(To the tune of Old McDonald) Beth and Jason had a blast, I-gua, I-gua -zu!

Growing up, I heard stories of princesses in enchanted castles, tales of Fairy Godmothers turning pumpkins into carriages, and accounts that i had family who lived far, far away in an exotic land called Iguazu. I was pretty sure all three must be true, since I had heard the stories several times and even seen pictures as proof! Time passed, and the Tooth Fairy turned out to be a sham. I kissed a few frogs and no princes appeared [Jason V. claims to have come pre-packaged]. No matter how hard I tried I could never, ever make it to NeverNever land. I tried to stay strong, but I was beginning to wonder: Did any of my childhood legends actually exist?

Years flew by and I found myself out of college, with the pleasant fables of my childhood far behind me. A couple of years in the "real world" were enough for me, and I ventured off to try to discover the truth behind my one long-lasting childhood fairy tale: the possibility that I ( the poor little American with no ear for language) had a mystical family in magical Iguazu (that spoke Spanish fluently.)





What I discovered on that trip was so much more than my childhood fantasies had prepared me for. Turns out my family was a thousand times more amazing than my imagination ever could have dreamed up. After 27 years of stories, I had the opportunity to discover the truth myself, and I wouldn't change that experience for the world. So without further ado:











Thank you, Aunt Diane, for welcoming us into your home and sharing your life with us. And Jenny, for making us laugh until we cried with your crude humor and funny stories. To Jose, for your patience with our Spanish and accepting us freako gringos like we were born cousins. For Erica, who we have both dubbed one of the nicest souls we have ever met. For Fabio, whose smile spreads like dengue throughout a room and whose parrilla kept Jason smiling for weeks. To Lisa, for your genuineness, your modesty despite your perfect ingles, and for your kindred spirit. Diegie, for your enthusiasm for meat, grilled every which way and for your infectous smile. To Cami, for making us laugh at ourselves and our horrible pronunciation. For Emi, for inviting us to your 9th birthday bash and graciously accepting a $2 bill like a bar of gold. To Vali, whose scream is the most impressive we've heard, matched only by her flair for the (incredibly) dramatic, and for Gonzie, for making it okay for all the grown-ups to cry when the time came to say goodbye. And to Nestor, for his humor and impeccable taste in wine.

They say you can't pick your family, and I suppose they're mostly correct, but sometimes you luck out and your family is exactly who you would have chosen.

Thank you, Iguazu!!!!