What we've been up to with Granny...

Hooooo baby, there's gonna be a lot of pictures in this post...(you'll be so glad you read it though, since you'll be treated to some pics of me shaking my booty with the Candombe dancers, totally worth the time investment.) So, let's see...Sunday we went to church, Zac made dinner on the parrilla, and we had a fun game of Carcassone. Monday we just went on walks and played and had my Spanish teacher/friend Ileana and her daughter Kimmie over. Tuesday we went to the embassy and then to the big fort, El Cerro. Unfortunately, I assumed the fort was open, but it's only open Wed-Sun, so we were outta luck getting inside. We still were able to walk around it and enjoy the picturesque view of Montevideo and the ocean/river. (Yes, Dad, I know what "assuming" means...) The twins learned how to roll down hills and Bran reaffirmed that he enjoys tackling and smushing his sister. (The lady in the stripes is Mom, not me.)

Wednesday we went to the weekly neighborhood feria, the outdoor market, and looked at all the stuff for sale. We played at the park and that afternoon walked a ways down the Rambla and on the beach. Granny got Nuala hooked on a spoon-like shell, so N was "feeding" us all sand and invisible food for the rest of the afternoon. Until Daddy got home from work and stepped on it.

Thursday we went to a different park (where we were able to perfectly balance N&B on the seesaw) and then to the BIG grocery store with a little arcade and some rides (like in front of Wal-Mart, you know, cars and planes that you put some $$ in). We went in our favorite pet store and poked and squealed at puppies and kittens, then shopped, and THEN N&B got to sit on the motorcycles all lined up for sale. Highlight of Bran's day, no doubt. That evening we went to the temple to walk around outside, because even though I planned on Mom and I going and made her bring her clothes, I (sigh) assumed it would be open without checking and OF COURSE it's closed for cleaning the weeks she's here.... (I'm not having a good run). Oh well! (Mom's wearing a blue sweater, me, pink. Just in case we look too much alike.)

Thursday night Mom, Zachariah and I went out to dinner and then to a Tango show. It's the latest we've been out in a long time! We didn't get back till after midnight!! Shocking!! Especially for here, where people don't really get going till about then. The Tango show was fun, they did some Tango (duh), Candombe dancing (very Uruguayan African dance/music), and some Gaucho (Uruguayan/Argentinian cowboys) stuff. Very cool to see! And a wonderful, very dapper looking older man singing songs about the history of tango. Then, as we all feared, the half-naked Candombe dancers tried to get audience members up to participate. Z glued his rear to the seat, but I allowed myself to be dragged up. I only wish I had had sense enough to grab my mom! I did try to pry Z up, but no luck. He was planted! I stink at dancing. Terrible. Which can be confirmed, I know, by some of you. But it's fun, so I don't mind embarrassing myself sometimes. (Which, unfortunately, can also be confirmed by some of you.) I almost want to include a little video of the Candombe dancers, but seriously, the main girl...you could see her entire rear end. All of it. I think I want to keep this fairly family-friendly. (you can kinda see her in the second photo, the farthest right person on the floor) I'm the one in the blue sweater, if you couldn't tell, haha.

Friday we went to the zoo. Wow, not a lot to write about that, I know you're surprised, seeing as how...um, I can kinda go on and on...but yeah, the zoo. Nuala likes to carry crackers in her mouth like this (picture...) and then here is Mom, Nuala, Bran, and a giraffe.

So that's what we did up to Friday. We had fun Saturday, too, but I just can't post anything else right now. Do you know we leave in 2 days??? Do you know that I haven't packed anything yet for me or my 2 18-month olds?? I'm not concerned about clothes, etc., really, since we have to basically buy them a new wardrobe anyway and I can get anything, and I mean ANYTHING, in the States. It's having every possible cause for discomfort/tantrums/discontent on the looooong plane ride covered that's making my brain whirr. And I know we've done this and other long flights before, but they're different little people now...it will be fine, it will be fine, it will be fine...no, it really will be fine, but I should probably start a list or something about now. Sigh. So, anyway, we're having fun, N&B are loving having Granny (aka, "Nana," or "Naddy," or other strange variations) around (we are, too, of course!), and I'll post more later!