developed hunger nostalgia girl luckily sort childhood capable staving type hunger family camping trips complete sing-alongs fire cross country skiing woods northern michigan chocolate games yahtzee grandparents cabin admit memories picturesque point adult realistic years parents roof lucky childhood realize filled memory-making magic plenty tears bouts arguing myriad disappointments punctuated moments worry doubt real childhood wonderful good not-so-good moments uh-oh mama's memory-making mission won't work predilection nostalgia maternal instincts realism years shed perspective falls find wanting desperately make memories kids case missed problem lies making memories memories memories cherishing crafting stories wonderful things child psychologists memories play critical roles child's sense family security self-awareness proper lingo clear truth life's memories hold dear continue planned made outlined orchestrated rehearsed improvised happen moments completely surprise details dreamed memories making decent plan necessarily make memory saturday ninth birthday feeling guilty tired scattered felt plans guilt drives memory-making efforts surprised case time energy overboard compensate lack planning birthday fell spring break week adventures directions birthday arriving home disjointed family lots dirty laundry fridge scheduled return house boating caving horseback riding adventure parents time wanted birthday breakfast dinner groceries wrap gifts worried gifts exciting planned outing asked wanted invite friend feeling tired lame parenting fail birthday dawned cold miserable mentioned tired chaotic state messy house good ingredients magical memories managed couple ideas pass time grandma grandpa arrived open presents spent hour yarn pipe cleaners patterned wrapping paper scraps markers decorating heck plain brown paper-wrapped held biggest present soccer goal kind time needed days supply store check toys things dogs we're week pick toys loved part preparation rituals build excitement upcoming event ninth birthday magically memory birthday memory remember children grandchildren emerged spontaneous desire observe earth hour global plan spend hour electricity let's turn lights hour suddenly declared approached lights-out time whipping cream assembling seussian family-sized strawberry shortcake girls scrounging house candles flashlights began lighting candles strategically dining living rooms turned lights time light special candles sang happy birthday candle-lit house unexpected beauty adventure covering goosebumps laughed figure serve messy masterpiece near-dark taste-buds alert flavors textures buttery biscuit sweet-tangy strawberries cool smooth cream moved candles living room spent rest electricity-free hour playing charades room filled ninth birthday cozy warmth laughter people love crazy unplanned magical element forever trigger memory moment felt 