Rest of the Summer 2011

This Potter-head wasn't finished with the festivities of the last movies with the showing in Lake Tahoe. I came back and had a few friends over to re-cap the previous movie (Part 1) and got ready to watch Part 2 the next day. In honor of the films, Natalie found a Butter Beer recipe.

If you're not a fan/expert Butter Beer is a drink mentioned in the books. It tastes like creme soda (the main ingredient) with a slight butter flavor. DE-LISH

We decided to see the movie in 3D!! My first time since captain e-o at Disneyland. It was really cool!

Natalie, her junior mints, and HP scarf she always wears. What a blast!

Soon after HPDH P2 weekend, we got the chance to catch up with Kara!! She is a super sweet friend of Jeff and Whit's from their days in Virginia.

The Virginia gang (and Lacey) back together.

Kara's sweet friend had her little baby with her. Such a cutie!

We really enjoyed our summer days and nights together. The boys were missing s'mores from Lake Tahoe so Mommy roasted marshmallows on the stove. (Reed)

Sticky hands.

We spent a day at Splashtown with my friend Katie. Lacey came with Ian and Grangie too!! Here are Me and Grant coming down the slide.

By the end the boys could go up to the top all by them selves and come down to the bottom! Such big boys. (Grant)

Lacey was going down with Ian (even pregnant) and we all had a blast.

When we weren't at the lake, splashtown, or Lake Tahoe, we were here. A lot of my friends live in Gleannloch Farms. This is the main rec. pool for kids. The boys love swimming and playing with their friends.

Reed at the pool. We would usually come for the morning and have a picnic lunch with our friends. Such a blast.

The big pool we would switch to after we got bored with the little one.

When we weren't there, we were at the lake house. Ian has gotten so big and loves to crawl around and play with the boys. The boys had some toys under the counter and all three of them had fun playing together.

Since there has been NO rain in Texas (over an inch) in the past 270 (something) days, the lake is very low. (even lower than when this pic was taken) This lake is a major source of drinking water for Houston. When there's no rain they have to let more of it out. Now, there is sand visible in front of the rocks.

On the up side, we can swim the kids and dogs in the lake right off the steps of the ladder. It's kind of nice to be able to jump in and play.

The weather had been very nice up until Labor Day. It was SO windy that even the pool had waves.

And of course that was the weekend we decided to have the Beltz Family up for the holiday. We had to settle for hot tub time. Here's Melissa making breakfast for everyone.

Ian still had a blast. He's getting to be such a big boy!! Learning to use a sippy cup instead of a bottle.

Lacey and her baby BOY in her tummy. (we are not destined to have a girl in the Beck family)

On Monday it was still windy but not cloudy. We took full advantage and loaded up the tube to head out on the lake.

Normally we bring the boat over to the house and load up the people and the tube. However, the lake is so low that we can't get the boat to the house. So we (by this I mean Jeff) had to load up the tube on the top of the van and head over to the marina to get the boat.

All the kids in the back ready to go.

Melissa, the tube rider.

Ian ready to ride on the boat.

Reed, Morgan, and Madison ready to go.

Melissa was so sweet to ride with her kids and ours. (Mel and the boys)

Mel and her girls. There was only one patch of smooth water so we just went back and forth like 50 times.

Ian the good sport

Our fun filled Labor day was a nice ending to our busy fun summer. Next up was the first day of school!!! This year it included mommy and the boys. I started teaching a 3-year-old preschool class at the boys school. It's been a lot of fun so far. My big 4 year-olds.

Reed is an Eagle this year.

Grant is a LION! Rawr! We will post more school pics soon!

Both the boys got really good at swimming this summer. (Grant in one of his lessons)

Reed being funny. While I was packing for the lake one time I found this.

LaKe TaHoE 2011

This years trip to Lake Tahoe with my Dronenburg CREW was momentus in some ways. This was the first year we didn't fly with the carseats on board! The boys sat in the seats like big boys!!

Grant ready to fly out of Houston!! They were so good on both flights (we had to change planes in LA) and the flights home!

Our first night there we were in the hotel (not our condo) and the boys had a picnic lunch on the floor of our room. My cuties!

The day we arrived was a few days after Katherine's birthday. We were able to celebrate toghether!

It was also Jeff's actual birthday. The big 3-1!! Jeff really loves it when all the attention was on him (not really) and so he loved having the entire room sing to him. :) Love you J

After dinner we love to roast marshmellows around the fire pit. We have these GIANT roasters that are super fun.

The cousins

Grandpa Ernie was getting the chocolate and crackers ready for the roasted marshmellows.

Reed and his marshmellow face.

It's a hard life for the Beck family while in Lake Tahoe. We sit by the pool and sun ourselves. We swim in the 75 degree weather. We eat.

Katrina and Reed.

Love that Katrina comes with to help me with the boys (wink) she's just a part of the family now.

The view from our room.

Anders at the beach. He's gotten SO big!! Love you bear!

The frist few days the lake weather was so windy that the lake was full of big waves.

Reed was at not happy about taking a picture. :)

Family picture day happened while we were there. (Will post pics later) This is just a peek.

Each night we are there we have dinner as a big group. Ann and Marilyn cooking up a storm. It doesn't hurt that they are both gourmet cooks.

The head chef.

Katrina was in charge of silverware. :)

The kids eating together.

Anders being sequestered. He didn't understand that it wasn't play time.

Emmy and Lars served the kids some ice cream cones for dessert. YUM

Dad and Jeff.

Kris and Doug

Me and Katherine.

One of our favorite things about the Hotel are the Mochas we get from the regency club!! Delish

Dad and Emmy watched all the kids on Thursday night so all the adults could go out for a nice dinner. Kris, Doug, Katrina, Jeff and I went to Jake's on the Lake.

The food was delicious and the company was better!!

These hot chicks before dinner.

We never get to eat together so it was a really nice treat.

Note that it was cold enough for Jeff to be wearing a jacket!

Katrina and her "date".

These two potterheads were so excited that the last Harry Potter movie came out while we were together in Incline Village.

Some friends of Dad and Emmy took us on a short hike the morning of our last day.

The hike was perfect. The weather was great and the trail was flat and beautiful.

My hikers.

Jeff the hiker with the beautiful view of the lake in the background.

Katrina and Reed Michael.

Once back in the sauna that is Houston in July, we headed to our first movie with Grangie.

We had popcorn, candy, and drinks, to see Winnie the Pooh!!

We talked at length about being quiet and watching the movie in the dark theater.

The boys did great and the fact that the film run time was only 63 min. really helped!

Quick video of Jeff water skiing in Lake Tahoe. So proud of him considering the water was super cold.