{heidi swapp in edmonton}

Here are some of my pictures from "Edmonton All Day with Heidi Swapp".

My big House of 3 bag that had all the goodies in it.
Heidi telling us the story behind the Energy Journal idea.
We all signed this booklet for Heidi.
Our conference room. I was sitting right behind these ladies in the front.
I took a lot of pictures before I realized my flash was turned off. Pay attention, sansku, pay attention... :)

Something about this old chandelier made me take a picture of it. :)

A quick peak for you of some of the projects Heidi brought with her.

Heidi's Home Album. Just few of the pages.

Check the House of 3 web site if you're interested in buying any of these kind of kits. There's lots of awesome stuff there. Digital stuff so people who don't have a scrapbooking store where they live can just print out stuff and still scrapbook. They are very handy for those of us also who have a scrapbooking store nearby. Just another fun way to scrapbook.

I fell in love with this black plastic (I know, I still liked it) bling bling heart. :) It was so big and bulky.

A layout she had made using the same inking technique we practiced that day. Heidi has five cute, cute kids.

Loved this heart she had made with ink and rubberstamps.

There you have it. Just a peak. :)

I'm sure this won't be the only scrapbooking event I'll go to. I'm hooked. :)

*heidi swapp
*house of three

(spiritual stuff included in this posting but it's about scrapbooking too :)}

I can't sleep for the life of me. I think it's because my nose is totally stuffed up. Or maybe because I'm still wired from the Heidi Swapp event today. My very first scrapbooking seminar! Yesterday I thought I wouldn't be able to go. I couldn't even move, I was so sick. I had literally zero energy. Couldn't even shower. I was crying as I was so disappointed about the thought of not being able to go to this event. I had hoped Jay could have given me a priesthood blessing (worthy men in our church hold the priesthood and they can give blessings to sick people or if they are in some other need) but Jay has been so busy with work, working late every night. I was desperate yesterday so I called the elders (male missionaries) to come and give me a blessing. Just so you know - not every time you get a blessing when you're sick you get healed. You have to listen carefully to the words if they even promise you healing. Most of the time the blessing promises you comfort to endure and you feel emotionally & spiritually strengthened during your illness/trial. There is a reason why we need to be sick in this life. It would frustrate God's plan for us if we were healed every time. I have only been healed once before even though I've had many blessings while sick. I was praying hard that Heavenly Father would allow me to get well enough to attend this special occasion. When the elder said "comfort AND healing" in the blessing and that I would be able to do all the things I need to do, I knew I'd be able to go. Prior to the blessing, I was freezing even though it was +24C. I had a long sleeved shirt on and everything. Right after the blessing, I got really hot and knew that my fever was gone. All of a sudden I had energy. It was like night and day. So now I can say I have been healed twice while sick. Well, this time partially. I still have a stuffed up nose and a bit of a cough. But no fever and I have energy. What I needed.

You readers don't need to believe this or anything. I mainly wrote this down for myself. I always want to remember how I felt Heavenly Father's love for me and how I was able to attend this event only because of Him.
I don't have my own pictures uploaded yet so I got these pictures from Heidi's blog. These are all the products we received. Lots & lots. All in a cute shiny silver House of 3 bag. We made an "energy journal" and also five layouts using distress ink. I still have to finish my projects before I can show you pictures. I did the main things but left the decorating part to do at home when I can think better how I want to decorate everything. The last picture in this posting shows a peak of the layouts done with ink. Mine won't look that good so you might as well just look at those ones. :) Inking isn't my forte by any means.

Special part for me was when I sat down for lunch with Karly, Talia & Kim (who were helping Heidi with the seminar) and Heidi and her friend sat down with us as well. She told us about some of her personal experiences and it was really touching. I felt special to be able to share in that experience.

Jay & Sienna & Robin spent the day getting training wheels for Sienna's new bike. And a helmet and I guess she wanted knee pads too. :) They also bought a kite and went to fly it. Sienna's a bit sick still too. Hope we'll both be 100% soon so we can start enjoying summer again.

Still wide awake. What am I going to do to get to sleep?

If you haven't checked out Heidi's blog yet then please do. I must say that her projects look even better in real life. She brought some of them for us to see and they were gorgeous. She's THE bling bling girl. :) Even her beautiful flip flops were bling bling. :)

*heidi swapp

*house of three

{muutama kuva}

Sienna wanted to paint again. I love the smiley face with dots. I taught her how to make dots with the end of the paintbrush.

I made this butterfly garland a while back and I'm still trying to decide if I like it or not.
Taulu on Edmontonin temppeli. Lahja Jayn vanhemmilta. En tykkaa kun se on talvikuva. Ankea. Vaarat varitkin meidan kotiin. Pitaa jossain vaiheessa vaihtaa parempaan kuvaan josta itse tykkaisin enemman.

Olkkarin ikkunoista on ihana nakyma etupihan puihin. Ne suojaa myos auringon porotukselta.

For the second year in a row, no pink flowers in our tree. Does anyone know why? I miss the gorgeous pink flowers.

Tuoksu on huumaava.

Some of our flowers have opened up.

***

Aivan karsee olo tanaan. Nyt vuotaa nenakin ja energiaa on nolla. Hyva kun jaksoin pitaa kuppia kadessa tai kavella edes. Kuljen kuin kilpikonna h i t a a s t i. Voi etta on kurjaa olla kipea. Kunnon plaah fiiliskin menossa. Kun sais vaan kapertya peiton alle... Vali vali. :) Hyva muistutus teille jotka ootte terveita arvostaa energiaanne. :)

{please oh please}

image via martha stewart website

cutest cupcakes contest

modecokids (dot) com
***
I'm sick. I'm tired. I'm achey breaky. I'm worried that I won't be well by Saturday - Heidi Swapp scrapbooking event here in Edmonton and I'm registered (!!!). Please, oh please, let me be well by then!
Sienna's been so good today playing by herself. I honestly have had no energy to do much with her. Well, you still have to "do stuff": find baby clothes for her doll, make lunch, read books, get this, get that, help with this, help with that, I even learned how to play "balloon soccer" while laying on the couch :).... I'm counting seconds when Jay gets home and I can crash. Such is life at times. To top it all, my hips are killing me today. I can barely move. I was in a car accident when I was little (a car hit me and I flew in the air & landed hard, I couldn't walk for hours) and my hips have always been kind of wacky. One of these days they'll have to give me a hip replacement.
Sorry about complaining. I just feel like "it was yesterday" when I was sick for six weeks. Atleast you have pretty pictures to look at. :)

Jay's been working long hours. First he goes to boot camp in downtown at six in the morning. Comes home, showers, eats, works in scortching sun all day (if he's lucky it's not too hot or it doesn't rain either), comes home, showers, plays with Sienna/puts her to bed, eats, goes back to work. He gets home again at around 9.30pm. Just on time to go to bed. I don't know how he does it. My Superhero.

{kirjoja joista tykkaan}

I'm sick today (luulisi etta kuusi viikkoa sairastelua tammikuussa olisi ollut tarpeeksi, mutta ei... :( fibromyalgia aiheuttaa myos alhaisen immuniteetin. :( ) and a bit bored so I thought I'd share four books that I really like.

www.jenndocherty.com
I bought this book because of this idea. I love the big flower. Some of you may regonize that I made cards using this idea. I haven't had time to think about felting but I used scrapbook paper to make cute, big flower cards. One of these days I'll make this too. I hope. :) Because I love art but haven't had a chance to go to art school, I love books that show art techniques. This book is awesome. I thought you could use some of these techniques to make fun scrapbook layouts too.

www.coreymoortgat.blogspot.com

I love how she paints pictures. So cool.



Claudine Hellmuth is awesome too because she shares art techniques. These are two of her books.

www.claudinehellmuth.com.

Love this white haired little girl one!

Voi etta tykkaan kirjoista! Koko maailma aukeaa kun lukee kirjoja.

So many great ideas. So little time. Ehka mun pitaisi blogata vahemman niin saisin jopa kaikkea muuta aikaiseksi. :) No, jossain vaiheessa Sienna ei vie kaikkea aikaani (koulu/harrastukset) ja sitten mun on PAKKO alkaa toteuttamaan mun taideunelmia.

{another version of the personal history questions}

judd house in australia

via www.dwell.com

***

This is the version I was looking for so I'll put this one in here as well. My blog = my filing system. :)

***

Ingredients
Life was not meant to be bottled up forever. This jar is jam-packed with 160 delicious and interesting questions to inspire you to celebrate something very important...YOU!
Recipe
Combine a generous slice of your life history with a dash of nostalgia and several cups of facts and feelings. Fold in several sheets of photographs.
If you will follow this simple recipe, you will find that by this time next year, you will have one very delicious, personal history finished. All you need to do is draw out one slip of paper daily or weekly...On it you will find a question. Spend a few minutes or just enjoy remembering. Then mount the question at the top of a blank page and begin to write and mount photos or other memorabilia and answer the question. Don't worry about the spelling, handwriting, etc. Just tell YOUR story! This product was prepared to preserve your life as a message. Enjoy the scrumptious, homemade memories.

***
· What lessons did you take as a child? Did any carry over into adulthood?
· Describe your first job.
· What is the most wonderful thing that ever happened to you?
· What was the worst thing that ever happened to you?
· Did you have a close relationship with any of your grandparents? Tell about it.
· What were your father's best traits? His worst? What traits do you share?
· Describe your Sundays as a child.
· Tell about your favorite Aunt or Uncle
· What is your advice for good health?
· How many brothers and sisters do you have? Tell about each of them.
· Tell about a practical joke that was played on you or that you played on someone else.
· What did you do when you were a child that got you in the most trouble and how did your parents handle it?
· What are some of the superstitions that you remember growing up with?
· Describe your parent's courtship and wedding as best you can.
· What is the most important lesson, message, or advice that you have learned that you might pass on to others?
· What convinced you most in your choice of a spouse?
· Tell something about each of your children, their personalities, their talents, and the traits that make them each special and unique.
· Write a want ad that describes your spouse.
· Tell about a frustrating experience you have had with a car.
· Did it snow where you lived as a child? What kinds of things did you do when it snowed?
· Describe a typical day during your high school years.
· What are your favorite colors, flowers, food, activities and hobbies?
· Tell about a special date you had with a girl/boyfriend.
· What things do you enjoy today that you enjoyed doing as a child?Describe them then and now.
· How did you like being the oldest, youngest or middle child? What were the advantages and disadvantages?
· Do you have a favorite author - who? why?
· Describe a trip downtown as a youngster.
· Tell about your favorite books as a child, youth, adult.
· What kinds of chores were you responsible for while you were growing up? Tell about them.
· What board games or card games did you play while growing up? Who did you play with?
· Did you ever go bowling? Tell about it.
· What were swimming suits like when you were young?
· Tell about an experience with one of your children's teachers.
· Were you ever lost as a child? Tell about it.
· Did you ever break a bone or have stitches? Tell about it.
· What were you afraid of as a child? Why? Did this fear follow you into adulthood?
· Tell about a time in your life when you were surprised. Tell about a time that you surprised someone.
· Tell about sibling rivalry within your family.
· Describe your room as a child. Did you have your own room or have to share it with a sibling? Tell some experiences.
· Do you remember your family getting a new piece of furniture, a new car or something similar when you were a child?
· Tell about what you did while visiting your grandparents or aunt and uncle.
· Did you ever roller skate, ice skate, ski, or something similar?
· Did you share any special interest with your mother or father?
· Did you walk to school or ride a bus?
· Where did you live while growing up? (city, state, country)
· What was one of your favorite treats as a child?
· Did your grandmother make any special desserts or food that you enjoyed?
· Tell about a time that you helped someone in time of need.
· Tell about a time that someone helped you in time of need.
· Tell about your first car.
· Have you ever picked up a hitchhiker? Or been one?
· Tell about your first serious boy/girlfriend.
· What form of transportation did you have while growing up?
· Tell about a party that you hosted at your house or your parent's house.
· Tell about a disastrous experience.
· Did you ever save money for a big purchase?
· Did you go to college or have vocational training - where or when?
· What do you think about movies - what is your favorite movie and why?
· Who was your best friend while you were growing up? Do you still associate with them?
· What did your parents do for work while you were growing up?
· What is your favorite book?
· Tell about an experience you had with your friends while growing up.
· Tell about the most trying experience you have ever had.
· Tell about going to a high school dance.
· Describe the places where you hung out with your friends as a teenager.Tell about a person in school who was mean or snobby.
· Tell about a double date.
· What games did you play in your neighborhood?
· Tell about some of your family traditions - Christmas, birthdays, Graduation, 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, hunting, funerals, weddings, Mothers and Fathers Day.
· Do you remember any outstanding family trips or vacations?
· Tell about where you were and what you remember at the time of a historic event in your lifetime.
· Did you have a bicycle? What was it like?
· Describe a childhood birthday.
· Describe a childhood Christmas.
· Describe a typical school day as a child in elementary school.
· What education did you receive other than at school?
· What was your favorite place to go with your family when you were young?
· Tell about retirement. When, where and what will you do (or are you doing) with your time?
· Write one sentence that tells "how to live successfully".
· Would you choose differently if you could choose occupations again? Why? Any advice?
· What was your most embarrassing moment?
· Describe the most serious illness or accident you have had.
· Describe your first home as a young couple.
· Describe your wedding day.
· Did you have a job as a child? (paper route, lawn mowing, babysitting, etc.)
· What were some of your favorite playground activities?
· What fragrance would you say takes you back in time and what does it remind you of?
· Where did you go to meet new people when you were in your youth?
· Tell about your temperament as a child - has it changed?
· Did you ever set anything on fire or know someone who did?
· Did you ever get a spanking? Grounded? Tell about what you did and the punishment.
· Tell about a star gazing experience.
· Have you ever spent any time out of the USA?
· Describe how the ways of doing household chores was different when you were growing up than it is today.
· Did you ever have a favorite scary story while you were growing up? What was it about?
· Did you ever have a graveyard or a haunted house experience?
· Did you ever keep a secret about someone? Are you still keeping it today? Tell about it if you can!
· Tell about going to the County Fair or the amusement park when you were a child.
· Describe getting a Christmas tree with your family as a child. Tell when and how it was decorated.
· Tell about "hand-me-downs" you received or gave.
· Tell about the "Tooth Fairy" and other personages you remember.
· Tell about learning a skill from either of your parents, cooking, sewing, cleaning, fixing things, etc.
· Describe what you think it is like to live with you.
· Describe one of your favorite outfits of all time...a dress, shoes, shirt, hat.
· How did you feel about school?
· Were you or do you remember anyone in your school class being punished by a teacher?
· List and tell about at least three good qualities about yourself.
· What do you feel has been the most significant event that has taken place in your lifetime and how has it affected you?
· Tell something you remember about your relationship with your grandfather.
· Tell something you remember about your relationship with your grandmother.
· Tell about the homes you lived in as a child. Do you remember any of the addresses or telephone numbers? Who lived next door?
· Tell about your involvement with a civic or political group.
· Did you grow up with music in your family?
· Tell about a bully in your neighborhood or at school.
· Name the most romantic song you can remember and tell why.
· Make a list of the things in your junk drawer and tell why you are keeping them.
· Tell about some of the most exciting experiences with scouting.
· List a few of the simple things in life that make you smile and tell why.
· Name the personality trait you most admire and tell why. Do you know many people with this trait?
· Do you remember your favorite childhood fantasy?
· Did your mother or grandmother sew, quilt, knit or crochet? Tell about things made.
· Describe a typical day in your life from what time you get up in the morning to bedtime.
· Tell about being a grandparent. Name your grandchildren.
· How did you feel when you first became a grandparent?
· Tell about how, when and where you learned to drive a car. Any accidents or tickets?
· Tell about a special anniversary.
· Did you have a childhood hideout? Where? Describe it. What kinds of things did you do there?
· Tell about religion practiced in your home.
· Tell of a time that you felt God was there to help you in your struggles.
· Tell about the experience or person you feel was the most influence in your life.
· Was there a special teacher in your life? (Not necessarily in a school environment).
· Tell about the changes in society in general you have seen in your lifetime.
· Tell about the changes in morality you have seen during your lifetime.
· Tell about fashion trends you have seen in your life, what you wore as a child, teen, and adult.
· Tell about a food that you hated as a child...do you like it now?
· If you could be an animal what would you be and why?
· Write about a "one on one" experience you had with your father.
· Write about a "one on one" experience you had with your mother.
· Tell a story your mother told you from her past.
· Were you ever in a drama or speech class, on a sports team, or in a club?
· What is one of the most exciting places you have ever visited? What made it so exciting?
· Tell about a camping or fishing experience.

(This version from here: http://www.dennydavis.net/poemfiles/jrnljar.htm)

{personal history jar questions}

I did this in Finnish already but here's the English version. If you want to get started on your personal history, here are some questions that can get you started. If you do a Google search for "personal history jar questions" you'll find different versions of this same thing. The idea is to cut these questions in strips, roll them up and put them in a jar (you might want to keep the same topic questions together). Then you pick a question and answer it when you have a moment to write. If you make this as a gift to someone (parents, grandparents...) then just add some candy in the jar and decorate the jar nicely. If that person is not computer savy then include a large journal book with the gift.

***

What is your full name and why were you named it?
Were you named after somebody else?
Did you have a nickname as you were growing up?
If you did, what was it and why did they call you that?
Have you had other nicknames as an adult?
What do family members call you now?
Where were you born and when?
Do you remember hearing your grandparents describe their lives? What did they say?
Do you remember your great-grandparents? What do you know about them?
Who was the oldest person you can remember in your family as a child? What do you remember about them?
Do you remember your family discussing world events and politics?
Was there a chore you really hated doing as a child?
What would you consider to be the most important inventions that have been made during your lifetime?
How is the world now different from what it was like when you were a child?
What kinds of books did you like to read?
Do you remember having a favorite nursery rhyme or bedtime story? What was it?
Do you ever remember not having enough food to eat because times were hard for your family?
What were your favorite toys and what were they like?
What were your favorite childhood games?
What were your schools like?
How did you get to school?
What was your favorite subject in school and why?
What subject in school was always the easiest for you?
What was your least favorite subject in school and why?
Who was your favorite teacher and why were they special?
What school activities and sports did you participate in?
Did you and your friends have a special hang-out where you liked to spend time? Where was it and what did you do there?
Were you ever given any special awards for your studies or school activities?
How many years of education have you completed?
Do you have a college degree? If so, what was your field of study?
Did you get good grades?
Did you like school?
What did you usually wear to school? Describe it.
Were there any fads during your youth that you remember vividly?
How old were you when you started dating?
Do you remember your first date? Describe the circumstances.
Name a good friend that you have known for the longest period of time? How many years have you been friends?
Has there ever been anyone in your life that you would consider to be your kindred spirit or soul mate? If so, who were they and why did you feel a special bond to them?
How did you meet the person that you would later marry? Describe him/her?
Do you remember where you went on the first date with your spouse?
How long did you know him/her before you got married?
Describe your wedding proposal.
When and where did you get married?
Describe your wedding ceremony. Who was there?
Did you have a honeymoon? If so, where did you go?
How would you describe your spouse? What do (did) you admire most about them?
How long have you been married (or were you married)?
What wise advice would you give to a grandchild on their wedding day?
How many children did you have all together?
What were their names, birth dates and birthplaces?
Do you remember anything that your children did when they were small that really amazed you?
What is one of the most unusual things that one of your children did regularly when they were small?
What was the funniest thing you can remember that one of your children said or did?
If you had it to do all over again, would you change the way you raised your family? How?
What did you find most difficult about raising children?
What did you find most rewarding about being a parent?
Did you spoil any of your children? How?
Were you a strict or lenient parent?
Did you find that you had to treat each of your children differently? If so, why?
How did you first hear that you were a grandparent and how did you feel about it?
What advice do you have for your children and grandchildren?
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
What was your first job?
What kinds of jobs have you had?
How did you decide on your career?
Did you make enough money to live comfortably?
How long did you have to work each day at your job?
How old were you when you retired?
What were the hardest choices that you ever had to make? Do you feel like you made the right choices?
Who was the person that had the most positive influence on your life? Who were they and what did they do?
Is there a person that really changed the course of your life by something that they did? Who were they and what did they do?
Do you remember someone saying something to you that had a big impact on how you lived your life? What was it?
What wars have been fought during your lifetime? How did you feel about them?
If you served in the military, when and where did you serve and what were your duties?
If you served in the military, were you ever injured in the line of duty? What were the circumstances and what were your injuries?
What countryleader have you admired the most and why?
As you see it, what are the biggest problems that face your nation and how do you think they could be solved?
How tall are you?
What color was your hair as a young child and then as an adult?
What color are your eyes?
Where have you lived as an adult? List the places and the years that you lived there.
Why are you living where you are today?
Do you wish you lived somewhere else (If so, where would it be)?
Describe your general health.
What major illnesses or health problems do you remember having?
Do you have any health problems that are considered hereditary in nature? If so, what are they?
What do you do regularly for exercise?
Do you have any bad habits now or in the past? What were they?
Have you ever been the victim of a crime? What happened?
Have you ever been in a serious accident?
Has anyone ever saved your life? Describe.
Have you ever saved anyone else's life? Describe.
Have you ever been hospitalized? If so, what?
Have you ever had surgery? If so, what for?
If you could instantly change something about yourself, what would it be?
What do you usually dream about?
What church, if any, do you attend regularly?
Describe your religious beliefs.
Do you believe in an after life?
What was the most stressful experience that you ever lived through? What helped you get through it?
What is the scariest thing that has ever happened to you personally?
What kinds of musical instrument(s) have you learned to play?
Would you consider yourself creative?
What things have you made that others have enjoyed?
How would you describe your sense of humor?
What activities have you especially enjoyed as an adult?
What are your hobbies?
What did you like to do when you were not working?
What is the most amazing thing that has ever happened to you?
What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you?
Have you ever met any famous people? Describe what happened.
What organizations and groups have you belonged to?
Have you ever won any special awards or prizes as an adult? What were they for?
Describe a time and place when you remember feeling truly at peace and happy to be alive. Where were you and what were you doing?
What is the most beautiful place you have ever visited and what was it like?
What is the longest trip that you have ever gone on? Where did you go?
What has been your favorite vacation? Where did you go and why was it special?
What was the favorite place you ever visited and what was it like?
What pets have you had?
Do you have a favorite story about a pet? What is it?
Is there anything you have always wanted to do, but haven't?
What is your favorite style of music?
What is your favorite musical instrument?
Who is your favorite musical group?
What is your favorite song?
Who is your favorite singer?
Who is your favorite movie star?
What is your favorite movie?
Who is your favorite artist?
What is your favorite painting?
Who is your favorite poet?
What is your favorite poem?
What is your favorite TV program?
Who is your favorite author?
What is your favorite book?
What is your favorite season?
What is your favorite tree?
What is your favorite flower?
What is your favorite holiday?
What is your favorite color?
What is your favorite sport?
Who is your favorite athlete?
What is your favorite animal?
What is your favorite meal?
What is your favorite fruit?
What is your favorite vegetable?
What is your favorite candy?
What is your favorite cookie?
What is your favorite drink?
What is your favorite restaurant?
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
What is your favorite board game?
What is your favorite card game?

{couple of aha moments}

The other day, Sienna got really frustrated when she was trying to write her name on her drawing. Her N looked like M. She's somewhat of a perfectionist. She thinks she should be able to do things right away. No matter how much I tried to explain things for her, the tears kept coming. So the next day I got this idea. She loves to trace things using my lightbox. I printed her name many times on a sheet of paper, taped another paper on top of that. Turned on the light box and way she went. She was able to practice her name without getting all frustrated. She actually had fun. I taught her how to stop on the points in her letters and she was able to do the letters more sharply.

So there. Fun way for kids to practice writing. :)

ps. If you don't have a lightbox, just make your letters light gray in color and they can trace over that. (I can be quite smart at times :))

I do clean up my desk but few days afterwards, it always ends up looking like this.
Then I totally recommend this book to everyone. Creating Keepsakes' Family History Scrapbooking, author: Becky Higgins.
I get so inspired when I read/browse this book. I like her rule for family history scrapbooking: that it should be about the people and their stories, not about how well and fancy you can scrapbook. I want to keep my family history scrapbooking really simple too. This book really is worth purchasing. She shares lots of great tips and there are ton of layouts to inspire you and get you excited about family history.

Have you asked your parents how they met and have you recorded their story somehow? I like how Becky used both her mom's and dad's version of the story on her layout.

If you haven't been bitten by the family history bug yet, what are you waiting for? :) It is so fun to learn about your family and your ancestors. If you have kids, please make sure you share your life story with them.
Then to my second aha moment of the week... :)
Blogs are so family history! I keep a private, personal blog for our family memories. Sienna will be able to read about our every day lives and see all the pictures. I sure hope nothing ever happens to Blogspot or the Internet. Must remember to backup blogs too regularly. I'm also planning on printing out our family blog every so often.
I have wanted to start writing my personal history for so long now. I have felt somewhat overwhelmed by the largeness of the project. Where to start? How to do it? I realized that I love to blog (obviously). It's so fast and easy to type things here and add pictures too. I realized that I could make my personal history in a blog format. Keep it private so only those very few whom I want to see it will see it. Then when I have 15 minutes here and there, I can jot down stories as they pop into my head. I plan on scanning all my pictures too (there aren't that many, some of you might have too many to do that) and include them on the blog. This is great because I have glued many of my pictures in albums with a glue that contains acid and eventually those pictures will look terrible because of it (way back then I had no idea that glue eats pictures).
Then even more ahas hit me... :)
We have been waiting for a baby album for Jay "forever" now. His mom wanted to scrapbook everything for him but just doesn't have the time to do that. I was thinking that I could start a blog for her where she can atleast write the stories down. I thought that she could start with Jay and then go down in age order and do the same for the other siblings. I'm going to ask her if she'd be willing to do that. If not, maybe I can figure out a way to help her finish that HUGE scrapbook project she has started. I want Jay's baby album. :)
Start bugging your family about family memories. :) It doesn't matter how you decide to save those memories. Please just make sure you do. It's a good idea to start interviewing the oldest relatives first (grandparents for example).
I will continue to keep a blog for Sienna and that'll be my best gift for her. I'm sure it'll be the most precious to her as well. Even this blog might be of interest to Sienna one day. She'll be able to see what else her mommy was interested in than her. :)
Junk doesn't last. Memories do.