The Start of a Tradition

It is officially autumn, the leaves have begun changing colors, and there are finally a few leaves falling down. Hannah was excited for this occasion because to her it meant she could get out Dad's rake and rake leaves! She didn't want to rake them into piles to bag and toss - oh no. She wanted to rake them into lines to mark walls and create her dream house in leaves. Because just outside our front door is a slope with three levels, this year she has begun creating a three story house, with a different story on each level. On Saturday, the house had kitchen, living room, bedrooms, a bathroom, a front door and a garage. The kids found a wild grape vine a little up the street, and plucked a bunch of grapes to snack on in their kitchen, using our frisbee for a plate. On Sunday, not being allowed to play outside, the kids were designing their dream houses, complete with indoor pools, bowling alleys, theaters and soda fountains. Yesterday they were back outside moving the walls, enlarging and expanding, wishing, I think, that more leaves were ready to fall because their walls were spreading thin as the size of the house grew. This morning on the way to school I heard them continue their plotting and planning. They were remembering games they had played in their leaf houses last year, but Hannah reminded John, "That must have been after Halloween though, because remember we had candy?" Hmmmm. They are only 8 and 10, but already they are beginning thier own traditions, resurrecting games they played last year to be played again in their own celebration of Autumn. I think it is wonderful to see. All I ask is that they please put the rake away when they are done with it each day.