Live from Munchkinland - Memory Lane

This month's Comments for a Cause program is benefiting Make Our Day.  I asked Make Our Day's founder, Katie, to write a post that shared more about the children she works with daily to "make their day" and to give us a glimpse into the day in the life of her and these children in Thailand.  Enjoy!

"The days are long but the years are short."

A week ago I was cleaning out a drawer and found a big stack of Munchkinland pictures that somehow never made into the kiddos' curious, sticky hands.  Most were a couple years old.  The pile showed all their favorite things: birthdays, holidays, Teacha Ben, donuts, swimming and selfies.

I walked in to class knowing these would provide enough giggles and debates to last a couple hours but walked out amazed at all the memories crammed into those munchkin brains that I'd forgotten about.

Like the time me and the triplets played king of the mountain on this pool inflatable.

Hey there photo bomber Benz.  I see you girl.

When the pool party pictures surfaced, Farm sprang off the couch into an elaborate game of charades to try and ask me if I remember tipping this thing over; which they loved but the pool staff felt was a little too rowdy.  (Pools have so many rules).  After telling the story to no less than seven people, Farm was nearly out of breath from excitement.  He sat down and said this day was so fun, so scary and Teacha get in trouble.  Benz and I decided that's how a lot of days end actually, with Teacha, Benz or Mickey getting in trouble.

As we looked through the pictures, they laughed and laughed at how funny it is that students "look not same" but Teacha "look same."  I told them I didn't think it was funny at all that each and every one of them insisted on growing up.

There is one hairstyle allowed for elementary school girls and you're looking at it.
Pair wants a ponytail so bad.  She'll have to settle for playing with mine for one more year.

Jang and Bung (being in middle school) are now allowed to have ponytails instead of the bang heavy crop cut that Pair, Benz and Laila hate so much.

Mickey and Isquis decided to grow into their enormous heads.  Woot's chubby cheeks gave way to a preteen 5 o'clock shadow and Ming... Ming looks exactly the same.  Like a small but strong angry bird, took wan.

Woot October 2015, when everything about his face was rounder than it 

Mickey (here age 4) is now 5 with no more Bobble Head

Ming (aka Crankypants) dissatisfied with picture taking in 2014

We look at the clothes and mine are the same, but Baitong is now wearing Benz's hand me downs and they've traded birthday headbands amongst themselves to coordinate.

As a while we've lost teeth, changed haircuts, gone through hundreds of pairs of school socks and changed classrooms, friends and school.  When I pull out a picture of 4th grade and show it to the now 6th graders, they tell me it was sooooooo long ago.  But was it?

Nok and Nam swapping birthday headbands

Benz will celebrate her 12th birthday in November.  When she rattles off the events of her 10th and 11th birthdays like they could have been yesterday (and talks as if her 10 weeks out birthday is tomorrow), I told her it doesn't really seem like soooooo long ago, does it?

She laughs because she forgot to tell me the best part.........her birthday is on a Wednesday this year!  We both gasp and cover our mouth (Benz to hold in her scream) because this is a big deal.

Why?  Wednesday is the day she come to Make Our Day tutoring.  A new semester at school (starting in November) means a new 8 week session of Make Our Day classes, which means new boards, a new birthday book and a full birthday bus.

You better believe she's thought all that through and want to make sure Techa is getting organized and not missing any of the details.  On second thought, it's probably best we make a tear off calendar or paper chain to make sure we're keeping an accurate countdown.

Benz's 10th Birthday

Benz's 11th Birthday

Like all days in Munchkinland that seemed as though they'd never end, Benz's birthday will be here and gone before we know it.

I know this MasterCard "priceless" reference is dated, but Teacha isn't cool enough to keep up with pop culture references (or emojis) so I'm going to use it anyway.

8 weeks of class:  $100
Birthday Party:  $50
Play date:  $30
Memories made in Munchkinland:  Priceless.

If you'd like to sponsor a child for any of these activities, please comment your pledge below, email Teacha Katie at info@makeourday.org, or donate online.

Thank you Katie for sharing with us about Munchkinland and what you're doing at Make Our Day.  What did you love about seeing photos of the kids through the years in Munchkinland?  Remember to Comment for a Cause and a special side note, that there is another donor who is going to match my Comments for a Cause donation so please comment on any and all posts to increase this month's donation!