to the Hamptons, dahling

That's what I told Emma when she asked me where we were going as we packed the car to the gills. My sister and Margot invited us up to East Hampton for a couple days of sunshine, country air and squealing girls. Uncle Andy had been there over the weekend, but had to go back to work. Luckily, Ginger stayed behind to watch guard.

We had the whole cottage to ourselves, complete with a pool and twenty-some acres of soft, New England grass. I'd say though, the highlight was the swing hanging from the 150 year old oak tree.


Love these next ones!


The cottage was kind of a bizarre mixture of modern and antique. Tons of natural light, though. It was pretty sparcely furnished, but we made it work. Actually, it left us all lots of room to spread out.

Right after I took the picture above, Margot wanted to see it. I wanted to see her olive-colored eyes.


Poor Margot...she wanted to play, and Emma was being a bum.


Margot makes sure to stop and update her Facebook status.


And there were a few business meetings conducted on the stairs...


Bathtime with two girls under 4 is a hoot. Lots of tossing water on each other. Cuz that's what cousins do! :)


Sleepy babies (and the wrong focal plane....oh well!)

Sweet Ginger...she was (literally) never more than 2 steps behind the girls. When you're a South African Mastiff, you're used to herding much larger animals. :)


On Wednesday, we packed up and went to the beach. We had it all to ourselves!

Naturally, you gotta rinse all that sand off afterwards...


In between naps and snacks, the girls hung out together. Lots of playdough and drawing. Will Margot be a righty?

Or a lefty?


Now for the next series....I'm not much of a morning person, but the rooster from the farm next door made sure I knew who was in charge. Thursday morning, we woke up to a misty, dewy, haze. I saw the horses in the pasture next door from my window, and grabbed my camera. I literally think I got my contacts in, and we flew out the door. No time to change!

As soon as they saw us, they came right over. Emma (who's into naming things these days) promptly named them "Chip Chip" and "Phillip". Phillip was renamed "Romeo" a little while later.

Here they come!

Chip Chip was the friendlier of the two.


Our last day...I had to do a collage with these.....just too many to publish. I don't remember who started, but I was in the bathroom when I heard giggling. I turned around to discreetly try to watch them.

This is totally random.....but this is Emma running back to see if her beloved Chip Chip will come out and play with her one last time. Alas, he was nowhere to be found. :(


Sadly, our trip had to end. I had to document the typical family road trip car packing. 2 adults + 2 toddlers + 1-135lb dog = a s#(%load of stuff!!

Thanks Anna Banana! We love you guys! XOXO