This morning, our landlord called and said he wanted to call by as he had a surprise for the kids. Already, you will have determined that we don’t have the average landlord. Jarrod & Lara are great people. They are from Hawaii and it is a move back to Hawaii for their family that resulted in their home being put on the market for rent. While viewing houses, we were usually a little bit hesitant about bringing the children along in case they pulled out flowers, smashed a vase or generally frightened our prospective landlords. When we viewed this home, however, Jarrod and Lara insisted that all of the kids come inside for a look around and then play on the swing and slide in the back garden. They love children and although they had other applications for the property, kindly offered the house to us to rent, largely because they wanted a family with children to enjoy their home.

Anyway, I didn’t know what the surprise was going to be until Jarrod knocked on our door and I saw a fire engine parked outside our house. He and his team had come to take the kids for a ride in the fire engine. Jarrod had promised to do this when he first showed us around the house and this had been his first chance to do so.

His team were all so nice, answering the children’s questions – they even brought them little San Jose Fire Service stickers and tattoos! We all went for a ride around the block and the put the siren on, then Josh got dressed in the uniform.

The kids were raving about it – a lot of excitement for a Sunday morning!

The Fire Service arrive and ask if we want to go for a ride!

Charlotte and the fire engine

Fireman Joshua buckles up

Charlotte and Eve wearing the helmet

Lucy and Mummy to the rescue

Josh suits up

San Jose’s finest

Jarrod shows Josh the oxygen pack

Oh – and Olive slept though the whole thing! Sorry Olive!!