Family Time!

This month, we got extra special visitors from Illinois: M and her two boys! L and her sister had a blast, as usual.

The cousins also enjoyed lots of quality time. P and Z loved playing at the beach.

Yeah, this California weather is really rough in November.

N is getting so big and seemed to enjoy his first time in California. Actually, this kid is so happy, we seems to enjoy just about anything.

A walk on the San Clemente pier with the original Meadows family, plus new additions. :)

Get those birds!

Happy N! 

And would you believe it, L and M got to attend another Monkees' concert, this time at the Escondido Performing Arts Center, just a 30-minute drive from Camp Pendleton!

What a fun night for these groovy kids! More on that concert at L's '60s Beat blog here.

And thanks to our parents for putting the kiddos to bed!

Slumber party!

Cousins K and B visited one evening as well. Papa and Gigi with all the grandkids.

Snuggle time with Aunt M.

 Thanks, M and the Gee boys, for flying all the way out here! We already miss you!

Meanwhile, A was busy playing at dozens of USMC Birthday Balls with the Marine brass quintet, including three roadtrips (for gigs) to Las Vegas within one week! Z was glad when her Daddy was back! Looks like Sleepy Head just woke up from her nap.

Our local pier in Oceanside. Hello, Mr. Pelican.

Also this month, A celebrated his 32nd birthday! Here's one of the birthday dinners with Z's YiaYia and Papou.

What a fun-filled month with family!

Fun-Filled Fall Festivites!

  This September and October were jam-packed with fun events! The festivities began with Z's first pony ride! Having no fear, she was quite confident and rode the horsey like a pro.

What a happy girl!

Z also enjoyed quality time and hugs with the other animals too. 

And even riding fake horses is fun too.

The Fall Festival at our church. Z couldn't get enough of the bounce house.

Just another day at the park.

Playtime with Minnie Mouse and pumpkin hats, handmade made by YiaYia.  

 

 At San Diego State's Homecoming game, Z had a blast watching Aztec football and sitting with the alumni band.

 She loved hearing her daddy play trombone in the stands and clapped whenever the band played the fight song.

 What an angel, despite having to skip naptime.

And as usual, A has worked a lot with the Marine band. Here's the band marching through Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco for Fleet Week (he's in the front on the far right).

The Marine Corps Birthday Ball. Happy 237th Birthday, Marines!

And finally, there were several opportunities to have fun with dressing up, thanks to several events the week of Halloween. Here are two purple fairies heading to the Camp Pendleton Fall Festival.

Z with her friends at our neighbor's costume party. Clearly the bag of popcorn they're eating put these kids into some sort of a trance.

And of course, A and L sported their retro attire at another party with friends from work.

And Princess Leia passed out candy to the trick-or-treaters. The Force is strong with this one.

Z's wings didn't survive by the end of the festivities but she had a great time being a little fairy.

All About Summer

Since posting about all our summer fun has been lacking, here's one long entry with lots photos from the past few months.

The summer started off with A and L going to see '60s groups The Turtles and The Grass Roots in concert (white boots are now a requirement at these sort of things). Music review here.

Then there were some fun events on Camp Pendleton where Z got up close with some animals.

"Why am I putting my face through this thing?"

 

Z was super-excited to see the live Elmo Show presented by the USO in the base theater.

L is becoming a regular at these retro concerts and went to The Beach Boys 50th Anniversary Concert with her good friend Janay. Another concert review here.

Janay's son Connor is also one of Z's best friends. We're so sad that they moved to Colorado this summer. These guys always have fun!

 

Fun in the pool with Daddy

 

And thanks to fantastic weather, we enjoyed lots of beach days with family and friends.

 

Sandcastles with Z's cousin K.

 Kayaking with Papa

Outings with the neighborhood gang.

 

Oh yeah, the good life.

And of course, the Marine band kept A busy with lots of performances...

...while L still occasionally does this at weddings.

And apparently, Z's trying to pick up the trumpet.

Feeding horses with Yia Yia is serious business.

Visits with Z's Great Grandparents.

What a great summer!

A few other noteworthy events: A and L celebrated their 8th wedding anniversary, L got LASIK eye surgery (no more glasses!),  and Z accomplished potty training, yay!