Fun at Granddad's work

Guest Blogger: This was a "boys only" outing, but I wanted to share it on the blog so this one is conveyed by Tate aka "Daddy" 

There are a few things almost every boy has in common. One of those things is the dream of what they will be when they grow up. At some point, every boy wants to be a football player, baseball player, doctor, astronaut, policeman and fireman. In many cases (as it was with me) you believe you will be all of them. Well, as a child I was lucky. My dad WAS a fireman. My play toys as a child were actual fire helmets, gloves, boots, coats. I even had one of those red lights that attached on an off duty car. It was pretty cool as a child. Still is. 

When I was about four or five I remember my first trip to dad's work. I remember the smell, what time of year it was and everywhere I got to go in the firehouse. The last time I was in that firehouse was about 20 years ago when I was in college. Lucky for me, and my boys, their granddad wanted his grandsons to have the same experiences I had as a child. I think the boys enjoyed it as much as I did when I was their age.

This truck we are standing in front of the boys' granddad actually drove.
It is still in service as the number 2 fire engine.
He also drove the big ladder truck.

The boys got to do tons of things and all of the guys who were working were great with the boys. I can't give them enough praise. The boys got fire helmets with lights attached to the sides like real firemen. They got to sit in fire trucks. They got to ring the bell on granddad's fire engine. They ran around the sleeping quarters and even ate cookies in the kitchen.

Here Jackson is showing a real fireman how to drive the truck.

Brett sitting in the same seat his granddad did.

Peyton in the jump seat ready to go!

When I was growing up our family's best friends were the fire chief and his family. Every time we got together I always played firemen with their son Tom. We either played fire station or talked about everything fireman related. Tom is now the fire chief of the same Fire Department where our dads worked. There was only one other chief between him and his dad. That too is a pretty cool thing.

The bed all the way on the right by the chief was granddad's bed.
The boys seemed to like running around the sleeping quarters the most for some reason.

All five of us had a great boy's outing. I'm pretty sure granddad and I had as much, if not more, fun than the boys did. I know I'm more excited than they are to take them back again when they are a little older. I'm sure granddad is too.