A week ago Friday night was my office’s Volunteer Appreciation Party. It would not be an exaggeration to say we have nearly as many volunteers as employees, so this was an important party to attend! As 5:30 approached, I started peeking out the window to the playground-turned-party-patio down below:

I told the ladies it was time to get moving, so everyone snapped into action!

The party was still in its very early stages …

… but that meant plenty of appetizers to go around!

I took my allotted two shrimps and some chips and salsa …

… and hit up the bar for some red wine:

And found some mixed nuts to devour:

I eavesdropped on a very important conversation about the World Cup …

… and then it was time for the speeches:

The volunteers posed, but this is not even all of them. I told you there were a lot!

Finally, we got the green light on real food:

I loaded my plate with Inginia’s delicious avocado-heavy salad and some homemade taquitos and enchiladas:

These are amazing and I want to move to Mexico right now.

Dessert was pretty spiffy, too:

Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate:

I started out with only one piece, but as my glass of Bordeaux mysteriously continued to refill itself all night (ahem ahem, Raymundo), I lost all control and grabbed more every time I walked by!

I was not the only one enjoying the beverages, though! Here’s Belkis in a rare compromising position:

Thank goodness we had some dancing time to facilitate digestion! Camila and Martha got it started …

… while Erik and Danilda hijacked Jose’s DJ booth:

When we started to worry about getting noise complaints from the surrounding apartment buildings, we decided it was time to pack it in. Erik blew on his magic wand, and everything cleaned up. It was a miracle!