1000+ memories.

ETA:  I have no specific system for doing this.  I just upload all of the photos that I've posted on my blog (so they're typically all my favorite shots) to www.scrapbookpictures.com and print all of them once a year so all the photos they put in these albums where from 2008.

The kids get to pick whatever they want for their album and they put them in whatever order they want them in.  Chronilogical order is highly overrated so I don't mess with it.

Cole and Annie both got regular albums (because I knew Cole would want a regular album and because I knew Annie was too young for anything more complicated than a regular album).  Courtney's album was a regular album but it had some pages with premade decorative mats, so it was kind of like a scrapbook too which was totally up her alley.

I put together some albums like these for the grandparents each year too.

For the last couple of years I've bought new photo albums and printed up well over 1000 photos for the kids to fill them with.

My goal was to give these to the kids to work on around New Years every year.

Didn't get around to it until last week though.

It was so cool hearing the girls squeal when the saw the albums and to hear them all saying "Remember when we did this?", "Remember how much fun that was?", "Look at how little Annie was!", while they sorted through all the photos.

For whatever reason, I just found it fascinating to see which photos they picked for their own albums and to hear them talking about the things they remember from their own perspective.

The best part was that it kept them busy, happy, and getting along for almost 2 hours.

And 1000+ memories found a little home somewhere other than on the hard drive of my computer.

Comments

[Laura Glover]

can you please share in how you organized this? I have three children approximately the very same age and would love to give them this project. Any particular system or albums? I think that is soooo great. I have many printed and will go ahead and print more if I thought the kids could help me.

[tanyawebster]

PRICELESS! my girls LOVE pictures too!

[Kim H.]

that is so cool!

[Juli]

I can't wait to do this when my kids get a little bit older. Such a great idea! Seems like every order I place with Scrapbookpictures.com is for 1000+ prints! I'm anxiously awaiting their sale to order more to have on hand!
What a great idea! they love looking at the scrapbooks that I make, cut having their own albums is awesome!

[Melissa Mann]

THis is a fabulous idea!

[Becky (beckywedd)]

Great job Karen! Hey -- Did Courtney do that scrapbook on her own? It looks adorable -- if so, would you share a few pages (if it is ok with her). Also -- share some more of your scrapbook pages - I MISS SEEING THEM!!! (unless you haven't done any lately. . .)

Becky :) (aka: beckywedd)

[Kim P]

Such a wonderful idea! I'd love to hear my kids' perspective too on all the photos. And what a bonus that it kept them happy for so long!

[Dina]

I love the idea! The kids looked like they were having fun!

[Connie]

I LOVE this idea Karen. I want my kids to understand the value of photos. I think this is a great way to foster that. Thanks for the idea!!!

[shari]

WONDERFUL idea, Karen! I second Laura... please share your "system" for this. Do they just go through and pick whatever they want for THEIR album or did you have them put them in chrono order or what? I have TONS and TONS of printed pics and recently bought albums. I need a system. Please share!!!!

[leni]

amazing photo! i love that you're letting the kids make their own photo albums!

[jenny]

i love that they each get to pick the shots they want in their album. how fun! did you get those shots printed at scrapbookpictures (is that the name)? i love this shot you captured too. :)

[KateinCleveland]

That is so awesome! What a great idea.

[April]

Wow this is a really great idea!! Love it!!

[Hannah]

What a FUN idea!

[shari]

Thanks for the additional info, Karen! MUCH appreciated! Sometimes I just need permission to not do everything in chrono order! ;-) Love this idea!

[Jennifer S]

I can't WAIT to do this with my kids too! I have so many empty photo albums, and my 7 yr old daughter loves to try and scrapbook too!

[sarah]

such a great idea karen! something to add to the "if i have kids someday" list :)

love the photo you captured of them putting their books together too. the way annie is peaking over at courtney is too cute!

[Vera]

That's awesome. Sometimes I get too caught up in my rendition of what a scrapbook should be or using products. Your photo tradition totally puts the focus on the photos and your kids' memories. Again, awesome.

I can't wait to take your class in January!

[Cheryl]

What a great idea! Wish I had thought of this when my kids were younger. Now that they're older, I'm the only one who puts the photos away.

[Deneen]

Love these type of projects where the family is involved. Reminds me of when I was little and would spend hours looking through my mom's picture drawer!

[Kelli]

What a great idea! My kids are old enough to realize this is considered work!

[Cathy]

I know I'm going to hit my head and say "duh," but what does ETA stand for?

[Connie]

Hey Cathy-It means 'Edited To Add'...Don't hit yourself too hard :)

[MichelleG]

This is a fabulous idea! Love it!