Mexican birthday celebrations
Hold on, friends, because this one is going to be quite long.
Well, I had been anticipating what it would be like to celebrate my first birthday in Mexico, and I was not quite sure what to expect, but of course I hoped it would be special. And let me tell you, it was. My birthday was yesterday, May 6. The Lord decided to bless me with twenty three years on His beautiful green earth. Can you believe it? I do not really feel different, but "they say" that is how it is when you get older. :)
The celebrations began on Thursday afternoon. I was "kidnapped" by my dear friends Lisa and Olivia. Side note: Lisa is my Bible study teacher/small group leader, pastor's wife, and the mother of one of my students. We are quite connected. Olivia has been a mentor and friend to me since right after I arrived. Back to the story: I had run the mile with my kids during P.E. and was in my running attire when Olivia said "We're taking you out!" So I changed back into my school clothes, even though I felt like a hot mess, and we went to Denny's. Let me tell you that it was a such a sweet time. My mentor teacher and friend, Peggy, also joined us. We just laughed and talked and ate delicious junk food...mozzarella sticks, cheese fries, and onion rings. I felt like I was at the Varsity! My meal was complete with a "Sweet Georgia Peach" smoothie (had to rep my state) so I felt a little healthier since it was made from "real fruit and nonfat yogurt." I am so blessed to have these women in my life as friends, mentors, and sisters in Christ.
Moving on to Friday, my actual birthday. I got to school, and during morning meeting I told my kids that I was excited about my birthday and all of the things that I was going to do this weekend. The little rascals all said things like, "It's your birthday today? I thought it was tomorrow..." and "Well the board said it was the 5th when we walked in, and your birthday is on the 6th, right? Oh well..." I'm not gonna lie to y'all, I was kind of disappointed because earlier this week they all acted excited and seemed to know what day my birthday was on. Anyways, I chalked it up to the fact they are kids and they are going to forget things because they are human and quite young.
After lunch, I went to get the kids from recess and told them to get some things out on their desks for our next activity, a Mother's Day craft. They all followed suit while I went to the bathroom, and when I came out of the teachers' lounge, Barb called me in to her room to give me a gift, which was very sweet. I walked back to my classroom, and the door was closed, which was weird. Then, as I looked through the window, I saw that a sixth-grade girl was hiding, and I thought to myself, "Oh, they'll just jump out and say 'Happy birthday!' or something."
The next thing I know, I open the door and am bombarded by shouts of HAPPY BIRTHDAY! and confetti and balloons flying all over the classroom. I look to the back table, and it is full of food, and there are gifts on my desk. All of my kids were so proud of themselves. They had been planning the party all week! They said, "Miss Miller, we didn't forget. When we went to the library to study spelling, we were really planning your party." and "Everyone had a job. Someone had to guard the door, someone had to bring the food, etc..." and "Miss Russ was in on it!" I was so overwhelmed; I can only imagine my face when I walked in. We reenacted so that we could take some pictures. :)
My little fifth-grade administrators took charge and served me, and we lit candles on the cupcakes that my sweet neighbor Wendy made for me. They sang to me, we played games, and I opened gifts on the "birthday throne" that they made with balloons tied to the back. Everything was so sweet.
After school, a few of the kids from the class and I all went out to the ranch to celebrate Julian's birthday. He turned 11 on Sunday, and we all celebrated yesterday afternoon. It was so fun to see him interact with his family and watch my kids play together outside of school and speak in Spanish with one another.
Finally, after returning home from the ranch, my friends and I went out to dinner at my favorite restaurant, Italianisimmo. It was delicious, even though I was quite full from eating all day long. After dinner we tried to go downtown to see the fountains, but they were off because it was too late. So I had to settle for a dance party in the car and an early retire to bed, but I was quite contented. My heart was full. My cup overfloweth.
Well, I had been anticipating what it would be like to celebrate my first birthday in Mexico, and I was not quite sure what to expect, but of course I hoped it would be special. And let me tell you, it was. My birthday was yesterday, May 6. The Lord decided to bless me with twenty three years on His beautiful green earth. Can you believe it? I do not really feel different, but "they say" that is how it is when you get older. :)
The celebrations began on Thursday afternoon. I was "kidnapped" by my dear friends Lisa and Olivia. Side note: Lisa is my Bible study teacher/small group leader, pastor's wife, and the mother of one of my students. We are quite connected. Olivia has been a mentor and friend to me since right after I arrived. Back to the story: I had run the mile with my kids during P.E. and was in my running attire when Olivia said "We're taking you out!" So I changed back into my school clothes, even though I felt like a hot mess, and we went to Denny's. Let me tell you that it was a such a sweet time. My mentor teacher and friend, Peggy, also joined us. We just laughed and talked and ate delicious junk food...mozzarella sticks, cheese fries, and onion rings. I felt like I was at the Varsity! My meal was complete with a "Sweet Georgia Peach" smoothie (had to rep my state) so I felt a little healthier since it was made from "real fruit and nonfat yogurt." I am so blessed to have these women in my life as friends, mentors, and sisters in Christ.
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| At Denny's with sweet Lisa |
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| Olivia and I |
After lunch, I went to get the kids from recess and told them to get some things out on their desks for our next activity, a Mother's Day craft. They all followed suit while I went to the bathroom, and when I came out of the teachers' lounge, Barb called me in to her room to give me a gift, which was very sweet. I walked back to my classroom, and the door was closed, which was weird. Then, as I looked through the window, I saw that a sixth-grade girl was hiding, and I thought to myself, "Oh, they'll just jump out and say 'Happy birthday!' or something."
The next thing I know, I open the door and am bombarded by shouts of HAPPY BIRTHDAY! and confetti and balloons flying all over the classroom. I look to the back table, and it is full of food, and there are gifts on my desk. All of my kids were so proud of themselves. They had been planning the party all week! They said, "Miss Miller, we didn't forget. When we went to the library to study spelling, we were really planning your party." and "Everyone had a job. Someone had to guard the door, someone had to bring the food, etc..." and "Miss Russ was in on it!" I was so overwhelmed; I can only imagine my face when I walked in. We reenacted so that we could take some pictures. :)
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| I knew nothing. |
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| Telling me all about their plan |
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| David lighting the cupcakes :) |
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| Blowing out my candles |
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| With Kevin on my "birthday throne" |
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| Julian quite content with his face full of cake |
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| At Italianisimmo after a delicious dinner |