Anna Grows

The 2023 Christmas season is coming to an end with lots of fun and traditions.   Anna enjoyed a two-week holiday break from school that included a little bit of work, a Christmas visit to Ohio, and a lot of time hanging out with friends.  She received word on college acceptances, including Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), which was her first choice.  Benny enjoyed his first Christmas with us and took a particular liking to the Christmas tree skirt, which he repeatedly pulled out and fashioned into a bed for himself.  Only non-food packages could be placed under the tree as Benny would definitely open them.  Here are some of the holiday highlights: Anna, Aidyn, Grandma & Grandpa Anna sang in the choir for Christmas Eve mass with several of her St. Mark friends.  This was another milestone before they all graduate in the spring. We visited Grandma & Grandpa in Ohio for Christmas this year, along with Uncle Time & Cousin Aidyn.  We flew in Christmas day and made it in t

Madrigals on Tour  Anna has been busy with the Madison Madrigals the past two weeks caroling around the community.  She lost count of all of the performances, but it is somewhere between 10-12 plus 3 performances on the last day of school.  The group appeared everywhere from the Vienna Mayor's holiday reception to a memorial service for those who have lost loved ones this year sponsored by the local funeral home, to an assisted living facility, to a local country club to the Vienna rotary club to the local elementary and middle school music concerts.  She met a lot of community members along the way, including a resident of the assisted living facility that came up to the group afterwards to let them know he was an original member of the Madrigals back in 1962! Joe & Theresa got to watch five of the 40 songs (that's right - Anna had 40 songs in her caroling binder) at the annual choir holiday concert on December 14.  Here is a link to the  2023 Madrigals Performances .  The