Family History Albums

Cartoon by Cathy Guisewite

More than ever, we are OBSESSED with getting that "great shot" of ourselves for today's photo albums--Facebook and Selfies! With all these great photos floating around, hopefully we're doing a good job of providing the story behind the photo...the who, what, where, when and how of the person pictured. "Our posterity has a right to know their roots without scrounging for them" (Elaine Cannon)

Providing "the rest of the story" is keeping our genealogy up-to-date!  As Ethel Jackson Price once explained, "Anyone can leave money to their children, grandchildren, etc.  But we are the only ones who can leave them our memories, and they are truly worth more than money."

I have scrapbooked for the last twenty years and the following scrapbook resources have remained on my shelf:

Scrapbooking with Memory Makers
This is literally the best scrapbooking book that I have found and I have looked at a lot of them. I have gotten so many good ideas for pages in my albums, such as creative ideas for all the leftover photos. (ISBN 0883639289) 

Family History Scrapbooking by Becky Higgins

Everything you need to know to get started (and be really organized) with family history scrapping. (ISBN 1933516623)

Timeless Treasures by Emilie Barnes
This is a charming little book that I kept (and I don't keep many) because of all the great family history ideas such as having everyone outline their hands on a sheet used as a Thanksgiving or Christmas Day tablecloth and then later embroidering this or turning it into a one-of-a-kind quilt. (ISBN 1565074289)

I found most of these books at my local used bookstore and I'm sure they can be purchased online for even less!  Remember to take time to do something meaningful with all of those photos, even if it's just a caption to go with each photograph on your phone.  And remember to leave your phone's password with someone you trust so the phone can be opened and pictures retrieved in the event of your passing.

If you are going to write about your days, you had better be doing something to write about. ~Caroline Eyring Miner

Blog Index, page 4

Family Records

Family History
Family Reunion Calendars
Heritage Albums
Not Your Grandma's Journal!
A Book of Remembrance
Book of Remembrance FAQs
Kid-Sized Personal Histories
Family History Albums

Scrapbooking
Holiday Photo Tips
Photo Preservation Tips
Fast, Beautiful Album Pages
Be Organized And Do Fast Pages
Awesome Family Vacation Albums and Journaling!
Photo Capturing Your Pets
Fabulous Journaling and Merger Layouts
Baby Album Page Layouts
Touch of Class: Graduation Layouts
Family Albums
Simple Hand-Drawn Scrapbook Borders
Page Layouts with Hearts, Stars and Circles
Scrapbook Layout: The Balance Game
Fast, Beautiful Album Pages
Family History Albums

Women's History
They Shall Call You Blessed (Grandma)
Homemaking Journals (Aunt Phala)
10 Things I Learned from My Mom (Mamma)
Country Girl (Grandma)
A Time to Die (Grandma)

Family Night
Do You Know Your Family?
Family Reunion Calendars
Christmas in July
Resurrection Eggs
St. Patrick's Day FHE
Including Family History

Newsletters
Church Newsletter Ideas

Kid-Sized Personal Histories

I know I got this page from the Friend Magazine, I just can't find the link!  The parent fills in the top part and the child fills in the bottom part.   This is awesome for just getting a few interesting memories down quickly during Family Night or a Sunday afternoon.  Be sure to put them in the personal history portion of the family book of remembrance (family history album).  This page is a great way to involve children in making their own books of remembrance by beginning their own personal history.  This might help them write experiences that are meaningful to them now.

Here are some other ideas and links for including family history on family night:

1. Prepare a small section of the family book of remembrance (personal histories section?) with key photos interspersed with appropriate comments to illustrate the growth and development of your family.  Share this often.  Small children will especially enjoy listening to family experiences being shared.  Go through family pictures, baby books, souvenirs--when children were too young to remember--incidents they will enjoy hearing about such as my eldest child's first smile, or how she would look out the window on a winter's day while Dad was fixing the car and yell "Da!" over and over and was thrilled when he would take time to wave back.  Or after my son experienced riding in a big rig with his dad he from then on would point and yell, "Truck!" whenever he saw another big rig.  Or the middle child who would always exclaim, "I need a hug!" when she sensed she might be in trouble.
2. Family history can be interesting and colorful.  Even children, who can't write yet can start a book of remembrance.  Let them tell you what their drawings represent, and write a caption underneath the pictures.  For instructions visit "Picture Journals."
3. Collaboratively as a family or on their own, write "What we remember best about our life in our family," even if they are not necessarily spiritual but made you and the family happy.
4. "25 Terrific Ideas for Family History Fun" is a great source for family home evenings, especially for teens.

Trick or Treat Family Night Idea

Blast from the Past:  Maybe everyone knows about Tootsie Roll Ghosts, but in case you don't, they're a cute addition to Halloween goody plates.  In the 1970's my elementary school teacher showed us how to make these.  I was so excited cause, "Hello!" it's a Tootsie Roll Pop!  Delicious :O)  Take a couple of tissues and wrap around the Tootsie Roll Pop and tie off with string to make the head.  (I use candle-wicking or crochet cotton found in the crochet isle).  Then with a permanent marker make two eyes and a mouth.  Voila!

Georgie is a favorite "Ghost" book of mine!

Below are two versions of cute poems to leave treats anonymously and help others catch the spirit of "treating."  (Leave poem with a ghost door hanger and your gift of treats)  You've Been Boo'ed PDF

source unknown

The air is cool the season fall Soon Halloween will come to all 
The spooks are after things to do In fact, a spook brought this to you 
"Boo" is a shield from witching hour Just hang it up and watch its power

On your front door is where it works It wards off spooks and scary jerks 
The treats that came with crypted note Are yours to keep, enjoy them both 
The power comes when friends like you Will copy this and make it TWO

Then others here among our friends Will give warm fuzzies that do not end 
We'll all have smiles upon our faces No one will know who "BOO"ed whose places 
Just one short day to work your spell Or a big ZAP will strike your tail

And don't forget a nifty treat, Like something cute or something sweet 
Please join fun, let's really hear it And spread some"Boo"s and Halloween spirit.

2nd Example

The Phantom has been here with a treat just for you,

He crept to your door in a fog misty blue.

This isn't a trick, this treat isn't for free,

Now it's your turn and the Phantom you'll be!

The Phantom loves treats and also loves rhymes.

Take you this paper and copy TWO times.

So he won't strike again, hang this on your window or door.

Take this and a treat and deliver TWO more

To a neighbor or friend in the black of the night.  

Pound on their door, and give 'em a fright.

Then by Halloween night, there surely should be

Phantoms on all the doors that we see.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

October Traditions: Fun with Cookies!

These are my absolute favorite cookies!  I made some today and realized when it was time to add the flour that I only had a little all-purpose flour left.  So I used half wheat and half all-purpose.  They turned out sooo good!  In fact everyone said they liked them better.  I think they taste better a little thicker, so I only make a dozen/recipe.  Spook someone with this Trick or Treat Family Home Evening idea!

Autumn Owl Cookies

1 c. packed brown sugar

1-1/2 sticks butter, no substitutes

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2-1/2 c. all-purpose flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1-oz square unsweetened chocolate

1/4 tsp baking soda

Reece's Pieces

whole cashews

In a mixing bowl, cream brown sugar and softened butter. Add egg and vanilla; mix well.  Combine flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture.  Remove two-thirds of the dough; roll into an 8-inch square on waxed paper and set aside.  Combine chocolate and baking soda until thoroughly blended; beat into remaining dough.  Shape into an 8-inch-long roll; place on edge of white dough.  Wrap white dough around roll and pinch seam together.  Wrap in waxed paper; chill for at least 2 hours.  

Cut into 1/4-inch slices.  To form owl's face, place two slices side-by-side on a lightly greased baking sheet (I like parchment paper on my baking sheet instead of greased).  

Pinch dough at the top of the circles to form ears.  Place Reece's Pieces in the center of each circle for eyes.  Place a cashew in the center of the face for the beak.  Bake at 350 degrees for 9-11 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.  Cool for 2 minutes before removing to a wire rack.  Yield:  about 1-1/2 dozen.  (From Taste of Home's Halloween Food and Fun)

October through December, we enjoy Baking Days which includes these chocolaty cookies my son loves and which we like to mail to missionary friends:

Kitty Cookies

1 c. butter (no substitutes), softened

2 c. sugar

2 eggs

3 t. vanilla extract

3 c. self-rising flour

1 c. baking cocoa

candy corn and red-hots

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar.  Beat in eggs and vanilla.  Combine self-rising flour and cocoa in a separate bowl. Gradually add flour mixture to creamed mixture.  Roll dough into 1-1/2-in. balls.  Place 3 in. apart on lightly greased baking sheets.  Flatten with a glass dipped in sugar.  Pinch top of cookie to form ears.  

For whiskers, press a fork twice into each cookie.  Bake 350 degrees F. for 10-15 min. or until cookies are set.  Remove from oven and immediately press on candy corn for eyes and red-hots for noses.  Remove to wire racks to cool.  Yield: 2 dozen (From Taste of Home's Halloween Food and Fun, p. 14).

Here are some tips I found in the magazine, Quick Cooking, on packaging cookies: 

~When choosing recipes, look for bars, drop cookies, slice-an-bake cookies and sandwich cookies, which are fairly sturdy and less likely to break when shipped.

~Avoid delicate cutout and shaped cookies, which may break; chocolate, since it will melt easily; and items with perishable frostings or fillings.

~When packaging the goodies, wrap bars individually in plastic wrap.  Drop cookies can be bundled back-to-back in packages of two.  Slice-and-bake and sandwich cookies can be wrapped in plastic wrap in bundles of two or three.

~Pack soft cookies in containers or tins separate from crisp cookies.  If packed together, the moisture from the soft cookies will make the crisp cookies lose their crunch. 

~To help retain the best flavor, don't pack strong-flavored cookies like gingersnaps in the same container with mild-flavored ones like sugar cookies. 

~Line the containers with crumpled waxed paper to help cushion the cookies.  Snugly pack the cookies to within 1 in. of the top.  Use crumpled waxed paper or bubble wrap to fill any gaps between the cookies.  Add more waxed paper or bubble wrap over the last layer to cushion the cookies and prevent shifting during shipping. OR
Place pieces of wax paper between cookie layers and add mini marshmallows to make sure cookies don't move around.  Tuck in a couple packages of cocoa for a great gift! (from Gooseberry Patches' Country Quick and Easy Cookbook).

~Place a layer of crumpled paper, bubble wrap or foam shipping peanuts in the bottom of a sturdy corrgated box that is slightly larger than your cookie container.  Set the container on top; then add more paper, bubble wrap or shipping peanuts.

Family Albums

Elaine Cannon, former general Young Women president, said, "Our posterity has a right to know their roots without scrounging for them."  That's why I am dedicated to making sure I leave my own information so that my descendants won't have to work so hard to find out about me or our family and ancestors.  I consider it keeping my genealogy up-to-date! Here are my scrapbooking and family history posts, etc.

by Cathy Guisewite

Posts

Touch of Class Graduation Layouts

Baby Album Page Layouts

Photo Capturing Your Pet

Photo Preservation Tips

Recipe Album Layout

Holiday Photo Tips

Fast, Beautiful Album Pages

Be Organized And Do Fast Pages

Family Vacation Layouts and Journaling

Heritage Albums
Journaling and Merger Layouts

Page Layouts with Hearts, Stars and Circles
Scrapbook Layout: The Balance Game
Fast, Beautiful Album Pages

Family History Posts

Country Girl
Not Your Grandma's Journal

Ensign Classic Issue on Family History (Jan. 1977)

Do You Know Your Family? (FHE)

Family Reunion Calendars (FHE)
A Book of Remembrance
Book of Remembrance: A Sacred Family Record
Book of Remembrance FAQs
Kid-Sized Personal Histories (FHE)

Family History Quotes

Anyone can leave money to their children, grandchildren, etc.  But we are the only ones who can leave them our memories, and they are truly worth more than money. ~Ethel Jackson Price

If you are going to write about your days, you had better be doing something to write about. ~Caroline Eyring Miner

Three Best Family History Books
Scrapbooking with Memory Makers
This is literally the best scrapbooking book that I have found and I have looked at a lot of them.  I have gotten so many good ideas for pages in my albums, such as creative ideas for all the leftover photos.  (ISBN 0883639289)  
Family History Scrapbooking by Becky Higgins
Everything you need to know to get started (and be really organized) with family history scrapping. (ISBN 1933516623)
Timeless Treasures by Emilie Barnes
This is a charming little book that I kept (and I don't keep many) because of all the great family history ideas such as having everyone outline their hands on a sheet used as a Thanksgiving or Christmas Day tablecloth and then later embroidering this or turning it into a one-of-a-kind quilt.


Traditions

Stake/Ward-Branch/Home Visitor's Guest Book:  “The Lord has called a modern prophet, President Spencer W. Kimball. It is a great privilege to live at the same time as President Kimball. I remember when I was in Oklahoma with a man whose father had been a stake president there for about fourteen years. The stake president kept a visitor’s guest book for General Authorities and other special guests to sign. It was a pretty thick book, as I recall, and it had the signatures of Joseph Fielding Smith, Matthew Cowley, Adam S. Bennion, and other great leaders. There was space for the date and the person’s name, position, and hobby. Under one entry in 1954 I read these words: ‘Name—Spencer W. Kimball; position—Apostle; Hobby—I love people.’ I kept turning the pages, and I saw that President Kimball had revisited the stake ten years later. Except for the date, everything was the same, including ‘Hobby—I love people.’ I think when the prophet loves us so much, we can love him and pray for him too.”  ~Vaughn J. Featherstone, Friend, Aug-Sep 1984

St. Patty's Day Family Night

Just found this old homeschool photo "Green Eggs and Ham."

We did this for Family Home Evening last Monday night and my husband and 15 yr. old son clearly enjoyed the activity the most.  My husband was in charge of hiding the clues, and since we have a 21, 18, and 15 yr. old he made it hard.  He said it was more fun than hiding Easter eggs.  My son found the most clues.  We usually make the treat every St. Patty's Day, but I thought it went well with the activity.

Pot of Gold Coins
24 Ritz crackers
1 c. smooth peanut butter
2 c. butterscotch chips
Spread half of the crackers with peanut butter.  Top with second cracker.  Melt butterscotch chips and then dip crackers in butterscotch.  Place on wax paper to set, then gobble up.


Have a Treasure Hunt
Step 1 
Write the Clues.  Get seven pieces of paper and copy the following clues.  Be sure to write the clue number by each verse.


Step 2
Make the Treasure.  Find a shoe box to put the treasure in.  Then write a short note to everyone in your family, telling them how much you love them.  You may want to draw a picture of your family (I used a recently taken family portrait).  Put these treasures into the box.  [My Idea:  Maybe add the ingredients to the recipe for "Pot of Gold Coins" into the box to make as a family, after the "treasure" is found].  You can even wrap the box and put a bow on it.


Step 3
Hide the Treasure.  Keep clue 1 out to give to your family.  Then hide the other clues.
Clue 2--hide in a shoe somewhere in the house
Clue 3--hide behind a door
Clue 4--hide near a sink
Clue 5--hide beneath a chair
Clue 6--hide by a picture frame
Clue 7--Hide near a mirror
Treasure box--hide beneath a bed


Step 4
Assemble the Family.  Tell them they are going on a treasure hunt.  Give them clue 1 and HAVE FUN!


Clue 1  Roses are red, Violets are blue.  To find clue 2 Look in a shoe.
Clue 2  Wasn't that fun?  Are you ready for more?  To find clue 3, Look behind a door.
Clue 3  Move right along As quick as a wink And find clue 4 Hidden near a sink.
Clue 4  Getting tired?  Don't despair.  Go find clue 5 Beneath a chair.
Clue 5  You're doing great Playing this game.  Go find clue 6 By a picture frame.
Clue 6  You're almost through With your inspection.  Go find a clue By your reflection.
Clue 7  The game is finished, So go ahead.  You'll find the treasure Beneath a bed.


(Marene Ebert, "Have a Treasure Hunt," Friend, Oct. 1981, 8)

Try these Bierocks for an quick and easy "sorta American-Irish" meal.

April Traditions: Boo Boo Bunnies

Place a "surprise" in a plastic egg and tuck it into the Boo Bunny for a special Easter gift.

1.  Remove any tags from wash clothes.  Lay the face cloth flat, turning at one corner, roll it to the center.

Place something heavy, like a book, onto the rolled-up facecloth, so it won’t unroll.  Beginning at the opposite side, tightly roll it to the end.  You now have a long sausage with pointy ends.  The pointy ends will be the Bunny’s ears.

3.  Fold the facecloth in half, so that the sausages are together and the smooth side is outside. 

Tie a piece of string around the end of the folded facecloth.  Tie it in a bow, as you will need to remove it later.

4.  Glue the pompom tail to the facecloth, where it is bent.

Allow glue to dry.

5.  Fold the facecloth again, at the string.  The pointy ends should point toward the tail.  Wind a strong rubber band around the facecloth to form Bunny’s neck.

6.  Untie and remove the string.

7.  Tie the ribbon around Bunny’s neck just behind the rubber band, making a bow on top.  Remove the rubber band.  Trim the ends of the ribbon, if you wish.

8.  Make eyes with two dots of T-shirt paint, (or embroider on).

April Traditions: Easter Games

Easter Egg Games 

The following is from a clipping I saved from Southern Living Magazine, sometime in the 1990's.  Lots of fun!

"Egg Roll:  Create a few racing "lanes" by laying rope or twine on the grass, and mark start and finish lines.  Brighten the finish line with festive helium-filled balloons and an Easter basket of inexpensive prizes.  Give each child a dyed egg and a kitchen spoon, and blow a whistle to start the race.  Declare each child a winner with a prize at the finish line.

"Egg Hunt:  Section off a small spot in your yard, and spread fresh pine straw (or hay) over the area.  Conceal dyed or filled plastic eggs in the straw.  Let children in, a few at a time, for two or three minutes of hunting.  Hide more eggs between groups.

"Egg Race:  Using the same lanes created for the Egg Roll, place a dyed egg on the starting line in each lane.  have children kneel at the starting line, hands clasped behind their backs, and push the egg to the finish with their noses.

"Storytelling:  After children have played games, serve them refreshments and read them a story.  A few suggestions:  the Peter Rabbit series by Beatrix Potter; The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown; Max's Chocolate Chicken by Rosemary Wells."

*Teach the real purpose of Easter by making and sharing Resurrection Eggs.
*See my Boo Boo Bunnies adorable, (and affordable) Easter craft tutorial.

April Traditions: Birds' Nests and Jelly Bean Poem

Don't forget to watch the Sound of Music this Easter!

Birds' Nests 

1/3 c. corn syrup
3 c. miniature marshmallows
2T. butter
5 c. crisp rice cereal
jelly beans
Stir together corn syrup, marshmallows, and butter in a Dutch oven over low heat (may want to spray Dutch oven with cooking spray first), stirring often 8 min. or until marshmallows melt.  Add cereal, stirring until well-blended.  Spoon mixture evenly into 16 lightly greased muffin pan cups.  Press with wax paper to compact.  Press an indentation in centers, forming a nest, and let cool completely.  Remove nests, and fill centers with jelly beans (I love chocolate so I use Cadbury mini eggs).  For Peanut Butter Birds' Nests:  Reduce marshmallows to 2 cups, and substitute 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter.  Proceed as directed.  Yield:  16 nests.

We discovered a fabulous, super-easy recipe from an old Friend magazine that we used as Bird's Nests this year.  They worked great!  They were even easier than the one above, albeit probably more fattening!
Peanut Butter Clusters (follow nest directions above to turn them into Birds' Nests)
1 c. butterscotch chips
1/2 c. peanut butter
3 c. cornflakes or puffed rice
Slowly melt butterscotch chips in medium-size saucepan over low heat.  Stir in peanut butter a spoonful at a time.  Remove from heat and stir in cereal.  Place by spoonfuls onto waxed paper, and cool in refrigerator until firm.

If you want a much healthier version of Birds' Nests (this is why Utah is one of the skinniest places to live-she uses fiber one), go to one of my favorite blogs: http://beinglds.blogspot.com/2010/03/easter-treat-bird-nests.html.

Jelly Bean Poem Handout (with a little bag of jellybeans!)