Austria and the Sound of Music Tour

So we decided to take a trip and to start it all off we headed south to Austria.  On the way the boys needed a potty break and a good running.  So during our run into the woods around the pit stop was a field with Jesus in it.  What I like about this picture is Brecon.  He seems to be holding the other boys in line.   

We stayed in a town named Salzburg, just over the border into Austria.  It is the birth place of Mozart and is full of fun history.  It is also the town where the Sound of Music outdoor scenes were filmed and storyline was set in.  We went on a tour seeing the sites of where things happened in the film.  It was a fun tour but they didn't give us enough time at each spot to enjoy the area.  It was a big rush all day long but we had  fun. Here are some pictures of our day.


One of the fun things about Cael is he has a nose for funny and is always willing to exploit it.  If there is something funny that a kid can do he usually finds it and if he doesn't then all it takes is a suggestion and he is all over it.  Here someone suggested that cow needed milking.  Brecon is in there squatting below the business end of the cow.  It is so hard to get him looking good in pictures. 

This is the backyard of the Von Trapp family house.  It is not the house because they used a different one, but it is the backyard and the lake where they fell in the lake. I have put a picture of them falling in the lake as well. 

Here is the gazebo were the daughter sang "I am sixteen going seventeen"

This is the walkway were Julie Andrews walked from the Abby to the Von Trapp home. 

 This is beautiful country.  I love Caels smile here.  Its like he is trying to show off his missing front teeth. 

 The kids often needed carrying on the trip.  Brecons favorite saying is "my legs hurt".  We have suggested cuttting them off a few times but he doesn't think that is funny.

One of my favorite stops was at the chapel where they got married at the end of the film.  When we got there we didn't think we would be able to go in because there was an actual wedding going on at the time. In the end we were able to go in and actually watch some of the wedding ceremony. Here are some pictures of the wedding party, ceremony, and chapel. 

This is a picture of the wedding scene from the movie. 

This is the area they were singing the Do Re Mi song.  At the end of the song they hopped up and down these stairs, thus the hopping up the stairs below.  I love the unicorns and the boys sitting on them.  If you remember from the Playmobile blog previously, there was another picture of the boys on a unicorn.  I think secretly it is their favorite animal. 

I hope THIS works- IT DID!

Still can't believe I live here- it is amazing!

YEAH!!! IT WORKED!! NOW YOU CAN SEE WE WERE ACTUALLY THERE!!
A few of the things I will remember from this little outing.
1) Our morning started out pretty slow and relaxing. Giggling and tickling, walking to the backerei, and actually thinking we were getting out and about early. It turned out to be an hour later than my watch said. It was still cool that I didn't get out of bed until after 10, right?
2) Connor was hilarious to watch at the strawberry field. He insisted on carrying the largest container, but he never put anything into it. He would just walk straight down the row until he was all the way to the end. We finally got him turned around so he was at least by people. Right as we were about to leave he finally figured out that he could actually EAT the strawberries and that make things a bit more complicated. Somehow I was able to carry a squirming boy AND hold onto at least 2 of our strawberry containers up to the pay station.
3) Someone picking strawberries is going to have an extra lucky day. I didn't have pockets in my pants and put the money I was going to pay with tucked just inside my waist along with my keys. Well, at the end of our picking time and after reaching along my pants to grab the money I realized it was gone. It still makes me sick to think about.... but just know that it was more than $20 USD. Yes someone probably had a very great day after finding that in the strawberry field.
4) Still love how I made jam with my buddy. AND how delicious it tasted on warm biscuits...
5) I love living here. The countryside, forests, and rolling hills are beautiful.

**I have tried for about 4 days now to add a new post about our fun strawberry day but there is something weird going on here. Obviously the best part are always the pictures... so until things get straightened out here just imagine a beautiful sprawling strawberry field, rolling farmland, 3 adorable boys with containers overflowing with the most ripe and delicious fresh strawberries you have ever seen... and a momma trying to capture the memories and enjoy the moment. It was a good day.

Also fun making a triple batch of jam with Cael the next day. He was a champion stirrer (i am not sure that is how you spell that... but that is what he did!)

Just tried to add photos again. NO luck. Anyone else have the 'server rejected' problem?

PLAYMOBIL LAND

We had a great family day on Saturday. The weather was sunny, but still cool and we had a blast letting the boys explore PLAYMOBIL Land. We grabbed a picnic and made sure everyone had full tummies before making our journey into the park. Although I don't think it would have mattered if we had brought coolers of food in with us. There really is so much for the kids to do-- not wait in line, but actually play with, on, and run around the different areas. After we got home and I watched the video Ben took of us right after lunch I could just imagine ... well, if you ever wanted to know what it would be like to hang out with our family- this is a prime example. Don't feel like you HAVE to watch this- you don't. This is mostly for the family and DIEHARD friends who might want to remember the goofiness we deliver almost daily.

and then we entered the fun land....

What is this kid thinking?

 

 PIRATE LAND- We all got onto this raft and floated around for 10 minutes. We really didn't mean to crash into everyone else on the water... honest.

 PRINCESS and UNICORN?... that's right. These boys have no shame.

CAN YOU SPOT ALL OF THE PLATT BOYS?

Notice the relaxing way he drives his tractor?



and now the intensity which Cael has racing?

Connor absolutley loved the Sand and Water area. The first thing he did was lie down on his stomach, observing and resting like a lizard sunning on a rock. Then he proceeded to scoop the red stuff up and attempted to cover mom's leg. Thanks buddy. Nothing like sand all over the place to make a day totally worth it.

 And lastly a huge covered megaplex with all the playmobil toys (each genre, farm, dragons, pirates, doll house, etc) set up all over the place. Plus there was even an indoor tree house for those rainy days.

When we left it began to sprinkle and we somehow managed to park as far away as possible. The boys didn't mind too much and five minutes down the road they were all out. You gotta love a fun filled day with the family!

KITES

Everytime I look at these pictures I smile. These two little guys are hilarious when they are together. Poor baby Canon gets the rough-end of the stick when Connor sets his sights on him. But from the picture below it totally looks like Canon finally gave him the what-for...

 HOW WOULD YOU LIKE A WET WILLY? When Connor gets the chance he totally takes Canon down and holds him there until I have to physically remove him from the poor kid. I just know these two boys are going to be tough

 The weather was perfect for flying kites and Brecon did so good holding onto his string. But after awhile his legs were tired of standing there so he figured out a way to fly his kite and enjoy himself. Way to find the seat in the van my son!

Cael was quite the kite-chaser. This is the new kite his daddy got for him and he is pretty good at keeping it up in the air, when he is not trying to dive-bomb his mother and it crashes  into the ground. Such a funny boy. We were glad the Miners were good sports after we surprised "visited" them after our Saturday adventure out and about.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

Oh how these boys make me smile! I am still in awe that I have been blessed with these three beautiful boys and how they have changed my world around.  I am so happy for this MOTHERs DAY and for all the beautiful women who have been a part of my life... and for all the beautiful children too!

DAY 3-6 Paris, FRANCE