Looking for a kick start writing your family stories?

Ready to write your own personal history?

Can’t wait to share juicy tidbits you’ve discovered about ancestors?

Eager to post stories and discoveries for your family to read?

Needing to get all the research you’ve conducted in a readable/consumable format?

Wanting to be part of a community working on writing/sharing/saving family stories, too?

Join me for #NaGenWriMo starting November 1st. What does NaGenWriMo stand for? National Genealogy Writing Month. Okay, so we aren’t officially national …. YET! But that won’t stop us from making it a thing!

What It Is:

#NaGenWriMo is a collaborative, community effort to write down, save, and share family stories and research.

You Are Invited To:

1. Write every day! Whether it is a little or A LOT!

2. Save your work. Post it to a blog if you have one. If it’s polished and ready – upload it to Family Search! Print it out and put it in a binder. Whatever your saving method – make sure it is accessible and readable for future generations!

3. Share! Let’s light up social media with genealogy and family history. My family doesn’t always love reading big ole’ binders and books (like I do – ha!), but put it in an Instagram or Facebook post and they are hooked! Use #NaGenWriMo so we can follow each other. Tag @KeepMovingForwardWithMe on Instagram/Facebook or @KeepMovingTara on Twitter if you would like me to reshare!

Join Us

Let’s do this! There are family stories waiting to be told! Who will you write about? Is there a one-place study you’ve been itching to do? Does your one-name study need a little more work? Do you want to start sharing your own stories from your childhood? #NaGenWriMo is perfect for all of these scenarios! The important thing is to get writing!

Tell me more about what you want to write about this November in the comments!

The post #NaGenWriMo: It’s time to share your story! appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

I’m going back to school! Extremely excited and honored to be taking the Intermediate Foundations course with the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) as an ambassador this fall.

It’s the perfect next step in my family history journey! My baby is starting kindergarten and I’m ready to put my self-taught family history skills to the test. Time to see how they measure up against genealogical standards. I’m also eager to strengthen my knowledge base and add to my tool bag of tricks – lots of brick walls to break down still!

Why now? Let me explain with a little background.

How I got started with family history

My formal genealogy training consists of two family history courses for religion credit from Ricks College in the early 2000s. From there I became the most passionate do-it-yourself learner. I found myself a mentor in my great aunt who tasked me with searches for photos and newspaper articles. Read more about those early days here.

Always moving forward, I have learned on the go – gathering resources from RootsTech, books, webinars, family history libraries, and anyone who would answer my questions.

“My family tree has been my classroom, and my brick walls are my syllabi.”

Leaning into my strengths – social media and journalistic research – has served me well! I have a Bachelor’s in Communication and completed coursework for a Master’s in Marriage Family Human Development. These definitely gave me a tremendous head start with my research skills!

Over the past five years, I’ve established myself as a resource for social media-based family history and every-day family history. Both topics I love and teach/share often about. But I am always looking at what is next in my genealogy journey. What skills do I need to develop/polish as I continue discovering and sharing family history?

What’s Next for My Family History Journey

Lately, I’ve felt the call to dig deeper and formalize my genealogy training. I’ve been learning as much as I can get my hands on – it’s time to put my DIY research methods to the test and see how they measure up to industry standards! That’s where the Intermediate Foundations course with Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG) comes in! It’s part of SLIG Fall Virtual 2022.

When I read the course description, I knew it was my next step:

“Students who select this course already have some experience in genealogy, either self-taught or from a beginner’s course. They’re looking to enhance their research skills from home around their busy schedule but still receive an in-depth, institute-intense course, and build on their existing knowledge and experience. The course will expand their ability to find and analyze intermediate record types such as local and federal land, military, immigration, and naturalization, and find the underlying laws. They’ll also learn how to conduct research using best practices and following genealogical standards.”

Here’s what I am excited about:

• The class meets once a week virtually via Zoom while my children are in school. Get myself some snacks and treat myself to a weekly afternoon of family history learning? Yes, please!
• I’ve scratched the surface of looking at military, immigration, and naturalization records, but I haven’t even touched local and federal land records. I’m currently stuck on a Roser ancestor in New York and have some records I’d like to look at more critically. This will be an ideal opportunity to learn/polish skills to help me do that.
• The course is hands-on. I’ll get to practice my skills on original records.
• There’s professional feedback and networking opportunities in class and the private Facebook group. Often in my research, if I get stuck on a question – I go to social media Facebook groups or Twitter chats and cross my fingers for help. No need to cross fingers for this course! Help is provided!

Speaking of help and teachers, I am looking forward to learning from all of these experts during the Intermediate Foundations course.

• Annette Burke Lyttle, MA
• Angie Bush, MS
• Angela Packer McGhie, CG, FUGA
• Nancy A. Peters, CG, CGL
• Gena Philibert-Ortega, MA, MAR
• Kimberly T. Powell
• Judy G. Russell, JD, CG, CGL
• Richard G. Sayre, CG, CGL, FUGA
• Michael L. Strauss, AG
• Rich Venezia

Classes start September 8th so there is still time to register! As of August 1st, there are still seats available for SLIG Fall Virtual for the following courses: Intermediate Foundations, Advanced Hispanic Research, Overcoming Record Loss, and Advanced Evidence Analysis Practicum. Registration is available here.

I am excited to share this next family history adventure with you! I love that I will be able to learn from the comfort of my own home and further my own family history research at the same time. It’s all about taking that next step forward!

As part of the class, I get to choose a personal family history project to apply my new skills to. Stay tuned for more on that! Follow me on Instagram and Twitter for monthly updates.

In the meantime, I’d love to hear about your recent family history adventures in the comments or on this social media post! What discoveries have you made lately? Are there tools/educational opportunities that have helped you? And if you have attended SLIG, any tips for this first-timer?!?

The post Going back to school with the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

Congrats on starting your community project! Now how to get the word out? I’m sharing tips from my experience spearheading the communication and marketing for the 21 Day Family Connections Experiment. Here’s what worked for us!

Be Social

Meet your audience where they are at! Our project started at the beginning of the pandemic – so we went online. Our founder, Olivia Jewell, reached out to like-minded friends and colleagues via her own contacts and family history related Facebook groups.

You can join the RootsTech Connect: Let’s Do Good Together Facebook Group. It’s a fantastic place to find service opportunities, share your projects, and collaborate with others!

Once we had created our project, we went to social media to share it. We set up social media channels/groups on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and Pinterest. This was a fun way to get the word out! Don’t worry – you don’t need to do it all at once. We are still curating and trying new strategies with our social media accounts to encourage connection!

Start your own hashtag and utilize popular hashtags in your niche. This helps you to get seen on social media by people who are interested in projects like yours!

Get Organized

Something I spent a lot of time on for our first experiment was crafting pitch letters and press releases. Our design team also created a beautiful media kit with graphics that we could share with the press. This gave us something professional to share with news outlets and influencers.

What is a pitch letter? It is a short, personalized letter that outlines the value of a story and why it should be published. I created a basic pitch letter that I then personalized to each of the news outlets I sent it to.

The pitch letter is how you get your foot in the door. You can include your longer press release and your media kit as attachments if they would like more information. Now to the fun part … personalizing it!

Personalize It

People want to know your “why.” Share the human-interest element of your project. What personal experiences have individuals had with your project?

Here’s how it looked for our experiment. One example – I pitched our story (emailed news outlets) to the university newspapers/radio/public relations offices where our interns attended. I highlighted our interns’ roles in the project and included quotes from them in press release. This made it easy for the outlets to see how it was relevant to their publication.

When I pitched the project to our local news station, I focused on how the founders where from our hometown. Similarly, when I pitched a storytelling podcast, I highlighted how learning my own ancestor’s stories during the pandemic helped my mental health.

People relate to people. Know the stories in your organization!

Make It Current/Relevant

Hitch your wagon to something already popular well-established/popular. For us, it was family history month! We choose to host our second experiment in October precisely because it was family history month. This made our experiment newsworthy again because it was a way to celebrate something that was already established.

This is important to remember when you are pitching your project to the media. Producers/writers are looking for a way to tap into what their audience currently cares about. If it’s National Grandparents Day and your project is about interviewing seniors – that’s a great fit!

Where possible, try to contact writers/producers as much notice as possible. Many have their content calendar planned out months in advance.

Give Them Options

Especially when working with television, podcasts, and radio stations – give them options in your pitch letter. I like to include 3 short possible segment ideas. Remember to use the ideas I mentioned above! Make the ideas relevant, current, and human interest!

I hope these ideas have helped you in thinking about ways to promote your community project. It’s meant to be a basic introduction. Please let me know if you have any questions or would like further information!

Check out more of my RootsTech content here.

The post Tips for promoting your community project appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

Share your story, even if your voice shakes.

Seven years ago, my friend/social media colleague, Janet, invited me to be a RootsTech ambassador. Share about family history on social media? I’m in!

The first few years as an ambassador, I battled self-imposed imposter syndrome. What was a lifestyle blogger/former journalist doing in the media hub? I’d sign up for every interview opportunity and scribble quotes in my notebook as fast as I could while others asked their questions. But who was I to speak up? My equipment wasn’t as high-tech, my experience in the industry was as small as the ribbons on my name tag.

But the pull of family discoveries, family connections was too strong. I slowly began to find my voice, my people. I started asking more questions and finding more intersections with my areas of expertise and family history.

Before RootsTech, I claimed to be a lifestyle/travel blogger. Family history slowly edged itself in, but could that be a thing? I remember the first few times I said I was a family history blogger at blogging conferences. I said it hesitantly, but then the magic started to happen. People began to open up about their family history, too!

In 2019, I thought – maybe I have something to share? I submitted a proposal to speak about Using Facebook Groups for Family History with two of my Season for Family friends. Thrilled, terrified – I loved speaking at 2020 RootsTech and the friendships/connections multiplied faster than my nerves could. And then the pandemic hit.

Another ambassador, Olivia, reached out about doing a 21 Day Experiment to help share positivity and the mental health benefits of family history – why not? With the experiment, came the opportunity to do live interviews. I’ve clung to the written word by my fingernails for so long. My house isn’t nice enough, there’s a gap in my teeth, I need to lose weight, what if I stuttered like I did when I was a kid, what if I didn’t have the right answers … I came up with a lot of reasons to hand over the opportunities to others. But the call of stories spoke louder and I faced those doubts/fears. Did I make mistakes? You bet.

When RootsTech 2021 was entirely virtual and I filmed four classes from my home – the doubts and insecurities crept back in. I’m not a video editor. I need to take more public speaking classes. But I did it with sheer grit and lots of my mom’s prayers. I shared my story! And the more I shared, the more I discovered. Photos, connections, stories, extended cousins, friends have literally flooded into my life bringing me immense amounts of joy. People who I was once intimidated to approach have become dear friends.

And now this year I was given the opportunity to conduct a one-on-one interview with Jen Allen, the director of events for Family Search and RootsTech. What is this charmed life? I wish I could go back and tell the young mom shrinking into those white interview couches in the media hub what was in her future. What was going to happen when she worked through her fears and embraced the power of making and sharing family connections.

That’s what happened when I signed up for RootsTech for the first time. I’ve never missed a conference since (I’m counting the year I watched from the hospital when Emmalyn was born). I went from possibly the shyest person in the Salt Palace to interviewing the RootsTech elite. But that’s not the biggest change. In discovering more about my family, my capacity to love, to forgive, to communicate, to heal has increased exponentially. And oh the stories I can tell now! In searching for their stories, I discovered important details about my own. I found my voice and the strength to share my story. What could happen in the next seven years for you if you attended Rootstech? Enjoy this sneak peek into RootsTech 2022 and sign up!

Want more tips on connecting with your family and making the most discoveries at Rootstech? Read this!

The post My Road to RootsTech + Interview with Jen Allen! appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

Though it may seem odd, one of my favorite first family history-related memories took place in a swimming pool while my mom, Grandma Kimball, and her sisters and cousin were doing water aerobics.

I didn’t know it yet, but gliding in and out of their conversations, hearing bits and pieces as I splashed with my siblings – started me on a life-long path of searching out and sharing family stories.

Why did their stories intrigue me? Because these were my people! I loved my Grandma Kimball and her sisters. They always seemed so wonderful to me (then and now!) I figured if they were sharing stories about these “ancestors” they must be wonderful, too! You can read more about family stories that have helped me here and here.

I was a voracious reader as a child and read every family story I could go my hands on. My mother’s family names of Ashby, Kimball, Watkins, and Stromberg were all well-documented and provided ample reading. Stories of heroes on the Sweetwater River, cowboys on Antelope Island, and musical Swedes in mountainous Huntsville.

My Great-Aunt Lynne traditionally gave my Grandma Kimball a family story to add to their Watkins/Stromgberg family binders for Christmas. I have many fond Christmas morning memories curled up by the fire reading these stories.

I’ve also always loved pedigree charts and family group sheets. While other 7th graders were playing MASH, I was creating family group sheets for the fictional characters in my stories and my own future family. And I’ve always been obsessed with baby names and meanings/origins. Baby name books were regularly on my my library book card list.

I had an off again/on again journal throughout my childhood, but for the most part I absorbed family history in whatever form I could get it in.

It was in college when I got my first taste of family history research. My Great-Aunt Lynne wrote me a letter – which I loved. Getting mail always made my day in college. She asked me to look up a newspaper article in the college catalog regarding her father in law who had been a professor at Ricks.

It was so fun for me to find this photo and newspaper article for her (photo below). I was majoring in journalism so combing through microfiche and old newspapers was right up my alley. I’ll never forget that thrill of discovery.

My time in Rexburg, Idaho, made me curious about my Idaho/German roots on my Dad’s side of the family. I knew my Grandpa Trost had grown up so I was eager to learn anything I could. You can read more about my discoveries in Rexburg here.

I dabbled in family history here and there until I was invited to attend Rootstech as a social media/blog ambassador. Attending Rootstech blew out all four walls of the box I had put family history in. I had no idea the possibilities! I went from thinking my family history was “done” to spending time every day doing family history.

My definition of “doing” family history changed as well. Now I travel to my ancestoral hometowns, search newspapers for pictures, chat online with cousins overseas, crowdsource information in Twitter parties, teach Rootstech classes and more!

I channeled my areas of expertise – journalism and social media – into doing genealogy in new and fun ways. It has been quite the journey, but I love that I can do genealogy in my own way that I love! During the pandemic, I helped to start the 21 Day Family Connections Experiment – an experiment exploring the psychological benefits of doing daily, fun family-history based activities.

Through this all, I’ve discovered that more I seek to connect, the more family connections come to me. My heart has expanded to love not only my ancestors, but also my living family members who have I come to know better.

I would love to hear about your experience with discovering your family history? What gets you excited? What discoveries have you made lately?

The post My Genealogy Story: How I Started appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

Let’s keep the fun going! Post how you do #FiveMinuteFamilyHistory on social media! Use the hashtag #FiveMinuteFamilyHistory, #RootstechConnect, and #21DayExperiment so we can all see! Tag me @Keepmovingforwardwithme on Instagram/Facebook or @KeepMovingTara on Twitter.

Here are a few of my favorite Five Minute Family History Ideas and tutorials. The list is not meant to be static! I will be adding more regularly. Feel free to comment with an idea of your own if you would like me to add it!

Check out the  21 Day Family Connections Experiment Idea Generator. –  dozens of quick, easy, and techie family history ideas that can be done on the go! 

Save family memories on Family Search.

Learn More About Your Ancestors through Stories and Photos.

Colorize/Animate a photo with MyHeritage.

• Create a family history meme to share on social media using these fun and free templates. 
• See what ancestors you look like with Compare a Face on Family Search .
• Reverse index with the BYU Record Linking Lab.
• Look up family members in the yearbook collection on Ancestry.com.
• Standardize place names with Family Search.
• Request photos, take photos and add GPS coordinates for Find a Grave or Billion Graves. 
• Upload and tag a photo to Family Search. 
• Lookup a family address on Google Maps. 
• Share family stories at bedtime. 
• Download the Family Tree, Ancestry, or MyHeritage App. 
• Use the Interview Question Generator at dinner time. 
• Interview a family member with the Speed Interview game. 
• Use the Map My Ancestor feature on the Family Tree app. 
• Make a family recipe for a meal. 
• Share a family story on Marco Polo or Whatsapp. 
• Share a photo or story to social media. 
• Say “thank you” to someone who uploaded a family photo to one of your ancestors. 
• Play a family history game like Geneopardy. 
• Record a story on the Family Tree app. 

The post No Time? Try Five Minute Family History Ideas! appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

Every now and then a piece of art speaks to me and strikes a chord in my heart. That’s how I feel about this beautifully-inspiring artwork by Jenedy Paige. It’s titled, Coming Full Circle.

The artist describes it as:

That moment when the pathway clears, the questions answered, the problems solved, and circumstances understood. Everything comes full circle and your heart swells with gratitude. In that moment of joy and thanks, our hearts connect with Heaven, as we recognize God’s hand in our life. Look for circles in life and you will find them.

Even before I read the description, I knew I had to have this piece for the family-history-inspired gallery I am working on. It’s going to be my central piece due to the miraculous ways family connections tend to come full circle for me in my genealogy research and family relationships (more about this later!)

Until I finish gathering all my pieces for the gallery wall, I am loving having the print on my work desk aka my Zoom background. It’s a stunning backdrop for all my work/volunteer/religious meetings and a great conversation starter! Who knew that in 2020/2021 curating a Zoom background would be a thing?

Giveaway and Special Discount Code!

Looking for a special piece for your own gallery wall or Zoom background? I’ve teamed up with Havenlight and we are giving away a $200 Gift Certificate!

Click Here to Enter to Win!

Havenlight has also been kind enough to give me a 20% off discount code for my followers – KEEPMOVINGFORWARD.

Order now to get a jump start on your Christmas shopping! Besides the framed artwork, they even after puzzles, memory games, and books. I have my eye on the itsy bitsy puzzles for Easter!

Coming Full Circle Through Family History

Now let me tell you why this painting means so much to me. Knowing and sharing my family history has been key to my mental health during the pandemic. In essence, because my ancestors endured and preserved through hard times, I know that I can, too. (I talk more about this in my interview with Hi 5 Live here).

Learning about their hopes, dreams, and hardships helps me to reframe my own perspective, too. This week I’ve been writing about my Great-Grandmother Eda for #NaGenWriMo. One thing I learned about her was her desire to be educated. In her life history, it reads,

“Eda continued her schooling and graduated from the eighth grade in Rexburg. She had a desire to attend Ricks Academy, later known as
Ricks College, and then in 2002 it became BYU Idaho. She started three different times, but each time she had to quit. The first time because of a flu epidemic, the second time she contracted smallpox, and the third time she enrolled, she attended only a few months and had to quit because of lack of funds.”

Ricks College/BYU-Idaho happens to be my alma mater. While I knew that my grandpa had grown up in Rexburg, I did not know how my family’s lives intertwined with Ricks Academy. I thought my closest association was my Grandpa/his brothers delivering newspapers to the Spori Building as teens on their paper route. Little did I know that my great-grandmother probably gazed longingly at the building that became my second home as a journalism student. When I graduated in 2003 with my bachelor’s degree, I was quite literally fulfilling her dream three generations later. What a blessing that I appreciate even more deeply now.

Gratitude for Education – Opportunities Coming Full Circle

It would have been the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic that first dashed her academic dreams. Knowing her story makes me even more grateful for the educational opportunities my daughter has had during the Covid-19 pandemic. Even with schools closed, we had virtual access to teachers and programs. Because we are privileged to have Internet access and with my husband and I both working from home, none of my children experienced a lapse in their educations as my Great-Grandma Eda did. That’s definitely a silver lining and something to be grateful for.

More Ties with Rexburg/Ricks College

While my great-grandmother Eda wasn’t able to attend Ricks College, her husband William Trost did! You can read more about his family’s ties with Ricks Academy here. William and his sister, Caroline, both attended in the early 1900s. Caroline was even a reporter for the student newspaper like I was! William and Eda’s son Arlo, my great-uncle, was also an editor for the student newspaper like me. Who knew I came from multiple generations of journalists!

Can you see the connections? My family’s love of education and telling stories has truly come full circle. Many of us found our voices through writing. I feel closer to my Great-Grandmother Eda. Her experiences have given me a greater appreciation for my own opportunities and for my daughters’ opportunities as well. In the midst of the past year’s trials, there are silver linings. My ancestors’ stories are intertwined with my own – as I learn from the past, I can do better in the future.

I’m grateful that I have this beautiful painting by Jenedy Paige to remind me of this powerful principle. Today I’ve shared one story, but I have countless others of questions/searches/discoveries coming full circle.

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway and use the discount code for your own inspirational artwork! There are some beautiful ones of the Savior that would be perfect for holiday decor.

Please enjoy the following, too! Here is Jenedy Paige’s bio. I love what she has to say about connections. Her artwork has definitely struck a chord in my heart!

Jenedy Paige Bio

I am a realist in every sense of the word. I paint things as they exist, in the representational tradition, but also in the concepts behind my work. I am a truth teller. I love the classical approach to painting and its ability to so easily invite the viewer in. However, I also know the value of abstraction, and the power it has to express things that realism cannot, and so I try to include both in my paintings. There is nothing I love more than a delicate and detailed figure on an expressive background.

My paintings begin in a journal. I record my frustrations, sorrows, joys, ambitions, hopes and then I transform those words into images. I guess you could say I very literally draw from life experience. I try to be as honest as I can in the telling, I don’t mince words. I then release the story to the canvas, and as I paint I am enabled to process the experience in a new way and to learn from it. I’m not fast, I take my time with the painting, and the lesson in it. Layer by layer I work, carefully revealing the wisdom inside.

When it comes to creating images I believe that simplicity is key. The more concise you can say something, the more powerful it is. So although my writing is usually lengthy, I look for symbols I can use, and try to condense my thoughts into a concise visual statement. I strive to find a shortcut right to the heart of the viewer, something that will strike them at first glance.

When I have taken the painting as far as I can, I return to writing. And just when I think I have dissected a particular idea, when I have learned all I could, writing usually takes it one step further. Words then become the final layer to the piece. The work and the text are then offered up together to others. I then find my experiences are not all that original, as the work strikes a familiar cord in the viewer. People often place themselves inside my work, and add their story to mine, and thus my heart and the heart of my audience connect over the canvas.

Looking for more inspiration?

See more inspiring artwork from Jenedy Paige and Dan Wilson as part of Havenlight’s Let Art Be Your Voice Blog Tour!

See why Camille Walker from My Mommy Style fell in love with Jenedy Paige’s Room to Grow artwork.

Author Michael Young chose a piece that spoke to a special time for his growing family.

The post Let Art Be Your Voice + $200 Havenlight Giveaway! appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

For me, today I set a timer and decided to write as much as I could about Great-Grandma Eda. This is what resulted! There is already a wonderful life history on Family Search written by her son, Arlo, so this post is more about how I have come to know Eda and tidbits I enjoy learning about her. So here we go!

I feel a special connection with Eda because we look so much alike! A few years ago I created an ancestor bingo tutorial and a friend commented about how similar Eda and I looked.

As you can see the Compare a Face feature on Family Search agrees! (PS – if you haven’t tried this fun activity – you’ve got to do it! Simply take a selfie or upload a photo and Family Search does the work! It compares your photo to your ancestor’s! My kids love this! Fun Thanksgiving activity for sure!)

Let’s learn about Eda! Her life summary on Family Search reads:

“When Eda Virgil Smith was born on 8 November 1902, in Fairview, Oneida, Idaho Territory, United States, her father, Frederick Smith, was 23 and her mother, Martha Malena Cole, was 22. She married William Lawrence Trost on 7 November 1923, in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States. They were the parents of at least 4 sons (my note – and one daughter who is still living). She lived in Independence, Madison, Idaho, United States in 1930 and Rexburg, Madison, Idaho, United States for about 5 years. She died on 24 November 1980, in Taylorsville, Salt Lake, Utah, United States, at the age of 78, and was buried in Rexburg Cemetery, Rexburg, Madison, Idaho, United States.”

I’ve always known these facts about Eda and had a single photo of her. For years, this photo was the only photo of her on Family Search. My Grandpa Bert gave it to us for Christmas one year as well. But these are facts? What of Eda’s story?!?!

My Grandpa Bert is her youngest son – the young man with the fantastic smirk and arm around his mother in the photo.

I’ve been hoping to discover younger photos of Eda for years. This year my wish came true! My Dad’s cousin, Jane, posted multiple photos to Family Search of Eda as a child. This next one is my favorite! The tallest boy is Eda’s older brother Leo. Eda is tagged as the girl on the goat, but the next picture makes me wonder if she is the girl in the black dress? Either way, I ADORE this picture. Wouldn’t it be fun to know the context? What goat holds still long enough for a picture? Definitely not your everyday photo!

Eda was born in Fairview – a remote farming town in southern Idaho. This website gives an insightful description of the town and includes references to Eda’s grandmother – Celia Malinda Woodland Cole. The Coles are listed as among the founding families of the town.

Legacy of a Life History

According to her life history on Family Search, Eda’s family moved north to Lyman, Idaho, when she was four years old. Perhaps the photos are from here?

The rest of her childhood was spent in and around Rexburg, Idaho. A town especially dear to my heart! Imagine my surprise when I read this passage from her life history,

“Eda continued her schooling and graduated from the eighth grade in Rexburg. She had a desire to attend Ricks Academy, later known as
Ricks College, and then in 2002 it became BYU Idaho. She started three different times, but each time she had to quit. The first time because of a flu epidemic, the second time she contracted small pox, and the third time she enrolled, she attended only a few months and had to quit because of lack of funds.”

Knowing this about my great-grandmother makes me even more grateful that I was able to attend and graduate from Ricks College/BYU-Idaho. Can you believe that – I literally lived the dream of my ancestor and I don’t take that for granted.

I am so grateful to have this life history of Eda! I love how it came into my life. As mentioned before, my first cousin 1x removed, Jane, posted the above photos to Family Search. I happily shared them to Facebook so more of my family could see them. I tagged her to thank her because it truly made my day – younger photos of Eda!

In the Facebook post, I mused that I would love to know more about Eda’s life and her story. Imagine my excitement when Jane said that she not only had Eda’s life story but also life stories for more family members! It has been so fun to work with Jane to get them uploaded to Family Search. What a treat to get to know Jane better, too.

Let’s Go Digital!

Isn’t that a fun part of family history/genealogy for our generation? So many life histories, stories, etc. have been prepared and saved – it’s time for them to be shared! It’s a digital world now and so easy to share on social media and through tree-sharing sites like Family Search and Ancestry.

Another first cousin 1x removed posted this photo of Eda in her later years. The others in the photo are my Grandpa Bert Trost (love his 70s outfit) and my aunts. It’s truly wonderful that we each hold parts of each other’s history that we haven’t seen before! Grateful to my family members who have posted on Family Search and shared!

Over the years, I have been doing my best to share my family history puzzles pieces, too! Like this photo of Eda with her second husband, David Fisher. That darling young couple with them are my grandparents, Bert and Lois! How fun to see them as newlyweds!

I still have more uploading of photos to do! Perhaps I will come across more Eda treasures. Wouldn’t I love to see photos of her as a young bride or young mother? School pictures would be amazing as well! I am part of several historical Rexburg Facebook groups so I am crossing my fingers.

And just like that my timer is up! Compiling these photos and thinking about my own research/family connections has been fun! Perhaps someday I will put together something in a more formal context, but for now – I hope you enjoy these connections with Eda as much as I do. A lady who loved reading and was eager to learn, who grew up in one of my favorite places (despite the cold), and who was brave enough to ride a goat!

Who are you writing about this month? Where have you found pieces of your family history puzzle?

The post Connecting with my great-grandmother Eda Virgil Smith (aka Eda Trost, Eda Fisher, Eda Jackson) appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

Need a kick start writing your family stories?

Ready to write your own personal history?

Can’t wait to share juicy tidbits you’ve discovered about ancestors?

Eager to post stories and discoveries for your family to read?

Needing to get all the research you’ve conducted in a readable/consumable format?

Wanting to be part of a community working on writing/sharing/saving family stories, too?

Join me for #NaGenWriMo starting November 1st. What does NaGenWriMo stand for? National Genealogy Writing Month. Okay, so we aren’t officially national …. YET! But that won’t stop us from making it a thing!

What It Is:

#NaGenWriMo is a collaborative, community effort to write down, save, and share family stories and research.

You Are Invited To:

1. Write every day! Whether it is a little or A LOT!

2. Save your work. Post it to a blog if you have one. If it’s polished and ready – upload it to Family Search! Print it out and put it in a binder. Whatever your saving method – make sure it is accessible and readable for future generations!

3. Share! Let’s light up social media with genealogy and family history. My family doesn’t always love reading big ole’ binders and books (like I do – ha!), but put it in an Instagram or Facebook post and they are hooked! Use #NaGenWriMo so we can follow each other. Tag @KeepMovingForwardWithMe on Instagram/Facebook or @KeepMovingTara on Twitter if you would like me to reshare!

4. Link up. I’m all about accountability! I will have link-up posts on this blog (including this post!) for us to share our blog posts. Please link up new stories/content that you are currently working on.

Join Us

Let’s do this! There are family stories waiting to be told! Who will you write about? Is there a one-place study you’ve been itching to do? Does your one-name study need a little more work? Do you just want to start sharing your own stories from your childhood? #NaGenWriMo is perfect for all of these scenarios! Each Sunday I will post a new link up! Feel free to add multiple links. These can be blog posts, social media posts, etc. The important thing is to get writing!

The post Join me for #NaGenWriMo starting November 1st! appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

Why use hashtags?

• Hashtags organize and categorize posts and videos.
• Hashtags connect you with other people interested in the same content.  

Tips for using hashtags:

• Hashtags only work on public accounts because they are searchable.
• Do not use spaces or special characters.
• You can use numbers. 
• Stay on topic. Only use hashtags relative to your posts so people can find what they are looking for.

The following are some of my favorite genealogy-related hashtags to use on Instagram. This list is not all-inclusive. Leave your favorite hashtags in the comments and I will add them in!

You can also use more specific hashtags. I like to use family hashtags like #ZacherFamily #AshbyFamily etc. I will also use place hashtags when I talk about where my ancestors lived ie #WeimarGermany #PaysonUtah.

Popular Genealogy Related Hashtags for Instagram

Conference Hashtags: Follow along with and use these hashtags during the conference to connect with other attendees.

#Rootstech #RootstechConnect #NGS2021 (National Genealogical Society) #SLIGInstitute (Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy)

Business Hashtags: Connect with genealogy businesses. Use hashtags when you are posting about their products.

#FamilySearch #Ancestry #MyHeritage

Generic Family History Hashtags: Search and use these widely used hashtags in the family history industry

#FamilyHistory #Genealogy  #FamilyTree #Ancestors #Heritage #FamilyStories #FamilyHistoryResearch #FamilyHistorian #GenSocieties

Family History Challenges: Join in these fun challenges and use their hashtag when you participate. Check out the hashtags for ideas!

#GenealogyPhotoaDay #21DayExperiment #SaveFamilyPhotos #ModernGenealogyChallenge

Want to know more? Check out this video for more tips and tricks for doing family history on Instagram.

The post Popular Family History Hashtags on Instagram appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

This is not your average date night, not your average summer pass, not your average summer camp! If you are looking to spice up your summer family fun in Utah, you’ve got to check out Topgolf in Midvale.

Coming clean, I am NOT a golfer. My friends have been raving about Topgolf since it opened in Utah in 2016. My husband went for a company party and loved it. Then there’s me – I have to be in pretty great company if I’m going to have a golf club in my hand!

When I was invited to check out Top Golf, I had to see what the hype was all about.  Little did I know that I’d be leaving a huge fan! I had SO MUCH FUN!

Topgolf is a sports entertainment complex featuring an inclusive, high-tech golf game that literally everyone can enjoy. Add in a mouthwatering menu and climate controlled bays and this mom is a happy camper.

Here’s 8 reasons why my family will be back at Topgolf this summer.

1. The high tech! Whether you are there to practice your swing or to play a game with your kids, their technology is pretty sweet.  The technology makes it so even a beginner can have a blast while keeping the pros on their toes. Our group enjoyed a competitive target game.

Photo Courtesy of Top Golf

2. The food! Let’s be honest, I was expecting hot dogs and nachos. And then these beauties arrived …

Are you drooling yet, because I was! The flavors were off the charts. From wings to a fancy cheese plate – they’ve got you covered. I also loved the donuts that you can infuse with yummy fillings like lemon, raspberry, and chocolate! Best part – $1 from each donut sale goes to Make a Wish! The food takes your typical date night up a notch or two.

3. The atmosphere. We were there at sunset and the view was breathtaking. There are even light shows on the green. Music is typically playing, but they also bring in live music and family-friendly DJs on Friday nights.

4. The special events. The individual bays are perfect for company parties, graduation parties, birthday parties, retirement parties … you name it! They even have a New Years Eve party. Food, fireworks, swag – the works! What a way to ring in the new year!

5. The kid-friendly atmosphere. Topgolf is fun for all ages! They have areas/services that cater to a variety of age groups. I’m thinking Topgolf is going to be perfect for some father/daughter and mother/son date nights this summer.

6. The Summer Fun Pass!  Buy a Summer Fun Pass and enjoy unlimited Topgolf game play for you and up to five guests – weekdays until 5 p.m. – from now until Labor Day. They also send you Pass Perks throughout the summer with exclusive deals on food, events, retail and more! What a perfect way to get out and enjoy the sunshine!

7. The Kid Zone Summer Academy.   There’s still time to sign up for Topgolf Summer Academy. Your kids are going to love this summer camp. It is five days of non-stop entertainment and learning. It includes all of the components that make up the great game of golf. From chipping, putting and full swing, to the rules and etiquette, kids will learn everything they need to know to improve their game.

Each Academy is designed and taught by golf professionals from Topgolf Coach in a fun, relaxed atmosphere. Summer Academy is staffed with a low student-to-instructor ratio to ensure each Junior Golfer receives in-depth, hands-on attention while he or she develops a winning golf swing. And it includes lunch!

8. Topgolf partners with Make a Wish. I was thrilled to learn that Topgolf helps grant two wishes perm month! In addition, $1 from every donut hole purchase goes to Make a Wish. My hat goes off to businesses in our community like Topgolf that give back!

I absolutely loved my evening at Topgolf – they made a believer out of me. I’m already planning a trip back with all of my siblings.

You are in luck because I am teaming up with Topgolf to give away a session at their Summer Academy! Enter below and make your kiddo’s summer camp dreams come true!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Summer Fun at Utah’s Topgolf + Giveaway appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

Sometimes family history discoveries are even better than we can plan. At least that’s what happened last summer on our genealogy road trip!

Halfway between our home and St George is Fillmore, Utah. Home to not only Utah’s first state capital, but also to many of my Ashby, Cropper, Rogers, and Land ancestors. What was once a quick, gas station rest stop became a family history destination when I discovered our family ties to this interesting town.

I’d had my eye on the Territorial Statehouse Museum ever since seeing the billboard advertisements on  I-15.  Since we were heading South to St George/Disneyland, I thought it would be a perfect stop for us to stretch our legs and learn a little history. I checked the Family Search  Map My Ancestor feature on the app and discovered that several of my ancestors had lived and died there. Even cooler! And when we stepped inside, the museum did not disappoint!

While admiring the grand building plans for the first state capitol, I talked with the museum worker about the museum’s hall of ancestors. As I was telling him of my hope that I’d find our own ancestors there, a familiar face caught my eye.  The photos are in alphabetical order so my Ashby family was the first photo I saw.

Coming face to face with my ancestors in their home town was stirring. Did they walk these halls? Each exhibit in the museum took on added meaning as we pictured our  family in the town of Fillmore. The woman in the photo below is my 4th Great-Grandmother – Hannah Jones Rogers. She came to America from Worcestershire, England when she was 13 years old. I didn’t recall much of her story so she was moved up my list of people to research when we got home. I came across this blog through a source on Family Search. Come to find out – her spinning wheel and bake skillet are in the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers exhibit at the Museum.  I had viewed my family’s possessions without even knowing it!

Being inspired to learn more about Hannah reminded me of how grateful I am to know so much about her grand-daughter and my great-grandmother – Hannah Cropper Ashby. From an article posted on Family Search, I knew that Hannah was an accomplished woman. While being Mother of the Year for Utah in 1960, she was also a member of the Utah County Legislative Women’s Council for 10 years, precinct co-chairwoman for the Republic party in her area, chairman of the American citizenship for the Utah Federation of Women’s Republican Club, and many other literary and local positions.  

Was it her time in this historic city that inspired her patriotic roots? Hannah was born in 1879 in Fillmore. Her mother Hannah Lucretia was also born in Fillmore in 1858 during the time that Fillmore was the capital city. I am grateful for these three generations of Hannah’s and their dedication during the early year’s of Utah’s statehood! What a treat to walk through the Statehouse Museum and get a peek into what their lives may have been like!

Visiting the Fillmore Cemetery

We also used the Map My Ancestors feature to find that several of our ancestors were buried in the Fillmore Cemetery. I downloaded the Find a Grave app to help us find a more precise location in the cemetery.

My kids are excellent at locating the grave sites based on pictures! We found them in no time. While we were at the cemetery, we fulfilled two photo requests as well. Find a Grave allows you to take pictures and upload them to their site for others to view. Easy service project to do with kids!

We loved our brief visit to Fillmore, a town we hadn’t given a second glance to from the freeway on previous trips! The Map My Ancestor feature of the Family Tree app helped us to connect to our ancestors in a new and fun way. Our visit was the perfect mix of connection and discovery. I understand and know these ancestors just that much more now!

We are eagerly planning more family history day trips in Utah – Brigham City, Price, Huntsville – to name a few! What place from your family history would you love to visit?

The post Family History Tourism: Visiting Fillmore – Utah’s First State Capital appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

Cherry Hill is a favorite family tradition that has lasted 40+ years. What’s the secret sauce to getting 100+ people together every year? Maybe it’s the delicious slices of pie on Saturday night, maybe it’s the races down Cardiac Canyon, or maybe it’s the campsite games and conversations. Whatever the reason, I am grateful to grandparents who have gathered us to together at Cherry Hill since I was a baby. And now I take my own babies!

This family-friendly place is nestled in Davis County. It’s grown from a campground with a pool to include a water park, rock wall, mini golf course, and more.

Seriously acres of activities to explore. I promise you will want to stay for more than a day. It seems to get better and better every year. I was content picking cherries there when I was a kiddo and playing tag on the playground.  Now there is so much to do, you may want a season pass to enjoy it all! 

Typically it’s tradition for us to close out our summer at Cherry Hill, but I’m thinking we need to sneak in another weekend in July! There’s brand new slides to check out and my kids are begging to go!

Cherry Hill is celebrating 50 years of being family owned and operated. To celebrate 50 years, they are giving away over $20,000 in prizes including Megaplex tickets, Lifetime products, ski passes, and much more every day of the 2017 summer season. Check out their website and follow them on Facebook for more information and to see a calendar of events.

Have you been to Cherry Hill?

What is your favorite part?

What are your favorite family traditions?

I’ve partnered with Cherry Hill and US Family Guide to let you know about their 50th Anniversary Celebration. All opinions are my own and I love sharing this fun, family tradition! 

The post Summer fun at Cherry Hill! appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

Hello! We are excited to announce this amazing giveaway! We know there are so many mama’s and expecting mama’s out there, so we have rounded up some of our absolute FAVORITE products (shout out to Tubby Todd and Pink Blush!) and will be giving them away to one of YOU! When you have a new baby, you want to be surrounded with the most useful and most comfortable products. This prize is going to spoil a lucky mama!

L’oved Baby– $40 Store Credit

Copper Pearl-One Multi-Use Cover

Icon Undies– 3 Pair of Pee-Proof Undies

Tubby Todd– 1 Body and Hair Wash

Billy Goat Lane– One Romper

Honey Pie Nursing– 5 Pacifier Clips

Pink Blush– $75 Store Credit

Brin and Bell– One Gold “Mama” Necklace

Hanley Crest– One swaddle sack and hat/headband

Zyia with Angie– $25 Store Credit

Freshly Farmhouse– One “Hush Little Baby” sign

We will be giving away over $460 worth of prizes!

Who doesn’t love baby products, and some fun things for yourself too? We can’t wait for you to fall in love with all of these products as much as we did!

I quickly want to give a shout out to the amazing bloggers that joined us on this fun giveaway, because we couldn’t have done it without them!

BLOGGERS

Mellie and Lou | Pretty Providence | Tutus and Heels | Practical and Pretty | Keep Moving Forward with Me |  Learn  As We Go | See Lindsay Blog | Sincerely Rose | Night Chayde | Payne Lane

SHOPS

L’oved Baby | Copper Pearl | Icon Undies | Tubby Todd | Billy Goat Lane | Honey Pie Nursing | Pink Blush | Brin and Bell | Hanley Crest | Zyia with Angie | Freshly Farmhouse

To enter this amazing giveaway, click the rafflecopter link below. GOOD LUCK!

 And stay tuned … I haven’t forgotten about posting Emmalyn’s birth story! I’ve just been busy snuggling my darling baby girl and watching her grow too fast.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Ultimate Mama and Baby Giveaway appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

It’s no secret that our family are HUGE fans of The Leonardo (see blog posts here, here, here, and here . The Leonardo is one of our favorite things to do in Salt Lake City, Utah. We love it so much that our kids are getting a family membership from Santa for Christmas.

This year we are focusing more on EXPERIENCES than things. And The Leonardo is chock full of educational and fun experiences for everyone – from my preschooler up to my 4th grader.

Earlier this month we spent an entire Saturday afternoon exploring the new exhibits – Flight and Where Children Sleep. Engaging, interactive, and just plain fun are a few words I would use to describe the exhibits.

What makes The Leonardo so magical for this mama is that my kiddos are having so much fun that they don’t even realize they are learning. Math, perception, physics, empathy, geography, diversity … we touched on each of these topics during our last visit without even popping open a text book.

The Leonardo caters to all different learning styles. From hands-on and tactile to the book/fact lovers like me! The exhibits also change throughout the year so there’s always something new to discover.

Now here’s the fun part. If you are like me, you are scrambling for last-minute gifts for Christmas right now. A family membership to The Leonardo would be perfect – you can get a year long membership for six people for only $105! Plus use the gift code TP7650 and you get an extra month free. It’s easy to order online.  I am so excited for my kids to see their membership Christmas morning!

I received a family membership to The Leonardo as part of this post. We’ve been fans for years so I’m excited to share the museum more with you in 2017! 

The post Family Time at The Leonardo + Discount Code appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

Holiday weekends mean movies at the Parker house! We are on the edge of our seats excited to see Disney’s Moana! Moana opens in theaters this weekend so we are doing party prep to get ourselves pumped!

First up! The trailer. We’ve seen it lots on the big screen, but it is still fun to watch it at home!

And you’ve got to have a taste of Hawaii before you go to see Moana, too. Pineapple anyone? We made this yummy Hawaiian Pasta Salad for lunch.

Now onto the fun! Disney has released so many fun printable activities for the kids. These are a few of our favorites.

Click on the picture to download and print six pages worth of Memory Cards. My kids LOVE this game.

My kids can’t get enough of mazes and coloring pages, too!

The last item on our Moana to-do list is to enter the Aulani Resort Giveaway! 

Can you believe that I have never been to Hawaii? This trip would be absolutely amazing!

I hope that your family is as excited to see Moana as mine is! Have fun getting ready to see it and let me know what you think!

Like MOANA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/disneymoana

Follow MOANA on Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneymoana

Follow Disney Animation on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/disneyanimation/

Visit Disney Animation on Tumblr: http://disneyanimation.tumblr.com/

Visit the official MOANA website here: http://movies.disney.com/moana

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Review Wire Media for Walt Disney. I received information to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

The post 5 Fun Activities to Get You Excited for Moana! appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

As you can tell by my instagram post and facebook live , my family had a magical night at Disney on Ice at Vivint Arena! We went in with high expectations and Disney did not disappoint! Disney on Ice Passport to Adventure will be in Salt Lake through the 13th – don’t miss out on this family activity. Be sure to scroll down to see how to save.

This show is a must for every Disney fan! The entire crowd was so engaged – I’ve never heard more little girls singing along to Frozen than I did last night. From the grandparents treating their grandkids to the young couples with babies, all ages were having fun. The baby on the row in front of us was bouncing along to so many of the songs – he was adorable!

My kids are growing up fast – Lily will be 10 next year – double digits! Who knows how many years of Disney princess costumes she has left. Better believe I’m going to take adventage of every one of them!

Here are my family’s favorite parts from the show last night:

Courtesy of Feld Entertainment

Cortland’s Favorite: There’s just something about those opening bars to Circle of Life that are so nostalgic! The Lion King performance was Cortland’s favorite part and I can see why. Simba and Nala’s partner work was a definitely highlight of the night. Plus it’s always fun to see Timon and Pumbaa. The kids were enamored by all the four-legged skaters – Pumba, Nana from Peter Pan, etc.

Lily’s Favorite: Is this really a surprise? It was the first time seeing our Frozen friends on the ice – completely magical. The little girl behind me belted out all of the Frozen songs with Anna and Elsa. Darling! The added fireworks, snow-shaped spotlights, and glittering snow added to the magic. 

Courtesy of Feld Entertainment

My Favorite: My favorite was sitting next to my 5 year old. All night he had observations about the show that made me giggle. From his heartwarming question/comment. “How come Tinkerbell doesn’t talk? Is she like me a little?” to his hilarious Elsa observation, “Where is Elsa? Did she get stuck in traffic?” – my little buddy was so caught up in the show. Kyler has speech delays so I am glad that he was able to connect like that with a Disney character! 

Courtesy of Feld Entertainment

Kyler’s Favorite: Speaking of Kyler, he came to the show with Olaf as a favorite and left adding Anna to his list. He brought his own little snowman and is asking for a real Olaf for Christmas. He also was enchanted when Peter Pan and the Darling children flew across the arean. Pure Disney magic! 

Johnny’s Favorite: My husband’s favorite? The kiddo’s faces as they watched the show. Who doesn’t love seeing their children’s faces light up? 

Get ready for some fun, family memories of your own! Here’s how to get tickets:

WHEN:                               Thursday, November 10 – Sunday, November 13

Thursday, Nov. 10          7:00 PM

Friday, Nov. 11                7:00 PM

Saturday, Nov. 12           11:30 AM, 3:30 PM & 7:00 PM

Sunday, Nov. 13               1:00 PM & 4:30 PM

WHERE:             Vivint Smart Home Arena

301 West South Temple Salt Lake City, UT, USA, 84101

TICKETS:          Ticket prices start at just $20! Special Opening Night discount tickets available for only $15 each (not valid for VIP/Front Row levels)

All seats are reserved; tickets are available for purchase online at AXS.com, charge by phone at 800-888-TIXX or visit the Vivint Smart Home Arena Box Office.  

*tickets prices are subject to change; additional venue/ticketing fees may applyVisit http://presale.disneyonice.com/ for the shows and dates coming to your hometown.

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DisneyOnIce

Twitter: @DisneyOnIce #PassportToAdventure

YouTube: www.youtube.com/DisneyOnIce

Instagram: @DisneyOnIce

The post A night of Disney Magic! Disney on Ice – Passport to Adventure appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

Halloween time is here and our October has been jam packed with fun, fall things to do in Utah! Today I’m sharing a few of our family favorites so that you can join in on the fun!

Photo Courtesy of Living Planet Aquarium

Skeletons, Spiders, and Sea Life – Oh My! 

The Haunted Aquarium in Draper is SPOOKTACULAR! All your favorite aquarium attractions with the added fun and flair of Halloween – skeletons, tombstones, spider webs and more! From skeleton dives with the sharks to pirate alchemy to trick or treating, you don’t want to miss out. The fun starts on October 21st and continues through Halloween – be sure to check their web-site for the full schedule.  See more of our spooky favorites from our visit to the Haunted Aquarium on Facebook Live and Instagram, too.

Photo Courtesy of Springville Museum

Halloween Party at Springville Museum of Art

We are excited to be adding a new party to our list this year! This one is held at the Springville Museum of Art on Wednesday, October 26th from 5 pm to 8 pm. Believe me, I am jumping at the chance to combine Halloween fun with culture. The Museum of Art is a local treasure and I’ll take any chance I can get to expose my kiddos to it! There will be Halloween games, treats, scary stories, art projects and more for the kiddos to enjoy as they explore the haunted halls of art. Plus it’s another chance to wear fun costumes!

Little Haunts – This is the Place Heritage Park

Head to Salt Lake for some old-fashioned, non-scary Halloween fun with Little Haunts at This is the Place Heritage Park.  Trick or treat in the pioneer village, visit the Story Witch, make take-home crafts and have so much fun! Plus my kids can’t get enough of the pony rides, train rides, and panning for gold! Little Haunts is this weekend as well as October 29th.  Be sure to visit their site and print off a coloring page in advance so your kids can enter the contest as well!

Jakers Pumpkin Patch

Halloween isn’t complete without a visit to the pumpkin patch! Jakers in Springville is especially fun for the younger kiddos! Love that they open at 9 am – perfect for moms with preschoolers.  Jump in the corn pile, take a hay ride or get lost in a maze – lots to do! Plus pumpkins start at $2.

Witch Fest at Gardner Village

This one has been a family favorite for almost 10 years and it just keeps getting better. The witch scavenger hunt is a must for us and it always ends with cheese bread and hot chocolate at the bakery. It’s a fantastic mix of Halloween for adults and children. Mom gets to check out the gorgeous shops an the kids get to have fun, too! My kids love the play area and I love the atmosphere. Dressing up makes it even more fun! Check out the schedule of events here. 

Cornbelly’s at Thanksgiving Point

Cornbelly’s is another attraction that just keeps getting bigger and bigger every year.  There’s so much to do that I am not surprised that they added season passes.  Spooky shows, haunted mazes, fireworks and more! Their fun lasts all of October. You can check out their calendar of events here. 

Scarecrow Walk at Homestead Resort

If you want to experience a true October in Utah, you have to head up the canyon to Midway. I guarantee it will be the prettiest fall experience you have this year. We love the quaintness of the Scarecrow Walk at Homestead Resort and the stunning foliage everywhere you look. Stop by the Homestead gift shop for some fudge before you go out and hike one of the many gorgeous trails! Here are a few more for our Midway favorites.  Make a weekend of it and enjoy a relaxing stay at the Homestead, too! 

What are your favorite family friendly Halloween activities in Utah?

The post Family Favorite Halloween Activities in Utah appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

Day two of Kyler’s 5th birthday celebration! We spent the night at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus at the Vivint Smarthome Arena. My kids remembered how fun the preshow was last year so we were scrambling to get there before it started! We made it just in time.

When you go, be sure to take some instagram pics/do some tweets with the hashtags #RinglingBros and #OutofThisWorld. You could be featured on the big screen – so fun! Be sure to check out my instagram stories to see more of the fun!

This year’s intergalatic story line completely transforms the circus experience! Adding ice skaters to the traditional big top act was a huge hit. Especially when those ice skaters are on stilts and do tricks off of trampolines. Toss some fire into the mix and it is a show that you aren’t soon to forget. My family each choose some of our favorite acts to share with you.

Here are the 5 reasons you shouldn’t miss out on the circus this year:

Photo Courtesy of Feld Entertainment

Lily’s Favorite:

Lily was entranced by the Simet Family Astronauts who launched the show! The one-of-its kind aerial “spacewalk” features three astronauts balancing zero gravity maneuvers on a spinning wheel. It definitely set the out of this world mood!

A close second for her was the act with the dogs, pigs, llamas, and goats. You can’t help but giggle when the giant pig goes down the slide!

Cort’s Favorite: 

Cort votes for the opening act as his favorite part of the show. It gives you a sneak peek into all the different performers and introduces the story line. The aerial artists in the bubbles are incredible! I held my breath more than a few times while watching them.

Photo Courtesy of Feld Entertainment

Kyler’s Favorite:

Kyler’s favorite part gives away when I wasn’t paying attention. I was focusing on doing an instastory of the trapeze artists and hadn’t taken in all the details. One of the trapeze artists fell and I just about had a heart attack. I didn’t realize there was a net! Thank goodness for that net! I think the fall was a choreographed part of the show – it sure got me.

Photo Courtesy of Feld Entertainment

Johnny’s Favorite:

My husband was happy to see a story line cleverly woven into all the circus acts. You get to know the characters a lot more during the show than in years past. The set and digital effects also change to go along with the story  line.

Photo Courtesy of Feld Entertainment

Favorite for me:

I couldn’t get enough of the thrill skaters! This scene combined stilts, fire, trampoline acrobatics, and aerialists – all in one. I haven’t seen all those elements combined together. I almost didn’t know where to look there were so many fun things going on.

Can you see why we loved it? The circus will be in town through Monday evening! Don’t forget to use the special code – DADS – to get a discount Saturday evening!

Here’s all the details you need:

WHEN: Friday, September 23 – Monday, September 26
Friday, September 23 7:00 PM

Saturday, September 24 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM

Sunday, September 25 1:00 PM & 5:00 PM

Monday, September 26 7:00 PM

WHERE: Vivint Smart Home Arena – 301 S Temple, Salt Lake City, UT 84101

TICKETS: Tickets start at just $20 for Adults; Kids (age 2-12) tickets available for only $10 for select seating*
Opening Night Special Discount tickets are just $15 for select seating*
*not valid on VIP/Front Row levels

All seats are reserved; tickets available thru Smithstix.com, charge by phone at 800-888-TIXX or visit the Vivint Smart Home Arena Box Office.

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Amidst a box office full of fanciful stories and fight scenes, it’s refreshing to be exposed to real-life stories. At first glance, The Last Descent is the story of young father and medical student, John Jones, and the tragic Nutty Putty Cave rescue attempt in Utah. That is what I expected. What I saw was so much more – a raw and real look at life, relationships, and our individual defining moments. The Last Descent is an equally heart wrenching and heartwarming introspective movie that will leave you pondering the power of your own relationships and life moments.

The movie primarily takes place 150 feet below the earth in a hole 18 inches wide – part of the popular Nutty Putty Cave in Utah County. During the Thanksgiving weekend of 2009, John explored a lesser-known area of the cave and slide down into a narrow impasse 10 inches high and 18 inches wide. Stuck upside down for over 28 hours, John called for help and his brother returned with a rescue crew. The unique topography and geological makeup of the Nutty Putty Cave created intense difficulties for the rescue team that risked everything to save John’s life. Over 150 feet below the surface and at the end of over a thousand feet of tunnels, a unique friendship is formed as John and his rescuers share their lives, loves, losses and dreams.

The Last Descent possesses an It’s a Wonderful Life-esque quality that causes you to look back on your own life and rediscover your own defining moments.

I was surprised at how nostalgic the movie made me feel. In the flashbacks as John recounts his college days and courtship, I was taken right back to my own collegiate experiences. From the first few bars, I recognized Utah-based singer Kalai’s On My Mind.  Suddenly, I found myself  reminiscing backyard concerts on summer nights where I first heard the song that I promise you will listen to on repeat at the end of a long day.

Similarly, the late night studying in the library and the creative fishing date were incredibly relatable. The movie doesn’t highlight BYU specifically, but anyone who attended there  will instantly have their BYU memories rekindled. After seeing the movie, I found myself giggling over the memory of the library playing the Mission Impossible theme song when it closed for the night.  And I couldn’t help but think of all the days I spent up Provo Canyon snowshoeing in the winter or hiking Timp and the Y during the summer.

As John flashes back through his own memories, you can’t help but take a peek back at your own. A quote that still resonates with me after seeing the movie is, “You have to be on the edge of losing everything to really see the beauty in the simple things.”

Perhaps The Last Descent gifts us the chance to reexamine the beautiful simple things in our own lives without facing losing everything. That is my biggest takeaway from the movie. Treasure your family. Treasure your memories. Learn from John’s story and move forward committed to living a better life.

Hats off to director, editor, and writer Isaac Halasima for bringing this inspiring story to the big screen. There is power in telling and sharing real stories and I hope that we will see more of it in Hollywood. And a heart-felt thank you to all of the Jones family and the rescuers for allowing this story to be hold.

While the nostalgia aspect of this movie clearly gripped my heart, the rescue attempts had me on the edge of my seat. Over 127 rescuers and local authorities worked tirelessly in challenging conditions during the 28 hours. I’m grateful that their story was shared as well!

Opening in theaters this weekend (September 16th), The Last Descent will be shown in theaters across Utah, Arizona, and Idaho with more theaters being added soon. You can stay up to date with the latest reviews and show times by clicking on this web-site as well as on Facebook. 

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