Fire Station Tour - Pint Sized Adventure

This morning we toured Fire Station 97 as a Pint Sized Adventure and was it ever! Some of us (perhaps more than others) got more than they bargained for!

I was so excited to be able to make this Fire Station Tour work. This was the third one I'd scheduled in 2010, and I'd been wanting to do it for about a year longer. The Captain's up at the station were very nice, friendly, accommodating and we just all had a blast!

Here's the link to all the pictures, you'll definitely want to click the picture to view them all! But you might want to read all the way to the end of this blog post before you do!


Of course, today's visit wasn't without calls either. We had only been there about 5 minutes when the alarm went off and they had to head out to a call! Kindly Fireman Chris stayed behind to get us started on the tour while we waited for the big truck and the firemen to return.

We saw the Captains office, the dormitory, the kitchen & lizzard lounge (think living room). All very interesting. Chris did a great job talking with us and the kids and answering all our questions.

When the Captain, the men and the truck returned they joined the group and finished out the tour with us.

Somewhere along the way I got pegged as Ms. Adventurous. Now, I won't lie. I do like me some adventure. And I don't mind being in front of a crowd (at least not that much! - anymore!) and so I agreed to be the volunteer. To do what you ask? Volunteer to race the rookie putting on his gear!! Um...wait, you want me to put what on?

In case you've never worn fireman's gear (I mean, I hadn't before) you start with your boots. Step in, pull those yellow pants up and get those suspenders over your shoulders. Then the head hood (which goes over your head and neck to make sure there isn't any exposed skin in a fire). Next the jacket, axe, oxygen tank pack, mask .... WHAT?!!

Hold on there one second. I'm good with boots, pants, jacket and a hat! What's this about a mask and tank?!

Here's where I let you in on my Kryptonite secret...I'm a little bit claustraphobic.

I mean, I don't mind most small spaces...unless its dark. Or scary. Or I'm locked in and seriously really can't get out. But things on my face, tight things on my face, things that involve a fireman repeating over and over, "You can still breathe. Just breathe normal." Um...no thank you.

Now for you mamas who were there, you'll have to let me know if you could tell. I mean I thought I put on a brave face. You know, for the kids. (Not that my kids wanted anything to do with me once I was in full gear, mind you!) Despite my calm, collected, exterior demeanor - I was about 30 seconds from panicking and passing out.

No Lie.

Passing out!

I mean it was hot in there! That gear is heavy. And HOT! Like seriously blazing hot. Remember the 115 degree weather we had a few days ago? This was worse.

I don't think that the panting and the profuse sweat dripping off my body (and into whomever's fire gear that was! - eew!! and I'm so so sorry!!) was helping.

So I concentrated on my breathing. And not passing out. And breathing. And telling myself this was not a good time to have a panic attack. Rinse and repeat.

And so as I concentrated on breathing, I put on a smile and bravely stood and took pictures with the kids for almost an entire millenium, before I turned and calmly tapped my closest man in blue to please. remove. the. mask. now.

I don't think I yelled, but maybe that's just cause no one could here me if I had tried.

With the mask removed it was like the heavens opened. Air. Fresh air! (Not like that crazy gas they were pumping in the mask to me!) Sweet beautiful, God created, fresh air. Exhale. End scene.

So you might be asking yourself, "what did Karen learn in this little exercise?" Hmm? Hmm. Me too. But here's my reflections. I learned I was not meant to be a fire woman. No way. No how. It. is. not. going. to. happen. Ever. I also learned that being the adventurous one can sometimes get you in a pickle - oh wait, I already knew that (thank you to everyone who has ever volunteered me for anything).

And more importantly, I learned I have no idea how those men do what they do. To all my firemen friends, past and current. My fire hat is tipped to you. Not only do you face real danger all the time, you do it under crazy circumstances and with huge amounts of gear on!! THANK YOU for what you do!

After I had recovered from my near death trauma (or slightly sooner) all the kids got to stand in the boots and pants and jacket and helmet too! (No claustrophobic mask for them - the wimps!)

And of course we climbed in and around the fire truck, and they even let us spray a hose!

Overall - GREAT Pint Sized Adventure!!

By the way. I totally blew rookie Tim out of the water. One minute, 20 seconds into full gear. (Ignore the other two firemen helping me gear up!) Beat that rookie man!

Anyone want to visit the Police Department?

Pint Sized Adventure - FIre Station #97

Take Two! (We're trying this again after last springs unsuccessful attempt.)

So, I scheduled a Pint Sized Adventure at Fire Station #97 (on Sierra Madre) for THURSDAY, SEPT. 30th at 10:30AM. Captain Steve and his crew will talk about fire safety but mostly we'll be hands on with the truck, water and fire hats!

Remember these are tricky tours to coordinate, these are working guys, but hopefully they'll be able to have us at the station!!

Please use the poll box to the right to let me know if you're planning to come or not.

My almost 13 (wow – where do those years go?) niece broke her hand catching a fly ball in her winter-ball game (softball in the off season) the other morning. She’s out for the season. As you can imagine by the mere fact that she plays softball year round, it’s a pretty big disappointment. She couldn’t finish the game, as it was quite apparent a trip to the ER was in order, much less come back and finish the season with her team. Her momentum has been thwarted.

Have you ever felt this way? Like you just can’t finish the game, much less make it through the season? I’ve had those moments. And my prayers sound something like this: Lord, I’m too tired to keep parenting these children. Lord, I’m too broken to show your love and grace to this difficult person. Lord, I’m hurting and upset and I just can’t do it anymore, I can’t take this suffering anymore.

Fortunately for me, this isn’t a permanent affliction. It won’t be for my niece either, though the road to health will require some doctor’s visits and maybe surgery, she will recover.

Sometime’s that is just what I need too, a visit with my maker, a mental break from momentary sufferings. As I turn to my Savior and cry out in the midst of my hurt and weakness, he meets me. He lovingly tends my wounds and gives me strength for the day.

2 Samuel 22:33 33 It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.

1 Chronicles 16: 8-11 8 Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. 9 Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. 10 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. 11 Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.

Isaiah 40:28-30 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Sometimes all I (and maybe you) need is to do is re-frame my pain and suffering. Lord, you made the whole earth and you love me. You never tire of caring for my needs and you always give me the strength to carry on. Thank you for giving me your strength.

And he does.

Table Assignments

Here they are, enjoy those mentor moms ladies!!

Barb: Brenda, Sara, Amy, Katie, Abra, Janeen, Stacy

Judy: Amie, Karen, Michele, Breanne, Salpy, Sarah

Carol: Ashley, Emi, Elizabeth, Steffani, Olivia, Yvonne, Stephanie

Aileen: Kathy, Elizabeth G., Gillian, Lindsay, Celia, Tiffany

Pint Sized Park Day

Pint Sized Park Adventures have begun. Every 2nd Thursday of the month, hope to see you next month!

park pictures

Awesome Website - Review

If you're like me, you likely find yourself printing out coloring pages for your kids weekly. What's that honey, you'd like a coloring page of a giraffe or dinosaur? Sure honey, let mommy search Google images.

If you haven't used this tactic before, you should. Need a few minutes to get those dishes out of the sink, or put the baby down for a nap, or take a shower? Print out some coloring pages for the bigger kids, sit them at the table with some crayons or washable markers and I can almost guarantee you 15 minutes.

Today it was birthday cards for Daddy (who's birthday is Sunday). So we were looking for just the right cake and present coloring pages, when I stumbled upon Twisty Noodle. Now why I've never found Twisty Noodle before, I have no idea, and I'm pretty sure my life was much more miserable without it.

Twisty Noodle has coloring pages and worksheets galore. Not only that, but you can CUSTOMIZE each sheet with your own WORDS in a bold font, or traceable letters!!


You can make a coloring sheet a worksheet to color and practice letters. Remember the giraffe & dinosaur?


It's simple. Search. Customize. Print. And there's thousands of images to choose from! I know you're going to love it as much as I do!!

God's Chisel

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Are you still doubting God's love for you? Still questioning what He could possibly with you?

God doesn't make junk. His love for you knows no boundaries.