A Happy 30th Birthday!

What a wonderful family I have! Gordon asked, "What is the best breakfast you can imagine?" I said, "Waffles with real butter and bacon!" So July 16th, 2010, my 30th birthday, Gordon got up early and cooked waffles for me. It was an extra special treat to have Marta visiting us that week from Arequipa. Gordon at the grill! Elisabeth, Susanna, and the 3 girls with us, all blessed me with cards, poems, mottoes that birthday morning! THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!

We had a very nice week with Marta! She enjoyed learning to make spaghetti sauce with Marie.

We all enjoyed cooking together!

Thanks for coming Marta!!!

That week we also butchered some young pigeons and an old hen. Samuel takes after his Papa!

It was a delicious meal! And lots of fun working together as a family on it.

While Marta was with us we went out for a special Pollo A La Brasa meal - rotisserie chicken. The chicken foot soup they always serve was an extra special treat for Susanna that day, since all 3 youth girls opted to give their pieces of toes and ankle bones to Susanna. She relished each one! Can you tell that it is cold in Velille these days? Brrrrrrr! Chiriwayra! (Marie is taking this picture.)

Here is a shot of our kitchen with the "new wallpaper" that we put up behind the stove.

Well, Susanna sits on my lap and comments as I type - "Why did you put a picture up with none people sitting at the table and in the kitchen. . . are we all outside? Or at church? Oh, I know, it is night time and we are all sitting upstairs in bed listening to Papa read a bed time story. . ." Then, "Mama, should I go up on the roof now and eat a Popsicle or should I go hold Kiwi, (one of our new parakeets -pictures to follow soon!), which one Mama?" Me: "Hmmm, well, why don't you just sit quietly with me while I type?" Susanna: "Mama, that was not an option." Grin! Well, Papa has come home and now she and the other 3 are all sitting up on the roof eating Popsicles!