Party Time

I posted these pictures on Facebook right after the party, but honestly, they need a home here on the blog as well. Who knows, maybe one of these days I'll actually get ambitious enough to print this thing. It does have an awful lot of our little family history on it. So I want to make sure to include this as well.

On Monday right after Cormac's birthday we had a party for him. We all met at the fire station (Station 5) just a few blocks from our house.

A big highlight for all the kids was getting to hold the big fire hose.

Hang on boys, that's a lot of pressure.

Cormac was a bit shy at first but warmed up as his buddies arrived.

Milo getting to work. Milo was a bit camera shy, so he isn't in many of these, but we were glad to have him.

And the never shy Ethan.

Cole was a bit cautious as well, but warmed up over time. He sure looks the part.

After the hose and once everyone was there we started the big tour. They kids got to sit up in the fire truck, see what goes in all the compartments, listen to the loud horn, and see the lights. The firemen were awesome. The kids had a blast.

It's pretty big for these 2 still.

Marshall and Maggie may have been the most excited about everything out of all the kids.

I can't tell you how sad we are that Ethan and Dakota are no longer our next door neighbors. But we are glad they haven't gone far and could still make it to the party.

Ethan and Cormac ready to get to any emergency.

Azure adopted this scowl that she wore the entire time. She didn't want anyone to know she was having fun I guess. But this girl loves to be behind the wheel of anything she can, and she really loved this fire truck.

We tried to get a group shot of everyone, this is as much as we got. Marshall was off exploring, Maggie got lost behind, and some of the kids were already out the other side. 

Grant was so excited to be in the big truck. I love this kid.

The boys really liked the big saws.

Maggie found a friend. She grabbed this fireman's hand and led him over to the truck. Then she had him help her in and then jumped. This went on for a while. It was awesome.

A few of the kids saw the ambulance as well. There's Seth ready to go in the doctor's chair.

I told Ethan and Cormac to smile and  Ethan posed. Cracks me up.

Most of the group. Seth, Grant, Cormac, Ethan, Cole, Maggie, and Marshall. Milo, Azure, and Dakota aren't pictured.

After our time at the fire station we headed back to my yoga studio for the rest of the party. Nancee ran to Costco for the pizza for me since I hadn't gotten lunch made that morning. She's my hero. I had set up an obstacle course for the kids. The biggest hit was by far the "Fire Extinguisher" part. Silly string. A poor unsuspecting spider that had decided to make that box his home got a rude awakening when 7 boys started putting out the "fire."

It's hard to tell but that box is "on fire" and they are trying to spray it out.

The awards/present table.

I forgot to get many pictures, but this is the spread. The obstacle course is along the back.

The kids would come in from outside, climb the structure, go down the slide, go under the burning table on the back wall, stop, drop, and roll, grab an extinguisher and put out the fire, then walk through the rungs of the ladder on the ground, crawl under another table, then climb up the ladder, grab the "kitty" that was helplessly stranded there, and escape out the side door. Cormac had so much fun with it while we were setting up and after when we were taking down. He'd be outside on his "fire truck" (his bike) and he'd yell, "Save yourself." Then he'd peddle over to the door and yell, "I'm a fireman. I'll save the kitty." Then he'd do the whole thing and rush out the door telling me he'd done it and the kitty was safe. He's a funny kid.

I had set out Cormac's fire trucks to decorate, but these two decided to put them to better use.

I had run to the store to get Cormac's cake before Ammon had even left for work. I didn't have the courage to make one. Then I forgot to take a picture of it, but it was awesome. Cormac asked me all morning if he could eat that cake. He was so excited for it.

Finally, time for cake.

My handsome birthday boy.

 

And of course presents.

They boys were all very excited to bring their present over to Cormac to be opened. It was a lot of fun. It was a wonderful, special day. Now if you ask Cormac how old he is he'll say, "I'm turning 4." Trying to drag out that birthday fun a bit longer I think.