PERU!!!

We made it!    Survived our trip and conquered Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail.  

The trip was fantastic.  My husband is the best travel partner in the world.    He'll take care of you, the details, the planning and speaks Spanish which is a huge bonus!  

The only problem we encountered was the day we were to leave.   We get to the airport for our 4:00 pm flight only to realize it had been changed to 12:30 that day and we had missed it!    Since we missed our first leg of the trip, all other flights got cancelled.    We had a great lady at the American airlines counter helping us and she was able to trade some seats with Delta and rebook our trip.  That was scary!   

We made it to Cuzco, Peru on Thursday the 3rd.   Explored some local ruins, toured the city, shopped in a little market area and acclimated to the altitude.  

Here we are arriving in the courtyard at our hotel - they served us coca tea as soon as we arrived to help us acclimate.

This was the square and view outside our hotel:

 This is us at the market getting ready to shop for goodies!

Llamas and alpacas are everywhere.   The use them for yarn for their clothing, to carry stuff and for food.   We tried the alpaca and it actually was pretty tasty.  

What are their other specialties you may ask?    Guinea pig.  That's right - the little furry animals we have as pets.    Some restaurants even allow you to pick the one you want before they cook it - alive.   Like we do lobsters.    Here are some pictures of a restaurant where you could do that.  You could even feed it the seasonings you wanted ahead of time.  I'll spare you the picture of what it looked like served at the table.   But imagine a whole pig with the apple in it's mouth........it did not taste good at all..............

We also loved people watching and observing the culture while we were there.  The little children were so cute.  I don't know how many times I told Rob to grab one and hide them in my backpack.   I swear I'd have a dozen right now if I could!

And here are a few pictures of the city - loved the architecture:

On Saturday the 5th, we were picked up by bus to travel to the beginning of the Inca Trail for our 3 night, 4 day hike.   We had breakfast along the way and met the others in our group.   14 hikers in all with 2 guides.

I can easily say the hike was one of the toughest things I've accomplished.  I'm so proud of us for pushing through and finishing. Approximately 30 miles in all and we added an extra hike up a mountain to overlook Machu Pichu when we were done.   The views were beyond incredible.  Pictures do not do it justice.    The ruins are amazing along the way.  I was awed by how advanced the Incas were for their time.   I'd love to go back in time and live with them for a while just to understand more since there is so little we know.  

Here are some pictures of the hike.   The trail was very steep and A LOT of stairs!



Orchids in the jungle




View from our tent one night



Yes - I'm climbing out of a dark, steep tunnel!



One of the large rocks at Machu Picchu

We arrived back to our hotel Tuesday night and had a few more days to explore.  We took in some museums, toured the amazing churches and saw a mummy!   We arrived back to our house on Friday the 11th.   Rested up on the weekend and now we're back at work - planning our next adventure!  

We have so many more pictures of the trip - I couldn't post them all - you'll have to come over and visit to see the rest!

Packing and baby!

This weekend was nice and easy.   Friday night I attended a workout class with some girlfriends that was new and interesting.  

Saturday we worked a little bit, shopped for some last minute stuff for our upcoming vacation to Peru and worked on a little packing.

I also got the pleasure Sunday of meeting another new baby!!  My friend Sharon delivered her little girl Alanna Nicole Saturday night.   8 lb 12 oz and 20 in long.   She is a doll and I loved squeezing on her!!  Congrats again Sharon and Josh!!

Feeling the Love

What's been going on...............2 weekends ago was my birthday weekend - Super Bowl Sunday.    During the day Saturday; Mom, Lindsay and I went on our annual birthday shopping trip.  Rob took me to Flame that Saturday night for my birthday dinner - my favorite spot to go.   He also gave me a backpack from Dynamic Earth I was wanting for our belated honeymoon to Peru in a few weeks!  On my actual birthday Sunday, we went to church and I came home to prep for our Super Bowl party with the boys.  

Here is a picture of us at Flame:

Here is a picture of the boys and Rob showing our betting sheet and how I lost $6.00 to him betting on the Super Bowl.   What kind of deal is that??  Having to pay money on your birthday?? 

Last week I was taken to lunch by the office, my friend Sharon and my friend Brandy for my birthday - Score!!

I also threw a baby shower for my friend Sharon last week at the office.   She is being induced on 2/26/11 - almost here!   Here are a few pictures of the big celebration:

Last Friday night we celebrated my mom's birthday- dinner at Jimm's steakhouse and we all went to see the Broadway production of Beauty and The Beast at Juanita K. Hammon's - it was great!

Rob and I celebrated Valentine's Day yesterday - he surprised me with tickets to see Zac Brown Band in Arkansas in April!!!  -  Thank you!!!   The boys got him Valentine Cards and lottery tickets - he won $15.   I surprised Rob with a day of pampering - we went to get pedicures together and had a couples massage at Grove Spa.   They did an awesome job!   We came home to have "wine night" - I make a platter with all the good items to have with wine - cheeses, crackers, fruit, olives, chocolate covered strawberries - and we shared a bottle of wine from Hermann.   Very relaxing evening - Happy Valentine's Day sweetheart - sure love you!

Blizzard

Late post from last weekend - we really didn't do too much.  It was so nice out - I opened windows, dusted, cleaned, washed all the bedding.   I finished some crafty projects I need to do outside - painting stuff.  

Sunday and Monday we prepared for the Blizzard they were predicting.   Here is a cute picture I snapped of the boys watching Rob get ready outside.   Usually they get to go with him - Foster running around and Lazarus likes to go in Rob's coat! 

My office was closed on Tuesday because of the snow.  I think we got a total of 9 or 10 inches at the house on top of some sleet.   Wednesday my office was closed again.  My dad snow plows lots in the winter so Rob and I helped him out by doing a lot in Marshfield.   Then we cleaned off the driveway/porch for Rob's Aunt Pat, John Dickey's house, helped Gary shovel his drive and then came home to shovel our own.  I was exhausted!

Here's Rob working the plow.  I was on shovel duty for the sidewalks.

So now I'm back at work in the freezing temperatures preparing for all the claims we will get.   I do have a pleasant view of flowers on my desk that my wonderful husband sent me to start off my birthday month!!   Thanks honey - love you!!

Hope everyone stays safe and warm!

Slumber Party #2!!

First off - I'm irritated with  myself for not having my camera with me this weekend.   So I have no amazing pictures to upload for your viewing pleasure.

Friday night our niece Elise spent the night with us.   She was 2 in December.   We had a great time watching movies and playing with puzzles and baby dolls.   She's really cute when she tattles on everyone and makes up stories to tell.   I think she gets that from my brother :)

Saturday night we got news that Rob's mom fell on some stairs and broke her leg.   We went to visit Sunday after church and took lunch.   We are praying for a quick recovery!!

Sunday we went to church, visited Rob's mom and I made delicious chili for dinner.  

That's about all the excitement I know to share!   Have a great week.

Slumber Party!

We had a very exciting weekend.   Friday night our nephew and niece, John and Annie, had a slumber party at our house.   We picked up a pizza, made cookies, had pigs-in-a-blanket, had pizza rolls, had popcorn - all the snack food you can imagine!   We played games, cards and watched movies.   We decided it would be fun to all sleep in the same room so we brought the spare bedroom mattress into our room.   Even Foster and Lazarus had to sleep in our beds!  

We also had a contest to see who was better - the boys or girls.   We wrote it on paper and had Lazarus attack the piece of paper to determine the winner.   He mostly picked the boys but Annie and I decided it was rigged since he's a boy too.  We were just out numbered! 

Saturday morning we had Dish Network at the house to install the dish - we were switching from cable.   We also had Lowe's at our house delivering our new washer and dryer!!!!   Who knew the day would come when a new washer and dryer would be what excites me.   And it did!!   I used it, watched it, dusted it - ridiculous.   But I love it and here is a picture! -

Whirlpool Cabrio.  I'd recommend it!  

Have a great week!

Birthday and baby!

Yesterday was a very special day - it was Rob's birthday!!!   I got up and made sure he had a big birthday breakfast, his sister provided him a scrumptious birthday lunch, and last night we finished the celebration at Flame - best steakhouse in Springfield.  I can't wait until to celebrate the rest of Rob's birthday month!


I also had the pleasure of meeting Nora Ann Gillham for the first time!!   I visited my good friend Kasey at the hospital yesterday and was able to get my hands on the baby as soon as I got there!   She is so sweet and super cute.   I thought about stealing her for a second.  Congrats to Kasey and Jason!