My new niece, Arden.

“Yes, you are officially a new parent Matt.” This is what I said to my brother this past Thanksgiving weekend as we all gathered together as a family. Now we are a bigger family, because he and his wife recently had their first baby. “You are taking more pictures now, than you ever have in the past.” “You are using Facebook more than ever, posting the new baby photos about every week.” That is the sign of new parent syndrome. It is a great sickness to have.

We love to hear and see stories in action, of parents or couples doing whatever it takes to preserve memories. That is what keeps family stories and traditions going. What fun memories did you make with your family this past Thanksgiving? It is never too late, because Christmas is coming up, then we start all over again with a new year filled with special days and events to make new memories.

How to Preserve Memories

Kwote App

Kids say the darndest things. It usually happens on the spur of a moment, so how do you capture that? If you are like me, I do not constantly have a pad of paper I am carrying around with me. Also, if I do not write it down that moment, and wait till later I get so busy that I forget to write it down. There are so many apps out there nowadays. Check out one called “Kwote.” It is completely free to use. Get your Kwote app here. Save your child’s quotes on a colorful background, then put them throughout your photo album or scrapbook pages. It is so cool and easy to use.

Save Grandparent Voices

Have a grandparent, baby sitter, family member, or friend, read your child’s favorite book out loud and record it. A great keepsake and from those you love and a comforting voice to listen to years later. You really do not know what you have until it is gone many times.

Holiday Memories

Thanksgiving is a perfect time to gather together around the table and take advantage of the time and get people to tell some of the stories of their life. Get the whole family involved. Make a game out of it. Go around the table and tell about something funny that happened in school. The key is not to wait. There are so many different ways to document these great stories for your kids and grandkids. Collect these memory makers, like old photographs, handwritten letters, newspaper articles, and family recipes while you are eating that delicious traditional pumpkin or apple pie on Thanksgiving day. A new recipe you create today, can become an old tradition years later when passed down from generation to generation.

 Photo from: http://www.oysmem.com/why-you-need-to-preserve-memories/

Create a Digital Scrapbook

There are so many options to use and digital scrapbooks you can find on Google. It is an option to dump all those photos collecting on your phone, in a creative keepsake fashion.

What are you doing to preserve your protective photos, slides, audio and video tapes. These are priceless, because they help us bridge gaps of generations in our family. If you are like me or most people, you are storing them in boxes and containers under the bed, or in closets or basement shelves. Preserve family stories and traditions, giving your children an answer to their future questions of where their family came from. Some memories may still be stored in your grandmother’s memory waiting to come out. Where ever they are, they are slipping away and deteriorating waiting to be preserved.

Get started now in preserving your memories and other tangible heirloom objects with a decorative Baby or Wedding Time Capsule from http://www.timecapsule.com.

What is your most valuable heirloom you would want saved in a time capsule? Comment below.

Making Milestone Moments Count,

–  Marcie

www.timecapsule.com

The post 4 Ways to Preserve Keepsake Memories and Heirloom Objects appeared first on Time Capsule | Personalized Gifts.

Ask yourself, what’s most important to pass on to the next generation? Teach values to your children.

– Life lessons
– Teaching to help others
– Strong communication skills
– How to be emotionally strong
– Financial security
– Education
– Values
– Etc.

After being with my niece for a week, I realized she is in the independent stage, as she demands, “I can do it.” It is enlightening seeing a child without any fear. She is a real go-getter, a dare devil, and an observant learning sponge soaking up anything new around her. I realized while playing with my niece, how important it is to subtly drop hints to teach about values, and act as a consistent role model as she wanted to imitate many things I did last week. For example, when the dog got wet she shook, just like the dog. It was funny, but then I realized how much more important it is for my niece to imitate other important values, like family bonding.

My mom, niece (Skylar), and my brother.

Instill a Sense of Family History

Do not get so caught up in instilling values that you forget to enjoy the milestone moments, or memories. Share your family stories. These are what by nature, will share your values as a family too. A great way to do share your stories is by creating a time capsule together as a family. Save mementos and heirlooms in the time capsule. Save memories forever with a time capsule to pass on to future generations.

One Man’s Trash, is Another Man’s Treasure

I grew up learning the value of a dollar. My family shopped at stores like “Goodwill” in order to make ends meet. I am sure some of you can relate. Goodwill is a time capsule store in of itself. You never know what you will find there. To some, an old coffee cup may only be worth $1.00, but to others, it is may be sentimental and priceless, therefore it is treasured for years. My family had a dinner plate which said “You are Special Today.” It was great. My parents brought out the plate when we as kids accomplished something, received good grades, or helped someone else out. We valued this plate and how it made us feel. My parents valued what the plate taught us. It is a plate that will forever be treasured and passed on to our next generation of grand children, through a time capsule.

Passing on values to your children is so important. What do you value? Treasure these values in a time capsule, and make sure they get passed on to future generations. Pass on what makes your family unique. Embrace what life is teaching you now, and pass that on to your future children. Pass on your values you want to teach your own children, in a decorative Baby Time Capsule from http://www.timecapsule.com/product/babystimecapsule/.

What value or treasure would you like to put in a Baby Time Capsule to pass on to your future child? Comment below.

Making Milestone Moments Count,

– Marcie

www.timecapsule.com

Credits: Main photo taken from http://www.pinterest.com/pin/259590365996455168/

The post Teach Values: What you Value, you Treasure appeared first on Time Capsule | Personalized Gifts.