Thursday, September 23, 2010

NIGHT AT THE TEMPLE

This is the Week of Righteousness for the Murrieta Stake, where the Stake Presidency challenges the stake to attend the temple throughout the week. Brooke and I went last night and spent the afternoon and evening in the temple.  What a tremendous blessing we have to have a temple so close. This is the first time we have been to the temple since they have finished the construction on the exterior. No Scaffolding!
We didn't get any wedding pictures with the temple in the background so we took advantage last night and took some pictures.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

DATE NIGHT----MINI GOLF

Friday night and nothing really going on so Brooke and I decided to use our Cold Stone gift card and go mini golfing. If you know me I am always up for some ice cream, especially if its free. Enjoyed our ice cream even though we almost used our whole 15 dollar gift card on one trip to Cold Stone. So expensive. Then we went to Mulligans and it was crowded. We walked in and right away we saw someone working that we know and he hooked us up with putters and balls to play mini golf.  Free ice cream and free mini golf. It took awhile to get through the course because it was so crowded but that gave us time to take some pictures. We didn't get that many good shots because the lighting was so bad. But here are a few.

Classic Ridley tongue.... Concentrating! ha



Scrunchy Nose!




Sunday, September 12, 2010

9-11 MEMORIAL/ 1st RIDE ALONG

Yesterday  I was able to go on my first ride along with the fire department.  I have been planning and looking forward to this Saturday for weeks. Jeff Wilkins is a captain at the Garden Grove station 3 and was happy to let me tag along. I decided to do a 24 hour shift to see what it is really like at the station for a complete shift. I was up at 4:45 Saturday morning and left at 5:30 to be at the station by 7. Jeff showed me around and introduced me to the guys on his crew. They work a three man crew, a captain, medic and an engineer. Even though it was a slow day I had a great time and I am looking forward to doing it again very soon. We ended up only getting two calls but nothing crazy or exciting. When that alarm goes off and the call comes in, it is an instant adrenaline rush. I loved being in the fire truck going code 3 to these emergencies. Definitely exciting.
Riding in the cab of the fire engine.
Yesterday was the 9 year anniversary of 9-11 and i was lucky enough to be able to attend a firefighter memorial service in Santa Ana, recognizing the sacrifice of the many service man that died in the terrorism attacks as well as the firefighters that had served in Orange County and had passed away within the last year. It was a unique experience that I will always remember.
There was a really old engine and pump that used to be pulled my horses there on display. Many people took pictures in front of it representing a small part of firefighting history. There was also a Dalmatian that just sat on the seat the whole time. His name was Blaze.
I had to get a picture with him.
This is the memorial that was built and dedicated for the memory of the firefighters that have given up there lives in the fire service.