AMARILLO, TEXAS -- Rico and Raini Rodriguez, the stars of ABC's Modern Family and The Disney Channel's Austin & Ally, spent Tuesday morning visiting with family and students at Whittier Elementary School.
"We have cousins here that we've never even met before, so we came here to surprise all their classmates and them," 13-year-old Rico said.
"Yeah, we found out they were huge fans of Austin & Ally and their parents love Modern Family, so we're like, 'You know what? Let's go check out the school and visit,' and I got read to one of the classes- that was awesome," 18-year-old Raini added.
Rico and Raini, or Manny and Trish as they are known on TV, both said acting is a fun job.
"I just like being different characters, like with being Manny- he's so different from what I am," Rico stated. "I would never do whatever he does. So, it's really neat to play a different person, a different character."
"I love acting, I love talking, I love making people laugh," Raini said. "I love putting on a show."
Though the brother and sister share the spotlight in front of the camera, they both have hopes of one day working behind the camera, as well- producing, editing, directing. And Raini also hopes to one day be a singer. But until that time comes, with the exception of being two of the most well-known young actors in television, they plan to live like any other kids- making their beds, doing the dishes and taking out the trash.
"We go to school every day also," Rico pointed out. "We're home schooled, so we have a school room on Modern Family. We have a school room where our teachers teach all three of us kids. So, usually, I mean it's just different that we're filming."
Originally from Bryan-College Station, the Rodriguezes are no strangers to the Lone Star State. However, this was their first trip to the Texas Panhandle, and the two were all smiles when asked how they were enjoying their trip.
"It's nice," Rico said. "It's really nice. It reminds me of Bryan."
"I like it," Raini added. "We were driving down the street and I was like, 'This is kind of like our hometown'. I like it. Plus, this is Texas. You guys have such good food. In California, the food's ok- it's a lot of sushi and organic stuff."
The two stars admitted one of their favorite things about Texas is our Mexican food and barbeque. (What Texan wouldn't agree?)
