Clara is developing a few pint-size passions as she nears the end of her second year of life. One of these passions is animals. Another is the color blue (everything is the color blue). But one of the most meaningful to her is her enjoyment and admiration of fire trucks, or "shucks," a type of vehicle that also often includes garbage shucks, recycling shucks, moving shucks, cement shucks--basically all big shucks.
But fire shucks are by far her favorite. Every time we get in the car (really--every time) she begins her special mantra of "Mom. Mom. Mom. Mom. Fire shuck? Fire shuck? Fire shuck?" She is especially thrilled if we're headed towards downtown, where we pass a fire station where the trucks are typically on display.
Given this background, you might imagine her elation at being able to go to a very special carnival at the public library today with Jeremy (I was at my OB's for most of it, unfortunately), where real-life firefighters were grilling hot dogs, accompanied by a real-life fire truck. The carnival was a celebration of the summer reading program, which we have attended faithfully, and which is now over until September (sad!). Many games and activities greeted carnival participants, but Clara had eyes only for the firefighters, their truck, and the playground. You'll note in this first video a bit of ambivalence about getting too close to the fire truck, but trust us: she was thrilled to see such a fine speciman.
After I joined up with Jeremy and Clara and we'd eaten and roamed a bit, we went into the library to get a few new books, including several about transportation and fire trucks. In the garage when we got home, Clara told Jeremy she wanted a kiss, after which she proceeded to kiss the picture of the firefighter on one of her books. And hopefully that will explain this last video. Like I said, she's a woman of passion.
