Switzerland with Michelle and Didier, and France with Ma and Pa.

We took a trip to Switzerland to visit Michelle and Didier and were quite spoiled. We visited several places around their town and we went to Zurich!

We went to a waterfall, as is apparent in above photo. 

Emily and Michelle reunited (and it feels so good)

Anna looking like a supermodel and not even trying (so she says)

The four of us looking not great, but it's the only with all of us. Pity that.

A little town only 5 minutes away from Germany! Cool huh?

There are always an abundance of cool building around these parts.

Just to strengthen the above statement.

Didier giving us a history lesson about Zurich.

Zurich!

"We climbed to the top of Mount Everest" Anna, who is a compulsive liar, told me to put that.

We were really walking up a hill outside of Zurich to get an amazing view of the fog.

Taking in the view of the fog. Lovely.

So pretty!

Swiss folk know how to do playgrounds right. Look at these amazing things!

"I can't believe we're eating rancid yogurt on a train!"

"Mountains Gandalf! I want to see mountains!"

Emily was terrified the whole train ride (those babies go fast!)

Mumsie and Daddy! Aren't they adorable?

We went to Cassis and saw the Mediterranean. When trying to spell Mediterranean and failing the suggestions on spell check were "Pomeranian" and "subterranean"

   

Breathing the sea air.

"A little sea-bathing would set me up forever!"

Triumphant.

All the important members of our family.

(I don't mean that)

Our next post will be about our Parisian adventures. 

Groundhog Day

To the groundhog!

We had these adorable tiny beers, so we had to toast the groundhog.

Just a quick update on Emily's knee:

A quote from the invalid "It kind of hurts"

Climbing mountains. I am woman hear me roar!

Having wine with dinner, as one does.

We set off with foul moods because of past failures/painful memories of this mountain. It was Anna and Sarah's third attempt and the last time Emily climbed it she nearly died.

Pretty pretty.

We met a group of small children, a boy asked Emily (in english) what her name was. She eloquently responded "Ha!" Above is the reenactment. Poor kid.

Persevering.

Bread!

Cheese! (and a cheesy smile)

Working our glutes.

Lovely.

Just to prove we are all friends.

"We ain't going no farther till I've had a breather!"

Are you impressed?

At the top!

Victory is ours!

Anna became a little emotional, she fell to the ground and wept grateful tears.

Just taking it in.

We only had one major injury on this adventure. Emily's knee was severely mutilated and her pants ripped beyond recognition.

Saint Victoire.

One of Cezannes' many paintings of Mount Saint Victoire.

Is it too late to post about Christmas? Also Emily arrived, as an afterthought.

Making Christmas dinner (and looking good)

Also looking good (and making Christmas dinner)

The cheese plate!!!

I've only been here four months and I already have a wine named after me.

The feast.

Snowflakes sent from the wonderful Gordon and Greenwalt girls.

Shmumpkins is here!!!

We spent a relaxing afternoon writing letters. (Sarah looking fiiiine!)

I just wanted to post this because I look better then them. Sarah and Emily agreed to it because they look better than me in real life.

Sarah and I made the board game Clue. Be impressed.

Marseille

Victory is ours!

We walked blindly to the sea.

Marseille, we owned you.

As you can see from the haiku above, we went to Marseille last week. We are quite proud of ourselves because we did not get lost once.

We saw the Mediterranean for the first time!

Cathédrale de la Major

The doors are amazing.

We didn't take many pictures because they don't do it justice.

We went to the only Starbucks in the south of France. It was spectacular.

Hooray for good ole American coffee.

This is not Marseille...It is the Quatre Dauphine fountain in Aix.

After a lovely afternoon in Marseille, we went to the Chritmas market in Aix. You are probably wondering why we look so happy in this picture...

It's because we were eating chocolate covered pears.

Une parodie de L’Automne de Victor Hugo.

                                                       L’hiver

Les fleurs est moins vivants, le soleil est moins chaud, l’humeur est moins gaie ;

Les jours des vacances sont passés, Les promenades d’étés finissent.

Hélas ! La neige est ici !...

L’hiver est comme un vieil homme qui pleure.

Et le beau temps est oublie.