El Día de Independencia

In September, Mexico celebrates its Independence Day... therefore, we did too at CVE!

It was a great day - full of laughs, falls (more explanation to come), outdoor grilling, futbol (soccer), and "family" time.

I'm grateful for the staff here that make these memories and these moments such a joy for all the kids... and all of us, too! :)

Our first event of the day (after breakfast, of course) was an obstacle course... planned and executed by Señor Juan-tan. He is pictured above finishing details... and avoiding the camera's lens... ;)

José Mediano bugging Jo-el (turn-about is fair play, right?!?) and taking fifty-million years to sweep up after breakfast. This is not uncommon to tell the truth... lol.

Everyone got out to the church building, and gathered around while Limón and Juan-tan demonstrated what had to be done...

My kids weren't quite as interested in the whole course as they were in crawling up and down this board... which was great until they'd stop paying attention, lose their grip, and end up hanging upside down with their heads half an inch from the cement floor.... ay, ay, ay.

So, of course... I let them keep doing it... ;)

David steadies Blanca as she runs down the board. For those of you reading, don't worry. We promote safety at all times here at CVE... ;)

It was sometimes more amusing to watch the audience members than the actual kids running the course! Everyone would start out on one side of the building, and then slowly gravitate around the room, until they could run to the windows and watch what was happening outside in the final part of the course...

(Above) The perfect action shot!

Well, maybe not perfect, but pretty good... ;)

Julissa finishes off her round by kicking off the bar that signals Juan-tan to stop the timer...

At left: Cuteness personified. At right: Harshness personified... :)

When the younger boys got tired of watching everyone run the course, they decided to go outside to the dirt mound and plant "flowers." I walked up and Aaron said, "Look, Steph! We're taking care of our world!" Diego solemnly nodded his head, and added... "Hmm-hmm [insert: yes, the noise is the same in Spanish... lol]... hmm-hmm," as though this was a task of monumental import... and it is, isn't it??? :)

The two baby girls were present and accounted for as well. Kaleigh (left) and Gloria (right) were wheeled 'round and around that church... just like they're pushed 'round and around the dining room, the cancha, the campus... wow. Those strollers get a LOT of mileage...

After the obstacle course, everyone hung out until Limón finished grilling the hot dogs, and the rest of the food was ready. It was a perfect day weather-wise, too, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves...

Just looking at this picture makes me smile, because it makes me think of barbecues in my past... :)

Nicole and Carissa resting against a tree before lunch-time...

But, of course, like all good picnics... there are always casualties! Aaron walked in front of the metal swing and got whacked hard -- I mean, really, REALLY hard on the back of the head. He went down crying, and we went to the kitchen for some doctoring. I had managed to meter a stick through my toe-nail, and that was relatively painful as well... so we made a good pair... :)

Below are a few videos of the Independence Day obstacle course for your viewing pleasure:

Diego & José having a grand old time...

Candi trying to do her own obstacle course...

Uriel's full-course run... I'm not sure what place he got, but I think he did well... surprise, surprise!!! :)