Anna Grows

Out to dinner at last  It was a chilly Memorial Day Weekend - one of the coldest in recent memory.  Despite the weather, there was plenty to celebrate as things continue to open up.  Here are some of the highlights: The cicadas continue, but they did take a break during the past two days of rain.  We expect them to be singing in force when the weather warms up.  Earlier in the week you could hear them even with all of the windows close.  They continue to litter the sidewalks and you need to watch out when you walk under a tree. Anna braved the chilly weather and rain showers to attend  Viva Vienna  on Saturday morning with some of her friends.  This is an annual festival - normally with large crowds, that was reinstated this year with timed tickets and significantly reduced crowds.  She got to enjoy a performance by "The Singing Princesses," which is a performance group started by some high school choir members.  The members dress like princesses and sing Disney songs.  Appar

First High School Party Anna had a great weekend.  It was great because it was almost normal.  What makes something "normal" these days?  Well after spending most of her freshman year of high school locked down and doing virtual school, here is what the past weekend was like. Friday Anna performed in her first high school choir concert!  That's right - there was actual live singing.  There were some pandemic twists. First, the concert was a chance for the seniors to perform. Thanks to social distancing requirements only senior family members could attend (Joe & Theresa did not get to see this concert yet).  The choir members also had to spread out and wear masks while singing, but they managed to pull off the concert.  Anna had a great time and was thrilled to be singing at a concert again.  She is already looking forward to choir next year - hopefully without masks. Friday was also the livestream of "The Big Jam," the annual concert/fundraiser for the Vienn

While the rest of the world has been watching the latest news on vaccinations and mask requirements, once again the news is different in the Washington, D.C. area.  The headline here is the emergence of the cicadas. Cicada emerging from its shell For those outside of the DC area, this is a unique insect phenomenon in which millions of cicadas burrow into the ground and live on tree sap for 17 years (that is not a typo).  Somehow, they know when to come out of their shells, climb the trees, mate, and then die.  When the eggs hatch, the baby cicadas fall to the ground where they burrow in and stay for another 17 years.  It is truly mind boggling the number of them (it actually looks like the grass is moving in some places because there are so many on the ground).  We definitely have them in our yard, but the real cicada party seems to be going on across the street at Jackie's house.  You cannot even walk up her front sidewalk without stepping on them as there are so many.  Her trees

Klara & Theresa on a hike  The best way to celebrate Mother's Day this year is with a vaccination, which is exactly what Theresa received earlier in the week. Second vaccination complete!  Fingers crossed that vaccines will be approved in the coming week for teenagers so that Anna can join the vaccinated numbers. In addition to a vaccine, Theresa was the recipient of some beautiful roses from Joe, a painting from Anna, and a popover pan from Grandma.  She decided that she wanted to make a white cake from scratch for Sunday dessert since she happen to have some extra egg whites in the refrigerator (Theresa is always looking for ways to use up leftover items).  All was going fine until it was time to rotate the pans.  One of the pans got away and spilled all over the oven door and.....well let's just say there was a large mess.  This required the self-cleaning oven feature, which ultimately resulted in the smoke alarm going off.  Storm does not hear much these days, but he he

 Now that Anna is back in school four days a week, Storm has some challenges to his morning routine.  Depending on how late Anna is getting ready (it is all about the hair), he has been forced to speed walk up the street and may or may not get fed.  At Storm's age, he is definitely not in a rush and would much prefer a leisurely pace to stop and smell the flowers....or the grass....or whatever else smells interesting.  On Thursday morning, he donned a protest sign.  Sadly, he was still forced to race up the street.  He's hoping Anna will start earlier this week so that he can have more time for his walk. Anna is settling in to the in-person school routine.  There are some new lessons.  Tuesday she came home early with a stomach ache.  Lesson one:  when you go to the nurse's office during COVID, it doesn't matter what the symptoms are - they will send you home.  Lesson two:  when you go home, you can just log in and join the class virtually.  Lesson three:  you should no