~The Hobbit~

While visiting last Thanksgiving my Dad started reading The Hobbit to Alec.  They both enjoyed it so much that my dad decided to record it for him and e-mail it in 10 minute installments.  My brother, Robert, found an abridged illustrated edition of the classic tale, and joined in on the fun.  Then my youngest brother, Alan, started reading with them as well!  They do all the voices and sing all the songs.  I think it's quite entertaining and Alec does too.  The boy anxiously anticipates the arrival of a new episode each week but even when weeks are skipped he will sit and listen to all the recordings again, sometimes for over an hour and a half! 

After growing up with three Hobbit lovers for brothers who watched the animated movie over and over again, it's kind of fun having names like "Gandolf the Great", "Golum", and "Bilbo Baggins" floating around our house in every day games and conversation.  I giggle almost every time Lyssa says "Bilbo Baggins".  Hilarious!  It's especially funny to hear the kids mimicking the tone and inflection of different phrases they hear in the story.  No one (not even the readers themselves) would get the kids jokes because they haven't listened to the story 10 times over, but I do.

I love that my kids love books so much.  

And I love that my Dad and my brothers are doing this for my kids. 

Thank you Grandpa Steve, Robert, and Alan!  You're the best!

We are such a lucky bunch around here. :-)