40!

I turned 40 this year and Ethan decided that this is a very good reason to throw a party. I'm not one for celebrations that feature me in any way but he did a fantastic job! Jeannie sent beautiful flowers since she couldn't join us. I have some very sweet and fun friends here in Vienna and was thrilled to see so many of them make time to get together. We laughed a lot, had good food and stayed up way too late. I feel like one very lucky woman!

heiligabend.

Lovis helped me make creme bruelee.

Würstchen und Kartoffelsalat. A traditional German Christmas Eve dinner.

And yes, midnight mass at the Sankt Elsiabethkirche. We were all soooo tired. This family is most definitely not good at staying up late. Well with the exception of Ethan. :-)

sissi kapelle on christmas eve.

Perfect, perfect, perfect afternoon.

Hochkar & Wasserlochklamm.

On a foggy and somewhat chilly day we ventured out with Jette to climb Hochkar (ended up realy foggy and we only stayed a little while) and then ended up hiking to the Wasserlochklamm. It was a beautiful and surprisingly hard hike. 

We ended the day, making pizza and watching a movie.

 

She is nine!

 Our morning started just like any other birthday morning with marble cake, candles and presents.

 And after breakfast we took off to Laxenburg, a beautiful park and castle close to Vienna.

 

 Lovis wanted to take a boat ride and that she got to do. :-)

 Liam needed to do it his own way. :-)

 We ended the day with dinner and cake with cousins. It was a great day with a great girl that makes every day a little brighter for all of us! She is tenderhearted and funny and we love, love, love her!

Happy birthday sunshine!