Forty in Peru

August 29, 2013

It only took just over a month to post pictures from my 40th birthday but here are some pictures to document the event...

First of all, our long time friends, David and Salli Cobb decided to come celebrate my birthday as well as their wedding anniversary with a long weekend in Lima.  It was great to be able to have some friends around to help ring in the new decade.  

The kids enjoyed the cake and singing but of course they were most excited about heading to Paracas the following day for a short holiday adventure.

Singing

Heading out to dinner sans kids.

The Cobbs and I spent the afternoon of my birthday taking in the sights of Lima.

 The next morning we loaded up the car and headed south to Paracas, Peru.  Brian and I have been there before last January but we knew the kids and the Cobbs would enjoy it as well.

The first stop in Paracas was heading to the sand dunes and cruising around as well as some sand surfing.  It was a hit among everyone.  Sand managed to find its way into every crevice but the kids did not seem to mind one bit.

Buckling into our dune buggy

Gorgeous scenery

 The kids were fearless!  The slopes were so steep yet they had no fear heading down the sand slopes.

My trio heading back up the dunes.  One of Graham's friends said it looked like a scene out of Star Wars.

Attempting to climb up the steep portion of the dunes.

We also spent time on the beach.  It was much to cold to enjoy the water but they were able to hunt for shells and play in the sand.

 The following day we headed to the Ballestas Islands.  The kids really loved being able to see all the animals in their natural habitat.  They could not believe the massive numbers of sea lions, penguins and other birds that were there.

Candelabra~ a prehistoric geoglyph

Celebrating with friends and family make for a great way to kick of this new adventure people call FORTY.

Tears of Another Kind

These girls.  I love.
Together from the womb.
Twins.
Raised side by side.
Yet so different in ALMOST every way.
And I wouldn't have it any other way.

This morning Layne lost another tooth.  I think it may be her 6th or 7th.  Honestly I have lost count.  Bryce on the other hand, has yet to even have a wiggly tooth.  Bryce was so sad.  Tears flew freely and the words life is not fair came sputtering out.  Through tear stained cheeks she cried...I am never going to lose a tooth.  I will be a grown up when my teeth fall out.  Please mommy just break my tooth!

My heart shattered into a thousand pieces because one daughter is so sad and the other so happy.

As a mom of twins, here is the problem how do you go about cheering for one, when the other needs consoling?  Like I said my girls are different.  They do things at different paces, reach milestones at different times.  I should be use to handling these situations by now.  I have been doing it for 7 years.

But this morning was different...As the morning continued I witnessed tears of another kind.  This time they were my tears. My eyes welled with pride as Layne asked me if the tooth fairy allowed you to give your tooth to someone.  She said she would like to give her tooth to Bryce so she could experience the tooth fairy.  Bryce's face lit up with so much joy and love for her sister.  Layne wanted Bryce to have her tooth.  Place it under her pillow.  And wake up to the treasures left behind from the tooth fairy.

The girls had a 5 minute conversation about whether or not it was allowed!  Bryce's tears soon faded as Layne convinced her the tooth fairy will accept it and if for some reason she doesn't and the tooth fairy leaves it under her pillow, then she will give it to Bryce.  Bryce just hugged and hugged Layne and thanked her again and again.

Then Layne and Bryce looked over at me and asked me why I was crying...All I could say to my baby girls was...these are tears of another kind.  Not sadness.  But Joy. Pride. Love

Lunahuana, Peru

August 18, 2013

On Sunday we took a day trip to Lunahuana.  It was about a 2 hour drive south of Lima.   We went in search of some sun, warmth and a little relaxation.  Luckily we were able to find all three.  The scenery was gorgeous, the sun felt great and catching some vitamin D rays definitely lifted my spirits.  The water was a bit cold but it did not stop the children from enjoying the outdoors!  Lots of rock climbing and sun kissed skin!

Living Like a Local

 The kids are entrenched in  school now.  Routines are beginning to take shape and our new normal is beginning to form.  The kids definitely work hard during the week but the weekends seem to be full of one party after another.  I had heard that Peruvians like to party and believe me they do.

Here a some snapshots of the different parties that the kids have attended since we have been here...

Huge bounce houses and slides

Face painting

Painting and Drawing

Balloons and confetti and people dressed as characters!

  We also went to a party at the zoo.  While the zoo was much different than the Singapore Zoo, the kids still had a great time!

 Bryce and Layne enjoyed participating in feeding the animals and being part of the shows.  Graham, on the other hand has decided that he is too old to be doing such things.

 I think one of their favorite things was going out in the swan paddle boats in the pond.  That is definitely a positive for the Lima zoo as we never did that in Singapore!

This zoo also had a small carnival area...which of course meant the kids want to hang out here the entire time.