Involving Youth

We had our first 4-H family history project meeting last Saturday and it was terrific.  I am so thankful for Jennifer Holik and her Branching Out curriculum, as it kept me on track.  As you may recall, I tried this last year and it was really difficult.  With Jennifer's curriculum, it's on track and geared toward the correct ages. 

We are having 8 meetings (and some field trips), so I have to do two lessons each meeting.  I was worried about this, but it went just fine.  For our first meeting, we talked about:

• What is Genealogy and Why Should I Care?
• Where Do I Start and What Do I need?

The kids each shared some stories they have heard about their families.  Then we brainstormed on ways they could find out more about that story.  There are four students total, ranging from 6 to 13, so a nice mix and I'm glad I bought two levels of Jennifer's books!  Next meeting we will create family trees, so I’ll post some pictures of their creations.

I also brought them along to the Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society’s Heritage Happenings at the library.  They were greeters and helped people pin their birth places on the maps and directed them to get more information with the helpers in the back.  My son (the six year old) accosted people and literally hunted them down in the library.  “You didn’t put a pin in our map.  It’s right over there!”  His tiny 4-H hat covered head all in their face about it…  Cracked me up while mortifying me all at the same time.

Cemetery I Spy and Grave Digging with the Mascots

Last Saturday, we went to the cemetery where my husband’s great grandparents on his father’s side were buried.  A distant genealogy cousin sent me these directions:

“The Fishers are buried at Oak Hill... They are buried together at the Laurel Lawn part.  They told me it was 129E, but we found it at 160E which is up one row.”

Earlier in the week, I Googled Oak Hill and found the address and phone number.  I called and they said the office would be open Saturday and that we could pick up a map.  We had some other fun things to do in San Jose, so it was all working out.  I got the family interested enough to say, “Yes, fine, we’ll go to the cemetery.”  Thankfully, even though they aren’t into genealogy, they are in to morbid Halloween like things, so they seem to be okay with the cemetery aspect of genealogy.  In the car, we discussed the Fishers that we were off to find and how in reality, Fisher should be our last name.  The kids thought that was mildly interesting.  Until the Spongebob theme began on Marc’s iPod, anyway.

We got to the cemetery and noticed at once that it is HUGE.  Rolling hills of graves, fountains and statues.  I parked and Marc and Signa went in to get the map from the office.  I gave them my handwritten note:  Laurel Lawn, 129E and 160E. They were in there for about 20 minutes, which is a long time for I Spy in the cemetery with a six-year-old.  “Momma, I spy something that is red.”  “Is it the flowers by the grave?” “YES!”  “Momma, I spy something that is gray.”  “Is it the gravestone?” “YES!” Repeat.

They came back with a map and it turns out that Laurel Lawn is a triangular shaped area right where we were parked.  We headed for the areas the lady had marked off with a highlighter and proceeded to instantly NOT find the graves. 

We wandered separately.  Then we wandered together.  Then we methodically marched up and down the rows where they should have been. 

Then we noticed gaps where there should be graves, but instead it was grass.  Then we noticed that the graves were all sunken a bit with the grass about 2 inches taller and we supposed that the grass had grown over some.  We sent the six-year-old to dig.  Yep.  Graves under there. 

Pretty soon, Marc was full-on digging up grave stones with his hands.  He’d uncover some letters or numbers and then move on when it wasn’t ours. (isn't this cute!?!  my "genealogy is boring" family and they are DIGGING UP GRAVES! and getting very determined to find the missing hidden clue and... OMG... DIGGING UP GRAVES!)

Then I looked at the map.  “Didn’t my note say ONE 29 and ONE 60?”  This is highlighted for 29 and 60.  We walked to the other corner of Laurel Lawn and the grave was right there. In seconds.

I just asked William if he had fun at the cemetery.  “Yeah, but only if I can bring a shovel next time.”

My Daughter's Genealogy Report

She wrote a script and everything.  Give 'em a camera and they don't know it's what they usually call "boring"...

Signa Felt by Signa Mascot

Happy 6th Birthday, William!

Dear Big Stink,

Today is your sixth birthday and you are such a little man now.  Our constant mantra this year has been, “Think before you act!”  But you just can’t seem to master that impulse control quite yet.  In fact, it’s so rare for you to think first that you will actually announce it at times.  “I *WAS* going to jump from that table to that chair, but I thought before I acted!” 

You surprise me in the things you are drawn to (besides trouble).  You love to help people and you love to get hugs and tickles.  You love babies so much that you will stop and say how cute one is no matter where we are.  You play really well with all the older kids we are with, but also equally as well with little ones.  I love how gentle you can be.

Your Kindergarten year was wonderful.  You excel at ever subject and are actually finishing up first grade work at this point.  You pick things up very quickly and then move them further forward, concept-wise in your head.  Amazes me how well you do this.  I wish they could bottle some of that for me.

Your video games are a huge love this year.  You love the Lego games for the PlayStation- Harry Potter, Star Wars, Batman, etc.  You have a Skylander’s game that you also love with figures that you collect.  Very over my head, but brings you much joy, so that is all that matters.

Your big announcement being six years old this morning is that you can now go into Signa’s top bunk.  There is apparently a sticker up there that says you must be six to go on the top bunk.  Apparently, Signa has held that over your head (figuratively and literally) for the past four years.  Today, my little man, you may go into the top bunk.  Enjoy!

We love you more and more every single day and are excited to watch you learn to think before you act over the next few years.

Love you, Bubbinator!

-Momma