Summerizing::summer in review

I'm joining Lifeologia today and summerizing my summer. Here's the best and the brightest of summer 2010!

What is the best memory of this summer for you?

The best memory for me was at the beach this summer. The kids got along and played so cooperatively at the beach. They really seemed to enjoy themselves and it was such a relaxed place to be together as a family.

What is the one event you looked forward to the most? Did it turn out as you expected?

I really looked forward to 4th of July weekend with friends coming to town and a birthday celebration with other friends. We really did have a great time together.

Have you done/tried/tasted something completely new, how was your experience?

We tried beet cookies a few weeks ago. I really enjoyed them but not everyone in the family did. Such an interesting combination for a cookie. I might try some variations in the future to see if I can find something everyone will like.

Is there a valuable lesson you learned this summer?

We (tentatively) figured out that 2 of our kids (the most emotional 2) are Feeling types (according to the Myers-Briggs type indicator). This awareness has really informed my dealings with them when they seem to lose it emotionally or even in trying to help them feel empathy in a situation when I would have otherwise tried explaining to death. It felt like a big breakthrough in parenting. :)

Have you applied yourself creatively and created projects that you wanted to?

I've been knitting all summer working on Christmas and birthday projects such as this one. I really enjoy making gifts for my kids especially. It's so neat to see how creative they can be with handmade goods.

Is there something you wanted to try or complete that you didn’t have the time for? What do you think stood in your way and will you still attempt it?

I thought I would finish Finn's birthday blanket this summer, but apparently it's going to be fall instead!

From your summer experience, what are you most grateful for?

It's hard to pick just one thing, but I'm really grateful for our kids' camp. I'm hoping to spend a bit more time there next summer myself, and it's such a positive learning experience for them each time they attend.

What was your favourite place you travelled to? Do you plan to go back there?

Hmmm...well, we only went to the Outer Banks and Asheville, but I expect we'll make our way back to both places many times in the years to come. :)

Is there a blog that inspires you the most?

Is it too cliched to say Soulemama? There are so many really, but a few of my favorites right now are Small Things, Salt and Chocolate, Frontier Dreams, and Plain and Joyful Living.

Is there a blog post you’re most proud of?

It's hard for me to think like that because I blog mostly as a journal so I don't think about being proud of a particular post, but if I'm pressed to choose one, I'd probably pick the diary of our weekend foods that I did a few weeks ago.

Is there a blog post you wish had more reaction and/or comments?

I haven't really thought much about this either, but I guess my post on the end of my trip to the Steiner Institute where I address bread-making recipes, books, etc didn't get as much response as I expected considering the number of questions I had during the week.

What is your favourite photo that you’ve posted this summer?

I'm sure that I can't pick one for this. I really liked some of my zoo pictures and some of my beach pictures are near to my heart.

What photo or photos from this summer you didn’t get a chance to post?

Without spending hours going through my archives, I'm really not sure! Ok, I scrounged around and found a few.

*new posts up at The Book Children...check them out!*

An interview

Jessica over at Turkey Cookies offered to interview anyone who wished to be placed in the hotseat, which I, of course, immediately jumped on.  Listed below are the questions she asked and my replies.

1.  Ok, Art Family- what is your favorite family art craft??
One of our favorite family art activities is exquisite corpse drawing.  Exquisite corpse involves one person drawing the top of something and then covering it with another piece of paper until just a ½ inch of the bottom is showing.  The next person has to complete the drawing without having seen the top.  The kids laugh hysterically at some of the drawings they’ve come up with that way.

2.  You have written about some of your family's favorite books. (Snowflake Bentley is a favorite of mine.) What are the top five favorite children's books in your house?

Favorites come and go around here.  Our top 5 of all time are probably The Mitten, Olivia, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, The Sneetches

3.  When you are not crafting with your kids, what is your favorite way to spend your time and recharge?
As a family, we recharge by walking in the woods.  There’s a great park near our house with several short trails that are perfect for little legs.  Personally, I recharge by helping other moms in their walk toward more natural living.  I'm the moderator for the Natural Living/Attachment Parenting group at TriadMommies.

A favorite little path through the woods

4.  Your family time is so inspiring-family game night and camping.  Is there a family tradition that sticks out in your mind that defines this family time?
Some of the fun things we do as a family are more sporadic than we like, but the 2 things we do very regularly are read together at night (we are just starting Little House on the Prairie) and having a slow dinner together on Sunday evenings.

Reading The Tale of Despereaux

5.  You have tons of wonderful photos of your kids. I am always so impressed that you are able to capture so many moments in their life (like Finn drawing on the wall!).  Besides keeping your camera within arms distance always, what other hints do you have to catch these moments?  And then, what do you do with all of them??
Ummm…I’m a little ashamed to say that I frequently tell the kids to pause right there, while I dash off to fetch the camera.  Or I say, “wait! do that again and don’t look at me this time.”  I’m glad to have so many photos of us doing ordinary things though.  I think we’ll all be grateful to have so much documentation of their childhoods.  We store all of our photos on 2 hard drives that are mirrored.  One of my biggest fears is losing all these memories.

Instructions

1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."

2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions).

3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.

4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.

5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.