Family Visit and New Beginings

In case you haven't heard, our lives have been very busy these past two weeks.


We visited Austin (and could live in the Whole Food Market for weeks on end -- <--- whatever that strange fruit was, it was tasty!!); and learned the importance of NOT visiting Austin during a football game day. Especially if that game is Texas Longhorns vs. Texas Tech and ESPN is broadcasting their college football coverage live from Austin. The whole city was absolutely packed. But we did manage to meet up with some old friends, and enjoy some delicious Texas BBQ. Even though our Austin plans weren't incredibly well thought out, we did manage to find our way to an REI store to look at hiking/backpacking trail books for Texas. Sadly, it doesn't look like there are many hiking and camping oppurtunities within a 2 hours drive of where we live. It was really strange being inside an REI again. Stranger yet, every sales associate we talked to had heard of, or been to, Duluth Minnesota. For the first time, we didn't have to describe where we were from -- or what we liked to do. Definitely made me a bit homesick when 3 seperate clerks all asked us why in the world would we leave paradise to come live in Texas. However, the staff did give raving reviews of Big Bend -- a park in southwestern Texas, a 9 hour drive from here. Hopefully we can visit sometime while we live here!


On a happy note: Our good friends, Mike and Becca, became proud parents last week!! (More pictures please!!)


On a even happier note: last week, Dan had two really promising interviews last Tuesday. And this Friday he was offered (and accepted!!!!) a position working as a patient registrar at a fantastic newly opened local hospital. WOO!! Thanks to everyone who has been sending good vibes his way. Good jobs are few and far between in this town -- we are so happy he was able to find something!


To top it all off, this weekend we got to play host to our first Waco visitor -- my mom! We used her visit as an excuse to finally start touring our new little town, explore campus, visit the absolutely *stunning* Browning library, go garage saling, visit a Agricultural community and even conquer the Texas State Fair.



The fair was definitely not what we were expecting. There was a severe lack of mullets, flashy belt buckles and absolutely *no* mini-doughnuts. Worse, only *one* long horn cow in the whole fair --- though, given his temper I can understand why there may have only been one...

The fair was definitely not as well-attended as our Minnesota counterpart, and had absolutely no variety in food or fair-goodies (we literally saw the same cookware stand 9 times). But! We did see, quite possibly, the cutest thing in the entire world. After walking through the cow barn, we decided to catch our breath and watch Llama livestock judging -- junior division. And by junior division, I mean ages 2(!!) -7.

Now, you don't give your 2-year old just any llama to show. It's best if the llama is rather old, fat and easy-going. It was so ridiculously cute watching this little guy lead a half-interested llama around the judging ring.

The fair also had the Texan response to the Minnesota Butterhead -- try a Texas sized Butter ROOM sculpture! A tavern scene complete with poker table, blazing fire and a bartender wooing a pretty lass. We visited the fair on day 3 of 18(??). I can only imagine how ornate this sculpture will be by the end of the fair. Very cool!

Of course, we also partook in our fair share of fairfood.

We had an absolutely amazing weekend -- but it ended way way too soon. Can't wait to have more visitors!

Love and Miss you all!!

-K&D