Insta-Summer Flashback to 2011

 

No more diapers!

 

Today is the last day of school for the kids and the last day of preschool for my soon to be kindergartner.  Because I'm excited for summer and a little nervous to have my big personality kids home full time (where did they get that???) I'm taking a look back to last year.  2011 was when I discovered Instagram/Hipstamatic and captured little everyday summer moments...  Nostalgia is good for anxiety!  I'm feeling better already.

 Boat snoozer.  Last weekend, she told me, "I go night night," laid down on the bench seat and then went to sleep.  A girl after my own heart!

 Now she can climb in.  

 No more baby swing.

 Crossing my fingers for an airplane snooze.

 There is water in the river this year!

 Alastair still can't drive the golf cart.

 Cotton?  We're already walking in the high stuff.

 The zoo!

 

 Fun times.

 No more boat bad luck.

 The beach.  Like totally.

Boys scheming in the surf.

Friends home to play!

Summer.   It's on.

Easter 2012

The kids enjoyed a wonderful Easter.  Of course, what kid isn't going to enjoy a holiday that is acted out through candy hunts and magical baskets of treats that arrive before you have to go to church?  

 

 Emery was an active participant in the egg hunt this and I didn't have to direct her efforts.  Her brother had her in training for several weeks by hiding "eggs" (Legos or blocks) around the house and coaching her to find them.

 She did well, didn't she?

Big brother is a pro.  At our annual playgroup party, we repeated the numbered egg hunt (kids have to collect eggs with each number 1-12) and he didn't need any help from me either.

There were egg hunts and Easter parties at school and both kids ended up with even more candy and treats.  Then on the Saturday before Easter, we hit the Eggstravaganza at church.  There are several egg hunts and lots of crafts and games for the kids to play with while they wait their turn.

There are few things I find more entertaining than watching Alastair with a hula hoop.  Cracks me up every time!

 Surveying the field.

Poor Alastair.  The officials made an announcement before this heat began that the big kids should get 12 eggs and then pick up whatever was left after the little kids got theirs.  My boy was pretty efficient and had about 30 eggs by the time I got Emery to the little kid section and checked on him.  I had him put some back, only to notice another little boy following Alastair from a distance and picking up the eggs he dropped and putting them into his already overflowing basket.  That ended my humanitarian effort.  Alastair got to share with Emery, who wasn't nearly as fast as the big kids and had far fewer treats.

 She was happy with what she did get though.

 Grammie and Papa met us at church for the entertainment.

 Kim was happy to put on a dancing demonstration to elicit smiles.

Then Easter day:

After ending up on folding chairs in the balcony last year (and grateful we had seats at all!) this year we probably got carried away and arrived at church just in time to wait 20 minutes to get into the sanctuary.

 Emery was happy hanging out in the nursery with her Tuesday buddies.

 And Alastair did awesome sitting with us in "big church" as he calls it.

 They even put up with my photography happily.

 I did, however, withhold the chocolate bunnies until the pictures were complete.  Mommy is no dummy.

It was a very nice holiday.

Spring Sprung. Awhile ago.

 You might need to be related to me to put up with the following post.  Brace yourself for a very thoroughly documented trip to the lake and bluebonnet pictures.

Our last skiing trip to the lake in 2011 was November 7th and we were eager to get back on the water as soon as we could in 2012.  The last weekend in March it was time!

 The water was, um, refreshing.

 

But we persevered.

 There were wet suits involved.

 I'm a little concerned at some point this kid is going to fall in reaching for the water with a skier behind the boat.

 Alastair didn't let the lack of a wetsuit slow him down any.  I think by the end of the summer the kid may be sprouting gills.

We go to Lake Sommerville, which is just outside of Brenham and in both prime bluebonnet and Blue Bell ice cream country. My family was very patient with me as I made them change out of their swim clothes and into something a little more photogenic.

Here are some of the better captures:

 My favorite.

In another week or so, a friend and I hit the road for a midweek trip.  The weather was awesome when we left Katy but it was cold and damp in Brenham.  That didn't stop us!

 

Next up:  Easter!