Peru

I have officially returned to Peru after 12 years. To say that it is amazing is an understatement. My day started at 3:30am when I arrived at Dulles airport. After I checked my bag I went through security and on to the gate. Everything was smooth and painless. My flight to El Salvador was easy. I slept a little, but was quite tired. There was a very brief layover, changed planes and went on to Lima. I slept a lot of that flight. But I woke up in time for lunch. TACA still serves meals. I don´t know if other international flights still do that. It was a pleasant surprise. Each flight was four hours. Moving through the airport in Lima was almost creepy. Ours was the only flight to have arrived at that time. So we were the only ones to go through security, get our luggage and customs. But I am not complaining. It was very quick. I made it to my hotel here in Lima by taxi with no trouble. It still amazes me that driving can function in the way it does here. Although there are a lot of countries that are just as bad. How there are not thousands of accidents per day is a mystery.

For now, my head is spinning. Partly out of a crazy schedule and partly out of being in an entirely different continent. I think that once we get to Huaraz everything will be normal again. It is not until much later tonight that the next people I know arrive here at this apartment. Then the Miller kids arrive very early in the morning. Tomorrow I am looking foward to being with them and going shopping. Tomorrow night we ride the bus to Huaraz.

Just yesterday as I was getting ready to board the train to D.C. for my flight I thought, "In 24 hours I will be in Peru." And so it is. Amazing!
I look foward to writing more soon. Hope you enjoy reading my jumbled thoughts as I move through an extraordinary adventure.
Until next time...Lauren

Happy Birthday Eowyn!!

Eowyn is 3 years old today. This is so hard for me to grasp. My baby cannot already be moving into this stage of little girl. She should just be turning one, right? Here we are though, three years have passed since Eowyn came into the world--fast and furious. Most of you already know the story. For those who may not, let's just say that I made it to the hospital, but she was born before I got into the hospital gown. Actually, I think fast and furious is a good description of Eowyn. She most certainly is strong-willed ("I do it mysef!") and can be very destructive when she so chooses. But she is such a joy and full of life. She loves to be silly and make you laugh. I love, love, love to watch her wiggle. She can really shake her hips! :) Eowyn is a blessing and our family is infinitely richer with her in it.

We had the birthday party for her yesterday afternoon. Our family came over and we had a lovely time. We ate ham, corn on the cob, green beans and biscuits for dinner. Eowyn determined a long time ago that she was having a flower cake. So after dinner we opened presents and had flower cake and ice cream. Eowyn received new sand toys, a Cinderella gown and tiara, a tutu--her favorite, several toys and a Dora lunch box.

Today she has played with several of the new toys with her sisters, ate birthday muffins and we even had Wendy's for dinner--her choice.

Happy Birthday my precious Eowyn! We love you so much!!!

***Concerning the pictures above: the first two are just to remember July 16, 2004; most are of Eowyn at her party with family; there is a four-generation picture of my grandmother, my mom, myself and the girls; Eowyn, the beautiful ballerina birthday girl

Pool Time

My friend, Amanda, is so cool and posted a blog about swimming with us at the pool. (Check out her site at http://mifabfive.blogspot.com/) So I thought it would be a good idea to put some of my pictures on this site to compliment her pictures. My girls and I love to have Amanda and her four boys join us at our community pool. All winter long Avril, Maia and Eowyn ask when the pool will open so we can swim with the boys. This summer it is really noticeable that our kids are getting older. They are stronger swimmers and eager to do those things that kids so enjoy at the pool (jumping off the side for hours, swimming in the deep end, diving for sunken treasure). Before long Amanda and I will be able to sit in the lounge chairs, sipping umbrella drinks (jj!) and just relax and chat while the kids are swimming. That is a fantastic thought! The Johns are dear friends whom we treasure in our hearts. We will miss them greatly when they move.

**Concerning the pictures below...Avril swimming; Amanda and Cai; Anderson laying down by the pool--sweet; Everyone eating lunch; Trevor, Maia and Eowyn eating a snack; Ryan flexing his muscles; Is it a mermaid? Is it Nessie? No, it's Amanda swimming a lap!

"We just can't stop the fun-ness"

Maia said this to me late Sunday night as she and her friend, Lily, were trying to fall asleep. Despite sleep-over protocol, I was surprised that they were still awake at nearly 10pm. Afterall, we spent nearly five hours at our church picnic--running, jumping, riding ponies, and eating an endless supply of sno-cones. Maia tickled me when she came out with that line, I just couldn't help but laugh. In truth, Lily was looking really tired. I asked if she was ready to sleep and she immediately turned over. It seems that little Maia just couldn't stop the fun-ness. But I think after a spectacular day at the picnic and the giggly morning that followed (including waffles, Barbies and nail painting) Maia was right.

**Concerning the pictures...Eowyn's sno-cone adventure was one for the ages and then a marshmallow to top it off. Mmmm....sugar. I actually got all that dye from the syrup out of her clothes (yipee!). The other pictures show Avril and Eowyn on ponies; Maia with her face painted; Eowyn, Lily and Maia; all the girls this morning (and Eowyn's pose isn't intentional for the camera)

Welcome Ame Belle

We were unexpectedly blessed with a little kitten yesterday. Avril's Sunday school teachers, the Mindemans, were giving away four kittens born April 15. Avril was frantically begging for a kitten and Adrian agreed that this was a good time. So we took a drive out to the country yesterday afternoon and picked out a little kitten. Avril immediately went for a tiny all-black girl. Adrian and I liked the runt, a gray boy. But Avril wouldn't budge. I am not sure if her name will stick, but for now Ame (AvrilMaiaEowyn) Belle seems to be the winner. She is really sweet and was immediately comfortable in the house, curling up on everyone's laps and napping. Avril is about to explode she is so happy. She is doing well though and Belle is very patient. Maia has already held her and is comfortable. I am so proud of Maia. She is growing. The first thing Eowyn said about the cat was "I think she wants to play a game with me or a puzzle." We are very excited to have her.

Why do I have the best husband???

Well, there are a million answers to this question, really. But for the sake of time I will stick with just today. First a little bit of back information....for Mother's Day my gift was a coupon book filled with lots of fun stuff. For example, dinner out with a friend, money towards a household item, free run to get me a smoothie or ice cream, deep cleaning of a room in the house. So I told Adrian that I would really like the kitchen cleaned well--counters Softscrubbed, fridge cleaned, sinks, the works. So he spent FOUR hours this afternoon cleaning the entire kitchen! And that's why my husband is the best. Because he would work so hard to bless me in such a tangible way. I don't understand whyAdrian would choose to make me his wife. But I am so thankful that he did. I love you, Adrian!

Summer fun

My three girls are so fun. There are 3 1/2 years between them. They are very close and love each other. It is such a blessing to be with them. Even though each one thinks she is the mother and needs to boss everyone else around, most of the time they are lonely when they're apart. What a joy to watch their personalities develop. My two younger girls love dresses, shoes and having their nails painted. Avril, the oldest, is much more artsy, matching very different clothes and doesn't usually care about shoes. Often I find it difficult to make them the priority over chores and the like. Someone just reminded me today of how much more important it is to play with them, take them to the pool, or read a book together than it is to say, "Not now, I need to clean." I may not have anything tangible to show for it at the end of the day, but at the end of my life I pray that there will be much to show for it. So one of the things that I am working on this summer is to make them the priority and let the house slide. Soon enough I will hear the words, "Bye, Mom, I am going out with my friends. See you tonight." and I will long for these days of delighted squeals when I come through the door.