Did we have a full week,or what? Last Saturday night, we had the privilege of spending an evening with one of Addison's friends from school. She and her family are from Berkino Fausa, Africa. We ate plantains, fish, rice, and drank a ginger fruit drink. We had one of the most enjoyable nights we've had since being in Austria! Chris and the Dad had lots in common since they are both the Dad's of three daughters ... and the Mom and I had a great time of comparing notes about our Austrian grocery store adventures! We now have new friends!

Monday, Libby was invited to a Princess Birthday party. For all of you with girls, eat your hearts out! This was a REAL Princess birthday party: palace, evening gowns, Barbie cake, and did I mention it was at a PALACE! Sohnbrunn is the summer palace of the former Austrian Rulers, the Hapsburg's. So, while the little girls played dress up, they learned all about the life and times of the Hapsburg Royalty and the appropriate social graces of the day!

I must say, hands down, this might have been more fun for me than for Libby. While she was tip-toeing through the palace, I had a luxurious day, outside on the palace grounds, taking photo's! The weather was crisp and cool ... 38 ish ... and the grounds were breathtaking! Forgive the onslaught of photo's on this post, but I can't resist! They are too beautiful and too much of a testimony of God's creativeness to pass up!

My favorite part of the day was getting Marooni. Don't be alarmed - it's food. After being outside for over an hour, my toes and noes were quite chilled. This time of year, it is common place to find a Marooni stand on unsuspecting corners. Marooni's are ... roasted chestnuts! So, I buy myself these little warm nuggets from heaven, finish my walk in the park, and go retrieve Libby. The perfect ending to the perfect day!

Finally, the week ended by Addison and her Volleyball team almost winning a local tournament. Those girls can play some ball! They won their first 3 games, went into the tournament as the only team that had won all their games, lost by 2 points for first and ended up in 4th place. It was fun, exciting, nerve racking, and we kept thinking "I wish our friends Wyatt and Daniel could see this girl in action!" I have to be honest. I was thinking, " I wish Addi could play against Wyatt and Daniel because she could whip their butts!" And so you see my competitive nature coming out ... but she is that good!

So, we finish out the week waiting for Parker to return from a retreat in the mountains with some friends, Addison to get home from her volleyball sleepover and Libby running us ragged!

Life is a journey ... what a ride!