Bu, Bu, Bu!

We spent the day testing the butterfly nets in the bluffs above the beach.  Grandpa has still got it because he was the only one to catch a butterfly that day.  It was huge!  But it got away.  The boys had a great time with Grandpa.

All images are © 2012 Vladimir Valdes All Rights Reserved use without written permission is strictly prohibited

Local Fire

Who knew firemen rolled on double dubs, 22.5ers

Open house at our local fire station.  The guys (male and female FF) were so nice in showing the boys around the station and with the trucks and equipment.  We are definitely supporters from here on out.  Did you know that firemen must pay for 2/3 of their own meals and that they get stationed for 10 days at a time 24/7?  They also share one big room to sleep in, so you better get used to snoring.  BTW, handball is a big sport among firefighters thus the handball court.  Who knew?  G's shirt was a big hit with the guys and S's shirt is just a big hit will all of LA!

All images are © 2012 Vladimir Valdes All Rights Reserved use without written permission is strictly prohibited

Saturday Catchers

ISO 3,200 no noise reduction, only sharpening

Catching bugs

ISO 3,200 no noise reduction, only sharpening

ISO 3,200 no noise reduction, only sharpening

Jennifer was sick so we had a mellow Saturday.  The boys got their new bug/butterfly nets and an insect cage.  They were testing it out with pill bugs getting them ready for use with Grandpa on Sunday.

Photo note, inside shot at ISO 3200 with no noise reduction, only sharpening.  Low ISO has insane amount of dynamic range.  It's kind of crazy!

All images are © 2012 Vladimir Valdes All Rights Reserved use without written permission is strictly prohibited

A Tuesday

Messing around at home.  Left click for a full sized image.


Photo note: Shot at ISO 2,500 no noise reduction so clean.

All images are © 2012 Vladimir Valdes All Rights Reserved use without written permission is strictly prohibited

Bike Ride

Yesterday, G asked me to remove his training wheels off his peddle bike.  I did and he proceeded to push the bike and ride it as if he was riding his Strider (a peddle-less bike).  G knows how to ride and balance on his peddle-less bike but could never get his Specialized going from a standing start to begin peddling.  But once he pushed himself fast enough to start riding and balancing on the Specialized, I told him to peddle and off he went.  Basically he taught himself.  

It's amazing and I do feel like I missed out not running alongside him as the traditional way to teach kids how to ride a bike.  The Strider is a very different way for the kids to learn to ride so I knew the traditional teaching method could be in jeopardy the day we got the Strider.  


On  the flip side, we are now looking to get bikes and a trailer for S so we can all ride together.  Should be fun!

All images are © 2012 Vladimir Valdes All Rights Reserved use without written permission is strictly prohibited

The Boo Two

You have arrived

I'm switching parties for Seamus

There's Halle Berry!

Hmmm, I see

Really?

G as paparazzi

This just looks wrong, bubble pipe, that's a gateway toy right?

The Hunters

More pics of Malibu.  You have to love the GPS, ocean on one side and land on the other.  Our fun activities include blowing bubbles, origami, reading, looking through binoculars, and playing paparazzi.  Had a great time collecting shells, actually had some nice samples.  You would think the low tide would yield some nicer shells but no.  Super moon was amazingly large and lit up the ocean like some cliche photograph.  Surf was pounding underneath the house and pulled back to a really low tide.  Surfer baristas at the local Starbucks are such dudes!  Once again the boys had a great time.


All images are © 2012 Vladimir Valdes All Rights Reserved use without written permission is strictly prohibited