Zauchensee!

Gesundheit! 

Nope, no one sneezed. Zauchensee is located in the Ski Amade region of the Austrian Alps. The Ski Amadé region is a network of 28 ski areas and towns that combined, make up the second largest ski area in Europe.We had the pleasure of visiting the week before Easter for some spring skiing.

We didn't know what to expect for weather since it was late in the season but we ended up having amazing conditions. It snowed every day and we were able to ski in powder and in some sun.  The boys got up on skis again this year and continued to impress us with their perseverance and ease of adjusting to massive amounts of equipment on their tiny bodies.  

For the sake of your time I will give you a synopsis of what our days were like: 

1) Ski school drop off at 10 am. 

2) Mark and Beth ski most of the day until 3 (with long lunches in between of course)

3) Pick up kids and do something like relax, swim in the pool, toboggan or drink copious amounts of hot chocolate.  

4) Enjoy family dinner and then have the kids anxiously wait for 7:30 to roll around to be taken away by the kids club people. 

5) Mark and Beth enjoy the rest of dinner and socialize while waiting for our kids to be brought back safely at 9pm where we would then shuffle them to bed quickly before they fell asleep standing up. 

REPEAT. 

It was a great holiday from start to finish.  We were all able to do something fun everyday - including watching our kids do their first downhill "race".  At the end of ski school on Thursday they received an award for finishing the week. They were really proud of what they accomplished and it was fun to watch. Friday was our day to ski with the kids. While it was exhausting - it was one of the best days to see our boys show us what they learned.  We were very proud parents. 

Here is our week in pictures. 

They were very excited to FINALLY be able to build a snowman! 

Our hotel - Hotel Salzburgerhof.

Our boys with their gear on! 

This particular day it was coming up on 9am and they still hadn't budged.  It was very painful to wake them up for breakfast. 

The lifts in this area were amazing.  This particular one had heated seats and a bubble shield that you pulled down over you if it was cold or to stop the snow from belting in your face. 

Two very happy skiers. 

Chillaxin' and waiting for some hot chocolate. 

This was race day. They learned how to take the button lift up. By learned I mean someone was there to put them on and take them off at the end. 

Mark had Oliver get on the button lift the next day (since he learned) only Oliver forgot to let go at the end. It wasn't pretty and no one has a picture of that however I'm convinced Mark has it burned in his memory forever. 

Pizza, pizza! 

Here they are receiving their medal and certificate.  Henry was having technical difficulties with his goggles. 

Tobogganing. This kid was really happy about it. 

Friday in the sun on the bunny slope.

We loved it so much we are going back next year! 

Danke and auf wiedersehn Austria! 

Mothers Day and Madame Tussauds

Mother's day is early here. I'm still not used to it.  March just doesn't seem like a good time to do it in my opinion. I like the the month of May for "my day".  It's usually sunnier, warmer, and a good distance away from Christmas and my kids birthday. But oh well, I'm in the UK and I will celebrate in March! 

Last year, it was sunny and warm. So lovely that we were able to spend the day outside at the races in Ascot.  This year was cold and rainy. Our agenda was such that it didn't matter.  Breakfast in bed presented by all my men is perfect on any day. 

OJ, coffee, bagel, cantaloupe, strawberry yoghurt and some chocolate pirate biscuits.
Notice the spoon :)

Madame Tussauds was our destination for the day. It has been on our list for awhile so off we go on the train!

I've never been to any of the Madame Tussauds. I have to say some of them looked like the real deal and some missed the mark. Nevertheless, it was the closest I'll get to any of these people!

This one is for you John Bowers.

Yippie kay yay ....

"Mom, mom, mom, mom, look at his face!"

Breakfast at Tiffany's.  She looked perfectly real.

So did Shrek.

Henry looked under his robe to make sure he had underwear on. 

BOLT!

Prince Harry was eerily real looking.  Oliver posing his "I mean business" stance.

I felt a little under dressed.

The two Henry's. 

In case you are wondering, the woman between the Queen and Kate is not a new addition to the Royal family. We just couldn't get a picture without real people in it.

Nana!!!

Henry also looked under Amy Winehouse's dress to check for underwear.  I'm not even sure what the answer was. We were laughing too hard to care.  

And no, he didn't check Brittany's. 

Kickin' it in the Oval office.

Mark doing his best Winston Churchill. Impressive.

The kids weren't excited about the superhero instalment at all.  They also had a 4D superhero film. Perfect! Tussauds is genius to put this at the end so that the kids have to go through all of the "boring people" first.

That folks was my Mother's Day. It was a fun, comedy filled day. Mark, Oliver and Henry, thank you for all of my beautiful cards, gifts and breakfast. I'm especially thankful that I get to spend each day with all of you. I'm proud and blessed to be part of this family of four!