Autumn is here!

Autumn has definitely arrived!   I've never lived somewhere where there was so much beautiful red, orange, and yellow.  In Austin when the leaves began to fall(usually end of November) it just made me think that we'd have to rake up all of those tiny oak leaves!  So it has been real treat to see them and feel the brisk air that signals that winter is on its way.

It is also time of "vendange" which is the harvesting of the grapes that have been growing all through the summer and are ready to be picked. All of the grape leaves have turned yellow and red.

Many schools in Europe have a fall break that is 1 to 2 weeks. To us it seems too soon to be having a break from school since it just started the beginning of September! Fortunately during the break we were able to have some visitors-our friends the Moores came from Denmark to visit. The kids had so much fun together and we enjoyed showing them around town.

We visited Labyrinth Aventure, an outdoor playpark with ziplines, inflatables, trampolines, etc!

Chateau Chillon had a Halloween party and decorated the entire castle and the kids all dressed up for the party.

We went to the Knie Circus, the Swiss national circus that has been operating for 200 years. It was pretty impressive and thankfully there were no clowns! (I just don't like them!)

We went on a cruise around Lake Geneva that was a relaxing way to spend an afternoon.

We visited to Gruyere to have fondue and visit the Caillier chocolate factory. Both were delicious!

 

Hmm...which chocolate to choose??!

We were sad to see the Moores go as they headed off to Zermatt. We were lucky to have another visitor shortly after they left. Our former nanny Megan came to visit and she and the kids picked up right where they left off! They had so much fun playing together and we enjoyed having her around as well. It was great to get some good child management reminders from her now that I'm home with them all the time!

We walked around town so the kids could show her their favorite sites..

On a rainy day we visited the Nestle museum where we watched a video on digestion and played with a machine that spit out chocolate, naturally!

We went to visit Leysin and took a cablecar to a rotating restaurant.

  We visited some spooky caves that also had an underground waterfall.

And took a funicular train up to a fondue restaurant. 

We all had a great time with Megan!!!

Finally, the kids dressed up for Halloween for parties at school. Unfortunately, no trick-or-treating here but they still had fun!