retro-blogging: PlayDay

haven't been keeping that up to date with this stuff; but really, that's probably a little narcissistic of me to think that i do Have to keep up with it. i also just learned how to spell "narcissistic" after various attempts.

anyhoo- retro:
one of the events i wanted to share about was the playday for Mama Carmen's Orphanage (mid-december, week before i flew back to the states). a few girls from school have been volunteering there, and they organized this pseudo-christmas-themed event for the couple dozen kids under the loving care of Mama Carmen. what a lady.

i helped to wo-man the cookie decorating station, which was super fun. each child got a plain sugar cookie and was invited to add heaps of more sugar on top.

hard at work:
i must admit i played the "one for me, one for them" game with the M&Ms. only a few times. maybe.

^a baby i met.

here he is again. hilarious: this baby is flipping me off! he had been grabbing at my nose and eyes just a moment before, hence my star-trek-alien-wrinkle-nose face. he was actually a very interesting guy-- only had mobility on his left and some reported issues with visual accuity. when i held something on his right side to pick up, he scooched his little body around in a circle just so he could get at it with his left hand! he's also not walking, but he was able to comando-crawl about 10 feet, using Just his left arm to drag himself! it's amazing how we learn to compensate. a doctor friend and i were playing with him, trying to figure him out.


look at that face. seriously. just gaze.

top and bottom: kids waiting in line for shucos, which are how they do hot dogs here. each hot dog (just a guess, but probably not 100% kosher beef) is butterflied open in a bun, and toppings include sweated onions, pickles, mayo, ketchup and guacamole. Arturo (my stomach) was definitely not happy after it, but the kids loved them. i don't think that Arturo will be enjoying anymore shucos during his time here.

here are some of the older girls from the orphanage. i do this too, but i think most people just think of babies languishing three or four at a time in cribs at orphanage facilities, when in reality, there is a vast age-range of children living and growing up without parents. we need to remember them, too. i think we'll be throwing a quincenera party for them next month, for the very important 15th birthday, similar to how some US people celebrate sweet 16.

they loved having their picture taken, not unlike some family and friends (you know who you are!) they swarmed me after each shot, trying to get a look at themselves.