To Austria with our Military Family

We traveled a mere 4 hour to a castle in Austria for the Thanksgiving Holiday.  Our church, I know I've mentioned before, but I just can't help but gush about how welcoming they are.  Several families stayed here, and enjoyed a few nights filled with shopping, a talent show and silly game nights.  The grounds were stunning, and simply soaking in the scenery was a treat.  The lake just down the hill glimmered, and reflected back the nearby snow capped mountains and the gold and rust trees that dotted the far side.

The boys enjoyed playing outside too.

 Couldn't resist capturing a little of the magic on these little guys faces.

The Thanksgiving meal prepared by their kitchen staff was delicious, and the best part was I had no part in the cooking or cleaning up!  It was nearly gourmet, included a variety of meats, delectable roasted winter vegetables, complete with cute little bird rolls.  Every area of the castle was decorated festively, and was warm and inviting.

     We ventured to a nearby town for the Christmas market.  The streets were lined with little booths that sold all kinds of things, most of them ornaments, or little trinkets.  Everything was decorated, and ornate.  So very cute, and really put us all in the Christmas spirit.

These beautiful full size (co1mpare to the pine trees intermingled) wooden nativity characters took the cake though!  They were so beautifully crafted, I wanted to take the set home, but A) it probably cost more than our home, and B) they were huge and I would have needed a whole bus, not just our little Matrix.

We had to find a random lion of course.  Austrian and Italian colors, that the boys just couldn't resist a chance to win over some Italians.  A couple gentlemen got behind Derek and I and were making faces to get the boys to smile.  I just love the culture, they adhere to the "it takes a village" way of thinking.

We walked into the town one night, and would have had some awesome family pictures to show for it...but one kiddo had to be grumpy (like beyond belief) and wouldn't even stand in a picture at all (again a gentleman stopped to take our photo).

But we got a sweet picture of our other little mischievous monkey.

Hope you enjoy our little adventures as much as we are.  We had a beautiful Thanksgiving and try continuously to enjoy all the little moments, without letting them pass us by.

Christmas will be posted by Wednesday!