Vienna

November 4th we headed into the center of Vienna. We didn't have any specific plans for the day. We just decided to head in and see the sites, utilizing our trusty guidebook for information when needed. It was a beautiful sunny fall day - perfect! From our hotel we walked to the nearest metro station. It was about 1/2 a kilometer away...downhill...which wasn't bad in the morning, but we knew we might have a few issues with tired kids walking back uphill on the way back later that day...but that is for later. Anyway - the sites of Vienna...

Typical Vienna buildings, it really was a beautiful city. Here we are standing in front of the Opera...it would have been awesome to take in some music performances here...but with 5 kiddos...not on our agenda this time around.

St. Stephen's Cathedral

Taking a break, or getting some guidance from our trusty guidebook - kids look thrilled don't they?!? And in front of Cafe Sacher- which is every chocoholic's dream! Again- we drooled at the window but didn't dare take our 5 kids inside!

Jer and the kids - somewhere...not sure where exactly - I think the second photo is in the inner court of the Hofburg Palace.

Beautiful light fixtures hanging across the streets. Not sure if these are up year-round or just during Christmas...would have been awesome to see them lit up at night.

Nothing makes a kid smile more than stopping for some ICECREAM!

Shelby is enjoying the sites....

Rathaus

It was starting to look a bit like Christmas...as the square in front of the Rathaus was filled with the sound of pounding hammers as little Christmas market huts were being set up. We also got to watch as the HUGE Christmas tree was put up in front of the Rathaus. It was really neat to see this process up close. Honestly at the time I was still trying to enjoy the last of Fall and wasn't yet in the Winter/Christmas mood.

Tiergarten Schoenbrunn

The kids had the first week in November off for Fall break so Jer took a few days off of work and we headed to Vienna. Our first stop was the Schoenbrunn Tiergarten (zoo) which just happens to be the oldest zoo in the world. It was founded back in 1752. It is currently part of the grounds of the Schoenbrunn Palace in the outskirts of Vienna. Being it was the first week in November- the fall colors were beautiful - leaves were falling everywhere. We enjoyed a great afternoon with picture perfect weather to be outdoors.

Let the fun begin! Searching for animals hidden in the woods. This artic wolf was pretty easy to spot. If I remember right this giant bird was a type of Emu...I'm glad it was on the other side of the fence...it didn't appear that friendly!

The kids really liked the penguins.

And the seals were so hilarious to watch.

There was this area where you could see underwater. This particular seal would dive down, and do a headstand...waving his flappers in your face...quite hilarious! He must like attention!

There was also an observation deck above the polar bears. Shane took this photo of "Mr. Bear" just relaxing.

There were a few places at the zoo where the kids could play - they had a great time.

Over by the Lions the kids could go into a cage and pretend to be lions themselves...Sydney is definately filling the part. Shaylee on the otherhand seems to be more calm...maybe like Daniel was in the lions den? Or possibly riding on Aslan's back as in the Narnia books.

Shane at the Great Wall of China...while we were visiting the pandas.

The kids were really interested in watching these lemurs from Madagascar. They were climbing all over this door on the side...really amazing.

Enjoying the beauty...and the zebras.

The kids also liked the elephants, giraffes, rhinos, and tons of other animals....can't take pictures of them all. We really enjoyed our first afternoon in Vienna....now its off to the hotel which just happened to be right around the corner from the zoo...perfect!

6 Months

Shelby is 6 months old now (soon to be seven since it took me so long to post this). She brings such joy to our lives. She is usually full of smiles and her whole face lights up when you talk to her. She enjoys being in her exersaucer and likes to pick up her toys and bring them to her mouth. She has a high-pitched screech - I really think she likes to hear herself "talk". She is usually good as gold (just ask my sister). She hardly ever makes a fuss. Shelby is rolling over more and more. Now when I lay her down at night on her back, she is usually rolled over on her tummy come morning. She isn't sleeping through the night (but that is probably more mommy's fault then her own) since if she makes a peep I go and get her. But she nurses and then goes right back to sleep. We've recently started a bit of Milchbrei (rice cereal) in the evenings. She isn't too fond of it yet, but I'm sure its just a matter of time.

Sydney's Birthday Celebrations

November is a busy month for birthdays around here. And this year November was even busier with the kids having had fall break the first week (stay tuned for more posts on that), and my sister arriving the second week (more posts ahead on that as well) -November has really flown by. I can hardly believe Thanksgiving is tomorrow!!! Things have slowed down a bit and so I hope to get some updates to the blog. We will start with Syd's birthday - even though I truely have tons of other posts to go before her (if I did them in correct order)- but she is super special and deserves to be first!

Syd actually got to celebrate her birthday twice. Once with us at home on her actual birthday, and then again on Friday afterschool with her friends for her birthday party! My sister was here for her actual birthday - and so we made cupcakes for her, thus saving her cake for her party. I found this #8 birthday candle (that I believe we used with Shane a few years back) and it worked perfect with the cupcakes. Hard to believe she is 8 already! We love you dearly Syd, you are such a sweet girl.

Syd wanted a dog cake/party theme this year. When I was looking for invitations for her party I found some Littlest PetShop ones and decided that would work nicely. So when it came to making the cake I asked her to get one of her Littlest PetShop figurines, and I'd try my best to make something from that. Here it is!

Syd had 4 girls over from her class for her party. They played some games, did a craft, went on a scavenger hunt, ate some cake, opened gifts, and then were up to Syd's room to play for the remainder of the party.

Girls with Syd and the cake. Then playing "Pin the Collar on the Puppy". It is amazing how at each party they never tire of this game. We've done it so many ways - they love it each time! Maybe its the blindfolding and spinning of friends that they like most?!?

The girls making a craft (picture frames) just like we did a Shaylee's party. They all did a great job...I think I might go buy some more and make some for myself! Glitter glue, gems, stickers...maybe I'll do a Christmas theme...oh what fun! Then it was time for the gifts. I think the girls giving the gifts were just as excited about giving the gifts as Sydney was receiving them! It was so neat to see them so excited and happy for Syd. Then they were off to Syd's room to play with the new toys...fun, fun, fun!

Thank you for the fun gifts. Sydney LOVES them all and has been busy playing ever since her party!

It is GREAT to be EIGHT!