Guncle Derek with Lulu, Cody and Stella at the Amangasett Farmer’s Market

Well, that’s the end of my summer. While August is technically not over for another week and a half and there’s a good two weekends before the start of fashion week (which signals the end of all forms of relaxation), I’m booked out on weddings in San Francisco and Paris for the next two Saturdays. That means this week was my last chance to head to the beach, which I was only too happy to do. Not that it was all holiday all the time: One of my goals this summer was to try and learn to surf, which I proudly can say I did (emphasis on the “try”). And I also spent a lot of the week acting like a human horse/floatation device for all of my friend’s children who came to the beach with us. (I officially feel old since so many of my friends have breathing, speaking, asking, crying children. I’m a full time Guncle now.) Though, I must admit, I did manage to squeeze in some adult time too, catching the Kills concert at Surf Lodge in Montauk on the last night. I’ll put some pictures from that gig on this post, but first enjoy a series of shots of some of the cutest kiddies in the whole world.

Cody in her summer whites climbing her sand mountain

A wander to the water in Southampton

Lulu working that juice box

Eloise and her mommy, Meredith, in Montauk

That’s me and Corey of Corey’s Wave going out to ‘hang ten.’ (Do people even say that any more? I’ll never make it as a surfer, will I?) Corey was the best. Extremely patient and, well, a miracle worker since he got me up on the board on my first day. Though, I’m sure my natural athletic ability helped matters

I went method with my surfing. And my flip flop wearing. Look at the state of my feet after a week on the Montauk rocks and my Havianas

Sometimes Stella joined me on the surf lessons, though she ultimately decided looking for starfish was more gratifying

Although I grew up in Missouri, a place where one’s wheels can say a lot about a person, living in New York made me forget about car culture. That is, until, Evan showed me his 1967 Chevy

Lauren and her little man, Nicolas

A girl who matches her flippers to her floaties? Cody’s adolescent accessorizing skills were impressive, to say the least

This is the sort of sign that I love finding in the Hamptons, because they only exist in towns like the Hamptons where some people are so insanely unaware about how rude they are

The lovely Ku-ling with her sleepy Lulu

A sunset over Sagaponack 

All these beautiful babies, and then one lucky bitch. (Sorry, I couldn’t help myself!) This is my friend Samantha’s pooch, Lucy

A very mischievous looking Miles in East Hampton

A beautiful beach day in Southampton

And finally, the Kills performance in Montauk. I was very impressed with how Alison matched her dye job to the sunset

Nate, Dree and me stormed the stage. (After hanging out with babies for a week, I couldn’t but wonder when I’m going to be too old for that kind of thing)

Hanna, Alison and Cory at the Surf Lodge

Me, Mark and the Kills on my last night in Montauk