Sunday, April 29, 2012

FF Winner (oops, I mean Reed)

 There are a handful of people that only read my blog, mainly my step son and my father in law, who happen to be two of my favorite people in the world.  A couple of months ago I was selected to take part in the City of Richardson Citizens Fire Academy.  It's a 10 week course in which we learn about, and get to take part in, the fire dept. I only have 2 weeks left, and it has been an experience of a lifetime.  My fire fighting genes have been in full force.  This week we get to do a live burn, and then next week we graduate. After that, we are part of the Alumni Association where we can continue to help the fire dept in many ways. Here are a lot of photos of what we have been doing. During these last 8 weeks I have been allowed to do ride-outs at the different stations.  It's been amazing. I have seen a lot of neat stuff, trained with the fire fighters, seen their day to day life, and even got to see a real apartment fire.  Truly an amazing couple of months. 

Learning how to use the hose
 
 
 A few of the 25 volunteers

 Our ladder truck

 Getting ready for the confined space rescue 

 Here I have a 30 lbs SCBA (self contained breathing apparatus) on

 Haz Mat Suit (so much easier than a Pluto suit)

 Cutting open a car

 This had a roof when we started

 Our whole class

 FF Winner (yup, I would totally use my maiden name if I was a FF. It just sounds cooler)


 Our class photo

 Just before repelling down 3 stories



 Trying not to look nervous about climbing the ladder truck

 That's me up there. 100 ft in the air at 70 degree incline.




 Pulling the hose up 3 stories



 Me after running up and down 9 stories with the SCBA on.  It was actually kind of easy


 ET phone home

 Actual apartment fire (started in the kitchen)



 That's me in the vest. I was helping (but of course no photo of that)


Let's catch up

 The boys flying kites with Daddy
 Ry at the Dallas Zoo
 Zane learning to ice skate
 The boys being boys
 Thank goodness for friends parties
So it turns out that my step-son, Blake, actually reads my blog so he can see what we are up to.  That right there is reason enough for me to start blogging again.  A lot has happened in the past few months.  Zane started Tae Kwon Do, he's about to get his yellow stripe. Ryder turned 4, and just started school full time this past week.  Those are pretty much the highlights.  We are eagerly preparing for this summer with school, and camp, and Kristi and Blake coming to visit.  I'm starting school again in June, I'm so excited.