Your Aunt Kristin gave birth recently to your cousin Tommy and your mother and sister went to go and visit them and help out.
There's no shortage of love when the four of us are around, but each person brings their own dynamic. It's been such a joy having you all to myself. We've done so much in our few days already, just us and with your California aunties and cousins. You've been relishing the attention quite a bit, but you certainly miss your sister and mother deeply when you see them on video chat.
On Wednesday, we went to swim class and then came home to a delicious dinner of grilled cheese, beans and strawberry on a blanket in the backyard. We blew bubbles and had a spray fight with the hose. You think it's hilarious to put the running hose in Daddy's pockets and I pretend to run away.
On Thursday, Aunt Mimi came to visit us after work and we got pizza and lemonade at a nearby restaurant. You befriend some older kids and raced up and down the bocce court with them. You must have been tired after all that, as you came home and pretty much put yourself to bed instantly.
On Friday, I came and got you early for a speech therapy appointment and we had tons of fun playing with your new favorite toy; Orbeez, these little water pellets that you scoop and squish in your hands. Later that night, we have gyros at Aunt Julie's and you were doted on by the whole family.
On Saturday, Athena came to spend the day with us while Zoe and Jack had to attend some sports events. It's hard to describe your love for Athena, but there's little else you have interest in when Athena is there. She's pure magic in everything she does and you are getting such a wonderful role model to play with. You spent all morning playing together and at FairyTale Town, showing your awesome cousin all the things you love to do. After your much-needed nap, we headed to the local theatre, in your Rapunzel dress no less, to catch a production of Into The Woods. You sat in rapt attention and clapped exuberantly after every song while munching on popcorn and candy. Athena knew the words to every song and held you in her lap so you could see over everyone. Any parent would know how hard it is to keep a 2-year-old still for 3 hours, but a theatre play sure does the trick with you.
On Sunday, our friends Anna and Nick that we know and love from Paros and our San Francisco days were driving past Sacramento and decided to stop in for a brief hello. Their daughter Luna, who is about 20 months old in these pictures, and Astrid have never met until today. Since Anna and myself are part of the group coined "Paros kids", sicne we all used to play when together on Paros as children, you two are part of a growing group of second generation of children who spend time on Paros. Hopefully, the two of you will be sitting on a beach together soon enough and who knows if you'll be friends in the not too distant future. Later in the day, we had brunch and games with Aunt Mimi, Uncle Nils and Aunt Cait, you danced up a storm at a local tap house and had the time of your life. Later on we had a delicious dinner in the backyard and you took a bath with your little buddy, Finn, and made sure he had an excellent time splashing around. Something tells me this won't be the last time.
