QUINCEAÑERAS

It finally arrived! After months of anticipation, the 12 girls who turned/will turn 15 years old this year have finally celebrated their transition from childhood to adulthood :). Saturday, May 28th (yes I know I’m behind again…) was a day packed with families, good food, an AMAZING waltz, and a fantastic party at NPH.

The girls started off the day by getting in full hair and make-up before putting on their dresses and their MASSIVELY high tacones (heels) and meeting their dates in front of the beautifully decorated comedor.

Juana and Alex – posing for a picture

Alexis and Marta

Each of the Primeria teachers had worked all week to create an individual princess sign for each of the girls on their special day – here is Vicky's sign :)

Once there, everyone went inside to partake in a special mass in the girls’ honor. Afterwards, the couples went outside for a few quick pictures before it was time to dance the waltz!

The sisters - Vicky and Selena!

The girls from bachillerato :)

Yeimy, Jhoselin, and Concha looking adorable!

The girls had been practicing the waltz since March. Erika, Thayer, and Molly had created the whole dance and worked hard with the girls each week to make sure that everything would be perfect – and it was :). The girls looked beautiful as they effortlessly glided through the air with the help of their partners – they did a fantastic job!

Kimberli with her entregador

Adela and her partner

Dancing!

More dancing!

Rosalia and Henry doing their thing!

The couples processing out after a successful dance!

The girls were soooooo happy as were the three wonderful volunteers who helped to bring it all together (just look at the joy on their faces!)

The "proud parents" Thayer, Molly, and Erika after the dance!

After the waltz, the girls were reintroduced to the awaiting crowd in the comedor, wherein they were given a champagne toast to celebrate their success and to wish them the best for their futures!

The girls toasting!

Selena with her caballero, Abner

After the toast, A LOT more picture taking ensued (I know there are a lot here but I was in charge of pictures…and took over 500 per usual…so enjoy!)

Juana with her sister :)

Me with Adela

My crazy año de servicio students...Elmer, Jonathan, and Francis :)

Dania looking beautiful as ever!

After pictures came a DELICIOUS dinner. Seriously – I think it was the most delicious food I’ve eaten since being in Guatemala…we had….drumroll please……………………BARBEQUE PULLED PORK! (Which is one of my FAVORITE foods for those of you who don’t know!) Ok, so it probably wasn’t pulled pork per se…it was probably pulled pork/chicken/beef but I really didn’t care – all I knew was it was AMAZING and everyone gobbled it down as fast as they could!

Some of my students at dinner...

After dinner it was time to cut the gorgeous (and GINORMOUS) birthday cake for the twelve girls! The kids in the panaderia had been hard at work all week preparing the delicious tiered cake - FIVE LAYERS IN ALL!

The cake!

After gorging ourselves on food it was finally time to DANCE IT ALL OFF! One of the teacher’s, Profe Oscar, has a very talented daughter who volunteered to sing at the beginning of the dance – needless to say – HUGE hit.

Profe Oscar's daughter singing for the crowd

After her performance, the DJ’s did their thing and kept everyone at NPH dancing until midnight! The quinceañeras was an amazing day that turned into a fun-filled night enjoyed with excellent friends, family, and twelve amazing women :) Congratulations ladies!

Tio Viktor dancing with Lily and Glendy!

Frannie, Meghan, and Michael showing some love :)

Me with some of my old students - Lidia, Jenny, and Deisy :)

Sam and Wendy dancing it up!

PARTAYYY!!!!!!