golden parties.

it was a day spent in glory. its how birthdays should be, right? especially when you turn six. especially when its your golden birthday. exactly. the day should be spent at grandma's house, in grandma's patio..... with all of your best friends and all of your family and your grandma's exchange student. its exactly how it should be. and yes, it was a day worth writing home about. 

the family all comes over around three. we eat a rushed meal (well, "rushed"... lets be honest nothing moves very quickly here) and begin decorating the patio. balloons galore (ay, no puedo más. voy a morir con la falta de aire!), party favors, more balloons, food, the whole shabang. the whole family is there. aunts and uncles and cousins and grandmas. the kiddies arrive an hour later. the whole load of 'em. the whole neighborhood. the whole city im pretty sure. then. it. begins. five hours of dancing and congos and kids on shoulders and throwing kids in the air and spanish versions of piñatas and presents and cake and more dancing and whistles and running and falling and soccering. all in the patio. then come the balloons and the balloon animals (no, im so sorry sweety, i don't know how to make a crown with seven points and a star on the top, but i would love to make you a sword...), and more dancing and singing and games. the sun sets. the kids trample me over and sit on me. now that is what i call a birthday party. 

carlos (my host brother) comes down the stairs with a glass. "what's this?" i ask. "whiskey," he replies. they've all got stiff drinks. "michelle, drink up." i love this place.