Not Your Typical Anniversary Celebration

Jamie and I are anniversary-challenged. Did we go out to dinner and a movie? No. Did we escape for a romantic weekend together? No. Did we walk a mile to Panera, have breakfast as a family and then visit the Safety Center Open House? Yes.

Even after six years of marriage, my husband and I have been unable to reconcile our differences on what should occur for an anniversary celebration. Given that we've both been spastically busy the last few weeks, I didn't even try to argue for anything fancier. Sometimes the stress of going somewhere, makes the destination undesirable.

The Fire Station was a total delight. Gavin and Laynie had a blast, received free child ID cards, and got fire man hats and sheriff badges. Their happiness made me realize that an anniversary isn't JUST about the day Jamie and I got married...it's really about the day we became the Wallace Family. So we had a Family Anniversary day. I hope we do it again soon.

Laynie was so little that she couldn't stay on her feet in the bounce house.

She doesn't look very scared, does she?

Two great stories for the day: 1) The officer with the Harley is none other than Deputy Sheriff Dufek. The very man who gave me my first ticket two weeks ago. I asked Gavin if he wanted to have a picture taken with the motorcylce cop. I mean, how cool would it be to sit on a Harley, right? His response, "No way! That's the cop that busted my mom!"

2) Behind DS Dufek is the Loudoun County Mobile Command Unit. They use it to run SWAT ops. Gavin's question for the police officer who was giving the tour: "Where do you keep your rockets?" The cop first looked shocked and then responded with a laugh, "We don't have any in here today."

Our little Fire Station even has their own HAZMAT truck. I'm pretty sure it will never see anything akin to the spills Houston deals with on a daily basis.

Yep, that's my baby using the fire hose to put out a "simulated" fire. She's pretty tough for a tiny little creature.

Gavin was pretty hands on. He wanted to do it "all by himself." Can you even imagine what Gavin would do if they actually let him hold that hose by himself? All I can say is run, Laynie, run.

We did drive out to the Leseberg Outlet Malls and pick up a couple of new ties for Jamie. Then we grabbed some Arby's on the way home. Nothing like roast beef "toots" to top off the perfect anniversary celebration.

It may not have been romantic, but at least it was memorable.