Tempe Fire Station #1

While Michael was golfing today I took the kids and my mom to visit my very good friend Andrea.  We had a bonus visit because Andrea's mom, Carol, was there which was such a nice surprise!

Andrea and I have been friends since second grade and she is one of the best people I have ever known.  She's just remarkable in so many ways.  One of these ways still blows me away - she's a firefighter.  Not only is she a firefighter - which, lets face it, is freaking awesome - she is the the very first female captain in the Tempe Fire Department.  Do I sound a little boastful and prideful?  Well, I am!!

Of course, this means that I totally take advantage of our friendship and make her entertain my kids every couple years with a visit to her firehouse.

Each of the kids got to put on her gear - that hat is so heavy she didn't even put it on their heads all the way. 

Everything was really humongous on Gabi












Then we got to take a peek inside one of the fire trucks.  This was the special operations truck - it had the jaws of life in it and an unbelievably big circular saw and all sorts of other fascinating stuff.  It was the only truck there because it is generally used for big calls - like fires or car wrecks, and thankfully it wasn't needed while we were there.  The other two trucks were out for most of our visit.

They all had turns in the different seats.

Gabi as the Engineer.

Here is Isa as the Captain.

And Luke and Grandma as firefighters.

Here we are hanging out in the main area by the kitchen. 

Tempe Fire Station #1 is right by Arizona State University, and it is the busiest station in the Tempe Fire Department.  Despite that, every firefighter we met was absolutely fabulous to us - what a great group of people! 

Andrea's truck, Engine 271, came in to gas up and we jumped in with the crew to get this awesome picture!



I honestly think we could go home now and the kids would say it was an awesome vacation!

 We love Auntie Andrea and we love firefighters!!!!