Annika Speak #53...

Most mornings Annika comes crawling into my bed before the scheduled wake up time. I am rousted from my sleep by a wiggly body and instructions that I need to "move over". This is due to the fact that apparently I stink in the mornings and she doesn't want any of my breath or badly odored skin to bother her while she is in MY bed (I am also not allowed to touch her or cuddle with her unless she has sufficiently plugged her nose first). A few months back I told her that it was my bed and if she doesn't like it she can go back to her bed and besides, that kind of hurts my feelings. About a week later she crawled into bed, into my arms, and said, "Mmmmm you smell like watermelons!" I said, "Why thank you Annika. Usually you say I stink." She replied very sweetly, "Oh you do. I just didn't want to hurt your feelings!"

Here is Annika "enjoying" a birthday party yesterday. All the kids were perched on a huge rock smiling their little smiles off, but not Annika. She was majorly upset about some rock debacle and instead of flashing her pearly whites she decided to dramatically bury her head in her hands (and I did try to pry them off her face for the photo...she is strong)...
But about 30 minutes later her tummy was full of Cheetos and sandwiches and she was all smiles...just in time for cake...

The party had a cowboy theme. Sheriff Lena at your service, ma'am...

On Cinco de Mayo Lena's school had a potluck with the kindergartners singing a Spanish song. Lena is wearing the Mexican dress that I owned as a little girl. She sang her little "Spanish" heart out...