From Arequipa to Texas!

What a busy & crazy couple weeks we have just had. It merely explains but doesn't excuse my absence lately. But, if you can forgive and forget come please join me on our adventures the last couple of weeks.

Arequipa to Texas!

A couple of weeks ago John and Virgil went back to Texas to wrap up some last minute things and pack the Tovar's container. We made a map for the boys to help them understand what was going on. We moved the airplane everyday till they came home. Jenn, Ro, Eli and myself stayed behind happy that things were getting taken care of and we were moving more forward and happy that the guys would enjoy the company of those we love, but sad that this was an adventure we were not going to be able to embark on. Sad that we wouldn't get to re-unite with friends and enjoy and evening, or two, at Paloma. Sad that we would miss out on a real cheese burger, salami and artisan cheese. Pregnant, hungry and sad we waved good bye to the husbands.

Determined that we would make the best of the next 8 days without our respective husband we went straight from the airport to the hardware store (total side stop) and then directly to get the most delicious cheese empenada's Arequipa has to offer. It was this day we decided we were going to use our freedom of the car and discover something new about our new city 5 of the 8 days we were on our own. So off we went to begin our discoveries.  On the search for a the kiddo movie "Kung Fu Panda"we started walking around. We happened into our first discovery...A Libreria. Libreria's are everywhere but I didn't really know what it was, so we checked it out. Turns out that is where is you buy school supplies, wrapping paper, gift bags etc. Score! We picked up some colored pencils for Eli (a new found joy for him) and left fulfilled that we understood a little more about our little city and how things work.

Wednesday the guys, after many many long hours of traveling, arrived in Texas...exhausted and ready to go shopping at the outlets....lucky stinkers! We discovered a new shopping area as well....The Yanahura Market. Arequipa is growing quickly. Malls are popping up everywhere. Major grocery store are being built all over the place, but to a Peruvian, nothing will ever replace the Market Places. Markets sell toys, movies, fruits, meats, veggies, etc and cheap!!! They are great and so resourceful! We drive by the Yanahura Market all the time but FINALLY we took the time to shop where many Peruvians shop. For lunch, in honor of our guys being in Texas we enjoyed a yummy barbeque pulled chicken sandwiches. We were always thinking about our husbands!

In honor of our boys! Texas barbeque lunch!

Thursday the boys did some "work" and then enjoyed an evening with Johns ex co-workers are Paloma and/or friends from church. *Sigh* we were sad we couldn't be a part of it but we moved on. Thursday was an emotional day for me. I had a major sonogram for the baby and struggled with having to go without Virgil. What an experience though. We counted all his toe and fingers and spent 20 minutes getting to view my baby boy on a big screen, emotional that my husband was not by my side, but so happy to see my healthy baby boy. We will meet in 3 months! That evening Jenn and I wanted potato skins from TGI Fridays (please don't judge us) but sad and hungry we walked away from Friday's because they don't serve Potato skins yet....still to come next month. We decided we would go get some French Fries in the food court so McDonalds we went...seriously don't judge us! Jenn decided  she was pretty hungry so she opted for a Happy meal chicken nuggets and we discovered the worlds smallest container of fries! It was the funniest thing we have ever seen! From there we discovered Casa & Idea's...the Peruvian version of Crate and Barrel. We were in love right away. With the entire store 30% off we were both shocked and proud of our self restraint in not purchasing everything in the store. We left with a new kitchen towel for Mom Tovar and a list of things we look forward to adding to our new homes....one day.

Friday we after I picked up Jenn from school and before we picked up the boys from their school we went somewhere we have been dying to go to for weeks! We enjoyed a relaxing hour with a good cup of coffee at Mocca Bar, a super cute lunch restaurant and coffee bar that the boys would never want to go to. We enjoyed our coffee and our time a ton! As a couple of coffee conessours and wanna be future barista's we drank, critiqued, relaxed and enjoyed each others coffee and company.  That night we did our regular night time routine with the boys...read the Bible and a book, sing a song, say our prayers and say goodnight...tonight our prayers included a special insert requesting that the boys sleep ALL through the night, specifically in their beds and not ours. Let me be honest....the Lord cares about all the little details and He listens. The previous few days neither Jenn or I slept much with stuffed up or restless boys so we would give anything for a full nights sleep. The Lord did provide and the boys slept ALL night in their bed....which would be awesome except the house alarm went off NINE times that night. So it wasn't the boys that kept us up from 11 pm to 3:30 am...it was the stinking alarm!!!!! Nonetheless, the boys slept and the Lord answered our prayers....

Organic Market

"Farmers" Market

Saturday the guys spent hours with the gracious help of Texas friends and packed the Tovar's container. While they were busy FINALLY doing some work, we helped mom with some of her grocery shopping by going to the market (only up on Saturdays, equivelant to want many in the States know as a farmer market) to pick up our fruit for the week. We first stopped by and Organic "farmer's" market we had been wanting to try. It was small, but had some fantastic ingredients, and thanks to the market we now have to discover a good use for freshly roasted cocoa beans....delicious!!! After going to the market we went to Paris. Unfortunately it wasn't the real Paris, just the newly opened department store Paris. It was pretty nice store with fairly resonable prices. It reminded us of a really upscale Sears....maybe that sounds lame, but it wasn't.  Saturday night, Eli suddenly got sick. My poor son does sick so calmly and graciously. He doesn't cry or even whimper. Its unbelievable. Needing some medical advice so we Skyped John who was happily enjoying an evening at the Casey's eating Cheeto Puffs and a cheese burger.  It took us a couple minutes to wipe the drool off our faces and remember why we even called. We regrouped ourselves and took care of Eli.

Sunday the boys, in Texas, worked more on the container and enjoyed a typical Sunday dinner with the crew. Jenn and I didn't go anywhere but dad brought more some freshly slaughtered Halibut...some of the best fish we have ever had. I love living near the ocean!!!

The guys finally finished with the container!

Monday when I picked up Jenn from Spanish school I was able to meet her teacher. We asked her for some advice on a nice new place for us to check out. She pointed us to Capriccio's...a bakery and cafe. Yum! We enjoyed a great milkshake and coffee. Great find!!!

Jenn and Virgil's Spanish School

The boys finally made it back to us early Wednesday morning. We are so thrilled to have them home. They officially are never allowed to go back without us for that long! We missed them. Without a doubt though, Jenn and I really enjoyed our time together and with our kids. We discovered some new great things and new things about our new home!

The boys are back on the right side of the map...yay!!!