Fireman Ty!

I wish you could hear sweet Tyler's voice when he imitates the sound the fire truck makes. It might be the most innocent, pleasant sound your ears have ever heard.

Woo-oooh, Woo-oooh, Woo-oooh!

I bet most little boys, at one time or another, claim that they want to be a fireman when they grow up. Tyler is no exception, although he has no idea what it means to "be something when you grow up." He just loves the sight of a big, red truck with its siren wailing. And, boy, those little ears are tuned in for all things on wheels or rails. He'll hear that emergency siren before you've even had a chance to register the first decibel.

Ty just can't get enough of those fire trucks, and, this past Saturday, he had all the fire trucks and ambulances and rescue dogs his heart could handle when the Fairfax Volunteer Fire Departments hosted open houses at all of their stations. Luckily, the Franconia station is a mere mile or so from our house. There was just no sense in missing the chance to make my little boy's day.

In the first few pictures, you'll notice an unenthusiastic looking expression on his face. This is not a lack of excitement but an abundance of shock. I think he was totally overwhelmed by what he was seeing for the first 15 minutes we were there. Once it was his turn to crawl through the "burning house" and stop, drop, and roll on the mat, there was no more shock. He couldn't get enough at that point.

Bless his heart, he had a ball. We were so glad Grandaddy could be there with us, too. It was an hour that I hope will be sketched in my memory for all of time.

Arriving at the station

Grandaddy says those wheels are 40 inches...Ty is almost as tall as they are!

Checking out the backseat of the truck

Watching the firefighters prepare for the ladder demonstration

This would make me puke...

Grandaddy and Lydie hung out while we chased Ty all over the station

Scoping out the ambulance

Crawling through the "burning house"

The firefighter showing Ty how to stop, drop, and roll!

He got a firefighter hat for completing the obstacle course. And, he's worn it every day since!

Meeting the rescue dog who reminded us so much of Daisy Mae

The water hose experience was a lesson in waiting your turn that almost went south. An almost-two-year-old does not take well to waiting in line to play with the "wah-wah."

Ty even got to pretend to drive an old-fashioned fire truck, complete with a Dalmatian passenger!