Sac Metro Fire Camp

Last week, Josh attended Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District's Fire Camp. The four-day camp happens only once per summer. It is only open to 11, 12, and 13-year-olds and kids can attend one time only.



Josh was initially nervous about attending a summer camp where he didn't know any of the kids. After the first day, he was hooked and by the last day, he was whining about how he'd miss his new friends.



The camp description according to their website states:

"During camp, the kids are grouped into “strike teams” of 8 campers, mentored and supervised by a professional firefighter. As the week progresses the teams take on a character of their own as they learn about the job of a firefighter and experience such activities as: putting out a flammable liquid fire with a fire extinguisher, climbing a 105’ aerial ladder truck, developing the traditional skills of a bucket brigade and hand pumper crew, learning water rescue and safety, auto extrication, and participating in a Kid’s Fire Muster."


Campers' masks were blacked out with duct tape and they had to search a room for the fire victim (aka an orange cone). Josh is keeping track of his teammate.


The strike teams played "water hockey". The object is to use the fire hose and get the mop bucket to hit the other teams board.


On the third day of camp, they went to a local burn training center. Josh learned how to use a fire extinguisher and got to climb this 100 foot aerial ladder.


They also put out a "bed fire" with a fire hose. The bed is actually made of metal and the fire is a controlled burn that can be shut off in an emergency.

On the last day of camp, the teams spent the morning at a local water park learning water safety and rescue. Afterward, there was BBQ lunch and awards at a community center where families could join and watch the kids participate in a friendly competition.


Bucket Brigade


Water Hockey






Make and Break




Josh's team earned silver.



All the firefighters who participated in this camp, including the photographer, volunteered their time. I am so grateful to them and our fire district because this was the experience of a lifetime for Josh.

Flash Back

One day I saw this Dear Photograph blog. I immediately pulled out old photos and tried to "take a picture of a picture from the past in the present" myself.

The worst part is the tugging at my heart. I can't believe my babies are so big now.














Before I straightened the kitchen for the shot below, Josh happened in my photo. Big Josh, little Josh. I love it.

Lake Tahoe

(Josh chose to bleach his hair over summer vacation so be prepared for "who's that kid?" It's Josh.)

I am friends with one of Josh's friend's mom, Susan. Last summer, the kids and I had a couple get-aways with Susan and Tanner. First we spent a couple nights at Lake Tahoe and another four days camping in Fort Bragg.

The summer trip with Susan and Tanner this year? The kids and I spent two nights with them in Kings Beach on the north shore of Lake Tahoe.


This is the view from the room!


There was a private beach just downstairs from our room. That's where we spent Monday afternoon.


The water was really cold and the wind picks up during the day, which doesn't make the desire to swim any stronger. Carley spent most of her time in the sand, of course.




Wednesday, before we left, Susan rented a couple kayaks.











We took the kids to a ropes course at Squaw Valley. Wow! I had so much fun watching the kids push their limits! Susan and I had to belay the kids while they climbed so I wasn't able to get as many photos as I would have liked.




Josh climbed to the top and stood on the platform of that structure behind him. It's about 50 feet tall!


Here he is 50 feet up on a different structure.


Carley was like a little monkey. I am so proud of her. 7-years-old is the youngest a climber can be and she did so well.






The Leap of Faith is about 40 feet tall. Once you get to the top there is nothing to hold onto. The climber needs to balance and then leap off attempting to grab the trapeze bar you can barely see in the photo.


Josh absolutely grabbed the trapeze bar. He really did push his limits.



Just before climbing The Leap of Faith, Josh climbed a sequoia tree and rang a bell 100 feet off the ground! He got really nervous around 50 feet and wanted to come down. I tried talking him through it and when I was just about ready to lower him down, he climbed up the rest of the way. He is amazing.


At the end of your climbing session, the group gets to take turns on a giant swing. Still harnessed, the swinger is hoisted by the team up near a tree. Once in position the swinger has to push the release button himself and then away he goes! Or "she" as in Carley's case.










On the way to the lake and again on the way home, we stopped at Northstar for some bungy trampoline fun.






I even gave it a shot and it was quite fun.

Life List #28 : Yosemite

Two weeks ago, I took the kids to Yosemite. "Take my kids to Yosemite" is officially #28 on The Life List and I'm happy to say now it's officially crossed off.

I have lived in the Sacramento area for nearly 15 years and I have never been to the Yosemite valley. I could kick myself! Walt has been to Yosemite a couple times when he was in his 20s. I'm sure it hasn't changed much (right?), so I scooped the kids up and took them on a day trip to Yosemite.

Seriously, if you haven't been before then GO! To me it was more amazing than Yellowstone, although it's not fair to compare the complete different areas.

All I have to say is UH-MAZE-ING.

Okay. That's not really all I have to say. So here's another really long photo post of a absolutely beautiful National Park. By the way, my photos don't do it justice.





El Capitan was just awesome. It was Josh's favorite. After dark, when we were leaving the park, you could see little lights on the rock from where the climbers were sleeping. They looked like little stars.


This tree, on the trail to Bridalveil Fall, was so worn from years of visitors sitting on it that it was like a smooth piece of furniture.


The vista point for Bridalveil Fall is covered in water. We got our feet soaked.


Turns out stopping at Bridalveil first thing was not the best idea. The sun was behind the fall so this was our view.


We had fun in the cold mist anyway.


Ribbon Fall, in the crook of Carley's arm, is to the left of El Capitan. It seemed like everywhere we turned we could see a waterfall.


Swinging Bridge, which does not swing, crosses the Merced River in a wide, lazy spot....


... and gives a beautiful view of Yosemite Falls. Yosemite Falls has an upper and lower fall with a middle area too. The total fall is over 2000 feet!


The path beyond Swinging Bridge was flooded from the swollen river. The kids wanted to take off their shoes and follow the trail a little way. The water was so cold!


We walked to Lower Yosemite Fall.


Lower Yosemite Fall is 320 feet.


The pounding water creates a ton of mist and lots of wind. We had fun walking back and forth over the bridge that crosses the creek beyond the fall.


Taking the free shuttle around the park ended up being easier than trying to find parking on the crowded summer day.


Sometimes the shuttle bus was super crowded though!


After having an early dinner, the kids and I walked out to Mirror Lake, aptly named for it's beautiful reflections of the amazing scenery. Now if only peope would stop rippling the water!




The shuttle back from Mirror Lake was quite empty. Josh asked if he could honk the bus horn and the driver agreed if he could be in photo. This is Mark, the shuttle bus driver. He let both Josh and Carley honk the horn. Carley said it was her second favorite part of our trip!


As the sun was heading down, we were heading up to Glacier Point for views of the valley.
This is not taken from Glacier Point; I stopped at Tunnel View to get a better photo of Bridalveil Fall. Across from the fall is El Capitan and in the far distance you can see Half Dome.


This is not from Glacier Point either. This from a different vista on the way to Glacier Point. I love this view of Half Dome.


We're almost to Glacier Point.


These photos of the kids "leaning on" Half Dome look to me like they were taken against a paper backdrop. The views were absolutely stunning.




Another view of Yosemite Falls. This time we're actually at Glacier Point. We watch the mountain peaks change colors as the sun set. Once the sun was gone, we headed back to the car to drive back down to the valley and up the other side to head towards home.



Josh's "my sister is really ticking me off" face. The kids got tired and irritated with each other only a few times throughout the day.


For the most part, the day was full of smiles.

It was such a long day. We left home at 6:45 am and got home at 1:30 am but it was so incredibly worth it. We're already planning a several day family trip to Yosemite next summer. I'm looking forward to spending more time there.