Wrapping up the Summer, East Hamptons Style (Week 1)

You already saw the posts from our trip to Cleveland to visit Michael's side of the family and nona and all the aunts, uncles, and cousins... what was fascinating about the experience was that afterward when we asked the kids to name their absolute favorite part of the summer, they all unequivocally talked about Cleveland and getting to play with their cousins.  Despite the incredible East Hampton fancy digs, the cool trips to explore the city...shows you what really matters to them!

Our last part of the US trip was two weeks in East Hampton and Sag Harbor. It was so beautiful. It made me realize how much I love farms. Seriously, I want to belong to a local coop where I can go pick my own vegetables and flowers every week.

For the Hamptons, we braved the long car journey once again, this time headed to NY. 

The house we rented was one of the nicest and most beautiful homes we have ever had the pleasure to stay in. It was so thoughtful, so well planned out. 

We wasted no time immediately getting acquainted with the nearby farms, beaches and towns, watching a puppet show, as well as visiting my friend's house and enjoying her pool and going on a pony ride.

Broadway Shows, Ballet and NYC Activities

It wasn't all stuff with the kids while in NY.  I also got to go see Hamilton with my friend Lisa, took my mom to dinner at Bar Boulud and went to see the ballet at the Met, and Book of Mormon with my sister.  It was so much love and pent up emotions ready to burst, I missed Broadway and the lights and hubbub and people and characters and dining scene and, just, everything, of the city so much. 

I also got to have a lovely lunch with my college friends, whom I realize with a shock I have now known for longer than half my life!  I only wish I had more time to catch up with more people on this trip. It's always so hectic. 

My time in NY definitely wasn't all fun, as we desperately needed to check in on and help turn over the duplex in our Brooklyn brownstone.  I hadn't visited the property in nearly seven years, or for as long as we had purchased it.  But thankfully we were able to get new tenants in nearly right away and it is still a beautiful and amazing house and investment. I am just grateful I was able to be there in person during this big turnover to supervise the painting, cleaning, landscaping, floor polishing, and all the bits and bobs that needed attending to.