Feliz Dia de Ninos!!

Happy Children's Day?!?!!? Yes - they actually celebrate Children's Day in Nicaragua!! I love children like anybody else....why else would I continue to grow my family but PPPLLLLEEEAASSSEE!!! It's Children's Day EVERYDAY!!! We of course, joined the festivities today to celebrate but it got me thinking.....seriously, why should children have a day?

My daily schedule is all about serving my kids - as is every parent!!! I wake up and love on them - feed them - clean them - dress them and make sure they have enough activities to challenge themselves and to leave me alone!! At noon - the process starts all over again, feeding, cleaning and grooming!!! What would you girls like to do? How do you feel? Are you O.K.? Be careful. Don't hit your sister. Yes, that is a beautiful picture. Wow, you are such a great swimmer. Yes honey, I'm watching!! Dinner is probably the most challenging because I have to be as creative as possible to have my children consume vegetables and not eat sweets without shoving it down their throats or threatening to keep sugar from them for a few hours. It's Children's Day everyday!!!

So you may have guessed - my attitude was a little on the pessimistic side - we went to the orphanage today with 3 cakes - enough to feed 50 children. I stuffed pinatas - served drinks, cake and candy and smiled the entire time!! For some reason, it's easier to serve other peoples children than my own. After Martita had consumed cotton candy, orange Fanta, several Spanish labeled candies - I said "enough". She looked right at me and said "no". I looked back at her and smiled and said "Please listen to Mommy and you can save the rest of the candy for later" - she gave me her ugly look and when I turned around to find Lucie to go through the entire process again, I looked back at Martita and she was (as fast as she could) shoveling more candy in her mouth. This time I took it away from her and said she was not to have any more!! She played tug-of-war with the candy bag and continued to verbally scream "no" at me!!! I looked up and saw that we were again, the center of attention - so today was Martita's turn to humiliate her Mommy.

We made a quick exit to the cab that was waiting and I went straight home and made a balanced dinner for them with lots of vegetables and watched them suffer!! Highlight of my day - well, actually putting them to bed was the highlight.

So here's to all the children in the world - Happy Children's day and I hope you don't choke on your candy!!! 8)