everyday life: touch a truck

this year round rock created a "touch a truck" event. i heard about it a few days prior to the event, and i had no expectation what we would find upon our arrival. i thought there would be a few trucks beyond the standard emergency vehicles, and then we'd be on our way. boy, was i wrong. all types of vehicles had formed a circle in the field, and the kids were able to climb in and check out the vehicles in a fashion that very rarely happens.

i didn't realize round rock had a swat team, but indeed they do. this truck was so cool with a "porthole" so that the team can climb out the top or survey from the top of the truck. the team brought their gear with them. the vest that the officers wear is really heavy and there was a gun that took both brody and me to lift and a battering ram. i think this could've been the coolest display for me.

brody and emersyn called this the ABC truck because of all of the letters in the word "mayflower." all the kids were running from end to end inside this truck. it's enormous! this is brody just before he jumped out.

the firetruck brought out their extension ladder and had firefighters periodically climbing the rope. very impressive exhibition of strength both going up and down the rope. when the firefighters weren't climbing they let the kids have a try at it. it's much tougher than it looks. this had to be the most comprehensive display of firefighter and EMS gear i've ever seen. some parts of the day i enjoyed instead of taking pictures and that includes all the gear they brought. the EMS team brought a stretcher, and you could even see how it was secured inside the vehicle.

since our neighbor is a UPS driver we had to check out the truck. even better, it was carrying candy!

i was amazed at the generosity of everyone at this event to let the kids climb on their trucks, "steer" them, honk the horns, talk on the CBs and thoroughly investigate the vehicles. they loved it!