Fun Fall Leafs

I love fall there is no doubt about it, I get really sentimental and nostalgic around this time of year because I have so many good memories associated with the season. One memory is my parents would always send us out to rake up leaves and it would take forever to get any of it done because, 1- there were a lot of leaves, 2- put 4-5+kids doing this job and how can piles not be jumped into occasionally...okay it happened all the time, which is why it would take us at least an hour to an hour and a half to rake up. Well in our new home we have an enormous tree in the front, I watched it and watched it turn colors and drop leaves. It took for forever for it to start dropping leaves, but when it did it looked like it was raining leaves! It is a constant flow of leaves just floating to the ground in dizzying circles. So on the nice afternoons after Evan went down for a nap me and Christian would wander outside and rake up the leaves that had fallen so far. Christian soon discovered the fun of leaves- he was so fun to watch. Well this last time I was raking up leaves and realized I hadn't seen Christian puttering about and I looked around and could not see him- and I called for him "Christian where are you?" and he said "I'm taking a nap in the leaves mommy!" I look over at the enormous leaf pile and somehow Christian has climbed to the top of it and snuggled himself in for a nice autumn nap! After awhile of being there he wanted to get out, but every time I got close with more leaves he would lay down on the pile and want me to sweep the leaves over his body and face as he giggled uncontrollably. A few days later my sister Katie invited us over and she took Christian out to play in the leaves and my brother Dan came home and made "Leaf Castles" with him, which he has been talking about ever since. I hope that I can help our family create memories like this every year that will all send us into a sentimental swirl the minute we smell leaves, pumpkins, and the cold in the air.