....And to all a good night!

Christmas Eve and Christmas morning were absolutely wonderful. After a jam-packed week of visiting museums, exploring castles, and sliding down a mountian on a wooden sledge (photos and stories to come soon, I promise!), my parents, Ben, and myself enjoyed a very relaxed and wonderful Christmas.

On Christmas Eve, we awoke to falling snow and proceeded to spend the morning strolling around Lausanne through the snowflakes.

there's something absolutely wonderful about having
a white christmas!

walking around the (very hilly!) lausanne! my pink
umbrella makes a very nice snow-brella, don't you
think?

After meandering around Lausanne for a bit, we headed to the grocery store and purchased the ingredients for both Christmas Eve dinner as well as Christmas Day dinner. After 22 years of spending Christmas Eve with both my dad's side of the family as well as our close family friends, the Sams, and spending Christmas Day with my mom's side of the family, it felt a bit strange to be planning and cooking these important meals ourselves. Nevertheless, we had a wonderful time shopping and cooking, and perhaps even created some new traditions! On Christmas Eve, Ben and I made a pretty fantastic risotto that I definitely wouldn't mind seeing on Christmas Eves in the future!

Like Christmas Eve, Christmas Day was a bit non-traditional. While I missed watching my nephews open their gifts from Santa and visiting with my extended family, I had a wonderful time enjoying a slower-paced Christmas-- cooking, eating, and being surrounded by people I love.

ben and me on christmas morning

dad opening a christmas gift- a nice warm sweater!

modeling a new christmas scarf!

ben on christmas morning with new superwarm socks

ben got me a koala bear from australia,
but I seem to have misplaced it....
any idea where it could be?

an absolutely fantastic christmas!

After a perfect day of food, gifts, and wonderful company, around 8 pm, my parent's decided to call it a night and head back to their hotel to get some sleep before their early flight home. While my parent's visit to Lausanne was absolutely wonderful, it was very difficult to say goodbye, especially knowing that I won't be home for six more months.