This is approaching week four of the Rim Fire. It's one of the largest fires ever in the state of California and it's in our "back yard". It has burned over 250,000 acres. So it's been smokey. At one point, we went on an "evacucation" just to get some relief.

Today, we went to our standby favorite... it was unusually smokey, but I am so glad that I brought my camera...made for some cool shots!

I've been so bad at bringing it places. But I want to remember things, so I use the self discipline to do it at times. Lately, they have been building little cities with rocks and sticks and leaves. It makes my heart so full to see them use nature in their play.

The babies can now climb on the dock. It makes for a less relaxing time, but it's so cute to see them dance with excitement up there... look at the smoke! Normally those are emerald green trees and bright blue skies.

We've been reflecting on our summer. How glad I am that I took the kids to all of the special places... you know, some of them are burned to the ground now. All those magical, dreamy, spots (mostly documented on Instagram)...burned. :-( It's such a shame. But I am so grateful I took them when I did. It was also a great lesson for them to see how the Earth works, cycles of fires and regrowth.
It's pretty amazing.