God's grace, my boys and the river: A visit to the firehouse

My friend, Amy, and I have been trying to organize fun field trip-like playdates for our kiddos and some others that we know this fall. We started out with a day at Jackson's Orchard, two weeks later we watched the airplanes fly overhead at the park while learning about solar panels, and then this past week, Amy scheduled a fun trip to one of the local firehouses in town.

I had told Cash and B throughout the week that we would be going to the firehouse on Friday to see the fire trucks and firemen. Every day I heard the same question, "Is today Friday?"

Finally Friday came. We had learned a lot already that week about fire, but of course, my boys were most excited about seeing the fire trucks up close.

Here they are standing in front of the firehouse (and that's our friend Ladrian in the background!) This firehouse actually has three different sized trucks, which Cash thought was neat. B pointed out that they were all different colors, too.

Cash was asking questions as soon as they lifted the doors. "What are those circle lights, Mommy?" "Where is the ladder?" "Does his ladder have a bucket?"

A fireman friend from Living Hope actually gave us a personal tour. He also read a book to the kiddos. What a special time!

Here's the audience. Notice my boys aren't sitting on the side of the fire truck listening to the story. They wouldn't! They wanted to sit on the floor next to me. (Grrr.)

After the story, Mr. Jason showed the kids all the equipment he puts on when he fights fires.

When Mr. Jason had on his big jacket, B started getting a bit anxious and climbed in my lap. He wasn't so sure about Mr. Jason anymore.

And when Mr. Jason put on his mask and then helmet, B was crawling up me and I had to put down my camera. Now I see why firemen try to show kids what they look like when they're fighting fires. Run towards the fireman in an emergency, not away from the "scary" man...

Here's Cash and Annie Jo checking out the different caps and chains on the truck. I was really disappointed because all Cash talked about was getting in the fire truck, but when it came time, he ran from the fireman that was putting them into the truck. He wouldn't sit in the truck! And since he was scared and didn't, B didn't want to either. (Grrr...again.)

We also got a tour of the inside of the firehouse. Here's Eli checking out the La-Z-Boys in front of the flat screen TV. Mr. Jason told all the Mommys that it's "basically like a fraternity." :)

Each fireman had his own room with a twin bed and a nice closet. They also had an awesome workout room where Cash tried to "get some muscles," too. I got tickled because he told Mr. Jason that "dos firemen have to have big muscles to lift our furniture." (We had two firemen move all of our stuff from storage to the new house.) Ha!