Uneventful New Year.... OR SO we thought

Cheryl and Gretchen began picking up the evidence of our fun. For walmart fireworks we had a pretty good smoke out. No roman candles either. But, we had sparklers. As they began picking up I felt guilty and decided to help them as well. As I began picking up the burnt out containers I had asked if any were hot? They had replied, just warm. "OH, OK." We continued picking them up until there was no evidence of the fun that we had except for the burnt fire marks in the road. Everyone made their way back to the house because it was pretty cold outside. Steve, Bill, Gretchen and I talked about the fireworks and how "let down" we were that there was no threat of burning some one's house down, and we didn't have to run and fear for our lives. Isn't it amazing at what they have made us accustomed to thinking was normal?? We probably stayed out talking for about 15 to 20 minutes. Someone had brought the trash bag and put it next to the trash can near the garage. We all went inside and crashed on the couch from our New Year's celebration. Another 15 to 20 minutes go by and Ryan announces he is ready for bed. Our older children were on their way out to go to that party. Ryan says, "the house is on fire" something in his voice didn't make me panic. I was like "oh yeah, OK" Then he said it again and Gretchen got up to look out the front door. She screams "Fire or there's a fire out here" There was something in her blood curdling screech that made everyone instantly jump up and run as quickly as they could to the door. (It had made me wish,I hadn't eaten so much earlier). I had just grabbed my 44 oz Cherry sprite and there I too saw a fire, and it just wasn't fire but it was a F-I-R-E! It was a full fledged bonifide FIRE!!!! OH my heck!! Ryan and Gretchen were near the front of the fire and Steve and Bill were in the back and I was behind them. Ryan went to spreading the fire thinking that we could stomp it out. IT WAS SO BIG THAT WE COULD NOT STOMP IT OUT!! Steve had grabbed the trash can and drug it away from the cars and the garage. He didn't want the cars to catch on fire and explode. I think he left his thumb indent on the trash can. I was just stunned at that point. I think we all were for MILLI-SECOND! Gretchen's voice brings me back to reality when I hear her say, "We need water!" GO GET WATER!" My body is torn. I can feel my feet wanting to move to get water, yet they want to stay. My mind is racing do I go get water or do I throw my drink, GET WATER or THROW THE DRINK!!! All in less than 2 seconds. I consciously remember saying to myself. "Screw it" and taking the lid off my drink and just chucking it over my husband's shoulder. Instantly the fire was out and there was a big puff of black smoke. The children by that time had come with bowls and cups of water and dounced the rest out. WE then realized that Steve was burned and he suffered a good burn at that. Sooo........ so much for our uneventful New Year. It could have been so much worse. I am so glad it wasn't! We are so lucky. WE are so blessed. WE are so grateful!