David's Gourmet Breakfast

I figured I'd better post a picture today or my loyal fans would start complaining again! : )

So, here is David this morning, in his jammies, with a mouth full of Cheerios & fruit puffs, ready to wash it down with a cup of mango juice. Notice the bed hair... and I gave him a haircut yesterday!

And just in case Grandma is worried about it - he has hot feet like his Mom.

A Very Bloggy Day

Here you go... David helped Dad work on the stove this morning. (Note the screwdriver in his hands.)

For some reason the oven just doesn't get hot. Dad's verdict: Call someone to come fix it on Monday.


Next, David is into music already. He was quite content sitting in the corner of the office, under a shelf, going through Dad's box of CDs. Here he is with our autographed copy of Plumb's Self-Titled Album.

Does he have good taste in music? Actually, I think they all taste the same to him! : )


Last, but not least, we have a sleepy boy eating his lunch. Sweet rosey cheeks & sweet eye lashes! : )

Christmas on the River

Tonight we took the Tour of Lights...

This was David's favorite part - the tunnel of lights! He kept looking back & forth from window to window as the lights danced around the car.

Mom was excited about the huge nativity scene. One problem... see the stable with the star & angels above... it's dark inside. Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus were not lit up!

While not the picture I was hoping for, I thought it looked neat. This was a herd of deer grazing among Christmas trees.

This is seven swans a swimming! It was so pretty how the lights reflected in the river.

Gingerbread house in a candy cane forest and reflection.

Santa fishing in the river! Hands down the best photo of the evening.

Santa's Toy Company was very colorful!

Merry Christmas Y'all!

This giant Santa is peeking over the roof on the back side of the main post office!

And here he is riding along, enjoying the lights. The funny face was trying to figure out what the red light was that Mom was shining on his face in the dark car! David enjoyed the tour of lights... at least what he could see. Some of the features on the far side of the river were hard for him to see from the car seat and it was too cold to get out.

Dad's Day of Fire & David Reads the Bible

In case anyone missed his email, here's Dad's recount of his busy day yesterday:

"I traveled out to Engine 5 (E5) and it started off normal. We forced entry on a medical patient's house because she couldn't get to the door to let the ambulance in. Then we heard other units dispatched to a fire on the north side. The Battalion Chief called a 2nd alarm and that meant E5.

Once we got there they dropped me off at a hydrant and I hooked up the end of the large hose while the truck drove off, laying the 5" diameter hose behind them. Once they called for water, I turned on the hydrant and joined the others. The house had a roof decked with particle board, and was pretty much destroyed. On E5 we helped pull the ceiling down and wet down the exposed attic."

"While we were leaving they received another struct. fire on the east side. It also went to 2 alarms. E5 didn't go, but we went to Station 1 to cover the middle of town. Once that fire was done, we went back to Station 5. About 2 or 3pm I was sent back to Station 1 and got put on Rescue 1 (R1) - which makes every structure fire in town...."

"I was telling another rookie (we have a friendly competition who gets to do more "cool stuff") that, "I bet those 2 fires were it for the day." 15 minutes later they call a structure fire (1-alarm) for the first house that possibly rekindled. It didn't. We came home."

"About 5pm, they call for another rekindle at the same address. We figure another false alarm. Nope - the roof had multiple layers of wood and the fire smoldered unknown to us. I walked in with the Ladder 1 crew and the attic was rolling with fire. On R1 we got up on the roof and piece by piece, tore the roof off exposing all of the fire over 2 rooms. We also helped wet down the entire attic space, and pull all of the ceilings that didn't get pulled before."

"It was 22* outside, with a 5mph wind from the north up on the roof. But under all that gear we stayed warm."

"We were almost done when R1 and others got sent to another structure fire on the opposite side of town. Dispatch gets on the radio while we were enroute and advises everyone it's a working structure fire. R1 kills the electricity, and used the thermal image camera. We hung around a long time while the fire was investigated the fire marshal, then the next one came in...."

"... to a house near the freeway. PD tells dispatch the house is involved. Since we're on the far side of town it took a while and the fire was mostly out when we got in. Medic 1 gave oxygen to a house cat in the house, and we helped clean up ("overhaul") by getting smoldering material outside so it wouldn't rekindle. And then...."

"Possible structure fire on 40th St. We run up there and it's smoke in attic. An electric wire got hot and caused a smoke scare but that's it. No fire. Everyone's done."

"We stop at a convenience store for fuel, and get our supper. We get back to the station. Ladder 1 just got their supper from Popeyes, and we sit down and join them. It's 10pm and we're finally eating. Everybody looks disheveled, hair sticking out every which way, dirty, smelly. But warm, and dry."

"My gear is soaking wet and filthy from the first fire I made with E5. My gloves are wet and cold such that my fingers tingled until they went numb. From what we know, only 1 fire was related to a heater being left on because of the cold. Others were caused by electrical and candles.

The most sobering sight... being inside a living room of a house where the artificial Christmas tree was nothing but a metal pole with holes and a burned, melted, mangle pile of lights and ornaments, and wire from the tree and lights. There were presents under the tree some black, and some you could see the color of the wrapping paper."

When I (Mom again) walked into the living room earlier, I found David laying out on the floor with his little feet kicking up in the air as he was reading his Toddler Bible. I ran to get the camera & he sat up just as I was about to snap! He was still cute reading his little Bible, though!

A Cold Nose

Just look at that cute little red nose! Just like a reindeer!!! This was when we came in from our errands today. Today's temperature was around 24* all day long - 60* cooler than last week!!!

David & Mom went to story time at the library today, but got the time mixed up, so we just checked out some books.

In the second picture, David was walking towards Mom while chewing on a stuffed fireman/snowman!

A David & Dad Day

This photo is dedicated to Grandma today. We wish you a speedy recovery from surgery!

David stayed with Dad for four hours today while Mom went to some doctor appointments and to get more diapers! Sounds like they had fun!

Sunday & An Old Picture

Well, can you believe that Mom took no pictures today? For those of you who are wondering what we did today, I'll post anyway.... maybe I can find an old picture to add.

It actually felt like winter today after another record high yesterday!

We tried the church nursery again after several months of taking David to big church with Mom & Dad. David had promoted to the Romper class and he did just fine. He was very tired when we picked him up, though, since he didn't get his normal sermon nap.

Back at home, we were all settled in for a long winter's nap when the expected call came from the fire station. Dad was offered over-time to take a long-distance transfer to San Antonio. He called about 7:30 to let me know they'd eaten supper at Joe's Crab Shack (tab paid for by the FD) and were on their way back. We were glad he got called, since that's why we didn't make our trip this weekend.

Here's a picture to reflect on... Does anybody remember this? This was a year ago when David was just learning to sit up with all that wild hair! I think by the time our therapy appointment comes around, they're going to say he doesn't need it, because he's walking & talking a little more each day now. Thanks for the prayers he's been getting!

A Fun & Festive Day

There's a lot of pictures today...

Our day started early after David woke up about 5 times during the night because his nose was stopped up. Poor baby. Since our plans to visit family this weekend didn't pan out, we're making the most of the weekend.

Mom started putting the Christmas lights up outside before the traffic picked up, while David sat in his stroller & watched. We sang Christmas carols while we worked. Dad said the ladder truck wouldn't come help with the lights, so when the house got too tall, Dad climbed up on the roof & finished the job.

David was pooped from his rough night and busy morning - and fell asleep during lunch. Look where he was leaning against the tray and a Cheerio imprinted on his tummy!!!

By 1pm, Dad took Mom & David with him to an IAFF (International Association of Firefighters) meeting at the lake house (which turns out to me more of a meeting hall that the Union owns). We were there until 3:30 & the meeting hadn't taken place yet... but there was food & drink (fajitas & an assortment of beverages), lots of visiting & jokes out on the patio, kids were playing on the playground (which had a pole to slide down), older kids were fishing. David walked to the playground, swang, played in the sand, and wanted to get in the lake! It was hard to believe this day took place in December. The camera was in the car, so we didn't get any pictures there.

Later, we stopped by the central fire station where Santa Claus was visiting with the children. Santa was in a recliner in front of Rescue One in the engine bay. David cried. Then he wouldn't get back in Santa's lap. After some cookies, we were able to get closer to Santa... Santa gave David another cookie & we got at least one picture with no crying!

We came back home for a little rest, then we hit the festivities again. Here we are waiting for the Parade of Lights. David enjoyed all the cars & floats covered in lights, but almost fell asleep again!

And when we arrived back home, look how good the house looked!!! David & Mom watched "A Muppet Family Christmas" to wind down.

A Warm Day in December

WOW! We reached about 86* this afternoon in West Texas! Mom had to change clothes after dressing for the cool morning. David was glad to get another day to play outside. He loves to play outside. And he loves the pile of garden hose that was neatly circled up under the fort.

Hmm... does he look like he's ready to attack a fire to you?


The other boy also enjoyed a little time outside this afternoon, too. He ate grass, rolled in the dirt, went under the shed, stalked things like a lion...

Christmas is HERE!

No complaints of how few pictures of David there are today, please!

Tonight, David and Mom went to our bi-monthly MOPS meeting (Mothers of Preschoolers - David goes to MOPPETS). The moms had dinner & a Christmas program. David's class had pizza and "made" a Christmas picture frame with a magnet on the back for their craft this week. They took the pictures last month. I think it would be interesting to see how they handle a classroom full of his age - feeding them supper and making a craft. There were some pictures taken of our tables at MOPS, if I can get a copy of my table I'll post one here. Wish I had it to add tonight, but someone else was taking them.

In other news, today is December 1. The beginning of the advent season. Tomorrow night the lights along the river will be lit. I love this time of year! I love our Christmas tree, too. I wish it was easier to phtotgraph a Christmas tree to make it look as magical as it looks when you walk into the room when it is the only thing lit.

David has done really well with the Christmas tree this year. There are no breakable ornaments near the bottom and there are some stuffed reindeer & snowmen he can play with.

And now to showcase this year's new ornaments...
In honor of Dad - a firesnowman driving a fire truck,
in honor of Mom - a cat (amazing how much it looks like Tort),
and for David - a cat coming out of a package. That one is actually from David's MaMa.