Annika at Disney for starters

From Annika:
I liked the Snow White ride and I liked the merry-go-round. And I like the Winnie the Pooh ride. If they just called him Winnie Pooh, then he would be like Potty-Poo.


I didn't like the plane ride because it made my head feel sore a little. They give me pretzels all the time. I ate some of the pretzels.

I had the root beer float in Disney. I got it from a thing where they make dinner and sundaes--strawberry and a chocolate sundae.


I saw Cinderella, Belle and Ariel, and Sleeping Beauty and Jasmine--I saw all the Princesses. I saw Darth Bader, too and I saw his guards guarding him back [stormtroopers]. And that's all I want to say.






**
For Annika's fifth birthday, her Uncle Steve and Aunt Sara (my sister) took her to Disney World. Annika had a blast! After I admonished her about airplane turbulence, ears popping, the possible cost of sodas onboard, seeing the cockpit and getting wings for being a junior pilot, she informed Dan via phone later, "Tell Mommy she was wrong about everything." How soon children get disillusioned. Apparently, pop was still free on this flight, the turbulence wasn't too bad, she didn't need the gum to pop her ears and she didn't get to see the cockpit because "the pilot was on the phone with all the Disney hotels."



She was a trooper and even stayed up until 2:30a.m. one night because those staying on Disney properties have special hours--shorter lines. So the three of them took advantage of Annika's happy and apparently night-owl disposition and hung out at the park late. She was safely returned to us last Sunday (June 29) after her first official plane rides. She liked Darth and came back with a Darth and Mickey t-shirt, a princess cell phone, and a Darth Vader light saber keychain. And Minnie ears.

As for those of use left behind, we hobbled along without Annika. Lauren and I went on a special date to the Art Institute of Chicago and then took the el to meet Annika at the airport.

Recent quotables:
Lauren: “And Sarah Ruhl—she’s a really good human.”
Lauren, on seeing a recent picture of Dan: “That was me when I was a little boy.”
Annika, on what we’re having for dinner : “Peter Pizzas” (pizzas on pitas)
Lauren: “Daddy, can you crack my head bones?” Lauren likes cracking her bones. Usually, it means she’s stretching. I’m not sure what she was asking Daddy to do.
Lauren praying: “And thank you for dreaming. I dream of Diego.”