Anna Grows

Normally a holiday letter goes out to some family and friends each year with an overview of what the Fagella family has been up to.  The letter did not quite make it out to many folks this year, so here is the electronic version. What can we say about 2016?   The general consensus is that we are happy to close the book on it – like so many others.   I considered not preparing the overview this year, but that really was not the best way to handle it.   After all, there were some good things in 2016.   In the spirit of being thankful…..and trying to recall some of the good things….I asked our family members to list their top two things that happened in 2016.   Without further ado, here is the list. Anna’s Top 2 Anna did not hesitate on her first item:   a dog.   After years of lobbying, pleading, and negotiating Anna is at last a dog owner.   Storm joined the family at the end of May after a family friend was trying to find a home for him.   He is an 11-year old cocka

Family Christmas at Last Christmas 2016 was definitely a memorable one, largely because of the stomach bug that seemed to be plaguing the Fagella house.  Actually, the bug seemed to be spreading up and down the East Coast, the Midwest, and even some West Coast reports from other friends, making it more of a nationwide epidemic.  This might make a person wonder why they are not illness reports, just like weather reports, announcing what is happening.  "Rampant 36-hour stomach bug that is highly contagious - stay inside and drink lots of fluids. DO NOT go to family or social gatherings."  Anna and her parents went to a neighbor's house a couple of days before Christmas for a Chinese Winter Solstice dinner.  The highlight was 4 year old Zoe throwing up at dinner.  Thus the saga began.  By Friday morning, Joe was sick.  By Friday afternoon, Anna was sick.  Theresa had a light touch, but fared much better.  Cousin James also had it.  By Christmas Day, Aunt Mary went down

Christmas at the Capitol Every year in the Fagella household the family takes a Sunday morning to visit the holiday sights in downtown DC.  The stops usually include the train display at the U.S. Botanical Garden, the Capitol Christmas tree, and the White House Christmas tree.  This year Pauletta, Wil and the boys decided to join in the festivities on December 11.  Apparently everyone else in the Greater Washington area caught on to this tradition as the crowds descended. The first stop was the botanical gardens....along with hundreds of other people.  The group quickly discovered a line wrapped half way around the building to see the train display....at least a 45 minute wait.  Given that a 2-year old and a 7-year old were involved, we decided to forgo the trains and check out the rest of the gardens, which were also busy.  Theresa has the luxury of working across the streets from the gardens and noted that the train display was nice, but not necessarily worth the crowds.  After