Family History Project 2010

Throughout 2010, I had been reintroduced to my love of history. I used to be really into it and at one point was 100% sure I would be a history teacher. Of course, that's not how it panned out, but I still do love history. One of the things that really truly rang true to me this year is the saying "if you do not learn from history, you are doomed to repeat it." I had heard this saying before and thought, sure that makes sense. After some studying and reading I have found how very true and profound this statement is. I began learning alot about America's history and making up for some of the things they didn't teach in high school and the history class I took in college. I soon realized that it was great that I had learned all of these things about our nation's history, but I did not even really know my own family's history! One day in July, this really random idea came to me to make a family history book. The idea started out as something just to make for my family, but then I realized what a great Christmas gift this would be for my siblings. I had this picture in my head of how I wanted it to look and what information I wanted to know. I also felt a sense of urgency that this needed to be done now. I still don't know why I felt the urgency, but I do know that if I hadn't done it all at once like I did I probably would have never finished it. So maybe that is why.

Anyway, I began the project in late July. I began thinking of questions I wanted to ask my grandparents and parents. I looked up family history questionnaires to give me some good ideas. I ended up with a 60 question questionnaire that was pretty in depth, but not too personal! I created instructions and made a copy for each grandparent and parent on both Jared's and my side of the family. I gave the folders to them in August and asked them to have the questionnaires completed by November 1st at the latest and asked if they would include a few pictures from different times throughout their life. During this time, I worked on getting supplies, planning the look of the book as well as how to make it. As people completed their questions they would give them to me. Nobody really knew exactly what to do for pictures and some of the granparents were a little nervous about giving me originals, so I decided to go to their houses and scan the pictures I wanted for the book so that they wouldn't have to worry about them getting ruined or lost. A few of them had to be nagged until mid-December to get their stuff done, but it all came together!

Jared's cousins looking at the book on New Years.

Grandma Ohlin checkin' out her book.

My dad was in love with the book, which really made me happy. I also put together a photo album of his and Marnae's pictures. I had to hijack all of their pics for a few months, so this was easy to do.

I made a book for Carson and his future family, too so that he wouldn't feel left out (seeing as though he is my brother too, even though he isn't married yet!). I made books for the families of Grandma Ohlin, Grandma/pa Perkes, Grandma K, Grandpa/ma Gibson, Mom & Steve, Dad & Marnae, Mark & Lori, Jason, Jamie, Kristine, James, Paul, Karie, Blair, Carson, Jen, and us.

Doug and Karie, Doug and Karie.... (King of Queens... if you don't know what I'm talking about.. sorry haha)

Paul and Kristie checking out the book...

Each book included a CD of the book, extra pictures that "didn't make the cut," a personalized table of contents (each book had to be individualized to only have the pages of those people that my sibling/Jared's sibling were related to). The plan for the CD was to have them put that CD in their safe, 72 hour kit, or grab-n-go kit so that if anything ever happened they would have a copy of the book and some family history photos to take with them easily.

Since I couldn't afford to buy stickers and what not for each book, I decided to make my own. I found quotes that talked about history and family. I printed a bunch off, cut them out, and glued them on!

All the books that had to be made, wrapped, and delivered!

Mom opening her history book.

I organized mom's photos for her as part of her Christmas gift. She just had boxes of pictures that were not organized at all so I figured this would be the best gift I could give her!

My nightly disaster putting the books together! (I know it was insane but I truly enjoyed making the books... sometimes I need to let my creativity out!)

Keeping my mom's photo boxes and the books as organized as possible was a difficult feat. Jared was going crazy with the mess..... but he loves me and put up with it :) He was very happy when it was finished, though!

Trying to keep all my books together....

I still have some things to do. For my mom and Steve, Dad and Marnae, and Mark and Lori I scanned as many of their pictures that I could and put them on a jump drive. Once I get motivated again I plan to finish scanning pretty much all their pictures onto their jump drives so that they have a digital copy of them all. Hopefully I get motivated soon. :)

Well ... it was fun. :)