last days in Vienna

On our second to last day in Vienna I got to go with these two lovely women to the Belvedere Art Museum (think Gustave Klimt 'the kiss').  I love museums that are small enough to really see everything and where the art is housed in such beauty and this museum fit the bill.  And the grounds were lovely.  I was also pretty happy that Hazel chose to come with Mary Ann and me instead of going with dad and the other kids to the natural history museum.  Dad usually wins those ones.  I love my little artist.  meanwhile, these people got to go to this other awesome museum where they walked through room after room filled with natural history artifacts.  After our museum runs we headed to a street market where we got some killer donar kababs and ate them in this very off the beaten track park.  Rob and Mary Ann pretty much know all the cool stuff. Then the big kids all headed off in different directions.  R and MA's older kids own Vienna and were able to show our two big kids around while we stayed and played with these three little ones.  Hazel and Maddie took off to a very quintessential cafe and read some books and drank hot chocolate.  The boys (who didn't bother documenting their adventures) went to the armory museum (naturally) and talked about weapons and war tactics. We grownups walked more of the city with these cute kids who played some imaginative spy game the entire time we were walking.  It kept them happily tagging along for a few hours while we got to explore more of the streets and gardens of that city.Peter couldn't even suspend his role as shooter in the cathedral.  He was blowing up the whole place.  They were SERIOUS about this game.  It was way too elaborate to try to follow.we all met up for the most delicious gelato.  I will dream of that creamy apricot yumminess forever. we got the kids settled down for the night and then those big cousins (bless their hearts) babysat while we went on a little double date to the fanciest cafe and did what Rob said was the viennese thing to do - order cake and sit and eat it slowly until late into the night.
We then wondered the streets until well after midnight.  I love being in old cities late at night with mostly empty streets and such beautiful buildings.  It was one of my favorite nights ever.  We wondered in and out of buildings that were somehow left open and Rob told us all kinds of interesting facts and history.  On Sunday we lazed around for the morning.  Emmeline colored some cut outs of Maria Theresa.  Then we went to Church.  I love going to church in other countries.  Their ward there was so great and welcoming.  Church was right next to the most incredible park where we ate a picnic lunch while the kids played.  They were so delighted by everything there.  Why can't we get playgrounds right???Peter probably slid down this slid 138 times, with his wild hair whipping behind him.  I even went down this slide, and man was it fast.  On our way home we stopped at the Hundertwasser House.   I love this artist, kind of like an Austrian Gaudi.  The kids weren't quite as excited about stopping here, but I think they thought it was pretty cool too.We took one last walk along the river before packing up for our long train ride to Switzerland the next day.  Before bed we sat on the McFarland balcony and sang old Shumway songs.  So happy to call these guys family.