Bed Time Stories

Nate's sister, Kristel, is an elementary school teacher. When she came to the hospital to visit us, she gave us a few really cute children's books and told me that it was great if I read to Kayley but then she really encouraged Nathan to read to her as much as possible. She said that just recently she learned that research shows that when dads get involved and read to their children, their sons' and daughters' achievement is enhanced. Even though Nate is super busy with going to work and school full time, he tries to read to Kayley at least every other night.

I googled "Dads reading to their children" and found this article which I thought was kind of interesting.

"...Dads reading stories to their children is a bonding moment. The physical closeness of story time and the cuddling are going to bring you closer to your kids. You will end up tickling them more often. You will end up hugging them more often. You will stroke their hair more often. That’s called bonding and your kids will love you for it. I read an article a while back about one of the important roles that dads teach their children. Dads are the one who normally wrestle with the kids and tickle them until they beg for mercy and toss them in the air. Dads get kids riled up. When the playtime is over, dads show their kids how to calm back down. Ask any kindergarten teacher how important and how difficult of a lesson this is to teach to a young boy or girl. Reading is a very sedentary, calm event. If the guy that just had them giggling and gasping for breath can now sit still with a book on his lap, your kids are going to learn how to do that, also."


I love how she is looking right up at him in both of these pictures. She seems so attentive!
He is reading "I love you stinky face" to her in this picture. I know, I thought the same thing when I first read the title, but it's actually a super cute book with a good message.
I don't look that great in these pictures but I'm always the one pulling out the camera taking pictures and so I'm never in any of them. My dad is in hardly any of the pictures from when we were growing up and so I'm trying to be better about having Nate, or other people, take pictures with me in them.