Excuse Me While My Heart Explodes...

Tonight I tucked our children into bed listening to Little House in the Big Woods.  

I need a moment.

Alright.  I think I'm good.

It's just that my heart is bursting with pride that our kids, our THREE year olds, are intently 

listening to a piece of actual literature.  

There are dozens and dozens of books that I just can't wait to read with the twins someday.  

And this book was certainly on the list.

I used to read it to my kindergarten classes each year.

We have been listening to the story together during play times throughout the last couple of days, 

talking about the story, the characters, the woods....  

They love it.

I just adore books.  

Always have.  

And I'm just ever-so-proud to be sharing these kind of treasures 

and a love of reading with Lincoln + Lila.

December Daily

L + L are on the go pretty much all. the. time.

Which makes the big guy and I exhausted.

But we have a little trick up our sleeves...

Our kids love books!

We are talking love with a big, fat capital L.

So when they are crazy, or arguing, or driving us bonkers, or tired, or anything-

We read to them.

And it works magic I tell you.

Today in the middle of our shopping trip to REI, the twins found some books and made themselves right at home.

Readers are leaders yo!

On a side note, sometimes I wonder what it would be like with just one 2 year old at time.

Much different?!

I don't know.

But I do wonder.

A lot.

But for the record, I prefer 2.

Books

These are a few of our most favorite books. Books that are read over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over...

... you catch my drift.

Lincoln loves this book. It has almost fallen completely apart. When we are not reading this book, we are talking about it. Team Swish is always on the look out for pond monsters and shadows.

Goodnight Gorilla has been the #1 book for Lincoln, {Lila too, but mostly Lincoln,} from the beginning. (We are talking very beginning here people. Like just a few months old!) Lincoln has always adored this one and it began his infatuation with first 'mon-ees', and then gorillas. Man, this kid loves gorillas.

Miss Lila has this next book memorized. No page skipping on this one! It is a cute story that these twins think is awessssooommmmeeee. (DJ Lance Rock voice.)

Dr Seuss was a genius. We read all of his books often, but Mr. Brown is a favorite. Especially if daddy reads it. What is it with men and sound effects??? Must be in the chromosomes because they just come out knowing how to make them.

Hooray for Fish is a gem. We love all the fish especially the gripey fish, the win fin-fin fishes and the pineapple fish. It just is so dang cute.

We read so, so many books. I love books, Brian has grown to love books and hopefully Lincoln and Lila will continue growing their love of books.

It would just make me so happy if they did.

Traditions

Christmas traditions are the bomb dot com. Brian and I are having a lot of fun creating Swisher family traditions. Of course we made the paper-chain countdown. Do the kids know what the heck they are counting the days for??? Probably not. But they do enjoy ripping a link off every night.


One fun thing we are trying this year is a Book-Advent thingy. (Feel free to quote me on that one.) I got the idea from another blog and loved it. You see, as a former Kindergarten teacher, I have tons of books just waiting to be read by these 2. (Organized by themes, holidays and seasons of course.) Anyway, I used 22 books I already had and added a couple of new ones to the mix. I wrapped them all and put them on display. Each night the twins choose one and we read it together before bed. They love this!



I plan on using the same books from year to year, but the surprise will be which one they get every night.


I heart books.