Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Our Family Songbook: "A Very Good Place to Start"


I surprised Steve by creating family songbooks for Christmas this year.  

He actually started a file of songs that he wanted to turn into a family songbook a while ago, but he never finished it.  So I picked up where he left off.  I gathered the songs that he sang with his family growing up, songs that my family sang, Christmas carols, campfire songs, echo songs, songs that the kids have learned in preschool, seasonal chants, jump rope rhymes, and even the rules to our favorite silly party games.  

It felt good to record the lyrics to songs that I have only ever heard my grandfather sing--lyrics that I cannot find anywhere online.  Then I added some of my favorite family pictures from the last few years and an alphabetical index. The finished product is 102 pages long and spiral bound.  There is a copy for each family member.

We have already used it to introduce the kids to some new songs, and they really enjoy looking at the pictures, since they haven't yet learned to read.

11 comments:

  1. What a sweet idea. I love it.

    What a great way for your kids to also hear stories of their ancestors as you tell them of the times you have heard Great-Grandpa sing it, or the time you all gathered round the campfire. Thanks for sharing.

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  2. What a thoughtful idea! I love it!!

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  3. What a fantastic idea, and family history to boot! I love projects that do double duty :)

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  4. You know, I wonder if we're related somehow. My mom did the very same thing of the songs HER grandmother used to sing... who was a Christensen. Hm!

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  5. what a clever idea and way to preserve both of your family's legacies!

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  6. What a wonderful gift for everyone to treasure. You really put a lot of work and effort into it.

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  7. A terrific way to hand down a treasure of loving music.

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  8. This is an amazing idea! Your gifts have all been so thoughtful and fabulous - but I think this one is my favorite!

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  9. great idea... I had a similar song book when my children were younger. It was full of primary songs I was trying to teach them.

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