The cousins...

A couple weeks ago, the girls and I headed out to see their cousins...Trenton & Derrick. We spent the day there and had a wonderful time. Thank you Athena and ALL the boys for a wonderful day!

Here are some shots that I got through out the day...

From left to right...Derrick, Avyree, Haylee & Trenton...aren't the all GORGEOUS! The eyes on these kids are AMAZING...lucky dogs!


Trent...man he's gotten so big. He's already a little man...so handsome and so sweet!



This is Jace. One of Athena's sons. Man...this kid is DARLING! Those eyes/lahses, those cheeks and those curles. The only one of her boys to get her hair! What a doll he is!




and Derrick! What a handsome little man he is too! Hammin it up as usual...




And GORGEOUS Athena. She is just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside!








Avyree lovin up her cousins. Haylee's too old for this kinda thing now! Lol!



Playin some Wii...Haylee got the hang of it. Love the look on her face on the last shot. Derrick was so good and patient with her!


And of course, the many expressions of little Nugget...the NUT!




Jace KNOCKED out in his crib, with the door OPEN and 8...yes you heard right...8 kids running a muck in the house...didn't miss a wink this kid!


Hope everyone is doing well. The fires are out in our area and we are resting easy now! :O)

Station fire Southern California...

The Station fire started on Wednesday 8/26 is still burning strong today at only 5% containment! So far, 35,000 acres have burned for a total of 50 square miles! It started in the hills of La Canada and has reached as far as Acton, where my mom lives. Thousands of homes have been evacuated, including several people we know!

We are safe where we are, yet people 5 minutes from us up and down the foothills of the mountain have been evacuated. Our air quality is bad, so we've been inside with the A/C on for days! They fear they won't have full containment until 9/8.

Eric had to go to his friends parents house last night and help them hose down the house to try to protect it. He was there until after 3am when they got evacuated. They are still there trying to protect the house! They and ALL effected are deep in my thoughts and heart!

There's so much I could say, but I'll let my pictures do that! These were all taken from my front/back yard and on the sidewalk across the street! All were taken with either my EF 24-70mm 2.8L or my EF 70-200mm 2.8L IS. All images here are from the fire in Big Tujunga Canyon, not La Canada, although it is still considered the Station fire! They have also evacuated Riverwood Ranch and Oro Vista! Man...THAT is close!!!!!

For those of you who do not know, the yellow house with the green roof is our house!

More wild fires for So Cal...

I think wild fires are becoming more common in So Cal than Earthquakes!

There are 4 burning in So Cal right now. One of those is in a town about 10 minutes from us. Although the fire itself is back in the Angeles Forrest. So there is no threat to us and thankfully so far, nobody else. No mandatory evacs and no homes damaged. But boy is it smokey. So we may have to reschedule Avyree's party for next weekend (I will keep everyone updated on the party). The air is BAD and the ash is every where. It looks like it's snowing lightly at times. Here are a few pics I took just about 30 minutes ago above our house...





Last year TOO many people lost their homes and some ALL of their belongings. I hope with all of my heart this year is not a repeat! My thoughts are with EVERYONE in So Cal dealing with wild fires and for the poor wildlife that live where they are burning. You are ALL in my heart and my thoughts that you, your family, pets and belongings are SAFE!

Santa Monica Pier...

Here is what I saw when I looked through the lens...

















I will have several new posts coming up in the next 2 weeks. I have about 8 folders to edit, so be on the lookout! Hope everyone is doing great!