This post is sponsored by OneDay.

Most of my childhood family memories are preserved in one giant black photo album that my siblings and I have robbed over the years, leaving the photo sleeves with hundreds of empty slots. There are boxes of old slides we’ve discovered over the years with a few more memories to fill in the gaps, stories my parents have told us and some sketchy details from mostly blank baby books. I went through a pack rat stage after college where I saved every graduation, birthday and thank you card anyone ever sent me, but I’ve lost most of those which sadly included my grandma’s handwriting and my mother’s beautiful farewell when I decided to move to Florida. I wish I had more pieces of the past preserved, I wish I had more handwritten recipe cards, I wish I would have thought to video tape just one morning when I lived with my grandma and grandpa–not only for myself but to pass those memories on to my kids.

A lot has changed with the introduction of more technology, but the result can be overwhelming. With so many places to store our memories, our kids might wish we only left them with a recipe card and a box of slides rather than a stack of hard drives, a box of old laptops, some baby books and a million passwords to all the old sites we used to store photos and videos. The Snapfish Era, The Flickr Years, The Facebook Phase, The Instagram Years, The Blog. Sifting through memories and stitching the years together could pose a challenge.

OneDay has created a beautiful way not only to store all your family’s memories and keep them organized but to share them with your own community—and only the people you want.  In one home and with very simple steps, you can combine all your photos and videos from around the web, social media and your home computer and build stories to pass on to your children.

Here’s my favorite part. You get to build a vault for anyone you choose, full of time capsules that can be opened (or sent if you have an e-mail for recipient) on designated days in the future. Easily write letters (or scan handwritten ones!), include pictures and record video today, and keep them locked up to be opened on your son’s 16th birthday, your daughter’s wedding day, your fiftieth anniversary, the day your son leaves for college. OneDay stores it for you, allows you to designate trustees for the time capsules and create specific dates for opening, and takes care of getting that memory to its rightful owner on the day it is to be opened. This is always one of those tasks I swear I’m going to do (I used to be so good at sealing envelopes and tucking them in baby books for the future), but with three kids, the job seems intimidating enough that I keep putting it off. OneDay makes it so easy to pop in your account and record something quickly, and you don’t have to worry about it ever getting lost.

OneDay also allows you to add family members to your account and manage the way each of those members share things, so that your children can join in on the fun of creating memories and stories, grandparents can share—and all held within your account and shared with only those you choose.

The possibilities for connection and appreciating heritage are endless–grandparents can record their wise advice and store them in your child’s vault to be opened on the day before he starts his first job, and late night letters you write–all sappy and in love with your newborn–can be kept until she’s a teenager and driving you crazy.

Time capsule messages can be short and sweet–as easy as storing this photo to be opened in 15 years with a short message:
Dear Lainey, I took this photo today as I watched you play with your brother and saw how much he loves you and looks up to you. Just thought I’d remind you of that. Wherever you are right now, remember how much you are loved and that your little siblings are always looking up to you. I love you so much–even more 15 years later when you’ll open this! ~Mom

I love thinking about my children growing up and regularly getting e-mails and letters, funny stories and photos from me and Brett, written while they are young, reminding them of how much they are loved, how capable they are, how important their family ties are, how much we believe in them.

I always love seeing you smile. Hope you’re smiling today!

See how I’m looking at you? Still love you that much today…and more. Have a great day, honey!

Hold someone’s hand today. We need each other.

We’ve enjoyed so many sunsets together. Today you collected an entire bucket of pink and white shells, and you danced under the dock with your friends while it rained around us. Hope you find somewhere to dance today–and enjoy that incredible big world around you! Love you.

You’ve always loved adventure and you’ve never been afraid to jump in. I’ve loved that about you from the very first table you climbed! Enjoy your adventures today, and know I’m always cheering for you! Love, Mom

I love what OneDay is doing to make preserving, sharing and connecting easy and fun for families. Our stories and memories powerfully connect us to each other and to our potential.

I started a vault for each child. I’m excited to fill them! …one day at a time.

OneDay is currently in Beta but offering free lifetime accounts for our readers with promo code KelleH (click “enter code” when signing up).

Thank you to OneDay for sponsoring this post and thank you readers for supporting the sponsors who help support this blog.

He left yesterday to run some errands. He said he’d be gone an hour, but it was over two.

“You do this too,  all the time. Don’t call him.” I told myself.

But they were needy, and the house was a mess, and the dog just peed on the tile, and I was frustrated, and I needed somewhere to put that frustration.

The phone rang twice before he answered.

“Hi-aye…?” He drew the end of that hi out, and I sensed the question mark at the end of it.  He was on to me. The “You’re calling to check and see when I’m going to be home, aren’t you?” bit.

“Where are you?” I asked.

Way to be transparent. You could have covered with that funny story about Dash and the dishwasher. You could have been a little more subtle.

“I’ll be home in ten, babe.”

“No worries,” I faked. “Was just checking. Everything’s fine. Love you.”

He returned and the weekend care tasks shifted back into equilibrium. We cleaned and laughed and fixed lunch and talked about what we were going to do for Father’s Day. I changed that diaper; he brought the powder to me and reminded me to use it. He snapped her life jacket on; I told him she needed more sunscreen.

Leftovers for dinner and baths and pajamas and stories and kisses on cheeks while their eyelids fluttered and we whispered another goodnight. Sound machines and nightlights and doors closed and finally, to the couch.

“Impractical Jokers?” he asked.

“I want to say yes, but I’m working on something,” I answered.

I retreated to the bedroom to continue the Father’s Day slideshow I’d begun. And, in doing so, sank deeper into the memories that restore all the magic to the mundane.

Two hours of sifting through folders.  Of dragging photos from “Austyn’s Soccer” and “Nella’s Dedication” and “Lainey’s Recital” and “Brandyn’s Football” and “Dash’s Birthday” to “Father’s Day Slideshow.” Of reliving birthday parties and camping trips and the day they were born and Christmas mornings and road trips and all of it. It’s easy to forget about all of those memories–that magical way he looks at them, how their tiny hands fit in his, the way he smiles when they’re sitting on his lap–when we only have two arms to help three really needy kids and he’s not home yet.

But right now, right after sitting on the couch with him this morning and watching him watch that slideshow, reliving it all with him–tears for both of us–I’m feeling really grateful to have one person out there in the world who knows exactly what it feels like to love them like I do. The confidence I feel in facing each tomorrow raising these kids, knowing that they have him too–there isn’t a grill or toolbox in the world that could represent what that means.

Life doesn’t always look as pretty as it does in a slideshow, but that’s what Father’s Day is for. Let us all replay the memories in our minds today, with a great sappy song and a big smile, remembering the way dads hold our hands, pick up the phone, hug us tight, show up, help us, look at us with pride and hope and promise and teach us how to change a tire. May every child have big strong arms to run to and a soft heart to call home.

Happy Father’s Day to all of you incredible dads. A shiny toolbox and soap-on-a-rope for all y’all today.

******

And have you seen Dove + Men’s Father’s Day commercial yet? Waaah.  Love it so much.
Over @ehow talking about celebrating and recognizing dads.

This post is sponsored by Kiwi Crate.

We are four “school days” into summer now, and I’m realizing I need to pace myself a little here. The gun went off, the race started and I gave it all I had last week. All Yes Days. I can’t help it, I kind of feel like a kid myself. Or an overenthusiastic puppy. Panting, jumping, chasing my tail, looking for someone to play with. Hey kids, want to go in the sprinkler? Hey kids, want to go to the beach? Who wants to have a water balloon fight? Who wants to have a lemonade stand? Let’s go! Let’s see! Let’s do! 

I’ve got to simmer down; there’s a long race ahead.

So I’m working on spacing big fun with little fun; “out” days with “in” days.

What appropriate timing for today’s sponsor and summer godsend—the Kiwi Crate.

Kiwi Crate delivers fun hands-on experiences to your door each month. In one little box, you’ll find all the materials and inspiration you need for 2-3 activities for your kids—art, science, games, imaginative play and more.

Their summer adventure crates are appropriately themed—“Camping Trip” for June (order before 6/17 to receive the camp themed box) and “Beach” for July.

Grandparents, aunts and uncles looking for gift ideas? Kiwi Crate subscriptions are a fantastic gift for kids ages 3-8. Not only is it a gift that keeps on giving, but it provides learning experiences and opportunities to spend time together.

Our May box was fun for both Lainey and Nella—and Dash too since he had to be distracted away from our table about 26 times.

In one little box, we found everything we needed to build a real garden with radishes and grass seed as well as an observation chart to track their growing progress.

We also found all the materials to create these barnyard finger puppets, Nella’s favorite.

For all the times I’ve headed to the craft store to pick up random things I’m missing for a project and for all the little fees I’ve acquired running to get more felt, more googly eyes, more glitter, it’s so nice to have everything you need and only everything you need in one box to perfectly execute fun creations with your kids.

More on their summer adventure series in action:

Kiwi Crate offers several different subscription packages beginning at $16.95 a month. All subscription packages can be canceled at any time. Kiwi Crate is also offering an exclusive promo code for our readers: Use Code KELLE25 for 25% off your first month crate(excludes sibling add-on).

Thanks to Kiwi Crate for sponsoring this post.  And, as always, thank you readers for supporting the sponsors that partner with our family to support this blog.