took us in and then the awesome banister style slides and the boat across the salt lake. Our kids also loved the tiny salt shakers they gave out at the end.

Salzburg - October 2010

We really enjoyed the Sound of Music bus tour. Apparently Austrians have never heard of the movie, but they have heard of the Von Trapp family because the musical is based on a true story about a Salzburg family.

Our kids liked the tour too and had just watched the movie the day before.

Most of the views from the movie are located at various places across the city. This is the gazebo that is located near Hellbrun castle (the place with the crazy water works).

The kids were spinning each other around with their umbrellas.

This wasn't really the Von Trapp family home, but this is the one from the movie and the lake too.

The kids had a great time running through the park in the middle of Salzburg. They even got to pet a unicorn.

We also really enjoyed the place our tour guide recommended for dinner. It was in an old monastery converted into a brewery at the top of the city. The food was cafeteria style, inexpensive and good, and we ate in a medieval lodge style room with wood walls and big wood tables and chairs.

Partnach Gorge - October 2010

Our kids were just recently talking about this hike we took to Partnach Gorge. We loved this hike because it was beautiful. Our kids loved it because of the rocks.

At the end of the hike there are millions of stone stacked towers. This is the one that we built. Brayden said that he'll do any hike where he gets to make one of these.

A scary tunnel!

The hike starts near olympic park where this ski jump is located.

Garmisch - October 2010

We went to Garmisch in December of 2007 when our kids were really little, and we didn't make it out to the bridge for this great view because we weren't sure our kids would cooperate. It also would have involved climbing around fences and barriers because the bridge was officially closed due to the snow. We were excited to go back 3 years later in October to see the castle, beautiful fall leaves and the view from the bridge, and then it snowed. The bridge was once again "closed," but we made our way around the fences and barriers anyway, so that we could see the best view of Neuschwanstein castle.

The bridge - our kids thought it was a little scary. It's not a big bridge, and it's definitely way up high.

Hohenschwangau Castle and a beautiful Bavarian view!

We took this picture outside our hotel room at the Army's Edelweiss Lodge - we loved staying there. There was a fun pool for the kids, and it was just nice to be in an American style hotel that serves American food. Allen was there for a dental conference, so it was a great time for a vacation.

Powdered donut lipstick! (Breakfast in our hotel room.)

This cute little snowman was just sitting on the trail on the hike down from Neuschwanstein castle, so the kids wanted a picture with it. We left it on the trail for the next tourists to enjoy.

Columbus Weekend 2010 - Eifel Park with Cousins

Our kids love their cousins! We lived in Germany and my brother lives in London. It was great to have family 7 hours close.

The guy that makes the wheel go round.

Hours of fun in the plastic balls!

Yes, he was dizzy!

We went on a hike near the Irrel waterfalls (which isn't a waterfall at all, it's more of a cascade) and took a wrong turn to go up to the devils canyon. We ended up on a muddy dirt road where Brayden got his shoe stuck in the mud and then stepped in the mud. Fun stuff!

All the cousins.

The Huish Family - Sabrina, Jessenia, Steven, Marissa, Jared and Julie

Kayla and Sabrina

Crazies!

One of those crazy rock climbers.