S.O.S.

No this doesn't have anything to do with the Jonas Brother's but it does have to do with family. Recently there has been a lot of talk about ancestors at our house and my husband and I have begun to search for our missing ancestors (a.k.a. genealogy) , and through that found a family history challenge for all ages on wiki. family search.
https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Main_Page from there click on the highlighted words "family history activities page" in the News and Updates section.

The Summer of Sleuthing Challenge has links to make family trees (standard or Tigger-iffic versions), as well as a coloring page and tips on interviewing relatives. That could get awfully creative! Maybe you could make a book, or a family newspaper, or a video, or a slideshow with pictures and music? I have even seen journals that have questions in them so one can write things down. Sometimes it is hard to think of things on the spot, for the interviewer and the interviewee. The important thing is to start asking questions like any good sleuth would do!
They also suggest keeping a journal of your finds and experiences, perhaps with your family.

Several years ago my dad interviewed his mother over the period of a few days. He thought of some questions to spark her memory and just let her talk while the video recorder ran and if they needed to they checked dates and added it the next day. That is really priceless to me now, especially since none of my children got to meet my paternal grandmother. She passed away when Lauren was a baby and we lived overseas.

Here comes a story (forgive my wordiness).... I didn't get a long well in my teenage years with my maternal grandmother.Later in my teens one day, just as an experiment - you know, the kind that adults tell you to try to bridge the generation gap - I asked her what she did when she was a teenager for fun. I think she was a bit surprised, and I didn't know if I really wanted to hear, but as she told me about her and her friends gathering up things from their homes and riding horses to the beach and roasting corn in a fire, I found myself very interested and realized my grandma was kind of cool. She had done a lot of things that I could see myself being interested in. I knew that I got some artistic talent from her, but didn't think, or refused to think, there was anything else until then - we were actually kind of alike! (Including the fact that we both thought we were right. My mom, wisely already knew this. :) Not that I ever went and roasted corn on the beach, but the way she described her outings with friends reminded me of myself and my group of friends. I was able to see her in a way I never had before and my heart softened towards her from then on, even if we never became chums. I just kept finding more and more things we had in common. Even after she passed, going through her things with family (a lot of rocks- no wonder we all love rocks- it must be genetic!) and then reading some of her journal and a paper she had written about cats for a class she took in her 60's. I realized there are a lot of things I admired about her life, from her fearlessness to her unashamed quirkiness. Quirky is okay- we are all quirky in our own ways, aren't we?

Perhaps you might have time during your family vacation to ask a few questions? It doesn't have to be a huge production, but learning a few things about our family members can really help us appreciate them. Not to mention, it gives us a glimpse at ourselves that we may not see. A-AND using the dates from your family tree can direct you to some historical fiction at the library that might give you a better idea of what life was like when your grandma was growing up. What if she was a little girl when Kit Kitteridge was? Everyone has a story...

What the Dickens?

(Lauren, sorry - I'm not trying to take over your book/reading section either) I recently "read" a book on tape that was share-worthy it's titled "What the Dickens". It's the story of one of the tooth fairies. What? You didn't know there was more than one?! Shhh! Don't tell anybody! Humans aren't supposed to know. What the Dickens is the name of this particular fairy. He's very curious and has quite a story as he gets to know the world around him. His story is told to some children hunkering down during a horrible storm.

What are you reading this summer?

Suz

"Oh.My.Gods."- Good Greek Gods Book!!

I have just read the most amazing book. I'm sorry Laur, I know this is usually your section, but i can't not share this amazing read! The book is called "Oh.My.Gods." and it is by Tera Lynn Childs. I know you guys must think I'm a total geek, but I love Greek mythology! I have been in a major phase lately. Anyway, this book is about a girl in high school who has to move to an island in Greece. I can't believe I just said has to, I mean what torture. But apparently, it is for Phoebe. She has to deal with all the snobby little godlings. She is one of them... or is she?
I really hope you'll read this book, it's amazing.
Emily :)
P.S. There is a sequal if you like this book.

Dear Fellow Bookworms...

Summer reading season is here! When I was a kid, my big sister and I would read while on road trips through California, Idaho and Oregon. We would read while we did our daily or weekend chores. The library was a regular Saturday afternoon destination. Here are some summery reading ideas that you might like:

Summer Reading List
Have you heard about summer reading lists on the radio? If not they're simply lists of books that are "must-reads". The list just makes it easy to remember what you want to read. Try making you own list and keep it somewhere handy, like the fridge door, or the computer desktop (digital - that's what I do) or keep it in the tote bag you take to the library.

Book Club
We tried pulling together a book club earlier this spring, but it fizzled. So Emily and I have decided to carry on. Em's choosing the books. Here are our starter books if you want to read along: June Reads: Molly Moon, Twilight

Books on Tape (or CD)
Reasons books on tape are a must in the summer:

• Listen to a book while weeding
• Listen to a book while doing your chores
• Trouble getting to sleep? Throw a book on tape in your CD player

You'll know it's a good book when you find yourself asking your mom "Where's the sunscreen? I have to weed the garden." Mmm, hmmm. Just make sure your CD or tape player has a good stash of rechargeable batteries!

The Library
Check in at the info counter for the summer reading programs. This year in Salt Lake there's a program for kids and parents. AND if you're like me, you might want to check out the book renewal option over the phone or the internet. Those smart thinkers at the libary (in Salt Lake) have set up a program to let kids under 18 read-down their fines, so check into it, if you have a problem returning your books on time, like me.

Cool Bookmarks
I love funky bookmarks and these are really cute: Family Fun bookmark craft. Have you seen the magnetic bookmarks at Barnes and Noble, also very cool! (Cat bookmark picture from barnesandnoble.com)

TweenCraft bloggers are going to be turning pages all summer long so, dear, friendly you, could you do me a favor? Ack... no I'm not asking you to log your reading time, or anything painful. Will you comment and share what you're reading and any fun you're having with books and the library this summer! We love to hear what you think!