Enjoying TX

Well, we're having a wonderful time here! My mom and I are still TIRED, and the twins seem to be, too. Our first night here, I slept for almost 10 hours straight! That's the most I've slept since Nuala and Bran were born almost 18 months ago...it was amazing. Amazing, I tell you. It helped that I got my sister Tara's bed, and her bed is the most comfortable thing ever. Queen-size, firm mattress with a pillowtop, fluffy comforter, almost-perfect pillows...That's what comes of being the youngest, no more bunkbeds and five kids sharing the bathroom. Of course, she did put in her time sleeping in the closet under the stairs, so maybe it evens out. Anyway, here is a glimpse of some of what we've been doing:

Bran and Nuala LOVE Grandad, it's very cute. They loved playing on his exercise thing, until Bran fell and bonked his noggin and we decided to move it out to the garage. Too bad for poor Nuala, she was getting quite good at it.

Animal news: There are many, many more cats around than in Uruguay. This is good, especially when they are brave kitties and let the twins pet them. Zoe: not so brave. Ozzie: overly brave and drooly. We also have seen deer behind the house (which is not surprising, since they roam around the back and front yard at night eating yummy plants that are not adequately defended), and a raccoon in the garage! Okay, B&N didn't see the raccoon, but I went out there, and there he was, eating cat food. He waddled quickly to the door leading outside, then sat on the little porch and looked at my mom and me. He was so cute and chubby! Then he squished himself under the backyard fence. I didn't think he could fit, but he did.

We went to the park and survived the heat. We had a watermelon and cheese sandwich picnic. It was hot, but fun! Luckily there were nice big oak trees for shade.

This weekend was the annual Bergesfest, and we went to the parade this morning. I hadn't been since I carried a recycling bin in it the summer before my senior year of high school. That's...12 years ago. And I never went otherwise because 1.) I was never up that early (starts at 10), and 2.) It is so HOT. It was fun with Bran and Nuala, though, and they/we got loads of candy. Then we drove to Fredericksburg for some roadside Texas peaches. Yummm...

We've also been shopping, of course! It's pretty strange going to Wal-Mart and Target and just stores in general. There is sooooo much stuff for so cheap here in the States! And I want to buy it all! But I'm controlling myself, it's just so tempting, not only to buy a ton for us, but for the orphanages, etc. back in Uruguay. There's just such a difference, the quality of goods here for such LOW prices. How I wish, wish, wish there was a Wal-Mart in Montevideo! There is one in Buenos Aires, but that's a tad out of the way still.

AND, I got a Sonic slush. The first of many no doubt.

Also, Nuala and Bran are really, really cute. They wanted to say, "We love you, Dada! You're the best!"