Firebugs

The boys were getting a little wild this afternoon, by wrestling and chasing each other thru the house. So I sent them outside to "play." Jordan asked if they could start a small bonfire. I really did think before answering. I gave him a list of conditions: no fire outside the fire pit; no flour; yes to dryer lint. The normal "Mom" answers. I even let Jordan use his broken red candle, which he had stripped partially of wax so that it looked like a stick of dynamite. LOLOL.

I was surprised how well the afternoon went. The boys were actually fairly quiet, and responsible keepers of the flame. I looked out several times to check on them. Then after dinner, I heard Jordan mention that he had some pictures he needed me to download from the camera to his folder on the computer. Only.....he wasn't supposed to have my camera. Even if he had asked, I probably wouldn't have let him use it. At least not around fire.

I have to admit, I was FILLED with curiosity about those pictures on my camera. I actually downloaded them tonight. Wow. When teens and pre-teens are quiet, it's bad. I should have known. Here's the fire, burning HUGE.

This is a view from the back of the pit. The door makes it easier to shovel ashes out the back. The front of the pit is open, and it's got a huge stack on the top. In this case, flames are actually shooting out the top. sigh. It looks much more dramatic at night, though, as you will see in the upcoming photos. I think this pit has a strange resemblance to the machine on the moon in "Wallace and Gromit". It's the episode where Wallace and Gromit vacation on the moon in hopes of finding cheese. In the end, the machine fulfils it's life-long dream of learning to ski. Classic.

Here is a view of the fire pit from the front. Jordan must have taken this picture shortly after adding wood. Unfortunately you can't see the flames chugging out the top. But you'll see it in the next extraordinarily creative picture.

I don't think that's the Holy Spirit on his head. LOL. Where does he get this sense of humor. It must be from the Wright side of the family!!! Don't worry Mom...Jordan's head isn't REALLY on fire. It's an optical illusion created by 1 pre-teen and 2 teens with WAY too much time on their hands.

Did I mention how much those kids ate this afternoon? FOUR bags of popcorn, too many pop-tarts to count, valentine's day candy (good - now I won't eat it), grapes, half a box of Rice Krispie Treats, and a 2 litre of Root Beer. That's not counting lunch and dinner.