Birthday Celebrations

Brian and Melissa, the children of the host family that we live with and our adopted niece and nephew, recently celebrated their birthdays. Brian is now 3 and has a bigger Spanish vocabulary than I do and Melissa just turned 8. Their birthdays fall just a few days apart so the family celebrates them both on the same day. For the festivities this year both kids got their own piñatas and we all went over to the family’s farm house just up the road.

The kids with Melissa's Strawberry Shortcake Pinata

The neighbor kids

Brian staring as others take a swing at his pinata

Little Cata going to town

            The neighborhood kids all gathered around hoping for a turn to swing at the piñata, and since Brian almost immediately developed a healthy fear of his piñata, the other kids had the opportunity to jump in and give it a whack. All of the family was there including cousins, uncles and aunts and grandparents. Watching the kids take turns I couldn’t help but feel a little sad for some of the cousins who have grown up almost entirely without their parents who have been in the states since they were small children.

After the piñatas had been broken open and all the candy removed, we returned to the house to start making dinner.

The Tortilla Crew

            This year the family wanted to do something different so they asked Liz and I if we could help them make some of the food that we like to make. They had especially liked when my sister Stacia had come out and made them Bangalore Curry. We agreed and spent the next few hours working with the women of the family to cook and get everything ready while most of the men sat upstairs watching t.v. and taking photos of themselves with my camera that they borrowed (to be fair, they did move the table upstairs).

The Birthday Clowns

            When the food was finally ready we all sat down and had a very long prayer followed by a speech by Tilo, the father, thanking everyone for coming and being a part of his children’s lives. After that there was silence as everyone dug into their food and then went back for more. The table was cleared and then the cakes appeared accompanied by their two liter counterparts; Big Cola, Lemon Lime and Piña. I don’t know what it is but here you can’t have cake without soda…as if it was sweet enough on its own. When the kids blew out their candles it is tradition of course to push their faces into their cake. After eating face cake everyone line up and gave the children presents and the kiddos then hugged and thanked each person for their gift.

            The night was very special and we felt very privileged to have been a part of it. We were the only non-family present with the exception of Melissa’s two invitees and we had a great time working with the family to prepare the food and decorations. Happy Birthday Brian and Melissa, here’s to many more birthdays to come.

Three of the cousins whose parents are in the states 

The whole family

Melissa and her friends