A Great Day for a Picnic

Today, began like most Saturdays at Casa de Esperanza do... wake up, have devotional, eat breakfast, do chores...  Well,  after the chores were all done, which for us is no easy task ensuring that 19 children do their chore, and do it well, a small group was coming.  Only a group of five was coming, most of which the kids had met.  Thankfully, everyone behaved well while the group was there.  After the group left, all of the kids had to help pick up trash around the property.  No one wanted to do this, but they had been told that if they didn't help they would not get to go to the park and have a picnic.  Everyone wanted to go for the picnic.

The park is only about a quarter of a mile away.  We all walked there together.  When we arrived, they had set up 3 pools.  No one had their swimsuits, and everyone wanted to swim.  Also, it cost to get in to the pool.  Most of the kids just wanted to swim, but we told them NO, so they just sat and looked at the pools.  Really, though, they played a lot too.  There are a bunch of things to climb at the park.  Cindy and Ana toted Haley around as if she was their baby doll.  They helped her up the slide, and helped her down. 

By the time my dad arrived to the park with the food everyone was very hungry.  Elbia had made chicken nuggets and rice for everyone.  I think kids universally love chicken nuggets.  Being the day before Easter and the last of everyone on holiday, we were not the only ones who thought a picnic at the park was a great idea.  Every table at the park was taken by the time we left.  When we got home, everyone was tired, and no one spent much time fighting off their nap (no one except Haley anyway).

In spite of the fact that no one got to swim, we all had a great time at the park today.  Haley has become the new favorite toy of the girls here at Casa de Esperanza.  Some of them have told on others because they won't share "the Lili".  I have to remind them that she is not a toy to be faught over, but a person that can play with everyone.