A Mexican Fiesta Honor Roll Party

This past weekend the first quarter had ended, the report cards had been passed out, and it was time for an honor roll party.  It was held in the backyard of one of our wonderful school parents.  As usual, we kept it a surprise.  The only hint of what we were planning was a Mexican candy on top of the invitations placed on their desks.

We decorated with colorful tablecloths, tissue paper flowers, and lights.  As usual, the teachers and parents dressed up and served the students.  We had salsa and tortilla chips first, then flour tortillas, chicken fajitas, rice and beans. 


Next we played “Pass the Sombrero”.  The students had to stick the sombrero on their heads before they passed it to the next person.   When the authentic Mexican music stopped, whoever had the sombrero was out. 

Next, a teacher appeared with a guitar in hand and sang about the students.  They all learned the chorus and sang along.

Then it was time for the pinata, only this pinata didn’t have candy in it.  When it finally was burst open, there were only puzzle pieces.  After the students assembled the puzzle they could read the clue:  “This was a decoy pinata.  To get your real dessert inside a real pinata go to Alfie’s house.”

Alfie and Esther live down the street, so we paired up with our buddies and off we went.  (We have a lot of fun, but we are also very careful.  It is much more enjoyable if you have reliable high schoolers helping you keep an eye on the little ones.)

When we arrived, this is what was waiting for us. 

Panchito (a very helpful brother from our church) had decorated a hay wagon and was waiting for us in his hammock, playing a tune on a harmonica.  After showing us his coffee and pineapple fields, we boarded the wagon and enjoyed fresh pineapple and chocolate covered coffee beans as we rode through the country roads.  Students had been asked to bring a jacket and a blanket along for this reason.

After a wonderfully long hayride through country roads, we arrived at the house of another set of school parents.  They had strung lights around a campfire and were making bunuelos for us.  There were also cups of juice and real home made pralines -- yummy!

Some of us sat around the campfire on our blankets while the older ones got their turn at another pinata, this one with actual candy inside.  The candy fell out and everyone got a bag full.  Following our tradition, we played a game of kick-the-can until most of the students had been picked up by their parents.   

I always ask my own children what part they like the best once we arrive back home.  “The surprise hayride,” was the answer this time.  It was a very festive fiesta.  Ole!