Mother's Day: Part 1, 2 and 3

In Nicaragua, Mother's Day (May 30) is a big deal. School is canceled and everything is closed. There are celebrations at school at home, and at church :) Ours started Thursday with the kids school presentation. The kids only had half day of classes so that the rest of the day could be devoted to mothers day activities. The first graders sang an adorable song, the second graders danced, third grade recited a poem and so it continued. After the presentation, Charity and I split up so that we could visit all the classrooms occupied by our kids and to taste the treats they had prepared.

Mothers Day number two was Saturday. We started out by all going swimming at the pool (not necessarily a mother's day activity, but a holiday fun treat). Oh wait, I forgot that first we enjoyed lunch at McDonalds! Which really in all honesty is quite a treat for us. Although I had not gone there in years before coming down here, now that I am, I fully embrace the opportunity to have an occasional American meal :) But after lunch we had  a blast at the pool and about 75% fell asleep the car ride home.

But the day was not over then. . . Saturday night we had a great Mother's Day dinner with about 30 women from the El Crucero area, put on by the church we have here in El Crucero. There were little door prizes such as a gift for the mom with the most children (those they had given birth to themselves)- that was 11 kids! The one with the most grand kids (22) The longest time married (38 years) etc. But what was also special, was that it was the first time I had been honored as a 'Mom' (not just called it by my babies) and even given a gift for being the only mom who had not given birth :) So we had a fun evening, and although we took a picture of Charity, Marjorie, Ana and I, I still don't have a copy, but i will share it with you when I get it.

Here is at least a glimpse of the table setting :)

Mother's Day number three was today :) We went to church in Managua (the amazing English church I love being a part of) and were given little chinese style fans (with the tag-line of, we're your biggest fans! from the kids). I wasn't sure whether or not I should stand when our pastor asked all the moms to in order to be recognized, but Joely prodded me- 'levantate' 'stand up!'
Awe shucks :)

Then this afternoon we had a great Mother's Day meal, with 39 of us!

This is round one of a couple in order to get everyone sat down and fed at the table :)

Eating this delicous food:

The celebration ended with a change to the recent birthdays that have been happening in the house. I had just gotten all the ages down too, and now they all go growing a year older :) Yorbanny is now 10, Emy is now 9, Luviana is now 8, and Samari is now 6! Yikes But because there were so many of us, they each got their own little cake to blow out their candles.



So there you have it. The weekend of Mothers as celebrated by the occupants of El Crucero, Nicaragua. Although, if we are going to be technical. . . Mother's Day still hasn't even come yet! Tomorrow is the official holiday, but right now my only real plans are to take Ofelia to the dentist (a place she rightfully hates). . . not necessarily an ideal way to spend a day you are supposed to be being celebrated. But at least I have the rest of the day to spend around the house with all my kiddos, who have given me such an honor to be considered MOM.