Story time

I love story time at our house. It's usually right after lunch, before the girls go down for a nap and lasts anywhere from 2 to 8 books. Depends on how tired everyone is. Sometimes we sit on the couch, sometimes on the floor. Most of the time we're in our "red room" (family room on the first floor with one red wall), but we have been known to read a book (or three) in the living room as well.

Sofia is usually seated right next to me and Olivia is in my lap. Now with Olivia crawling I'm sure I'll be on the floor more often so she can sit on the other side of me and crawl around if the mood strikes her. We have a ton of books for the girls already and we get through a ton of them pretty regularly. There was a time when we read the same ones over and over (and over), but now I try to mix it up with ones that are on the bottom of the pile. Sofia has gotten really good at memorizing a handful of them and while it's really cute to hear her reciting the book to me, she loves a new book every once in awhile too.

Growing up, I read A LOT. My mom would tell me to go outside and play and all I wanted to do was read. So, I would make both of us happy by taking my book outside to read. I was getting fresh air AND enriching my mind. Best of both worlds. But I would read just about anything and get so wrapped up in what I was reading that I literally could not put it down until I was finished. I had to know what happened at the end and I couldn't wait.

Now I have to wait. There are meals to be made, laundry to be folded, diapers to change and potty songs to sing. The past year or so, I haven't made the time to read more than childrens' books and the occasional home magazine or cookbook. Yes, I did read the Twilight series (three times), but if you read it then you know why I HAD to incorporate them into my free time. But I feel like I've gotten lazy and it's time for a change. I used to love reading so much and want to get back into it. I'm going to close the laptop, put away the Pottery Barn catalog and pick up a book. A book for me. I make plenty of time for Dr. Seuss, so now I need to make the time for Lisa.