🍂 A Last End‑of‑Summer Moment: Welcoming Fall & Back‑to‑School

There’s something magical about those last days of summer before school begins – the way the air softens, the light turns golden, and the boys still run barefoot through the yard. Summer hasn’t quite let go, but fall is already whispering at the edges. The mornings are cooler, the afternoons still warm, and every day seems to hold a little bit of both seasons at once.

I took off work the week school started – a long, stretched-out weekend before those first big mornings, and then an extended Labor Day weekend after the boys’ first few days back. We spent those days together with one last simple summer activity, gathering leaves from our backyard and the state park – collecting little pieces of summer to carry into fall.

One afternoon, with the windows open and the late-summer breeze drifting through, we laid the leaves between sheets of wax paper. Now the collage hangs on our sliding glass door next to our dining room table. In the mornings, when the boys eat breakfast before school, I remember those sweet late summer days. Those quiet moments come back to me as they crunch their cereal and chatter about the day ahead, reminding me how quickly seasons shift and how precious it is to notice the small things while they’re here.

🌿 A Craft That Captures the Moment

This simple project turns those found leaves into a glowing keepsake – a window of color that bridges summer and fall

You’ll Need

• Wax paper sheets
• Iron (set to low heat)
• Towel for protection
• Scissors
• Tape or twine for hanging

Steps

• Gather leaves – Choose a mix of colors and shapes. Ours came from the yard and the state park, each one tied to a memory of those last summer walks
• Arrange leaves – Place them between two sheets of wax paper
• Cover and press – Lay a towel or parchment over the top and gently iron on low heat. The wax melts and seals the leaves inside.
• Trim edges – Once cooled, cut around the edges for a neat finish
• Hang in sunlight – Tape it to a window or string it up – the light will make the colors glow like stained glass

🍁 A Keepsake of Transition

When the wax melts and the leaves settle, you can see every vein and hue – reds, golds, and that one heart-shaped leaf. It’s a small, shining reminder of the days we spent together before backpacks and early mornings returned.

This craft isn’t just decoration; it’s a memory sealed in wax – a reflection of family time, nature, and the start of a new season. A season filled with pride, nostalgia, and hope that comes with watching Freddie and Cody step into a new season of their own.

This is why I hold onto these small moments. They bring me back to the simple things worth being grateful for.