Dancin' Queen

C is for COOKIE!!!

"Wiener Eistraum" (Vienna Ice Dream)

Today we went ice skating on the square of the Rathaus (city hall)! They provide penguins that young children can hold onto for a more stable skate - Kate donned double-bladed toddler skates and tried this, but was a little uneasy, so I picked her up and we sailed around the rink. I ended up needing the penguin after all, though, as it's been years since I've been on the ice!

We rounded out the afternoon by eating, of course: waffles with vanilla cream and caramel sauce and "spiralkartoffeln", which are potato chips made on the spot by running a potato through a spiral cutter and frying. We downed the famous Austrian "Punsch" as well - Steve takes the strong stuff (wildberry with rum) and I drink the "Kinderpunsch" (glorified hot apple cider) - he laughs at me but I'm not ashamed:)

First bites - and dribbles - of rice cereal!

Oh my gosh...

Kate reads "George and Martha One Fine Day" (she calls it "Martha Fine and Day") to her brother

Finding new uses for her little brother every day

"I ready to go!"

Yesterday morning, after 15 minutes of Sesame Street, Kate stood up and announced: "I ready to go. Go 'benture (this means 'go on an adventure'). Froggy hat on. Coat on. Shoes on!" So, we decided to head to Vienna's Natural History Museum for the morning. We've included pictures from along our route as well - taking the bus and subway are half the fun, of course!

Kate said, "Fishies swim in apple juice." A commentary on the cleanliness of the water?

When Kate woke up this morning, we asked her what she dreamed about, and she said:
"I dream a fishies"

Klosterneuberg Abbey

Yesterday, we drove out to Klosterneuberg Abbey, 15 minutes from Vienna. It was founded about 900 years old by Saint Leopold III, patron saint of Austria and Vienna. While we couldn't make the English tour this time around, we'll go back soon - the monastery looked beautiful, as did the abbey church. The abbey also houses the oldest and largest winery in Austria - another good reason to day trip here again!

Kate "walking a daddy with a foggy hat (froggy hat)", as she says...

February 2008

Pictures from our first outing to Smalltalk Cafe, an indoor playground/restaurant near the center of the city - the kids loved it!

Kate "helping" her brother use the doorway jumper...

Jumpin' bean!