The Hals Family World Adventures: Day 1 and 2 - loading up our family of four, flying to Munich, and driving to Seefeld!

Somehow we managed to get everything into Daniel's Honda Civic...

Between their car seats and the double stroller I seriously don't know how it fit in the civic. But here's our round up!

Our overnight flight was pretty much the best that could be expected. We boarded on time and were even super pleasantly surprised to discover we had been seated in Economy Plus! (Aka extra leg room...it was wonderful to have with the kids, but don't envision champagne and chocolates). Ultimately the kids took longer than anticipated to settle down to go to sleep, but they did eventually settle down and both girls slept quite well. Daniel slept okay and I...nearly didn't sleep at all. Between both girls shifting around (one of which was...in my arms the whole time) and my inability to get comfortable while holding a 13 month old... not the best night. But! Lily woke as breakfast was served and gulped down the yogurt at the equivalency of "midnight" EST and 6 am-ish Germany time and Hannah slept until we landed, when we woke her up to give her a 5 minute head start before we pulled her out of her seat.

Cuddled together like puppies

An additional challenge was that potty-trained-Hannah (who is still "new-ish" but not so new we have to ask her if she has to potty ever 5-10 minutes) found herself terrified of the automatic toilets at the Dulles airport. ...Seriously folks. Terrified. To the point that (THANK GOODNESS...once she has recovered from the trauma, she has learned to trust toilets again.,) when she approaches a toilet (on land) she points her finger at it and shouts "you are NOT going to scare me!!!!(turns to me) This isn't a scary toilet?" Lol... to which I usually reply "no, honey this is a nice and well behaved toilet....". Thankfully her potty training regression only lasted through the airports and airplane toilet and after that we were back to usual.

Our first views of the snow-capped Bavarian alps!

We flew into Munich, rented a car, and drove to Seefeld, Austria. All of which sounds pretty simple, and it was, but we are still functioning in the two children who are three and under club...who require a lot and carry next to nothing themselves, so we definitely look like a high maintenance circus navigating the airports and car rental areas and hotel. But! We also made it! The girls were really quite good and we have managed to transition to Europe time pretty well!

our first meal in Seefeld

they set up these manikins while Hannah watched...and then mimicked...it was hilarious

loving the pedestrian center!

Our first day in Seefeld is a little bit of a blur because I got so so so little sleep the night before we left and even less on our overseas flight. It was also tricky because this flight left mid-day (at 5:30), but that put us into Munich around 1 am something EST...instead of a late night flight that feels more natural sleep wise. So, we had a full day in front of us and the kids had slept and we had not. Then, the kids slept int he car and turbo charged. Ahhhh!

Seefeld has proven to be perfect for our needs. It's adorable and has lots of little things to do - things that we would have overlooked when we had kids but now we see as opportunities for entertainment. The pedestrian central area is quite big and has many different courtyards and squares, all emacculately manicured and all containing eclectic art or statues or fountains or something to capture the attention of a small child. We have enjoyed strolling and window shopping and smelling flowers and playing at the edge of fountains greatly and the fact that it isn't crowded is a huge huge bonus. Sure, Hannah would like the Trevi Fountain, but I can relax while she plays at the edge of the pond/fountain in Seefeld.

someone is very excited to be walking

To end our first night in Austria the kids crashed hard and we ordered really really delicious room service and enjoyed our dinner while the kids settled in for bed...my plan (for just such occasions) was perfect. I specifically picked a place with a bar and excellent restaurant that had room service so that if it was easier to eat in the room those first few nights of the trip when we were traveling by ourselves, sans family, we could still enjoy a decadent meal. And...two nights running - it has been an excellent option. Nothing says jet lag like trying to get toddlers to sit for a fancy meal at the end of the day...