L.A. - Family & Friends

Took about 5 hours to get to L.A. - it happens that the fires are happening all around us so the mountains are covered in a hazy and smoke. Jose's daughter, KC, her husband, Brett, and son, Dallen, purchased a house a few months ago, and it sits in the valley where the mountains are burning, thanks to an arsonist. It is a beautiful area called Mentone in the Redlands area.

Woke Dallen from his nap, and the playing did not stop till we left. We played soccer, hockey, football - his favorite words are "up" and "again". We became fast friends! He loves his "Grrumpah" Jose!

Had dinner and toured the Mentone area. It's a great place to raise kids.

The next day, Brett treated us to an unbelievable German pancake breakfast, and then we set out to Santa Ana to meet up with Jose's son, Joseph - or Uncle Joe. We ate at In & Out Burgers and poor Dallen had a fall (photo above). It was a fun visit but too short, and Jose is already making plans to go back and spend more time with his family.

Joe gave us directions to Jose's granddaughter, Meghan's. He has not seen her since she was a baby and she is turning 4 in December. I sang a little song along the way, "Take the 55 to the 5 to the 57". It's the only way I could remember it!

My throat is getting sore, and that's never a good sign. :(