Anna Grows

May is always a busy month for Anna.  School projects are due.  Soccer season is winding down while swimming is beginning.  Of course there is just the end of the schools year stuff (end of Jammers, end of Girl Scouts.....you get the idea).  Two major events for Anna were the World Civilization Fair and the last concert for Vienna Jammers. Social Studies in 6th grade focuses on the ancient world, a topic Anna really enjoyed.  Each student selects a Greek or Egyptian god or goddess and has a series of projects throughout the school year that feature their choice.  The grand finale is the World Civilization Fair for the school, where they have a display and must make a speech about their selection.  Anna selected the Greek Goddess Isis.  The fair is a lot of fun as all of the students are dressed in costume.  It was really interesting to see the choices (and there were some very dark characters).  It was a nice way to complete social studies this year. The other big event for Anna wa

Pauletta & Theresa on the plane...a day early This blog update is different.  Normally I write updates on what Anna is doing. Today I am writing about my recent trip to France.  While I am not writing about Anna, I am writing about things that I learned....and hopefully they will be lessons for her down the road. So, why did I go to France without my family?  Well, I can thank my good friend Pauletta for that.  First, a word about Pauletta.  We have been friends for the past 18 years, having moved to Washington and joined the Federal government at the same time.  As fellow mid-westerners (she is from Indiana) and history enthusiasts (we would forgo the twenty-something night at the bar for a visit to a historical site) as well as similar personality types on the Myers-Briggs test (INFJ - we are less than 1% of the population), it is not surprising we have been friends all this time.  We are even responsible for each other's husbands (Pauletta made me go on the one and onl

Aunt Loren, James, Anna, Aunt Mary & Joe Aunt Loren, Aunt Mary, and James made a quick trip to Washington for the weekend. There is always some adventure involved any time they leave Long Island, and this trip was no exception.  First, it took Aunt Loren & Aunt Mary 4 hours just to get off of Long Island.  Then, they got lost trying to pick James up from work in New Jersey....at Whoopie's house.  Apparently the GPS failed on this address, which required Aunt Mary to Facetime James and turn the phone around so he could see the road and direct them in.  While directing his Mom to turn the phone around so he could see the road, Aunt Loren thought he was telling her to turn the car around....which she did.  Eventually, they found James (and Aunt Loren got to meet Whoopie after using her bathroom).  Aunt Loren and Aunt Mary left Long Island at 2 PM.  The arrived in Virginia after midnight. After the arduous journey the day before, everyone awoke relieved to not be on the r