2013: New Beginnings

2012 ended with a whirlwind!   I honestly, do not even know where to begin...December and January are such a blur and here we are already in February.

I guess it all started in late November/early December when Brian accepted a new position within his company.  The part I had to wrap my head around was that the new job is in Lima, Peru.  So, we decided to take the plunge and leave our little Asian island of Singapore and head back across the ocean to explore a new city, new country and new continent!  Lots of last minute planning but we were able to arrange a trip back to Texas to coincide with the Christmas holidays.  Spending time with our family was wonderful and the kids LOVED spending time with all their cousins.  We are so lucky to have 2 sets of grandparents that agreed to let our 3 lovely angels split time between households for a couple of weeks while Brian and I jetted off to Lima, Peru to house hunt, look at schools and get to know our future home a little better.

Headed to Texas

Sweet Sisters

Flying over the North Pole.  Layne thought she spotted Santa getting ready for the big event.

Haley, Abby, Bryce and Layne making Rice Krispie Trains on Christmas Eve.

Hunter and Graham

American Girl Dolls

Christmas Eve

Santa brought him an iPad mini.

Furby love!

Jordyn teaching Bryce how to shoot a bow and arrow.

Every 8 year old needs a gun for Christmas...

Apparently, so does a 6 year old!

Graham and Jacob playing MineCraft.

Here are a few pics of Lima, Peru!

Coast line of Mira Flores

Sunset in Mira Flores

This is the resort we stayed at in Paracas for New Years.  Nice way to ring in the new year!

We also took a boat tour to see some sights like El Candelabro, Islas Ballestas, sea lions, penguins and many other birds.

My favorite part of Paracas was the Sand Dunes.  We took a buggy ride through the dunes and it was amazing.  Miles and miles of sand.  I never thought it would be so beautiful but it was beyond words.

That teeny tiny speck is Brian.  He just "skied" down the sand dune.

Sand Dune in Paracas

Shanty homes on side of mountains off main road.

After Lima, Brian and I parted ways and I headed back to Houston to pick up my trio and make the long flight back to Singapore on our own.  Thank goodness, the kids are pros at traveling because I could not have asked for a better travel companions.

Graham loving the cooler weather and tree climbing.

Our last day in Houston, the girls spent the morning playing with the neighbor's cat.

For now, Brian is in Lima getting things set up for us to join him as soon as possible.  Technology(Facetime, texting, iMessage, Magic Jack, etc...) has made the distance manageable.  We are able to see and talk to him on a daily if not multiple basis but it still does not replace the real thing.  We miss him terribly!

Chinese New Year is in a few days and luckily we will get to kick off the new year with daddy home with us.  Although it is just a short visit now...we will all be in Lima before we know it because as we have all heard before...TIME FLIES!