Field Trip!

Aunt Katie has the hook ups, man. 

She has a friend named Fireman Eric who happens to be... drum roll... a fireman! He works at the station in Park City, so she arranged a visit for us. We picked up our favorite local cousin, and headed out.

We checked out the living quarters first, and the kids were definitely the most impressed by the gym. The ridiculously huge exercise ball was a big hit. 

This is Fireman Eric saying "this stuff is cool, right? But look at what's through those windows over there!"

The garage. Oh yeah. 

First stop, Ambulance. "Has any one ever ridden in one of these?" Only I had, and on multiple occasions too, isn't that strange?

 It was thoroughly explored by minions everywhere.

It's hard to realize how huge these vehicles are when you only see them zooming by, which is all we really ever want to see of them. 

"Anyone want to sit in the drivers seat?"

 "Yes!"

The boys were surprisingly hesitant at first, but Emmy hopped right up there. The vehicles did take some getting used to, they're just so huge!

Then it was on to the firetrucks. 

 Fireman Eric was seriously the most patient bachelor I've ever met - the shyness was wearing off and these kids were climbing all over the place! He let them all sit in the seat, let them turn the lights on and off, the works. 

Jonah hadn't realized that you could be a Fireman for a living. He thought he would have to be a Fireman for fun, but have a real job too. What a revelation it was for him!

Then Fireman Eric gave us a tour of the rest of the truck.

"This is one of the water nozzles. Want to hold it?"
Those things are heavy.

"And over here in this compartment we have..."

The Jaws of Life. Those things are crazy, man. 

"Have you ever seen a wrecked car, how it's all crunched in?"

"Nope."

"Oh. Well, just take my word for it then."

He explained what they can use this tool for, and they were sore amazed.

 Emmy then wanted to see what was behind every single door on the truck, and he obliged her.

 Having fun, guys?

Then Fireman Eric, with a sneaky grin on his face, said to the kids "Hey, I want to show you what we keep in this compartment over here on this other truck."
We followed him over there, and he opened a door, and look what was inside!

 "This is our Extra Fireman, we keep him in here for when we need extra help."

They thought that was pretty funny.

Katie had said that these guys love having visitors because it can get pretty boring on slow days. She wasn't kidding! The Firemen were obviously enjoying themselves, it was adorable.

 I don't even know what to say about this, other than I love these two quirky kids.

The last truck was the 'Tender', I think he called it. It's the one that carries 3600 gallons of water.
"How much water do you think that is?" Fireman Eric asked them.

 "This much!" answered Emmy.
"Woah." responded Kate.

"Want to drive this one too?"

Silly question. He even let them blow the air horn this time, which was deafening. Not literally, but it was definitely loud.

Thank you thank you Kate, you're the coolest Aunt ever. And thank you to her adorable and very single friend, Fireman Eric, who really shouldn't be single.

Kate's gonna love that last line there, yes?