Boricua en la Lima

Since I might start working soon (hopefully!) and not able to go to the kids' school's activities too frequently I am trying to go to anything I can now before that happens.  So when the class mom asked for volunteers for Gabi's school trip yesterday I gladly accepted.  Seems like the kids have grown up/matured a little bit vs. the last time I took kids that school age to a field trip which was probably back in June in Geneva.  The boys seemed better behaved and all kids in general seemed to follow instructions better.  But maybe that's a Geneva vs. Peru phenomenon? In any case, this field trip I think was more of a treat for me than it was for the kids and I enjoyed every single moment of it!  I haven't been to a proper animal farm in so long.  They had so many cows and all kinds of chickens from varieties I hadn't even heard about.  We saw the chickens and the geese and ducks taking care of their eggs, we saw cuy which is the local "guinea pig" th

Sebas' and Gabi's cousin LuisFe (pictured below) turned 3 this weekend and we were invited to spend the weekend in La Cantuta for his birthday party.  La Cantuta belongs to a social club ( Club Regatas de Lima ) which we are trying to get into which is based in Lima -- although spending is tight these days since I don't have a job yet so we are still OK not paying the entrance fees! However, once we get in it'll be a great place for the kids to do swimming classes, soccer, dance, tennis, etc.  And I can use the gym when the kids are in classes.  Plus they have a great little beach for when it's summer and lots of other things (kids' playgrounds, restaurants, beauty salons, etc.).  So if you live in Lima it's a great place to have access to (the Lima base that is).  I wish we had been able to become members in time for my Mom's visit in October so that I could take her during the day but it looks like it'll have to be next time. Anyway, La Can

Today we took our first day trip to La Granja Azul .  We'd been wanting to go to this place for a while but during our Christmas vacations we just never spend enough time here to be able to make it out.  So today the kids were so excited to get out we were there half an hour before we opened, which was a great thing because that way we could play around and then have lunch before the crowds descended upon the place.  The kids loved it so maybe we can celebrate Gabi's seventh birthday here. The best part about the trip was that it was totally sunny and warm, 180 degrees from the weather in Lima.   In a previous post I mocked the Lima winter but we are no longer laughing in its face.  Between my allergies and a terrible cold which kicked Sebas' butt all last week we have now come to respect the Lima winter.  I think the biggest issue is the lack of heating inside houses most of the time I'm totally freezing in Jose's grandma's house!  Hopefully once we move