"Miss! We will NOT get shot! Our Virgin Guadalupe is here!!!"

"Everybody say 'cheese'!" :)

I can't handle the cuteness that encompasses this picture. Absolutely precious!

Flamin' hot cheetos for fangs! So cute :)

Hola!

Goodness, I have been terrible at keeping this thing updated lately. My bad. This past week the kids had VBS (Vacation Bible School) Monday through today, and that started at 8:30 a.m. Summer program then took place after VBS on its usual schedule. We typically only have program Tuesday - Thursday, and it doesn't start until 12:30. This is the second and last VBS week, thank you Jesus. My weeks go back to being more regular and, potentially, more manageable. I use the word 'potentially' because you just never know what surprises will pop up at Cristo Rey :) (Those who have worked here -Justin...Erin...- can for sure pick up what I'm puttin' down).

On top of this week being a VBS one, we had 2 field trips that took place yesterday and today. Thursday (yesterday) is always a pool day. We take the kids over to Armijo Swimming Pool. Pool days have been so fun this summer. They are very chaotic and manic during the pre-transporting stage of the day. However, my stress level significantly decreases once we arrive to the pool. The kids enjoy themselves and their time at the pool, and holy moly do they love that slide. If I had a nickel for the number of times I was asked "Miss, can you go down the slide with me?"....just saying. It is also my one time when I can be more goofy and silly with the kids, than just a structured, semi-silly director.

One of the greatest moments took place during this past pool day. First of all, I want to say that I am not in any way making fun of these boys. Second of all, I will refrain from posting names. Last, I am laughing and smiling just thinking and replaying the situation in my head. While I was swimming around with some of the little guys, the little girls from the program all of a sudden swarm me and are saying all at the same time, "Miss Jennifer, Miss Jennifer! _____ and ______ got in trouble with the lifeguard! They got in trouble, miss! They got in trouble too many times, miss!" I immediately said in a "well, this is convenient." voice, "What happened? Which lifeguard?" The girls all pointed and said, "That one, miss!" I hesitantly got out of the pool and felt a sense of angst and "oh my gosh...middle school boys" feeling growing inside my gut. I approached the lifeguard and said, "Sir, some of the little girls in my youth program just told me that you had to talk to two of my middle school boys multiple times. What did they do?" The lifeguard said in THE strictest, most serious tone, "Well miss, the boys were roughhousing and playing too rough around the little kids. There is another group here, miss, and this group has a lot more younger kids. They can't be playing that rough around smaller kids because someone is going to get hurt. I had to tell them multiple times to stop. If they stop they are going to get kicked out." He proceeded to say in the, again, most serious, intimidating tone, with a very straight expression, "Oh, and by the way, one of them was wearing his underwear in the pool." ...Ok, you know those moments when you REALLY want to laugh out loud but can't because it would be too out of character at the time? Yup, that was definitely one of those moments. I wanted to laugh so badly, but had to do everything in my power to stop myself. I replied with a straight face, "I'm really sorry. I promise this won't happen again," and walked away, still trying very hard not to laugh. As I headed back to the pool, all the little girls asked, "Miss, do you want me to find _____ and ______ for you?" I said yes because it was something that had to be discussed with them. In less than a minute, Megan (one of the other head volunteers at Cristo Rey) nudged the boys in my direction and said in a strict tone, "Jennifer needs to talk to you." Both of the boys despise those 6 words used together. They both approached me with their usual "Oh sh**, Jennifer wants to talk to us" face. With terror in their eyes, I said to them in a serious tone, "Hey guys, one of the lifeguards told me that he had to talk to you two multiple times because you were being too rough around the smaller kids. This really isn't acceptable for the younger kids to see because they look up to you. They want to be like you, and you aren't setting a good example for them. I know you want to have fun and in your own way, but just please try to be a good example, ok?" The boys both nodded with terror still in their eyes and said, "We're sorry, miss. It won't happen again, we promise." I then said, "Ok, good. Is there anything else that happened that I should know?" One of the boys casually threw out, "Miss, also, I was wearing my underwear." I couldn't control myself, my laughing just came right out. Both of the boys kind of stared at me, and then stared at each other with a look that said, "So wait, are we still in trouble...or...?" Once I had a brief but necessary laugh, I broke my silly character and went straight to serious director and said, "This isn't funny, guys. Next time please do not forget to take your underwear off before going into the pool, ok?" They still looked worried and said, "Yes, miss" very innocently. When we walked away from each other I just began to crack a smile and continued to laugh. That is one Cristo Rey moment that I will never forget. Plus, I think it's safe to say that you never forget about the times when you tell middle school boys to take off their underwear.

After the pool closed, we all began to pack up and make our way back to the vehicles that we all came in. Once everyone was finally settled after multiple attendance calls, counting kids, and also thinking that we lost one child but in reality the kid just went into a different vehicle, the next wacky event took place. Erin was going to drive the Cristo Rey van, but it wouldn't start. OF COURSE that would happen. We found out that there was a leak...radiator coolant, you are a gem. We attempted to call relatives of the children and other friends we knew who could possibly help us transport the kids back to Cristo Rey. In the meantime, Erin was dragged along (literally) by 5 of the kids to knock on these not-so-becoming apartments that were located across the street from the van. The funniest dialogue took place right before she was dragged with them. It went like this (and it still makes me laugh just reliving it):

"Can we go knock on those apartment doors to see if the people there have coolant?"

Erin: "Do you want to get shot?"

"*the upmost serious, but dramatic, tone* Miss! We will NOT get shot! (points to the gigantic painting of Guadalupe that's located on the side of the very rundown-looking apartments) Our Virgin Guadalupe is here!!"

HA, that was such a golden moment. Erin said that the man who answered his door did not look friendly, and was apparently a huge, intimidating man. Surprisingly, he donated water to the cause, even though that was not what the kids asked. The kids dumped the water in the radiator, and the van actually started up again! That whole amount of time took almost half an hour to square away. All while that was going on, one of the middle school girls just said to me in the best voice, "Miss, this has been the weirdest day." I told her that these days are to be expected while at Cristo Rey. Just...to darn priceless.

Erin and I :)

How Justin actually feels when I'm around him

7 kids on top of Justin. Honestly, nothing new. (He's a popular guy!)

Love this picture!

On our way home from the pool...
Me: "I know I say this every time I'm in your car, but it's so entertaining that your head touches the top. Do you notice it much anymore?"
Justin: "Yeah, I mean, it's annoying."
Tall people problems. Justin Problems.

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Today (Friday) we took the kids to the El Paso Exploreum. It just opened this past January, so the kids had never been there before. It was SWEET! I can honestly say that the Exploreum would have been my type of heaven as a little kid. The kids had a blast! So did the volunteers and staff! They had all types of hands-on activities for the kids that involved dramatic play, science, and music. Some of the more popular activities that the kids (and staff) really enjoyed were having the chance to be inside a bubble, the static electricity station, the interactive floor, and the giant ipad. However, being inside a bubble was definitely the most popular for the kids. It was fun seeing their faces light up at their excitement. A lot of the kids came up to me during the afternoon and gave me a hug while saying, "Thank you for taking us here, Miss Jennifer! I am having so much fun!" It made me smile so much hearing that from them! :) That place was definitely very cool. I hope they all have the chance to go back sometime on their own, or next year during the program!

Some of the boys after they robbed a bank :)

The girlfriends and I just having a fun time together at the Exploreum

Today was overall a really fun day with the kids. It brings me a great deal of joy when I hear and see them happy and enjoying themselves. After all, if the kids aren't enjoying themselves and having fun, then you are not doing your job as a youth director.