Steve's Real Life Action-Adventure

Steve is part of a group that is organizing a tactical medic unit that will be on call for hostage and police stand-off situations. The idea is that paramedics would be trained and outfitted to be first responders in the case where police officers and civilians have been injured, but the area has not yet been secured by police. If you remember the incident with Ryan Hummert last summer, a tactical medic unit could have been helpful (although in Ryan's case no one could have saved him no matter how quickly he received treatment.)

Steve had training today and at the end of training the SWAT officers invited him to join them tonight to serve a warrant to a man who is known to posses child pornography. They thought it would be good for him to see how they operate, even though this was not likely to be a violent situation. Steve came home for dinner and awaited a call on where he should go for the arrest. While I was making dinner his phone rang. Steve excitedly answered, chatted a little with the officer and then asked lightly, "So where are we going to meet?" This was such a funny question to me. Like they were planning to meet up and go out for a beer. And the answer was even more strange. He was to meet them at the parking lot of a church near the man's house. I guess I assumed the SWAT team would meet at an office, or police station or in a deserted warehouse somewhere. Nope. They just met up in the church parking lot, briefed everyone, drove over to the house, set up, knocked on the door and when no one answered they busted down the door and started taking evidence. The home owner pulled up in his car while they were there...bet he wishes he'd kept driving. No violence, no injuries, but Steve said he still felt a rush...and a little anxious.

The best part of this is he got to tell the kids he was going to help the police capture a bad guy. Needless to say, Daniel was excited.

Every Day is an Action-Adventure (Part 2)

Daniel: "Mom, if robbers come in our yard I'm going to grab 'em and stomp on 'em."
Mom: "Most robbers are adults. Do you think you might need some help? Perhaps it would be better if we just call the police."
Daniel: "Daddy can grab 'em and stomp 'em. Then I'll poke the robbers with something sharp like a sweet gum ball....or a stick."

Every Day is an Action-Adventure

Today on our way to the park...

Daniel: "Mom, you need to push on the gas pedal when they shoot missiles at us so we'll go really fast."
Mom: "Yes, that would probably be a good idea."
D: "That way the missiles won't explode us."
M: "Right." I wish I had thought to ask who would be shooting at us. At least we have a game plan.

The First Game

(I think it's funny that none of the kids are looking at the camera.)

I love that St. Louis loves baseball. I love that when I say "We're going to the game," everyone in this city understands I mean the Cardinal game. Daniel & Addie attended their first game this week and it was a near perfect experience. We rode the Metrolink to the stadium, which was a highlight for 2 train-crazy kids. Uncle Jason, Aunt Marie & Tucker met us there with hands-down, the best tickets we've ever had. Just look at how good our seats were...

I told Daniel that these are likely the best seats he will ever have so he should try to remember it. We ate yummy (overpriced) food, had a great time with our family, sang, clapped, cheered (which kind of frightened Daniel) and saw a really good game. Cards beat the Giants 5-2.