Grandparents´ Day and Muchos Feliz Cumpleaños!

Friday was a special day for us in Santa María. First, we celebrated Grandparent´s Day, when we handed out the bags of staple groceries (oil, sugar, rice, beans, pasta) to the grandparents of our kids. They greeted us in the school Friday morning so warmly...many could barely walk, and all looked aged by long strenuous lives. After Doreen introduced the teachers, a few of the men stood up to say such warm and sincere words to us; Doreen´s translation was something like, ¨thank you for everything you are doing for our grandchildren and for our community; there are no words to describe our gratitude.¨ We were holding back tears.

Then, Santiago called each grandparents´name and they slowly, and many with difficulty, walked up to accept their bags; we each handed out 8 bags or so. The sweetest part was when each grandparent walked down the line of us volunteers, touching each one of us on the shoulder and looking us in the eyes and saying ¨Muchas gracias Seño, God Bless You.¨

The prepared bags of goods

Warm thank yous

After Grandparent´s Day, we began the birthday celebrations for all of the kids who have birthdays in January and February. This was a fantastic celebration!

The kids filed in, full of energy and smiles

The birthday kids lined up along the front wall, and we sang to them Happy Birthday in Spanish, English and French!

Every single child in the school had to go down the line and hug every birthday kid... and whenever boys and girls would hug, Santiago and Doreen would get the whole school to chant ¨Besos! Besos!¨ (kisses! kisses!) ... they would get really shy and giggle a lot ... can you imagine this in the U.S.?!?

Regalos! (Gifts!)

Piñata!

Fernando and Miguel ready to party!

With my girls, Elicka y Odilia

Then, freshly made doughnuts and pineapple juice!

Jessica and Dianna, the twins

Sisters María Leticia and María Veronica

Doreen and Irene having fun!

Then came the finale...lots of dancing! Santiago hit Play on his fantastic mix of salsa, pop and other hip swinging music and everyone was on the floor! The most enjoyable part of the day was watching the little ones dance boy-girl, holding hands, completely dead serious! They looked like they were not having fun, but kept dancing song after song after song...Sooooo cute!

We got our turns too! Avery and Wicho!