A week of firsts!

No, Sister is not walking...yet... but both kids got to experience something so much fun for the 1st time this week!!

Long story short, Holdyn melted the <3 of a retired Fire Chief in Savannah.... Just by running in to him at breakfast one morning! They striked up a conversation and Holdyn obviously made a big impression! The fire chief and I emailed for a few days and he asked me to bring Holdyn to 'visit' his station. Little did we know, the captain had a surprise up his sleeve. He had called headquarters to get permission from the authorities above to allow Holdyn to go on a firetruck ride! Boy was that an experience! The chief and I sat in the back of the cab and Holdyn sat in the front with firefighter Jim. Every once in awhile when I would glance at him, he and firefighter Jim were giving each other knuckle punches!

Holdyn got to see just how heavy the fire ax was! On the left is firefighter Jim who was our driver and stayed with us pretty much the whole morning and rolled out the red carpet for Holdyn. On the right is the retired chief who set all this up and his name is Jim also!

Holdyn was very timid at first since he had never met these people before, but he got pretty comfortable around firefighter Jim!

I think firefighter Jim has found a new little buddy! He is working at our station on March 31st to cover someone elses shift, so we have it marked on our calendar to make a visit that day and maybe have some baked goodies with us :)

Firefighter Jim got a call and had to leave on the ambulance, so another fireman got to show Holdyn his favorite tool of all... the jaws of life!

Firefighter Jim and Chief Jim with Fireman Holdyn with another firefighter at the station.

Pops and sister came to see all the cool firetrucks, too!

Next up, they taught Holdyn how to take apart a hydrant to refill the tanker truck with water, right when it got back from a fire call. I told the firemen not to get mad if I had to call them next week for a hydrant that was taken apart and spewing water in my yard!!

Pops and sister had to stay behind at the station while we went on the engine. The lights and sirens might have scared her!

Before the chief left, he handed me 2 boxes and an envelope. He told me it was a gift for Holdyn. I had no idea what it was. We got home and found a hardback book all about fire engines, and an old timey metal fire engine. Holdyn was in HEAVEN! I opened the envelope, and it was the official invitation for Holdyn to come to the square after the St. Patrick's Day Parade where all of the 500 NYC firemen gather. The chief also has 2 sons that are Lieutenants in NYC coming down for the parade and they are bringing Ladder 39 t-shirts for Holdyn. I will NEVER be able to get him out of those!

The 'collection' with the new truck added!

Sister also had a 'first' this week. Holdyn's pre-school wanted her to do a 'trial day' to see how she would do because they are dying for her to come to school there!! She went there today and did awesome! I was worried she going to be a grump missing her morning nap, but they said the only time she pitched a fit was when they changed her diaper. She hates that at home anyways! It's like a wrestling match!

The kids had a great week. Holdyn is looking forward to the firemen activities the week of St. Patty's Day and Sister is excited to start going to big girl school 2 days a week for 3 hours a day to play with kids her own age!