Play Book Tag discussion

I've only read a few books this year. Been very busy relocating me and my team from NJ to TX for work. Long story short, between work, moving and home life with my wife, two boys (2 and 3 years old) and dog (German Shepherd, King) life's kind of gotten in the way of my reading. Anyway, as of late my son Jack will only go to bed if I sing him to sleep. Also, my dog King follows me everywhere! So there I am in bed with Jack tonight singing while King sits at the foot of the bed (all 99 lbs of him). For the record, I am an awful singer and only really know the words to one song, Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton. I had to sing the song eight times before Jack fell asleep tonight, he usually only lasts for a couple . When I finally got downstairs tonight my wife said, where's King? I put both of them to sleep. Long days, short years and although I miss reading, I'll trade it for as long as anyone in my house will let me sing them to sleep!

Aw, that is adorable!

Reminds me of my mother...wonderful woman but she could not carry a tune or remember a lyric. Yet until each of us reached about age 6 or so, we loved her singing to us. It was beautiful to us. It is a fond memory my siblings and I treasure. As your kids will treasure this memory of you.

After reading to them, I used to put my kids to sleep with a lullaby CD that I cut myself, and my daughter always insisted I sing Golden Slumbers to her. It's been years! Your kids will have a wonderful memory!

Lovely story Charlie! You are a great Dad-I do not envy you having 2 toddlers, YIKES! But I do miss those days-Enjoy them while they are small and mischievous-they turn into sassy teens and opinionated adults way too fast-Lol

Awww, that is so sweet! While I know you love to read, this time with the boys is better than any story you could read. :)

So, did your family move to Texas?! It certainly sounds like you have had many life changes going on. No wonder reading has taken a back seat!

Great story, Charlie!! My husband equally cannot carry a tune in a bucket, but I hope it wouldn’t stop him singing to our baby granddaughter - even if his favourite karaoke number does happen to be House of the Rising Sun ...

Charlie that’s a wonderful story! And I still sing my kids to sleep. Really just the youngest at this point. But I know the highschoolers are listening. This is such a special time. And we’re all going to be here for you and the children grow older and we can recommend books for each grade level. Really such a sweet time.

KateNZ wrote: "Great story, Charlie!! My husband equally cannot carry a tune in a bucket, but I hope it wouldn’t stop him singing to our baby granddaughter - even if his favourite karaoke number does happen to be..."

That's mine too! I can sort of carry a tune though..so probably sounds a bit different than his.

What everyone said! The story is sweetness itself.

Thanks for sharing Charlie. That sounds wonderful and I'm smiling to think that with your "not good voice" (paraphrased) you managed to put them both to sleep.

I love to sing, not that I sing very well (according to my nasty brothers!), but I do sing in the church choir. Your story reminded me of the year my grandkids asked me to sing my old Girl Scout songs to them during a ride to the airport. Goodness that was fun!

Charlie wrote: "I've only read a few books this year. Been very busy relocating me and my team from NJ to TX for work. Long story short, between work, moving and home life with my wife, two boys (2 and 3 years old..."

Yes, because rest assured the day is coming when children no longer want you to sing them to sleep :). I had little time for reading when my kids were little. That said, as they got a bit older I read books I didn't when I was growing up such as every single Little House novel, The Cricket in Times Square and many, many others when I read them aloud to my kids (but it seemed slow going at the time, especially as the Little House Books were read to one child at a time when they were the right ages to enjoy them).

What part of Texas did you move to?

Frisco, just north of Dallas

Charlie wrote: "Frisco, just north of Dallas"

Ahh, I'm not familiar with that area. I'm in San Antonio.

Sweet images of toddlers and dogs on the bed!

I used to sing a kermit song to my son. He loved it for a while and would come sit at my feet under the piano. Then one day he reached up and put his hand over my mouth. Oh, they grow up so fast.

NancyJ wrote: Then one day he reached up and put his hand over my mouth. Oh, they grow up so fast. ..."

LOL! Ok, that made me laugh!

NancyJ wrote: "Sweet images of toddlers and dogs on the bed!

I used to sing a kermit song to my son. He loved it for a while and would come sit at my feet under the piano. Then one day he reached up and put his..."

My eldest was two when I was forbidden to sing along with her children's tapes. Barely two at that, and I can carry a tune whereas she couldn't yet.

But I was allowed to do singing games with them for significantly longer as long as they thought the games were fun (made up ones, mostly).

Aww, your post touches my heart. I remember when my boys (now 24 and 21) were so tiny. It's a VERY busy time. Not conducive to reading much more than the Berenstain Bears. Enjoy every minute, Charlie. We will be waiting for you here. A new picture would be awesome though!

Anita wrote: "Aww, your post touches my heart. I remember when my boys (now 24 and 21) were so tiny. It's a VERY busy time. Not conducive to reading much more than the Berenstain Bears. Enjoy every minute, Charl..."

Thanks very much and per your request I've updated my photos folder with two new pics of Jack and Quinn.

Oh my gosh, they are getting so big! And not that babies aren't wonderful, and it is great that they are (sometimes) quite and stay in one place, but how great it is now that the boys can do more things and interact with you more?!

Charlie wrote: "Anita wrote: "Aww, your post touches my heart. I remember when my boys (now 24 and 21) were so tiny. It's a VERY busy time. Not conducive to reading much more than the Berenstain Bears. Enjoy every..."

Charlie those boys are adorable! They both have your smile!

Oh My they are totally scrumptious and adorable! You are one lucky man.

What a handsome pair ... they'll have the ladies swooning in a few years ....

Book Concierge wrote: "What a handsome pair ... they'll have the ladies swooning in a few years ...."

Or the men ;)