CONGRATS!!!

Just wanted to say a HUGE congrats to this guy:

Cause he's (not Diego, Justin people!) getting HITCHED!!!!

CONGRATS TO YOU AND JEN!! XO 

Nuestra Familia

I am beyond blessed to have been born into such a great family.  Momma, Brub, DOU...you all know who you are.  I love the family that God gave me more than 25 years ago.  And I love the one that He has given me more recently.  

Being here has meant a lot less time talking with (not that I was near) my family.  But a whole lot more time getting to know the "new" half of my family.  

Today was Abuela's 101st birthday!!! Yep!  101 people.  Before we went to her house in BsAs, we headed to Hubster's cousin's for his (and his wife's) birthday party.  Apparently the first 3 days in May are a popular time to have a birthday.  Javier and Pilar are AMAZING.  Seriously, I love these two and they have three of the most gorgeous girls in the whole world.  

We enjoyed loads of beef - that I ate after swearing off food 2 nights ago; cake; running around with 5 young, adorable girls; and chit chats with cousins/second cousins/aunts/random people who aren't in any way related to me or my husband.  After all of that, we went to Abuela Luisa's to wish her a very Happy Birthday!  It's always a little difficult when she is around more than 2 or 3 people as she gets a little confused...but really, she's 101!  She was all dressed up and lovely.  

Today, sitting at Abuela's table, surrounded by family, holding Abuela's hand, with Laura relaxing on my lap has to be one of my favorite memories from this trip.

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When I first met the Argentine contingent of Hubster's family 3 years ago - when I was first here in 2006 - I felt awkward, shy, and a bit out of place.  My family is pretty small.  There aren't tons of cousins or any young kids.  But that's pretty much the opposite of the new fam.  Here, everything is loud and boisterous and a little crazy (though that's really not different from my side of the family).  And I like it.  

I like that I'm welcomed and talked to (even with my bad Spanish).  I like that I now have 2 nieces and 2 nephews and about a billion other family members.  I like that Lu and Lau are so stinkin' cute and cuddly.  I like that we eat.  A bunch.  But more than anything, I like that this family is mine now, too.  

Oh, and I LOVE the my "old" family and my "new" family get along so well.  Momma loved Argentina and everyone here loved her.  Tios ask about when Scott (my DOU) and Brub are coming down for a visit.  

We're just one big, happy (slightly dysfunctional, sometimes very neurotic) family.  :)

So, here's what I spent the afternoon doing:

Why NO!, I don't need to go to the gym! I spent the afternoon weight-lifting...and man were they cute weights!  Gold's has competition.

I'm with Milagros (L, Javier & Pilar's daughter) and Laura (Sil's daughter/Dieg's goddaughter).  And of course that's Lucia in the background...we had a blast on the swingset!

And here's what we did this evening:

(L-R):  Tio Roberto, Guillermo (el esposo de Maria Claudia), Tio Goni, Maria Claudia, y yo.  We were looking at this really old photo album of the fam.  There were even pictures from Abuelo's (Luisa y Enrique) wedding about 80 years ago!  

So, in short, I'm thankful.  And I lub my family.  :)

p.s. THANK YOU for comments everyone.  Heather, you've especially been a rockstar.  And seeeeeester, of course.  :)  It feels great to know that although I'm not well-read, I make a few people smile.  X's & O's to you all!

No More Fooooood

It's Friday night.  10:18 pm.  I am never eating again.  Ugh.  I LOVE the food in this country but I'm pretty sure that I will literally explode if I put another bite of food in my mouth.

So, I'll just have to go out and have a glass (or 4) of wine.  Wish me luck!

The Last of Cordoba & Iguazu

The last night in Cordoba, the directors of the medical student exchange program took us all out to dinner.  Unfortunately, the tango show that we were expecting didn't happen...but a super tasty meal did!  See, I told you I'd talk about food in every post.

L to R: Dieg, Me, Kelly, Dan, Dr. Villafani, Mark, Dr. SomeoneIdon'tKnow

In Cordoba, I took one-on-one Spanish classes for 2 hours a day with Nora.  She's AWESOME!  (Hi Nora!  I hope you're doing well!)  

When we headed to Iguazu Park, the boys (below: Dan O., Hubster, Byron) had to be a little silly.  FYI, for those of you who don't know, Dan is a friend of ours from W&M.  He was traveling with Julia, also a W&M grad (have I told you all this yet??).  Julia worked with Byron.  Byron's girlfriend is Hanna.  

And that's how we became the (Brady) Iguazu Bunch!

Notice those REALLLLLYYYY hot socks on my man.  I win! ;)

One of the waterfalls.  Amazing.  And this is the dry season.

Here we are waiting for the boat to the island.  Byron really does fit right in!

Monos!!!  Hubster, Julia and I returned Monday morning to check out the falls again and do one of the longer hikes we didn't get to on Sunday.  And we found the REAL Vicente family in Argentina. 

Here's Julia at La Garganta del Diablo.  Really, the most amazing thing ever.  E-V-E-R.  (Sorry I like caps lock so much.  Just imagine how I'd say it in real life.)