they say...

...you know you're getting older when police officers start looking "too young" to you. turns out, this is true for all emergency personnel!

strictly speaking, niece madeline and nephew matthew are not yet OFFICIAL firefighters, but they did have a great time meeting firemen and women and dogs (!) recently, at a special summer program.

matthew's favorite part was that they got to sit in the real fire engine!!!!!!!!!!! (believe me when i tell you, it is impossible for anyone who is not a four-year-old boy to say that with the correct amount of enthusiasm!) maddie (who at 7 still very much enjoys dressing up, and has started to like PERFORMING, as well!) thought it was cool that there were kid-sized-- but quite authentic looking-- firefighting uniforms to try on.

no one asked doyle the dalmation what HIS favorite part of the day was, but seeing as the weather here in the northeastern US has been seriously HOT for several months, i'm guessing there was a fire hydrant involved! :) :) :)