The makings of a memory

One thing that has really stuck with me as a new parent is this strange desire to recreate some of my favorite childhood memories for Kate. As summer turned to fall, I was struck with this insanely vivid memory of playing in the leaves in our front yard.  We had a huge maple tree over the driveway and we would rake up the leaves in a big pile and then jump off the deck or out of the treehouse into them. It was great fun.

So, naturally, I wanted Kate to have a good romp in the leaves this fall.  Except we don't have a big maple tree, or a treehouse, or a front deck.  We do, however, have a small patch of grass and few maple trees across the street.  After hauling a few buckets full of leaves, we ended up with a giddy little girl making her own memories.