Benziger babes

I miss my daddy! Querido Padre (Dear Dad), Hola! Como estas? We miss you very much! Mommy says we are sorry we left you home alone on Valentine's Day, your birthday, and your 2nd anniversary. We loved the flowers you sent us - I personally enjoyed playing with/destroying one of the roses. I'm still getting used to some of the changes here. First, everyone kisses on the cheek when they see you and it's not just to cute babies - everyone does it! Second, they all speak to me in some foreign language. Third, they try to give me weird foods from the Amazon... y no me gusta! Other than that things are great! Romina and Alvaro took mommy and I on a tour of Lima on Sunday. They ate ceviche, arroz con mariscos, and chicharrones de calamar along the Herradura in Chorrillos. Then we went to the Costa Verde to see the new boardwalk and busy beach (we looked for your shoes but they weren't there). There were lots of people so we decided to drive up to the Malecon in Miraf...

Mmmm Inca Cola! The Country Club Yesterday, the extended Arambulo family and Theo and I went to the "Country Club" in el campo (the mountains). It is about an hour east of Lima in the mountains in a suburb called Chosica. The people who live here are quite poor and the houses are in various stages of construction. Some have roofs, others don't. Some have bathrooms and running water, some don't. Some have cement floors, others are just dirt. They get around by mototaxis (very few people own cars) or by combi (large van) or micro (larger bus). There are people who sell their goods in the markets but they carry their good in carts on side of the major highway where the trucks, cars, and buses drive and it's very dangerous. There are "guard dogs" that roam the street or live on the roofs and very few security guards like in my neighborhood. What I love about these neighborhoods though is that you will always find kids playing on the dirt socc...

Bundled up for winter in Minnesota! We stopped by to surprise Grandma Pastorius in Minnesota for her birthday last week on our way to Peru. She was so excited to see me! Great Auntie Rita threw her a party so we got to see all the great aunts and uncles, first cousins once removed, uncle Eric and auntie Annie, and the puppies too! It was a bit chilly (20 degrees) and it snowed five inches in one day but we bundled up and played outside which was great. I made a new friend - Winnie - Grandma and Grandpa's cocker spaniel. She loves giving me kisses. The Rocheford family at the February birthday party. Look! No hands! Who's taller? Taking a walk in the fresh snow. Grandma and Grandpa Benziger drove through the snowstorm from Chicago to St. Paul to see me too! Hanging out with mommy after our walk. Great auntie Rita made me this awesome hat! Sleeping in auntie Annie's arms. Peru We made it! The plane ride was long but I slept...