A hike up Buffalo Peak, Utah

We hiked up Buffalo Peak, which is north of Squaw Peak, in Utah Valley. We didn't know it existed a few weeks ago until some friends told us about the hike; it turned out to be a nice walk. It is only about .5 miles each way, and the peak is about 8,000 feet, a few hundred feet higher than Squaw Peak.

 We saw a family of wild turkeys on the road to the trail head.

 The start of the trail is pretty flat.

 We walked through fields of wildflowers.

 The scenery was quite impressive.

 The last part of the trail got a bit steep, but it was fine for the children.

 The view from the top, looking toward the west.

 The view from the top with everyone at the summit.

 Edward on the edge of a very steep "cliff."

On the trail back to the car. It is strange to think that this area is only about 1/2 hour drive from our house.

A trip to Washington (state)

In June we went to Washington state to visit Kirk's family. We were able to see quite a few things and spend time with family.

 We stayed at a cheap, but nice motel in La Grande, Oregon.

 We visited the site of the Whitman mission in Washington.

 We hiked in the rain forest near Olympic National Park

 The children enjoyed the hikes.

 We drove up to Hurricane Ridge and saw the deer and snow and the mountain peaks.

 We don't go very far with a 2-year-old, but we did try a little walk.

 The deer were pretty tame.

 The clouds were actually below us, so it was raining down at the base of the mountain and clear on top.

 We always enjoy the tide pools at Salt Creek state park. This was the first time we saw a jellyfish.

 The children at the tide pools.

 Henry didn't want to give up his star fish.

 We saw quite a few purple star fish.

 The boys tried to get wet by the neat waves.

 We also hiked to Sol Duc falls.

 Andrew at Sol Duc falls.

 Edward at Sol Duc falls.

 A visit to a nice park in Port Townsend, Washington.

 A cold beach, like all the beaches, in Port Townsend.

 A hike up the Elwah valley.

 An overlook of the valley.

 The cabin where we stopped and decided to turn back after a slow walk with children.

 All the cousins on the hike.

Lucy petting a sheep at a dairy in Sequim, Washington.

Trip home

The last night in our apartment. We went out on the balcony for the first time.

Andrew: We took an Austrian Air and a Delta plane home. The landing in Utah was rather rough.
Edward: [He doesn't know why he should tell anyone about the trip home.]
Lucy: I got a coloring book and pencils [on the Austrian Airline].
Henry: was well-behaved and didn't throw up.

Waiting in the airport in Vienna.

The trip was long and we are still trying to get things back together at home. Last night Kirk and I looked at the messy sitting room and then just decided to ignore it. Usually Kirk will clean everything up for Sunday if I haven't already done it, but the sitting room was just much of a disaster to tackle on Saturday evening.

Back in Utah note

We have arrived back in Utah. By the time we went to bed on Tuesday, I had been awake for 24 hours. I got about four hours of sleep the night before. I calculated that we spent about 18 hours traveling, counting taxi rides, time running around airports, and sitting on planes, before we arrived home.

I am tired and moving slowly. The children bounced out of bed early in the morning, so I took Andrew and Edward to school today.

I have some thoughts about traveling with children that I want to write down so I don't forget them. I also have to ask the children what they want to do with this blog, and if they want to write more.

Lucy and her week

I played in the park on Monday. On Tuesday I went to the Music Museum and I leaded the music. I went inside Beethoven's house I only was outside of Mozart's house.

Beethoven's apartment house.

I went to the aquarium [Haus des Meers] and I see some Nemo fish and I saw some sharks in a big aquarium, and I saw big sharks, and I saw a big turtle, a water turtle.

Thursday again another park. I played.
Friday, the General Cemetery. Beethoven is buried in the cemetery. The Vienna Museum shows the church and where every apartment is and every store, and one doctor's office.

On Saturday I got some ice cream. I had a picnic.
Today I went to church and it's my last Sunday here. [Who will you miss? What friends did you make?] Two friends. One of them's name is Lynn, and the other is Emilie.

[What are you looking forward to back home?]
My birthday. My birthday's on Monday.

Desserts in Austria

Before we came to Austria, everyone who had been here just raved about the pastries and cakes and bread and chocolates. We knew the chocolate was generally better, though we did manage to find some cheap waxy stuff once. The basic chocolates and store-bought cookies are generally a notch above what you find in the States. It probably helps that the main flavor is hazelnut.
Most chocolates are good. However, we haven't found very many chocolate candies that have absolutely amazing flavor, except for a handmade chocolate from Fürst bakery in Salzburg. It is made with a marzipan center surrounded by a layer of milk chocolate; then the ball is dipped in dark chocolate. This is the only chocolate that Kirk and I have felt the need to put our initials on them so one person doesn't get more than the other.

We've mostly been disappointed by cakes and pastries here. Our experience has not been from a lack of effort in the tasting department, though. We have to be careful when we buy anything. I read all the ingredients or ask the women at the counter which cakes are "without alcohol." They then point out the few that are suitable.
First, we would say that if you think Costco cakes are good, "cake pops" are a treat, and most of the desserts you make come from a box mix, then the cakes and pastries would be very distinctive, fun, and good to eat. However, I guess we have a higher standard and would say that the desserts we make at home, including the ones we eat with extended family (think of a birthday cake made by Mindy), rival and mostly surpass any we've bought here.
We bought a cake at the best bakery in Salzburg. It was interesting, but not wonderful.

We bought slices of cake at one of the two most famous bakeries in Vienna (the other was too crowded and the cake I wanted to try had alcohol in it). This cake was the best we've had, but then again, it wasn't amazing. You would think that for about $5 each slice, it would be better.

It is gratifying when my children and husband say, "your cake is better" or "you make better cake than this."
The bread is nice and better than what you can generally buy or find in the States. There are some interesting wheat breads that have sunflower seeds in them. It is hard to find just a plain whole wheat bread. They have white breads (in various shapes) and then fancy wheat/rye/nut/other grain breads that are more dense and substantial. The children, after a few tries, have almost completely refused to touch the wheat breads here.

What we are learning

A while ago, someone in the ward here asked if there was anything I would miss about being in Vienna. I've been thinking about that question. I think the main thing I will miss is having an endless supply of things to do, as in, places to go see and take the family. In almost two months we've barely made it to a few of the major museums and sights. You could spend months here seeing new things every day. And, we haven't even gone to a single concert or recital or musical production (that's not our stage of life right now).

Henry watching the garbage trucks.

At the Billa grocery store.

I have learned to navigate Austria and Hungary with four children. I have learned how to feed a family in both these countries. I have learned to recognize a number of German written words and some spoken words. I usually can get the idea of what people are saying to me (it costs this much, the elevator is over there, etc.) since my interactions are limited to sort of the same things every day. I can say a few phrases and ask for a few things in German, but not as much as Kirk, of course.

On the S-bahn train.

Andrew has learned that Heavenly Father hears and answers his prayers. He knows how to navigate public transportation using maps and timetables. He said something in German to an Austrian for the first time this week. He also learned how to construct Lego sets and that he really likes crème fraîche. [Did you like crème fraîche when you were nine? Did you know crème fraîche existed when you were nine? Crème fraîche is common here; it is a French version of sour cream that is thicker, sweeter, and very nice on fresh fruit.]

We went to a restaurant once (that was enough)
so we could have "typical Austrian food" (also once was enough).

Edward has also learned that Heavenly Father hears and answers his prayers. He knows about antiquities and castles. He can talk about Austrian military history, from his perspective. He can build Lego sets. He knows some German words and can read signs and understand some of the announcements on the U-bahn.

Lucy at the Archduke Ferdinand's car.

The blood stains and bullet hole in his uniform.

Lucy has learned to count to 10 in German, adding to her knowledge of those numbers in English and Spanish. She now plays "going on a train trip" with her dolls and Henry. She can get on and off of escalators, trains, and elevators, mostly without help. She can help me go shopping in Austrian and Hungarian grocery stores.

Lucy playing in the brown sand at a park.

Henry playing at a park.

Henry is learning more words and has even asked for some things using a word. He knows how to sit patiently in his stroller (most of the time) for long stretches of time. He is learning how to play on playground equipment. He recognized a Raphael painting we saw in a museum when he saw it later in a book at the apartment. He pointed it out and kept "talking" about it in his funny Henry way.

Sitting in the stroller.

Altarpiece and burial place of St./King Leopold and his wife Agnes.

Henry at a park.

Henry.

I'm not sure what Kirk has learned since he's on his way to Amsterdam right now and can't tell me. I suspect he has learned tons of stuff about his research project. He knows much more about Central European countries than he ever thought he would--and he's just beginning the research. He also has learned that offices are wonderful spaces and he wishes he had one here in Vienna. It would have been nicer for him to be in Budapest because he has an office to use at the university when he is there.

At the museum (the statue is of Jacob and Rachel).