family tree

  • family, family tree, My memories

    Halloween Fun at Scary Hill

    This is a sponsored post, we were given free tickets to review Scary Hill.

    We had been to Cherry Hill Resort during the summer and were very excited to add this to our fall outings. Scary Hill is a family-friendly fun event. We arrived at 11 am on Saturday and walked around looking at the decorations. When you arrive you can get your tickets at the miniature golf area or the office on the hill. Since it rained most of Saturday we were only able to do a couple activities. Our family enjoyed playing miniature golf.

    We enjoyed the fun Halloween decorations and funny headstones at each par.

     

    We then went to the maze area that located behind the office, where we played Battlestar Blasters. The maze, bumper boats, hamster haven, rock wall, and bounce houses are in the same area.

    We spent a couple hours there and can’t wait to go back again.

     

    Scary Hill Pricing

    • $9.99 ages 5 and up, unlimited day pass
    • $4.99 ages 3-4, unlimited (excludes rock wall)
    • free ages 2 and under

    This day pass gives you UNLIMITED use of the following Activities:

    • Scary Hill Miniature Golf
    • Bone Yard Tractor Rides
    • Junior Jungle Boats
    • Spooky Maze
    • Hamster Haven
    • Spider Aeroball
    • Rock Wall
    • Battlestar Blasters
    • Bug Bounce House
  • Ancestry.com, family historian, family tree, Genealogy, Groupon, preserving memories, preserving photos

    Save Money Searching for your Ancestors!

    Disclosure, this is a sponsored post.

    Do you love learning about your ancestors and saving money while doing so? You can now find amazing promotions for Ancestry on Groupon! Discover what your surname means.  Solve your brick walls through the 1940’s US Census, Obituaries, and historical newspapers that are available on Ancestry.com. Link your tree with distant relatives and learn more about your ancestor’s travels.

    Delve deeper into your ancestry through personalized DNA tests through Ancestry or 23andMe. Learn more about your origins, and health history through these DNA tests. Learn more about your potential health conditions.

     

    A few years ago I connected with some distant family from my grandfather’s side and they were so kind to send me some beautiful old photographs of my great grandma when she was young. I used Shutterfly to create ornaments for our Christmas tree. Each year when a new photograph is sent to me, I create a new ornament. You can find Shutterfly promotions on Groupon.

     

     

    My Great Grandma and her oldest son.

     

    My Great Aunt and Uncle wedding photo.

     

    My Grandparents when they were courting.

     

  • family, family historian, family reunions, family tree

    Organizing Research with Evernote

    Organizing your genealogy research, whether physical paper files or folders on your computer, is a constant headache for most genealogists. Everyone seems to offer an opinion on methods of keeping things in order: color coding, digitizing document, uploading photos to the cloud. The free online program Evernote is your all-encompassing solution, comprising tools for systematized note-taking, photo scanning, document filing and more, all stored safely on the Internet so that they can be opened on any device. Let the Evernote for Genealogists Premium Collection teach you how to centralize your research with this popular program.

    SFT_EvernotePC-500

    Evernote for Genealogists Premium Collection (Windows Version)

    Evernote for Genealogists Premium Collection (Mac version)

     

     

  • family, family historian, family tree

    Sharing Memories

    When I went to Washington to visit family my Great Great Aunt gave me a book she had written about her life as a young girl growing up in Italy and coming to America after WWII. This is a gift I will always treasure, and a great way of sharing your life beyond name and dates with loved ones. Family Tree store has a book that gives some great idea’s on what to share in your memoir. Stories from my Grandparent is a durable spiral binding that allows the book to lay completely flat, allowing for easy writing.

     

     

  • Ancestry.com, brick wall, family, family tree

    Ancestry.com DNA Kit

    Your DNA has a story: It’s time to discover it at Ancestry.com! Have you ever wondered where your family is from? I know that with our family some say that we are part Scottish, while others say that we have Irish in us. And then there is the rumor from some in the family that our family has Cherokee. Now with the Ancestry.com DNA kit we can get some real answers. I do know that my father’s side was from Germany, and most of my mothers side had migrated from Scotland and settled in New York as Quakers. Finding out more is going to be a lot of fun.

    Free Shipping with DNA Kit Purchase at Ancestry.com! Use Code: FREESHIPDNA


     

    Discover the NEW Family Tree Maker and Save 20% at Ancestry!

  • family tree, Genealogy

    My Angel- Grandma

    I first started my blog to preserve all the beautiful photos and memories my Grandma left when she passed away 4 years ago today. She was such an important part of my life for some many wonderful years, that I didn’t want the memories to be forgotten. There are so many memories we shared together, like when I was in the Zia Marching Band Competition, she spent the day with all of us. By the end of the day most in the Band started calling her the Band Grandma. I never introduced her by her name, Ola Mae, but as Grandma.

    Ola Mae and Ula Mae

    Grandma & Ula(her Mother)

    Grandma was born October 30, 1926(d.Oct. 9, 2009), the oldest daughter to Raymond and Ula Mae (Akin) Durbin. She was the oldest of 4 children, Raymond Durbin( d. 1929), Phillip, and Patricia Durbin. She met her true love Elmer J. (June) Tryon sometime in the 1940’s, married each other April 15, 1947 after she had Graduated Business College. They had 3 lovely children, and divorced when my mother was a baby. She was a strong educated woman that raised her children on her own and helped my mom raise me for awhile. Later on she helped me raise my oldest after my divorce.

    Elmer(June) & Ola

    April 15, 1947

    Ventura Dawn Stricker, Ola Mae Tryon

    Grandma & I 1975

    She taught me about researching and transcribing Genealogy. We would talk for hours about family photos and the history. Because my mom was a single mom, I would spend some afternoons with my Grandma at her office. She was a Medical Records Clerk for the University of New Mexico, she’d take me around to meet all her friends and they would teach me how to file records.

    Ola Mae with Dawn (& Ula Mae) edgewood land

    Grandma & I 1978

    Edgewood, NM

    looking at the land she purchased.

    She was a beautiful woman that many loved. She made beautiful quilts, afghans, painted and warmed the hearts of everyone she met. She is missed and will never be forgotten.

    10-13-2009 8;24;23 PM Grandma and my 1st holy communion

    Grandma & I 1985

    10-13-2009 7;40;47 PM grandma & I graduation day

    May 2002

    Wedding template 1-004

    June 2004

  • family historian, family reunions, family tree

    Ultimate British Genealogy Collection

    sft_britishgencollection-500

    Each month Family Tree University offers a new collection at a reduced price of $69.99. This months collection is Ultimate British Genealogy Collection.

    In this collection you have every resource to research your British Genealogy, the kit includes :

    English Genealogy 101 independent study course

    English Genealogy 101 independent study course
    Digital Download

    From the 13 Original Colonies to London to Leicester, whether your ancestors were Lobsterbacks in the Revolutionary War or serfs under King Henry VIII, you can break into your British genealogy with this independent study course on Anglo ancestry–designed to help you identify your English immigrant ancestors and pinpoint where exactly in Great Britain they came from.
    RETAIL: $99.99

    Hedgerow Genealogy: A Three-Step Strategy for Finding English Origins (Video Class)

    Hedgerow Genealogy: A Three-Step Strategy for Finding English Origins (Video Class)
    Digital Download

    This class covers the basics of tracking early American families back to England, with an emphasis on records from the early 1900s back to the late 1700s.
    RETAIL: $29.99

    Secrets for Seeking Scottish Ancestors Video Course

    Secrets for Seeking Scottish Ancestors Video Course
    Digital Download

    Tracing your Scottish roots is easy when you know how to navigate the Scottish government website ScotlandsPeople.gov. This video course will help you understand the site’s various resources, and which tools to use to focus your research.
    RETAIL: $29.99

    Your English Ancestry

    Your English Ancestry
    Paperback

    Your English Ancestry: A Guide for North Americans was the first book to provide a logical research routine for family historians based in North America. Since the first edition of Your English Ancestry was published in 1993, genealogy has become even more popular, the Internet has become an important tool for many researchers, and there have been significant changes in local government and in the storage of major records in England. These changes are reflected in this new edition of Your English Ancestry. It contains additional detail on many records, a new chapter introducing early English research (before 1730), and a greatly expanded bibliography. For every type of record — civil registration, census, church records, probate, occupation, and local administration — there are clear explanations of availability and access. Each chapter concludes with a step-by-step summary.
    RETAIL: $19.95

     

     

  • family, family historian, family tree, Genealogy

    Family Tree CD Sale

    Summer savings are at Shop Family Tree! Enjoy 50% off select CDs and DVDs now until 8/31. They have so many wonderful resources to continue your Genealogy quest.

    By Family Tree Magazine

    Format: CD

    Your Orders for Research Success
    Does tracing your ancestors’ military service seem like an uphill battle? Not anymore! The tools on this CD will guide you to genealogical victories. Learn how to find and use records generated by major US wars, track your research progress and honor the military heroes in your family tree.It’s easy to access articles of interest using the menu of contents by subject and war—or search the entire CD by keyword. The enhanced PDFs are compatible with both Windows and Macintosh.On This CD:
    Records & Research Tips

    • Military records overview
    • War-by-war roundup of online military records
    • Guide to tracing ancestors in 10 wars, from the French and Indian War to the Philippine Insurrection
    • Research guides to the American Revolution, Civil War and WWI
    • Top 10 Civil War websites
    • Clues in Civil War muster cards and WWI draft cards
    • Daughters of the American Revolution website tutorial

    Research Worksheets

    • Military records checklist
    • Military biography from
    • War service reference guide

    Memorabilia, Stories & Living History

    • Finding the stories behind your ancestor’s military history
    • Guide to historical re-enactments
    • Everyday life during the Civil War
    • Pointers for preserving old military uniforms
    • Tips to identify military photos
    • Veterans History Project
    • Steps to order a military grave marker

    It’s easy to access articles of interest using the menu of contents by subject and war—or search the entire CD by keyword. The enhanced PDFs are compatible with both Windows and Macintosh.

     

    Free Shipping on $25 US Orders at Shop Family Tree.

    Irish Genealogy Research Tools