April 2016

Family Fun
—Gilroy Gardens: What a great discovery! During Annika’s spring break — the February week is actually “winter break,” whatever that is — R. took a day off and we all went to this family amusement park. It was so, so much fun! There were a couple of mild but rough-riding rollercoasters that Annika loved, and lots of kiddie rides for Lukas, so we ended up staying past closing time, and buying a season pass.
—Daddy to Vegas: Work sent R. to Las Vegas for 48 hours, so the kids and I turned in early the night he was away, and Annika camped in Lukas’s room while I stayed up way too late watching Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt on Netflix.
—Chuck E Cheese w/Anna & Ella: Also on spring break, the kids wanted to go to Chuck’s and invite friends, choosing the twins to meet us there. Once again, Annika saved up her tickets for next time, and Lukas bought some cruddy thing or other that he was very happy with. :-) Good time all around. 

Annika’s stuff
—Anna & Ella sleepover: Yet another entry in the Era of the Sleepover! Annika went as primarily Ella’s guest to the twins’ sleepover and had a great time; she never wants to leave when I show up to fetch her, which says a lot to me.
—The school multicultural faire: Annika got a bee in her bonnet to represent Finland at the multicultural faire, so I parachuted into the event already in progress (I didn’t go to a single meeting … whoops), borrowing Finland stuff from the Finnish family that moved to Sunnyvale (the Vaisanens put me in touch with Heli, the mom), making a “national costume” per Annika’s vision (white shirt, white skirt, blue apron made from a pillowcase, burgundy tassels with yarn pom-poms I made myself, braided hair) for the International Fashion Show … and R. and I repped his heritage for three hours with Finn Crisp crackers and butter while Lukas partied at Kidspark. Exhausting.
—Tori’s party at Pump It Up: TBH, Annika didn’t want to go and I wouldn’t have made her; Tori is kind of a bully. But it seemed like not many people were going, so I suggested she go … and since Sydney was going, she agreed. It was the night of the Multicultural Faire, so … yeah that was a long night. But it ended up being fun for her, so we had that going for us. 

Lukas’s stuff
—Steele’s bday party: Lukas’s friend Steele (I think it’s funny that two of his best friends at school are inanimate objects: Cole [coal] and Steele [steel], heh) had his birthday party at Pump It Up, and of course Lukas was out of his mind with excitement! It’s still such a cute big deal for him to go to his own parties, and not as Annika’s plus-one at her parties. :-)
—The allergy wanes: It’s not an event, just an observation — Lukas seems to be outgrowing his allergy at last! I’ve fed him cheese, he ate regular (homemade) cupcakes with real buttercream icing at Steele’s party without any reaction, he can apparently eat milk chocolate, etc. I’m still not ready to feed him eggs scrambled in butter, but it’s definitely milder, almost to the point of vanishing. YES!!!!

Quotable
—X-ray swing fighters: Lukas’s take on “X-Wing Fighters”