Youngest is Turning Sixteen!

 1. This day is picture-perfect for a bonfire! Daughter #4 is celebrating her sixteenth birthday by inviting friends to share in our annual fall fire. Steve gathers wood and tears down our rickety garden fence that we've been saving to fuel the fire. Two daughters gather roasting sticks and hang outdoor lights while I cook enough chili and cornbread to feed an army. Later, we all help load the pick-up with tables, chairs, pumpkins and whatever to drive out to the field for setting up.

2. We use the horse's run-in shed as our serving area. It's built with cedar log posts and rough wood and I think its rustic nature will serve this purpose well. I set out a checkered tablecloth, hay bales, pumpkins and twinkle lights and the shed is invitingly fall-ish. Steve spreads hay on the floor and runs electricity for our chili, hot chocolate and music. Another table, closer to the fire, holds all the fixings for roasting hot dogs and S'mores. At 6:00 guests begin to arrive...

3. Grown-ups keep warm near the fire while teens keep in constant motion, mixing and mingling. Later, as the fire dies down, the youngers run off for a long game of flashlight tag. We relax near the fire and watch flashlights skittering across the dark field. They straggle back from their game with appetites and serve up more helpings of food. One by one, rides arrive to take them home. A handful stay at the fire until very late, but only after extinguishing the house lights for star gazing. Sweet sixteen saw six falling stars...