Disneyland and Intergenerational Transmission

We've just returned from a family history trip of sorts.  My parents and all of their descendants took off last week for a great trip together to celebrate their return from being abroad for the last 2.5 years.  It was a trick to get everyone's schedules aligned, but we did it--everyone got to come.  And the destination of course was Southern California where my mother grew up and where my Grandparents lived for most of their lives.  Mom and Dad you just finished your commitments away from our family..What are you going to do next?  We're going to Disneyland! 

Me and my little sister with Grandma
and Grandpa on Main Street

Disneyland runs deep in my family like I'm sure it does in many other families.  Once or twice a year when we went to visit my Maternal Grandparents, we always had to make the trip to Disneyland.  My Grandmother had Multiple Sclerosis and was in a wheelchair from the time I--the oldest grandaughter--started walking.  So for 30 years my parents visited as often as they could and supported and helped my grandparents as much as they could.  I'm not sure if it was gratitude for my parent's help, or if it was sheer grandfatherhood that made Grandpa take us to Disneyland every time we visited.  But we sure had fun. And as hard as I'm sure it must have been for them, they always came along.  I have such great memories of them there and now it seems like they are there with us.

Not with Uncle Ken,
but Dad and Jenn this time.

So we have long standing traditions at Disneyland.  The teacups has been my favorite forever because my Uncle Ken would take us and spin us so fast we couldn't hold our heads up at all.  (The pink one without the hearts is fastest--in case you didn't know.)  And it wasn't till I was quite a bit older that I figured out what a sordid tale the actual topic of the Pirates of the Caribbean was because growing up I just knew it was my Grandpa's favorite ride.  He would put his arm around me and sing "Yo Ho Yo Ho A Pirate's Life for Me."  Last week, with all of my parent's descendants together in the same boat we sang at the top of our lungs and it felt like Grandpa was there.

But get this:  One of our family's Disneyland traditions actually almost missed me.  Apparently, my sisters all buy churros when they come out of the Haunted House because Grandpa used to always buy them for us while he was waiting with Grandma while we went on the ride.  I do remember that--now that they mention it.  But I didn't have that memory as clearly as they did.  So--thanks to my sisters, I have a fun new tradition to honor my Grandfather with. 

Mom photobombing the teenagers--the next generation.

It made me think about what gets transmitted down and what doesn't.  I'm sure there are lots of families with traditions and folklore about Disneyland.  When I was little, they didn't allow food inside the park, but now they do and I suspect it is because there are families like ours that are going to pay $3.75 per churro or eat dinner at the Blue Bayou restaurant no matter what.  Transmitting those traditions are precious--no matter what the cost and it feels so good to be connected to the past and connected to your family.  Good memories are precious, precious things.

So this year we had the youngest (yet) grandchild graduate to where she could drive on the Autopia and she took Grandma for a ride.  I totally remember how cool that was!  And we had to get my sister who is pregnant and having trouble with her sciatic nerve a wheelchair--and though that wasn't fun, it was a real joy to push her around.  We didn't have any trouble finding someone to push her and I'm glad she didn't get a motorized wheelchair.  It was like having Grandma with us there again.  It also got us a great place to view the World of Color--just like we were always happy  to have handicapped parking in front of that old massive parking lot because of Grandma's wheelchair. 

At the beginning of the line at the Tower of Terror

And just for the record, my Mom's favorite ride is the Tower of Terror--not only because she loves roller coasters, but because it reminds her of the hotels in So Cal that her Grandmother used to take her to when she was a little girl.  So next time we visit, I'll remind everyone while we are waiting in line about that part of our family history.  And in line for Soaring over California, I'll keep reminding everyone about how my Grandfather was part of the beginnings of aviation in So Cal after World War II.  

I so love this family.  And I hope we can keep transmitting that down the generations most of all.  I think we were closer on this trip and the experience was deep and rich because of our shared history there. 

Here's our newest vacation tradition--movies made from an app on my sister's iPhone.  Now life comes with a soundtrack :)

Taking my daughter on a family history trip

There is nothing like travel to engage your family with their family history.  It can be near or far.  A couple of weeks ago I got to take my daughter to the Southern California Genealogy Society Conference. We had a great time on the trip, but we also got to do a little family history.  My mother grew up in Southern California and my Grandparents and Great Grandmother spent most of their lives there.  So we decided to stop by some of the old places.  

We stopped by the beach.

Mom and her sister on the left in the late 40s, Dad and I in the center in the 70s, My daughter on the right

We rode the carousel at the Santa Monica Pier.

Mom and her sister on the left in the 50s, My daughter and I on the right

We stopped by the temple where Mom and Dad were married.

Mom and Dad June 2, 1967, My daughter on the right

And we stopped by the house where my Mom grew up.

Mom and her sister on the left in the 50s, Grandpa and I in the center in the 70s, My daughter on the rightI was glad to see my Grandparent's house was being well taken care of now.   It didn't look so good when it was for sale last year when we stopped by with my son.

Next time we go to California, I'm going to see if I can recreate some of the old photos.  We did this for my parents for Mother's Day and Father's Day.  I've never laughed so hard in my life.  My sister put them together into a video for each of them.  It was a fun project that might work in your family too.  Watch out though.. I've never felt so old in my life either.  Time flies when  you are having fun. 

Taking them with you

In March I had the wonderful opportunity to speak at the North Florida Genealogy Conference in Jackson.  What a great time we had. Our dear friends Alzina and Joel Warner took such great care of us.  I got to bring my daughter with me and we had a great trip together.  It was fun to have some mother daughter time together and it was so nice to get to know the Warners better.  The Warners absolutely spoiled us, taking us to the beach, and to St. Augustine.  It was a great trip.

And it was a wonderful conference.  I gave the keynote about Family Search Family Tree Friday evening and then gave three lectures on Saturday.  Sunday evening I spoke at an LDS fireside for youth.  That was where I think the greatest benefit for me came.  #1 I think my daughter was absolutely astounded that so many youth were actually anxious to listen to her mother.  and #2 My daughter had to sit and listen to me talk about all the benefits of family history and how easy it is to get involved.

The other great thing that came out of the fireside was the flash of inspiration I had.  I told the youth that I wasn't going to tell them how to do research--they already know how to get started.   I just asked them to get a picture of ancestor and put it out where they could see it in their room, and then tell their parents that instead of doing the dishes one night, they wanted to see if they could find more information about their grandparents or great-grandparents.  I think any parent would fall for that.  I certainly would.

I think that taking your youth with you when you teach is a great way to get the youth in your family involved with family history and I've heard other people say it worked for them too.  Just take them with you when you teach someone else how to search for their roots.  Be it the neighbor down the street, or across the country, letting them see other people excited about family history is a great thing. 

Family Reunion Ideas

Along with Sandra Walsh's great ideas for a scavenger hunt "Amazing Race" about your family history, she also sent the schedule for the family reunion she organized with her grown children and their families.  What a wonderful party planner she is--as you can see below.  Each day had a theme, and lots of fun activities.  You can see how they fit in the family's history along with lots of fun,  building that family unity and family narrative that is unique to their own family.  They were making some great new family history along the way.  I'm sure these ideas can spark some ideas that will be unique to your family too.

Thanks so much Sandra for sharing!

Sunday, July 1

Theme:  Undercover Boss

5:00 p.m.         And we’re off!  Adult children and spouses meet at Texas Road House in Bountiful for dinner and visiting.  Mom and Dad appreciate spending this time with each of you.  We have some family business that we’ll discuss either at the restaurant or back at the parents’ house following dinner.  The rest of the evening is free to settle into the routine of being in Utah.  Jeremy’s family is staying at Mom and Dad’s home.

Monday, July 2

Theme:  Survivor

10 a.m.            Meet at Mom and Dad’s house to start the day.  Today we’ll get our groove on at LAGOON amusement park in Farmington.  We’d like to experience a family ride on the ferris wheel, then you’re free to divide into groups of daredevils or wimps to explore the rest of the rides and shows.  Enjoy lunch or a snack with your $10 treat voucher whenever you choose.  If you plan to spend the day at Lagoon, you may want to pack sandwiches or take along plenty of granola bars to keep your energy going.  Park hours are from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.  The rest of the day is on your own.

2:30 p.m.         Mom and Dad will leave the park early to go pick up Grandma Holmes in Ogden and bring her back to NSL for the rest of the reunion.

4:15 p.m.         Mom and Dad plan to go to the SLC airport to meet Alan’s family when they arrive.  Al’s family will be staying at the Hampton Inn Salt Lake City Central (2055 S. Redwood Road; 801-886-0703) for the next three nights.

Tuesday, July 3

Theme:  Modern Family

9:15 a.m.         It’s Family Photo Time!  Please meet at the Farmington Rock Chapel (272 N. Main, Farmington) dressed in your shades of blue and brown and be ready to smile.  Dad will have stories to tell you about the Walsh family connection to this historic church, built in 1862. Our photographer is Joey Ferguson, a friend of Dad’s from the Deseret News. Photos will include: a large family group picture; Mom and Dad and grandkids; and Mom and Dad with their four adult sons.  Other poses may be available by request.

11 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.     Free time. 

3:30 p.m          Set up for the extended family reunion picnic.  We’d like one representative from each family to help us get things ready.  The location is:  Foxboro Regional Park and Splash Pad, bowery No. 3 (west side), 1140 West, 1100 North, North Salt Lake.

4 – 8 p.m.        Play at the splash pad, visit with the relatives, or enjoy various games this afternoon.  We’ll plan to eat about 5 p.m.  Local fireworks will light up the sky over North Salt Lake about 10 p.m.  You may watch from Brandon’s backyard or from Mom and Dad’s house.  Popcorn provided.

Wednesday, July 4

Theme:  ESPN Sports Center

9:00 a.m.         Meet at Mom and Dad’s house.  Family teams will depart at 9:30 a.m. for an AMAZING RACE experience around Salt Lake City.  Follow your clues to discover unusual sites around the area – with a few challenges or perhaps even a roadblock along the way!  Remember:  gnomes may be watching you!  There will be a lunch stop at a surprise location en route.

Afternoon:       You’ll have a little free time to relax or do whatever you’d like.

4 – 6:15 p.m.   Chris and Karen have invited everyone over for a Patriotic Cookout at their home in South Jordan.  Please stop at one of the local grocery stores to pick up a side dish, drinks or dessert to go along with the menu.

6:15 p.m.         Walsh men and boys will leave for an evening of baseball with the Salt Lake Bees.  There will be a fireworks show at the end of the game.

6:15 p.m.         Tonight the Walsh women and girls will get their giddy-up on at the West Jordan Stampede and rodeo.  Western attire is optional.

Thursday, July 5

Theme:  Let’s Make a Deal

8:30 a.m.         Our final family reunion activity will be a Pancake Breakfast at Mom and Dad’s home in NSL.  Thank you for making the effort to participate in these events and for being with us.  We love you all a great deal and are glad to have you in the Walsh family!  Now, with our blessings, it’s on to your next adventure!

Family History Amazing Race

I had a wonderful idea sent to me by Sandra Walsh that I've already shared with several people I've talked too.  This is a good one!  Sandra and I got to talk at the UGA conference this spring and she told me about the wonderful activity she did with her grown children and their families.  For a family reunion activity she sent them on a an "Amazing Race" scavenger hunt to their family history sites in the area.  Each family had to text pictures of themselves at the sites back to her to check off that they had been to the site.  She sent me this list that they used and I'm not sure how these sites relate to their family history, but you can see how one could easily adapt this idea to work for family history sites such as schools, churches, gravesites, businesses and homes that were frequented by your family members.  Add a few stories and pictures and you have a great family history activity.  I'm going to work on putting one together for my family.  Let me know if you try it in yours...

Thanks so much to Sandra for sharing!  Such a fantastic idea! Sandra told me that as the children were leaving after their several day family reunion, many of them had commented to her that this was the funnest activity of all. 

She even put together a graphic just for the family activity.  Here are Sandra's instructions:

Instructions:

• ·         Follow these clues in the order listed.  It will take approximately 2.5 hours to complete this race.  A 30-45 minute lunch stop is included.
• ·         The clues are in individual envelopes.  Teams may open one clue at a time.  Some of the envelopes may have money inside to purchase a treat or lunch along the way.
• ·         Teams may use Google on their cell phones to help solve clues; or www.visitsaltlake.com; or brochures; or a SLC Downtown Map.
• ·         Teams should text photos of each location to the game captain when a clue is solved. The game captain may then send an “approved” text if the clue is solved correctly – or a “rejected” text if the team goes to the wrong location.
• ·         A “roadblock” may be texted to teams during the game.  In this case, the roadblocked team will need to solve an additional clue before continuing on the race.
• ·         At the final destination, the game captain may have a special rug or mat for the teams to jump on when they complete the race (just like Phil does on TV!)  Small gnome garden statues were presented as “trophies” to some of our individual players.  They had an Amazing Race tag that listed various accomplishments, such as:  “Best texter”; “Best use of fry sauce”; “Best bite of chocolate” (one of our kids lost a loose tooth biting into a chocolate covered strawberry!); “Best clue solver”; “Best use of accessories” (we used colorful bandanas to identify each family/team); “Best clue reader”; “Most photogenic”; etc.

Salt Lake City, Utah

Walsh Family Reunion

July 4, 2012

Clue #1:  This year (2012) is the 150^th anniversary of one of America’s great railroads.  Find this large railroad logo and have your team photo made with this symbol in the background.

Union Pacific Railroad sign at The Gateway (18 N. Rio Grande St., SLC)

Clue #2:  Where do the Utah JAZZ play their home basketball games?  There is a statue outside the arena that shows two of their most famous players.  Who were they?  Take a photo of one person on your team trying to steal the ball from one of the statue-players.

John Stockton & Karl Malone

 EnergySolutions Arena  (301 W. South Temple, SLC; utahjazz.com)

Clue #3:  What did Brigham Young say when he saw the Salt Lake Valley for the first time in 1847?  Take a picture of your team by this statue and tell us where it’s located.  Challenge:  Circle around this statue walking backwards.

“This is the (right) place!” 

This is the Place Monument

2601 E. Sunnyside Ave., SLC

801-582-1847

Clue #4:  This facility hosted the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics.  Find the Olympic cauldron.  Count the number of rings and name the colors that make up the Olympic symbol.

5 rings – black, blue, yellow, green, red (which are colors found in all the flags of the world!)

Olympic Cauldron Park

Rice Eccles Stadium (1400 East; U of U campus)

Clue #5:  What is the opposite of “little”?  Now find the 8^th letter of alphabet.  Put these two clues together to find your next destination. You may spend up to 45 minutes here without penalty.  Each team member will be given $10 to spend for lunch.

Where are you going?  ______________________________________________________________________

HIRES “BIG H” (425 S. 700 E., SLC; 801-364-4582)

Clue #6:   These Little Chocolatiers have delighted TV audiences and locals alike with their hand-made chocolates, carmels and Banana Splits.  The Hatch Family is sure to measure up to your request to taste one of the best chocolates in Utah.  Your challenge here is to do these three things:

1.        Find their store in downtown SLC.

2.       Each member of your team must taste a small bite of one of their special chocolate creations.  ($10 per team allotted.)

3.       You must talk to one of the owners or employees to find out how they started their business.

Hatch Family Chocolates

376 8^th Ave., Suite A

Salt Lake City, UT  84013

801-532-4912

Clue #7:  Go to City Creek Center, Salt Lake’s newest shopping mall that features 90 stores, a retractable glass roof, a pedestrian skybridge and a creek reminiscent of one you’d see in Utah’s beautiful canyons. Find the ZCMI façade (or front of the building).  What is this building front made from?  What does ZCMI mean?

City Creek Center (50 South Main St., SLC)

Iron

Zion’s Cooperative Merchantile Institution, founded by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1868 to encourage Mormons to buy locally made products.

Clue #8:  Find a statue of a little dog over at City Creek Center.  Something special is available to customers next to the little dog.  Each team should bring us a sample and tell us what it’s used for.

Plastic bag – It’s a pooper-scooper!

City Creek Center (50 S. Main St., SLC)

Clue #9:  Why does Salt Lake City have chirping signs at the downtown crosswalks?  Count the number of chirps it takes you to cross South Temple Street (between City Creek Center and Temple Square)

How many chirps?   _____________________(5)

Downtown crosswalks chirp with two different signals for blind pedestrians and to create a certain avian ambience.  The chirps also serve as a countdown to aid you in crossing the unusually wide streets here.

Clue #10:  Find the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Administration Building. What are the names of the pilasters which surround the exterior of this building?  What are they made of?  How many of them are there?

24 Ionic pilasters, which are made of solid granite and weigh approximately 8 tons each

LDS Church Administration Bldg. (47 East South Temple, SLC)

ROADBLOCK:   Find a painting or statue of the first leader of the Mormon Church and take a photo of your team here.

Joseph Smith

Joseph Smith Memorial Bldg. on Temple Square; or one of the Visitor’s Centers or the LDS Conference Center

Clue #11:  What is a cupola?  Find two buildings in Temple Square that have a cupola in the shape of a beehive as part of their design.

A Cupola is a decorative feature at the top of the roof on a building.

Beehive Cupola is found on The Beehive House and on top of the old Hotel Utah, now known as the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.

Clue #12:  Find a statue of a pioneer handcart on Temple Square.  How many spokes are on the left back wheel?

No. =  __________________

Statue located near the LDS Church Assembly Hall at Temple Square -- 10 spokes

Clue #13:   Your pit stop for the final leg of the AMAZING RACE is a large white building with a dome that sits atop a hill in downtown SLC.  Go to the east side of this building.  Time your team to see how fast they can run up and down the stairs here. 

Stair climb time:   _________________________

Utah State Capitol

350 N. State St., SLC

801-538-1800

Bonus clue: 

Name 2 foods that are probably more popular in Utah than anywhere else:

Fry Sauce, Green Jell-o, Cinnamon Buns, Fried Scones, Bison Burgers, Funeral Potatoes, Ice Cream & Frozen Custard

What I learned on the ultra family history trip

So here are the things I learned while taking my family back to some of our British family history sites. 

1. Focus.  I have several other lines of ancestry from England.  I would have loved to have traced them all, but the kids would have been completely overwhelmed.  It was good to focus on one line so that they could really come to know those people.  We'll just have to go back again so that they can learn about those other lines ;)
2. Be flexible.  We never did get into one of the churches.  I could fixate on being disappointed in that.  But I can't let that overshadow how much we did see and learn.  It was a great trip.
3. Look for aha moments.  I had several aha moments because of the recent research I've been working on.  I understand the whole Draper thing much better.
4. Sample the local culture.  It was fun to try the food, see the sites and be thinking of what our ancestors ate and did.  
5. Make sure there is some down time.  Family History trips are go, go, go, learn, learn, learn.  I think most family members of all ages will get tired at some point.  Then they can't absorb as much.  Even if it just means going to bed early, find some time to wind down.
6. Let them pick a few activities.  The London Eye, Bletchley Park, etc. were great additions to the trip. Of course we were there to see London too. I think most youth can pick some local sites they want to see on any family trip.  Again, it is good to have some down time and let them process a little.  
7. Watch for serendipity.  Arriving in Taunton on the 275th anniversary of my 6th great-grandparents may have been more naivete than serendipity.  But it sure felt like serendipity.  Finding the law firm of Hatton and Wyatt was pretty fun too.  It made me feel like they were watching over us.  
8. Be flexible if things aren't the way you think they are going to be.  I've got to do some more research on the Congregationalist/Church of England issues.  It was not quite the way I had envisioned it but it is great to have more research work to do. 
9. Read in the car.  When you are traveling--especially by car, you have a captive audience.  Use that time to read to them, show pictures, etc.  Refresh their memories to make these ancestors become more real in the places you are visiting.
10. Take a chart.  We all referred to the chart many times.  It was useful to have the basic names, dates, and places out where you can see them.  And even better to have the known pictures available right there together.  If you don't know where to get a chart, don't worry, I can hook you up.  :)

I hope you can have a great family history trip soon with your family. It is soooo sweet to be able to take the family you have now with you. Good luck.  Let me know how it goes. 

Another day full of family history

So today we set out on another adventure, this time with my parents coming along as well.  These are my Dad's patriarchal family lines so he had to come along with us.  We headed out to Gravesend to see if we could find some of the family sites for the generations who lived near London, just before they immigrated to the U.S. 

If you clicked on the myriad of links I've given you in recent blog posts that point back to The Chart Chick Blog, you'll know that my father's father's father Joseph Hatten Carpenter immigrated from England in 1886.  His father had moved from Taunton to Plymouth where Joseph was born.  Joseph's grandfather was the one who moved the family from Trefusis farm into Taunton.  After Joseph was born, his father became ill so they moved to Gravesend to be closer to his Mother's family.  At times Joseph lived with his paternal grandparents and recently I found a wonderful journal Joseph wrote about the time he spent in England as a child.  It tells all about Joseph's life with his grandparents in Gravesend and how much he enjoyed his time there.  On the way to Gravesend, I read several pages from the journal aloud in the car so that everyone could get a good feel for where we were going. 

According to the UK Poll Books and Historical Registers, and the 1841 Census, Joseph's maternal grandfather Joseph Heath Hatton and his family lived at 62 High Street in Gravesend.  Joseph's journal tells us that they moved to 49 Windmill Road, and then to 195 Parrock Street, all within a couple of blocks of each other.  I hadn't scouted out these sites before, so we were heading out to find them without prior experience. 

High Street is a beautiful cobblestone road that looks down on the Thames.  They lived over the clothing store.  It is now a restaurant but it still has the apartment above it.  It was fun to watch my Dad get excited.  He knew his grandfather Joseph Hatten Carpenter well so I think it was exciting to see where his childhood had been though he never returned to England once he came to the States. 

Directly behind the store is St. George's Church on Princess Street.  Joseph's journal says that his grandfather Hatton was an well respected man in the community being a "deacon at the Congregationalist church on Princess Street."  It was here we ran into a little bit of trouble.  Princess Street is very short, there are no other churches on Princess Street in Gravesend.  But when we got there the congregant we talked to said that the church was of the Church of England and always had been.  He said they didn't have Deacons in the Church of England.  So I'm not sure what is going on there.  I'm going to have to do some more research.  Interestingly, it is also the place Pocahontas was buried when she got sick and died on the boat that was heading out of London.  Now we just have to find out if it is the church our Hattons went to.  I'm pretty sure it is--it is right behind their store and the only church on Princess Street.  But I'm not sure what to do with the Church of England/Congregationalist thing yet. 

We found the house on Parrock Street where Joseph lived with his grandfather Joseph.  It was a nice home.  Joseph writes about his fond memories of the strawberry patch there.  It is a nice house.  You can see why Joseph was proud that his grandfather was able to retire and live off his means.

Then at the Windmill Street address we found another surprise.  Joseph writes in his journal that one of his uncles worked as a lawyer.  At Windmill Street in the family home, we found the offices of Hatten and Wyatt law firm.  Founded in 1844 these had to be related but they were closed as this was Sunday.  It was exciting to find them still in the same place that I had found in the census records. 

We struck out on a couple of the other sites we were looking for.  And I have a cemetery there that I want to visit on my next trip. 

The best part of the whole trip was when Dad was using the pedigree chart we brought to figure out who was who.  "This is a really useful chart."  Yeah Dad.  That's what I do for a living.  LOL.

And She Scores Part 2

I was able to see these sites and find these documents last February.  But it was slightly melancholy for me because I couldn't share it with my kids.  But today I was able to bring it all full circle.  Today I was able to share with my kids the great fun of finding the long talked about Trefusis Farm and showing them the amazing documents of their family history.

In the morning we walked around to see the two churches in Taunton where my ancestors were married.  St. Mary Magdelene Church is where my Great-great-great-grandfather Robert Gibbs Carpenter married my Great-great-great-grandmother Maria Wright on the 25th of August 1829.  We were hoping to catch a service at St. Mary's but for some reason the regular service there was closed.

And my 6th great-grandparents Thomas Carpenter and Jane Rugg were married on the 27th of December in 1737 at St. James Church.  We were there exactly 275 years after their marriage.  I didn't even realize that we were going to be there on their anniversary.  What serendipity.  And miraculously the kids smiled for the pictures and everything.

We headed out to the Somerset Heritage Centre and I was really glad I had already been there.  I was able to take them straight to the good stuff.  And in the best of all possible worlds, I'm scheduled to go back for the Who Do You Think You Are conference in February so I know I'm going to get another shot at research in this archive.  So I didn't need to research, we could just treat the archive like a museum and show the kids the good stuff.  If possible, I highly recommend the miraculous way that turned out.  Go yourself to check the places out, take the kids, and then go back more for real research later.  You could combine the first and the last parts, but it was really beautiful walking out of that archive without the longing of being able to go back and do more research.

My younger son was the most enthused about the documents.  I got to show them the wills from 1721 and 1753.  "These are older than the Declaration of Independence!"  He helped me hold several of them down so that I could get good pictures of them.  It was really amazing to get to hold them and see the wax seals.  We tried to be really gentle with them so that they would be still be available for our grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  But nothing can compare to real hands on family history.

From there we went out to Bradford on Tone.  It was just so sweet for me to be able to take them there.  We hunted around the church yard for gravestones.  I told them I'd pay out a reward for anyone who could find one of our ancestors.  I would have paid good money for that since our last ancestor to be buried there was in 1812.  I knew there weren't any gravestones there but I was hoping for a miracle.  It got the kids involved but unfortunately they didn't find anything.  We had called the night before and the caretaker said St Giles church was going to be open but we were foiled again.  We tried to get ahold of several people but no one was available to open the church.  No matter, it was brilliant to be there. 

We walked down to the 13th century bridge between the church and the farm.  Our ancestors definitely would have crossed this bridge many times on their way to the village.  One of  the kids said "Now that's bridging the generations.."  Good grief.  

We had lunch at the White Horse Inn across from the church.  I absolutely loved the slow service and the time to sit and enjoy being in this town with my kids.  We relaxed and enjoyed each other's company.  It was a really sweet moment for me. 

We went down to the farm and took a quick picture with the real trefusis sign.  My dad and my sister have both been out to the farm and had nice conversations with the people who live there but I didn't want to bother them.  We drove around a little and then started back towards London. 

The kids were typical teenagers.  They were good-natured and even when I made them hold up the genealogy chart for a picture I didn't get complaining.  But I don't know how much really sunk in.  I want them to relish in it,  My overzealousness probably shut down some of their own enthusiasm and put them into "Oh Mom" mode.  But I do think they felt it more than they would ever tell me.  I'm sure they were happy to make me so happy.  I'm sure I'll hear about how inspiring it all was about the time they hit their 30s.  

This is really the story of investing your children coming full circle.  My Grandparents had that Brigadoon-esque Trefusis sign over their doorway when I was a little girl and that inspired my curiosity.  Today I got to take my kids to that place and invest the next generation in their family's history.  Hopefully I've planted some seeds that will take root in future years too.