A Private Tour Of The Fire Station

Not so long ago, Christopher came home and announced "they're doing tours of the fire station this weekend".

Seriously? Because both of the kids, Charlie especially, and... did anybody just notice how I said "both of the kids", totally forgetting how we've actually got three? Mom of the month, thank you very much.

Wait, what was I saying?

Oh- so...
The fire station!
Tours!
YES!



After brunch, because we had a late start that day- we headed down the street to the station. We hadn't yet told the kids where we were going, so- shhhh.

The parking lot was sort of deserted, so rather than unloading the entire set of us, I sent Christopher (who grumbled and groaned of course) to double check the tour situation. Can you imagine unloading everyone, just for them to be crushed that the tours are no more? ...not this Mama.

He must have stopped to smell every single flower between the van and the station, by the way. My punishment for sending him on his mission, I'm sure.

Oh, and game on!



Not only were they doing tours still, but- we were the only ones there.

A private tour!

Charlie and Eleanore got hats and badges, and suckers that we didn't let the babies see, since we're currently a sugar free family.
.
Despite the airmen seeming to be afraid of children (or maybe just our children, hah), they led us from the kitchen to the living room to the bedrooms to the laundry room (Eleanore's request- figures, right?), to the gym, to...



Really though...

Are there words that can go with the happiness that flooded their toddler hearts? (Hmmmm... I'll try)

Eleanore and her new boyfriend looked through binoculars, measured themselves against the tallest tires, and made fire truck siren sounds in unison while sitting in the passenger seat of firetruck number 4.

Charlie and his new best friend, Airman Awesome Fireman Hero Guy, climbed in and out of every single fire truck in the garage. And Lovey came too.

It was like a dream come true, for the kids.
With sirens and hats and the jaws of life.



One of the guys even went so far, as to put ALL of his gear on, just to show Eleanore what a fireman looks like. The best part about this was, he explained to her that if anyone dressed like that approaches her, not to be afraid- that hes there to help her. Melt my heart, young man.

She lost interest, after only a few minutes.
"I want to go get in another truck!", she'd say.
Shhh, listen to him! Hes doing this for you!

I tried my best to engage her, asking the men questions about their alien I-certainly-wouldn't-want-to-be-the-one-wearing-that gear, hoping that she'd really absorb what they had to say. Which we later noticed that she did, thank goodness.

I can't believe they went through all of the trouble, just for one little girl.
Those suits don't slide right on, ya know?



Eleanore traded in her plastic hat for the real deal.
For a second at least.




Charlie started getting tired somewhere around the demonstration of how to cut people out of vehicles.
I know buddy, I know.



But not too tired to miss driving more firetrucks!!

Right?

Oh, and in case you were wondering...



Me and Evelyn were there too.
Lurking in the shadows, getting sweaty from each others body heat, complaining about how hungry we were (me mostly, heh).

Eventually, nearly two hours later, it was time to say goodbye to the Dyess AFB Fire Department.

Buuuut, not before posing for a family photo first...



Ok, so, Eleanore's new boyfriend isn't the very best of photographers, but- it'll do.



Farewell fire station!
Lets go get lunch.