handsful

Welcome, 2013.  We stayed home and took advantage of the fact we have land…

While Randy played pyrotechnic, the kids lit sparkler after sparkler.

We played by the rules, and purchased our fireworks here in NC.  There are some folks who wander over to SC, where the BIG stuff is legal and then bring it back over.  Not us.  Well, at least not this year.

These were fun, even though on a small scale.  Bright, lots of colors, and some were LOUD!

After our mini display, we ran inside with about 2 minutes to spare.  Quickly turned on the TV and counted down with the rest of the US…Happy New Year!!

But, we weren’t done yet.  We had a Christmas tree to ceremonially dispose of.  In a blaze of fire.

We dragged it down our drive, to the spot we usually use for a fire pit.  Randy lit a small firework and threw it in.  Almost immediately…

It crackled and literally swallowed up the tree in less than a minute.  The heat coming off that tree was intense, and we all had to move back.

About this time, I’m thinking “I hope we got all the ornaments off…”

I guess we’ll never know for sure ;)

Cloud of sparks

That tree was quickly turned into a charred main trunk with short, spindly branches.  Amazing.  I guess it’s true what they say…Christmas trees DO burn quickly!

These shots were taken on my phone, by the way….too lazy and tired to drag out the big camera!  I’m not exactly a night-owl like most of my family.  Yawn.

It was a great, family-fun way to begin 2013.  We pray that this year brings God’s blessings, whatever they may be, to us and to our friends and family :)