We threw a big birthday bash for Simon's first birthday this past Sunday. It was pretty much expected of us - folks have been asking us if we would have a piñata for Simon since he was about 3 months old. There was pretty much no way around having a big celebration and inviting a bunch of kids. And we figured the sooner it was over, the better!
So we made a list of all the neighborhood kids, church kids, and MCC friend kids who would want/expect an invitation. The number approached 50, and we certainly hoped that not all 50 kids would show up. We then set to work planning. Nicaraguan birthday parties must include a piñata filled with candy - fortunately our neighbors volunteered to provide this. Then there's the food - people expect a good birthday food like pork rinds w/ yucca or a special rice/chicken combo, served with juice. And of course there's cake & soda to top it off. Oh, and don't forget the party games and favors. :-) The only thing we planned on skipping was the loud music. Nicaraguan parties are notorious for their bone-jarring music, something we thought we could go without.
Another neighbor drew us a poster for the pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey game (see photo below). We hired a local restaurant to make the food, and we purchased 2 cakes at a local big box retailer (the best store-made cakes in town, in our opinion).
Then we set about having a party. A number of kids attended the pre-party party, coloring a big banner that read "Happy Birthday Simon!" They also drew special pictures for Simon to decorate the walls (see the first photo below). We rented chairs and decorated our garage with the kids' art and balloons. Oh, and our plans about a music-free party? Not a chance. Our neighbors felt sorry for us and set up their speakers in our garage. We ended up with some pretty inappropriate reaggaton dance music shaking the walls of the house.
Then the kids came. Some kids that we invited didn't show up, while some kids who didn't receive an invitation did. We estimate that about 40 kids attended, as well as about 40 adults. Yes, 80 people for Simon's birthday! We played Simon Says, Pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey, hot potato, and musical chairs. Before the piñata, we had a chance to share Simon's testimony - that we nearly lost the pregnancy but that we believe God heard our prayers for healing and protection. The name Simon means "God hears," and we shared with the kids that every time they say Simon's name, it's a reminder that God does hear us. After this we prayed a special blessing for Simon.
Then pandemonium with the piñata. Simon didn't want to touch it, but the other kids happily beat the bunny-shaped piñata into an unrecognizable mass of newspaper and streamers. Of course some kids cried because the didn't get any candy or got barreled over in the rush.
We had just enough food, juice, cake, and soda. Everyone went home feeling pretty good (we think) that the gringos didn't do too bad a job with the party after all. And perhaps the best thing - Beth had written and printed a little coloring book as a party favor for all the kids. It was a big hit. Simon had a relatively good time, although he slept through half the party. And we've decided that we're not throwing a birthday party for 80 people for a very long time. :-)
