I love taking pictures! My camera is my constant companion whenever I'm with my grandkids. After years of scrapbooking, I decided to try this Photo Book method where I could add narrative and creative designs just like I spent hours doing with my stacks of memory books!
The first attempt was "Our Alaska Adventures" book; written and photographed with my granddaughter after our dogsledding and snow trekking vacation. Living in Southern California, she wanted to experience snow and learn more about this unique sport. She quickly learned the lingo and moves. It really was the 'lightness of being" as we flew over the snowy meadows like a magic carpet!
We put Travels With Gramps and Gramcracker on the back cover.
But every time I created a new book, we called it Another Gramps and Gramcracker Book!
Gary and His Grandkids....A Grand Life is a tribute to our old cat, Gary Gare. Always an indoor cat, he passed away in December, 2010. Our grandson, who was 3 at the time, peered out the window at his backyard grave and announced; "now Gary's an outdoor cat!" The twins love reading this to Burney...our new kitty....and I've shared it with the staff at our vet's office.
I wrote about Gardenyardigans....what we call the kids playing in the yard; helping with gardening and 'watering' the grass as they run through the sprinklers! You know I had their help with this title....straight from the Backyardigans kids' program!
Having our fab five kiddos together every summer is a highlight for us all; so I've created memory books of photos and funny tales for the cousins each year. Although these have all been made with Shutterfly, I also work on projects through Heritage and Snapfish! Check out their sites for great promotions and discounts.
Each child has had the 'honor' of being on the back cover as well! Who knew it would be such a big deal! Lane learning to swim one summer was a real highlight! In 2013 I made our 10th book. Little did I know it would mean so much to have our turn on the back cover. Gramps passed away later that year.
By the time another year and adventure rolled around, I wasn't sure what to call these books. It had been his idea to make them a series for the kids. It was his idea to take each grandchild on a vacation too.I was ready to carry on.
Our second granddaughter chose to visit New York City when she turned twelve. She also helped with photos and book ideas even as we walked the streets of Manhattan. All the kids look forward to these books now; knowing their lives will forever be documented in grandma's photo books.
The following year I focused on selling the house and moving back up north. Even as I cleaned and staged for open houses, I snapped pictures of every room and piece of furniture, gathered old photos of the kids as babies and of celebrations and activities we'd shared in this 18-year-old home. All the images forever captured in my heart would be shared in the words of my goodbye essay.
I had to call this one Another Gramps and Gramcracker Book. The girls told me it didn't matter if all the books had the same back page theme, "they'll always be our childhood memories." We included grandpa in all the ways we remembered him around the house. My kids enjoy all the books too, but this is absolutely my their favorite.