After another round of travel meltdowns, we escaped to a frozen alpine lake near Grünau im Almtal. Snow covered pines, thick ice, and fresh mountain air gave our family the reset we all needed.

Fresh snow meant backyard igloos, frozen hands, abandoned snowmen and more big decisions about our next leg from Sicily to Lake Garda. A slow family day in Scharnstein filled with planning, play and a reminder that space matters.

Fresh snowfall in Scharnstein. A scenic drive along Lake Traunsee. And an afternoon inside one of Austria’s wildest traditions, the Ebensee Fetzenzug, an officially recognised UNESCO cultural heritage carnival that smears lipstick on your face and hands your kids lollies.

Valentine’s Day didn’t look like roses and restaurants this year. It looked like reshuffled beds, digital cards made on the iPad, a sick kid resting, and finally mapping out our next chapter after Austria. A quiet, meaningful reset in the middle of our world-schooling adventure.

An early start that led nowhere turned into a productive website reset, library visits for 30 cent books, fresh yoghurt from a local dairy farm, forest stick houses in the drizzle, and an unexpected hunting rifle discovery. We finished the day with laughter filled family games in Scharnstein.

After big days on the slopes, we slowed things down with a rest day in Grünau im Almtal. From farm fresh produce and schoolwork to a ninja style park beside a crystal clear mountain creek, rock skimming, snowballs and a mini snowman, it was the perfect reset before another round of skiing and snowboarding.

Our first full day in Scharnstein, Austria brought mountain views, elevated heart rates, toboggan runs, ice cold creek water and a full mission to get our ski gear sorted. After restless nights adjusting to Austria, we eased into alpine life and prepared for our first big day on the slopes.

Up at five, bags everywhere, one last play at the park and a confusing train station meet up before picking up our rental car and driving through the Austrian countryside. We said goodbye to Vienna, met Christian and Rafaela, squeezed four big bags into a tiny boot and settled into Scharnstein with a long table dinner, wine and new friends. A big transition day and the start of four weeks of alpine village life.