A number of years ago, I saw a post about a Memory Jar and I knew we had to try it. I found a big glass jar and made a little label for it and we were off!

The whole idea is to keep the jar out on your counter and add in any fun memories from the year. Every movie we go to, I save a stub to put in our jar. Every time we go to the Fair or a trampoline park or anything we get a ticket for, it goes in the jar. If we go on a big hike, I write it on a 3×5 card and in it goes. If we go to a restaurant or find a new ice cream shop, I write it down and put in in the jar. If someone learns how to do something new, it goes in the jar. If we visit a new playground or park, in it goes. This year I started to add in a little picture to the jar if we took a selfie. You get the idea!

You will notice we still have the same original paper around the jar from when we started years ago. I just change the date. It think it’s fun to see it age and know it’s growing with us.

The cool part is, it collects in there as memories from our year. Then every year on New Year’s Eve, we pour our sparkling cider and take turns reaching into the jar and pulling out a memory. It’s has been a fun tradition that the boys ask about as it gets closer to NYE. We have a very real scrapbook of sorts as we reflect on our year.