February 28, 2009

¡Feliz Cumpleaños Maria Regina! Today is my youngest host sister’s birthday. I woke up around 10, but there didn’t seem to be a whole lot going on festivity-wise. It would all be taking place later tonight. I got some breakfast in the kitchen and wished Maria Regina a happy birthday.

At lunch, there were 10 of us sitting at the table and several different dishes that were kind of varieties or leftovers. I wasn’t super hungry since I’d had a late breakfast but I ate a little and everyone sat around the table for a while longer than usual. Then my mom brought out a hostess cupcake surrounded by little bunny figurines with a heart-candle on a stick standing out of the center of the cupcake. We all sang happy birthday in Spanish (which I don’t really know the words to so I should work on that) and she blew out the candle though she gave the cupcake away to her sister. That was surprising to me.

After lunch I asked if she had opened her presents (someone had come to the door just before lunch and given her one) and she said she had so I told her I had one for her. We went to my room to open it, and then on it being a little difficult to get out of the box, she brought in back into the kitchen where her mom helped out a little. Maria Regina seemed to think it was neat, but all the while seemed distracted. Either way her mom seemed to think it was a good gift I think. =)

After that I had some free time. I finished Velocity which was quite good then hopped into the shower and began the whole getting-ready routine. Quinceaneras are formal events, so I got to wear my little black dress, though really I could have worn something even a little fancier if I had had it with me.

I talked to my parents on AIM, I have a plane ticket now for Sunday, May 17th. That’s earlier than originally planned (May 23rd) but it’ll be good. There’s a possibility I’d have to take a summer class because I’m short a few for graduation as is. But anyway, May 17th.

When I went to get a little something to drink and a small snack at about 5:15, Maria Regina was getting pictures taken in the back yard. She was very pretty, dressed in a gown that was somewhere between mint and tinkerbell green. She had a beautiful corsage and her hair was half up in a little up-do. Very very pretty.
Her mom actually had a dress on very similar in color so they matched. They finished taking pictures just as it was about time to leave to go to Mass. The Mass was a special service specifically for Maria Regina. She sat up front and center in a special chair and her parents sat to her left and her godparents to her right. It was a very special service.

After that the party began. We went to someone’s house/mansion and inside everything was done up in pink and green. There were balloons, cake, cupcakes, brownies, and over a hundred people there.

There was a video viewing of Maria Regina which was accompanied by a song written for her by her grandfather. The song was very sweet and incorporated her name, it was very special too. After that they put on a waltz and Maria Regina and her father took the dance floor which was set up over the pool. As they waltzed, another older gentleman took over, and so Maria Regina was passed from man to man, each cutting in after a few steps and ending with a twirl. After a little bit even some of her friends cut in. It was *really* nice. How neat, I thought, to do something like that where she danced with all of them. I’d kinda like to do something like that, ne?
After the waltzing, the music picked up into dance music where all the kids flooded the floor and began dancing it up. It was really quite the party, having started at 7:30 after Mass at 6:30: I did not get home until 1 AM. I was glad Chelsea was there so we could chat a little bit throughout the evening and I didn’t feel too out of place. Actually Diana and her husband were there too and we sat at their table. It was a really nice night and I think that Maria Regina had a great time. I’m glad, her quince años should be special =)

Cheers! <3 Kate