Water Fight with 5 Not-All-So-Small Kids

We went to Walmart early yesterday morning and ran into Ronnie and Daniel, Bryce's heroes (the firemen he loves for those of you who don't read this regularly)!! Ronnie was driving and dropped off Daniel and 2 other firemen and went and sat in the parking lot with the truck. Daniel saw us pull in and stood at the door waiting on Bryce. They talked for a few minutes and then we went out to the truck to see Ronnie and the big ladder truck.

Ronnie and Daniel just changed stations recently and they are now driving the ladder truck, which they did not used to have. So, Bryce has not spent time "checking out" this truck, he only has seen the outside when they were doing that training a couple of weeks ago. He was really excited to see Ronnie and check the truck out with him. Ronnie, Caleb and Bryce were checking it out when there was a call that came in for an emergency. I peeled the kids away from the truck and the other guys came running out of Walmart. Ronnie asked us to come to the station later.

Well, we went and picked up Caleb's friend, Jordan, to come play for the day. We ran some errands and around 11:30 we went over there. Bryce went and knocked on the door of the fire house. He gave them an invitation to his birthday party (where they ARE the entertainment!!!). Daniel took them out to check out the "new" firestation (new to Bryce), and to finish checking out the ladder truck. After a few minutes, Ronnie came out and joined them. It started out like a normal visit until Bryce asked if they would hook the hose up and let him spray. If it had just been Bryce I would not have been too concerned about him getting wet, but I knew that since I had two 7 year olds, things would get nasty! And they did. Little did I know that the FIREMEN would be the biggest kids! They initiated most of the water fights! After 2 hours when I finally convinced the boys that we needed to go eat, 3 firemen and 3 boys were soaked! The last fireman did not get too wet until right before we left, when the second water fight broke out. SOMEHOW I managed to stay dry (maybe because I was hiding behind a tree the entire time!?)

It started with Bryce spraying the ground and trying all the different sprays. Then Caleb ran in front of the water. When Caleb took a turn at the hose - he went a little wild! He was spraying everywhere, and so did Jordan when he took his turn (but not as bad as Caleb). Well, at some point Ronnie turned the hose on Daniel while Caleb was still holding it. That was the beginning of a very wet trip! After a while, Daniel told Caleb to ask for another turn at the hose, but when he got it to turn and spray Ronnie. At some point the Daniel ended up with the fire hose, Ronnie got the water hose and things went crazy! I took lots of pictures of the fun, which the firemen say they do frequently during the summer.

After the first water fight was over (when the firetruck ran out of water) they took the truck to the hydrant to fill it up. They let the boys "operate" the hydrant. When the truck was full, they took the boys for about a 10 minute ride. With the ladder truck, it has the two front seats and then four seats in the back. They put the boys in the back, put seat belts on them, and then put the headsets on them. It was so cool, and the boys loved it!

After their ride, which included lots of lights and sirens, they came back. Ronnie got them all fireman hats and sticker badges and little paper firetrucks that have "Frank's Fire Safety Tips" (Frank is the name of the firetruck I assume). The firetruck was one of those that you have to fold and tuck tabs, etc. to make. It took the firemen longer than you would think it would to put them together - it was a little challenging for them!! :)

Then they each put on a firemans coat and helmet. They kept saying it was not heavy, but you could tell they were, they just did not want to admit it. Bryce was leaning from side to side and a fireman was having to hold him to keep him from falling over (but it was not heavy!!) This was the first time we could get Bryce to try one on, usually he is scared to do it! I am glad that I was able to get a picture of that.

Enjoy the pictures - the boys are as I am posting this!! For all wondering - Isaac was at school during this, that is why he is not anywhere to be seen! Pics will be posted seperately!