Happy 4th of July! In honor of all the fireworks, today's post is called: Firebugs

For summer, I picked up a cute little science experiment book for the boys. They were asking me for all kinds of salt, vinegar, cornstarch and eggs. No biggie - we've done those before. After the egg experiment was a let-down (no vinegar), my oldest started a project out front, just in front of the porch. I told him I'd get his ingredients after I finished balancing the checkbook and was almost done. I finished and looked out the front window to see my oldest, Josh, with the long bar-b-q lighter, lighting newspapers in a glass jar, his buddy-brother wadding up newspaper.......The sad thing is I was not phased. What is wrong with me? Have they dulled my cat-like reflexes and instincts? First I had a flashback to when I encouraged my sister to light matches and stick them in our pool - located inside the porch of an ancient wooden-shake house. I remember the punishment all too well!  I had to have a little talk with myself and come up with a punishment suited to that kind of careless behavior. When I played the "supporting firebug" role, I received my first big spanking and my sister wrote sentences all day. The boys are getting too big for spankings, so sentences ensued, "I will not put my family in danger by lighting fires" and "I will not encourage my brother to light fires".  Can I check that      1.Catch Boys Lighting Fires - check    off my "Raising Boys List" now?