Fire Prevention Week

The first week of October is fire prevention week. Even though Jamie is a fire fighter, this week usually passes like any other. This year, since Jamie is in prevention, he was a little more involved. He had a very busy week. On base, they started the week with a parade and open house. Jamie drove the "pilot" car for the parade and was on hand to answer questions at the open house. The next day he spent in the elementary school on base talking to all the classes about fire safety.

In town, the city department had an open house on Thursday, complete with a truck from the base, Sparky, and fire truck rides. I took the girls down to the station. The girls let me take pictures and we got to ride on the fire truck. And I do mean ON the fire truck. They had a ramp set up that everyone walked up and we rode on the hose beds on top. The ride was probably a couple miles and they even turned on the lights and sirens. We all had a blast. It was a bit cold and windy though.

This is what I call the "Parade Truck." It's a beautiful, restored, old fire truck. It only comes out for parades and displays.

Andrea and Samantha in an ambulance. Sam climbed up and through before I could get Andi up there for the picture. So Sam went through twice.

Samantha and Andrea waiting for everyone to get on for the ride.

The Characters of Fire Prevention Week

Samantha with Smokey the Bear. Andrea didn't want anything to do with Smokey. It was a little bit funny actually. Once we rode on the fire truck, you walked through the bay (the area where the trucks park) and they handed out pencils, stickers, and papers from the fire department, police, and BLM. They had stickers of Smokey the bear at the BLM table. Andrea LOVES stickers so I asked her if she wanted any. She said no. She disliked Smokey or was afraid of him that much that she wouldn't even take stickers of him. I guess there is a first for everything.

Andrea and Samantha with Sparky. The girls got their picture taken with Sparky while we waited in line to ride the fire truck. I took the boys to the commissary on base the next day to get their pictures with Sparky. It was a bit colder and windier then I thought when we left, can you tell?



JJ with Sparky. I don't think that JJ was afraid of Sparky, but he wasn't sure about him either. He didn't mind Jamie handing him to Sparky. I think JJ was a little more interested in watching every one else at the commissary.

Riley with Sparky. Riley fell asleep on the way to the base and stayed asleep till we got home. He didn't even know he got his picture taken with Sparky.

Our Four Little Ones

I know it's been a little while, but I have been busy, as you all can imagine. I can't say I love every minute of it, but I do love almost every minute of it. Here are some pictures of the kids over the last few weeks.

Sometimes I find myself looking at Riley and thinking he is getting so big. Other times, especially after holding JJ, I think Riley is so small. Riley is starting to be awake a lot more and sleeping longer periods of the night (thank goodness).

JJ seems to like Riley too. Some of the jealousness seems to be going away. When JJ isn’t stealing Riley’s binky, or rocking him in the swing, he enjoys strolling around the house and checking on everyone. I call him our little supervisor. I almost got a good picture of JJ snuggled up with Riley, but of course, by the time I grabbed the camera, JJ had moved.

The girls love having a baby around again. The are always asking to help. Andrea likes to be the "mommy" to the boys, but loves playing with JJ and sharing whatever she is eating with him.


Samantha likes first grade, but not getting up every morning. She is doing well in school and loves to come home and tell me all about it.

Happy Birthday JJ!

JJ is now a year old. It seems like so much has happened in his first year of life. We moved, he had his first trip to Oregon and Washington, his first camping experience, and he became a big brother.


JJ enjoyed the frosting on his cake. I don't know what kid doesn't. It was fun to watch him eat it too.



It took some coaxing and showing to get JJ to open his presents. And of course, he was more interested in the paper then what was inside.

After he study everything and gave it some though, he seemed to love everything he got. He seems to be suck a thinker. He got several different little trucks, it's not often we see him with out one now.