Christmas Eve, 2025.

The Viennese hills were kind to us once again — we woke up to snowfall on December 24th! Suddenly, our home turned into a true Christmas haven despite its spaciousness, and even the boys gave in that day to my obsession with Christmas movies… It’s incredible to think that just four months ago I was still working in Hungary, and now here I am, cooking the Christmas feast with a round (and constantly wiggling) belly.

There’s so much we can be proud of as a family — especially the way we’ve pulled together and shown patience with one another over the past few months. But there’s equally so much to be thankful for: for the things we worked hard for, for the lucky coincidences, the kind people we met, and the simple fact that we’ve had each other’s backs through the toughest times.

This Christmas wasn’t just about presents, cooking, and cleaning. It was also about seeing who we’ve become beside each other — even compared to last Christmas — and recognizing how much we have to be grateful for, especially for one another. The snow and the impressive heap of gifts were just the icing on the cake 🙂

Wishing you a peaceful Christmas filled with delicious treats, my dear Reader — perhaps the ninth one you’ve spent with us through this little journal! Merry Christmas! 🎄