Anna Grows

The Girl Scouts recently celebrated their 100 year anniversary.  While they were established as a way for girls to experience the out doors and participate in community service, there is one thing they are known for above all else:  the girl scout cookie. Anna with her cookie order Anna is in her second year of Girl Scouts (she is technically a Daisy Scout).  This is also her second year selling cookies and she is really getting the hang of it.  She can either sell and earn money or prizes.  As a typical 6-year old, she was motivated by the prizes.  Her goal this year was a stuffed golden retriever puppy,which required selling 115 boxes of cookies.  Girl Scout cookies sales have come a long way.  They now have an online system for girls to manage their accounts.  Anna set up her own user name and password.  She sent emails out to customers that purchased last year (some of you probably received these).  She also could set her goal in the system to see how she was progressing. 

Valentine's Day was extra special for Anna this year.  In addition to parties at school, valentine's from her friends, making heart cookies with Mom, a flower and card from Dad, and lots of other sugary treats, Grandma and Grandma arrived for a visit! A visit from the grandparents is the equivalent of Christmas for Anna as every day a new surprise seems to emerge from Grandma's suitcase.  This trip was no exception.  Grandma came armed with chocolate for Anna along with a new dress for Easter and assorted toys and books.  Grandpa was not sure there would be enough room in the suitcase for his clothes. Grandma and Grandpa had a busy weekend.  They spent Valentine's Day touring Capitol Hill with tours of the Capitol, Supreme Court, and Library of Congress.  Friday was a shopping day while Anna was at school.  Saturday they were on the Anna social circuit, where they were able to watch her ice skating lesson and went along to drop her off at the birthday party of the w

We are happy to report that Joe made it safely back from his annual work trip to Las Vegas.  There is a pattern worth noting when Joe takes these trips: February 2010 - Joe's first Las Vegas trip for work.  Snowmageddon hits Washington leaving him "trapped" in Las Vegas and Theresa & Anna snowed in. January 2011 - Joe's second trip to Las Vegas for work.  A freak rush hour snow storm hits DC drops 8 inches of snow in 2 hours and leaves commuters stranded throughout the region abandoning cars on the roads.  Theresa & Anna take refuge at Ms. Be's for the night because they cannot get home.   February 2012 - No trip to Vegas.  Washington has a winter of record warmth with no snow. February 2013 - Joe's third trip to Vegas.  A record blizzard is currently pounding our family members in the Northeast.  While Theresa, who was watching the weather with great apprehension this week, is grateful the storm went north and Joe made it home, Anna is disappo