Spring!

We've made it one month into this deployment, and while we're all missing A very much, we're doing our best at keeping busy. At the end of March, we celebrated a lovely Easter with both sets of Z's grandparents there. (Too bad we forgot to take a group photo!)

Z really enjoyed the egg hunt this year.

 

Happy girl! 

We also got to attend an Easter event on base including another egg hunt with Z's good buddies, Austin and Corina. 

With 10,000 eggs on the grass, it was more of a free-for-all than a hunt.

Here are some other fun things we've been doing to pass the time. (Riding dragons, obviously).

 Bathtub painting with Gigi.

L and her Daddy in Oceanside Harbor.

Enjoying beach days with friends (the kids were particularly fascinated with the ladybug infestation that day).

Quality time with goats at the Zoo Safari Park.

And most recently, we attended a birthday party for A's 86-year-old YiaYia in Pasadena. It was lovely, toasty day (only 92 degrees) and a bunch of the extended Greek family was there. Here is YiaYia Anna with some grandkids, great nephew, and great granddaughter (Z!).

A's cousins Rachel and Nicholas with YiaYia.

Z getting cuddly with 2nd cousin Nathan.

Chowing down on the delicious food.

Z and her YiaYia.

And thanks to amazing technology, videos calls with A in Afghanistan are always a highlight!

Goodbye, Daddy

Yesterday, A left for Afghanistan and will be gone for no longer than 7 months. We're very proud of our Marine and we will miss him a lot!

God bless you, Daddy! Thank you for being our hero!

Growing Up

In January, one little 3-year-old upgraded to a big girl bed! You can see how excited she is.

Still keeping the zebra theme she's had in her room since she was a baby.

Reading books with Daddy.

 Z also had another rite of passage as a 3-year-old: receiving stitches at the Naval hospital. She busted her forehead on a carpeted step, receiving 4 stitches above her eyebrow. 

The suturing was a little rough on everyone but a popsicle makes it all better.

While L was packing up her harp to play at a wedding, a cute growth suddenly popped out.

 

In February, A and L attended a Marriage Conference with other couples from our church.

 Our "where's Waldo?" photo. So thankful for a great group of people.

And thanks to more free tickets from A's work, we got to make another special family trip to Disneyland. Someone clearly had a great time.

We also had a decent rainy season for Southern California. Z was well-prepared in the car.

And then there were beautiful, summer-like days. Trips to the beach are always a must. 

Yep, raising her right and listening to original vinyl. Z loves the 1954 Broadway/Mary Martin recording of "Peter Pan" (one of the few things she'll sit still for!).

And March included wearing green for St. Patrick's Day...

...and playing with young chicks with second cousins in Fallbrook.

And she's out.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

To summarize the family-filled festivities of the holiday season, here are a bunch of photos.

Now that Z is getting older and remembers Christmas from last year, she was so excited about the Christmas tree and the lights.

 Continuing the Meadows family tradition of making Christmas sweets.

Fun times with Aunt J.

Silly faces with the rest of the Richardsons, Uncle M and cousins B and K.

French horn and trombone duets.

Z loves the miniature Elvis that sings "Santa Bring My Baby Back to Me" (seriously, she still talks about Elvis). 

Checking out the instruments at Daddy's work (Marine band Christmas party).

A few days after Christmas, we celebrated L's 30th birthday at the delicious Melting Pot restaurant in downtown San Diego.

Yummy!

New Year's with A's family in Pasadena. Popcorn time with YiaYia and "Big" YiaYia.

"My little pony" time with second cousin Connor (he's a good sport).

Apparently, life is rough when you're 3.

 

Happy 2013!

A Princess Birthday

This week on December 18th, Princess Z turned 3 years old! A royal party was held in her honor and family members from both sides attended the special event.

Wake-up, Sleeping Beauty. It's time for your party!

Blowing out the big #3 candle on her cupcake (there really is a cupcake there!).

Attempting to eat the cupcake in one bite, with Papa and Gigi.

Time for opening presents!

Playing with YiaYia.

The group shot with Z's parents, of course, Papa & Gigi, Papou & Yia Yia, "Big" Yia Yia, Thea Margo, and Elaine (A's cousin)

Good-bye hugs with Elaine.

Our little family.

 

Thanks to everyone who came and made this princess party extra special!

And on another day, we celebrated Z's birthday again with her little friends at McDonald's on base. Another friend was there too but she was already off running at the playground. Here's evidence of Z eating her first Happy Meal.

Happy 3rd Birthday to our little princess!

And if you're interested in hearing Z's favorite songs, check out her special birthday post on L's '60s Beat blog here!