Mike and I just came back from the coolest party I've been to in a while.  I knew it was going to be a good party when I looked out the window around noon to see one of those blow-up bouncy rooms in the neighbor's yard.

Here are the highlights:
-the Strawberry Shortcake bouncy room
-the DJ playing loud hispanic polka music
-the strings of balloons and streamers
-huge, beautiful sheet cakes, one with Hannah Montana, the other with Diego (Go Diego Go!)
-and last, but not least, THE TACO TRUCK!

This was a party for an 8 yr. old and a 2 yr. old.  This was almost as cool as some Iowa weddings.  I asked a woman at the party if she had a party like this for her boy who is a day younger than Joy and she said "yes".

Here are a few things that are different about hispanic parties and the parties I grew up going to.

1. Parties are a family event.  I was expecting a party with a bunch of 8 yr. old girls and a bunch of 2 yr. old boys...no, whole families were there, including white-haired grandmas.  I think that's really cool.

2. THE TACO TRUCK!  This was awesome--they just hired a taco truck and parked it in their back yard and they'd make anything you want, free for the guests.  They also had pop and snacks and beer.  Mike and I had spicy chorizo tacos.  They had these peppers you could put on them, which we didn't add, but the lady sitting next to us seemed to think they were very very hot.

3. everyone gets dressed up.  Mike and I went wearing cargo shorts and t-shirts...no one else was wearing shorts.  All of the little girls had elaborate hairdos.  Everyone else seemed to be wearing "clubbing clothes" and looked very nice.

4. people just kinda seem to sit around.  The kids are going crazy (like in the bouncy room) and the adults sit and eat and/or talk/stare.  I noticed not a lot of jabbering or even smiling.  Everyone seemed quite content and secure to sit there and people watch and talk occasionally. 

We had a good time.  I'm glad we went, even though it was a little awkward.  Most people did not speak English and we were the only white people there.  Joy was a hit, as always.  We made a few friends.  I hope we see them around town.  We'll have to figure out some way to treat the neighbors some time because they were very hospitable!  I hope this is not my last fiesta!