Benjamin's Bed Time Routine

(I'm mostly posting these for posterity's sake; I know it will be fun to look back over these once the boys are older and no longer require songs, stories and night time snuggles.)

(Click here or scroll down for Anthony's Bed Time Routine.)

To start off the bed time routine, I ask Benjamin to pick out one book and he picks out five. We whittle it down to two and we're both happy. He thinks he's pulling a fast one on me, and I'm totally OK with reading two books to him.

Then we get in bed and I tell him a made-up story. As long as Thomas the Train and Benjamin are featured prominently in the story, Benjamin is happy. These are easy stories to tell; he generally rides Thomas, goes to "rescue" someone or goes to visit someone, eats grapes and drinks lemonade in the dining car, and returns home to Mommy and Daddy.

After that, I sing his first song. You'll recognize this one from Anthony's post.
The Benjamin Song
Benjamin, Benjamin, Mommy loves you.
Benjamin, Benjamin, Daddy loves you.
Benjamin, Benjamin, Anthony loves you.
Yes, we do. Boo boo.

Benjamin, Benjamin, Maw Maw loves you.
Benjamin, Benjamin, Paw Paw loves you.
Benjamin, Benjamin, they both love you.
Yes, they do. Boo boo.

Benjamin, Benjamin, Kri Kri loves you.
Benjamin, Benjamin, Mimi loves you.
Benjamin, Benjamin, Uncle Mike loves you.
Yes, they do. Boo boo.

Benjamin, Benjamin, Nana loves you.
Benjamin, Benjamin, Grandpa loves you.
Benjamin, Benjamin, they both love you.
Yes, they do. Boo boo.

Benjamin, Benjamin, Uncle Matt loves you.
Benjamin, Benjamin, Parrain loves you.
Benjamin, Benjamin, they both love you.
Yes, they do. Boo boo.

Benjamin, Benjamin, we all love you.
Benjamin, Benjamin, we all love you.
Benjamin, Benjamin, we all love you.
Yes, we do. Boo boo.

Then it's time for prayers; the same as Anthony:
Now I lay me down to sleep.
I pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep.
May angels guide me through the night,
And wake me with the morning light.

May God bless Benjamin, Mommy and Daddy, Anthony,
Maw Maw and Paw Paw,
Mimi, Kri Kri, and Uncle Mike,
Nana and Grandpa,
Parrain and Uncle Matt,
and all of our family and friends, Amen.

Then we sing the last two songs together.
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
How I wonder what you are.

This last song is a shortened version simply because the original is too long!
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Somewhere over the rainbow,
Way up high.
There's a land that I've heard of,
Once in a lullaby.

One day I'll wish upon a star,
And wake up where the stars are far behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops,
Away above the chimney tops,
That's where you'll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow,
Blue birds fly.
Birds fly over the rainbow,
Why then oh why can't I?

And because it makes him laugh, and puts a smile on his face as he falls asleep, his stuffed lion, Leo, sings one last song.
Frosty the Snowman, the Short Version
Frosty the Snowman was a jolly happy soul.
With a corn cob pipe and a button nose,
And two eyes made out of coal.

Frosty the the Snowman was a fairy tale they say.
He was made of snow, but the children know
How he came to life one day.

There must have been some magic in that old silk hat they found.
For when they placed it on his head,
He began to dance around!

Frosty the Snowman had to hurry on his way.
So he waved goodbye, saying, "Don't you cry!"
"I'll be back again some day."

Like with Anthony, I love those few moments with Benjamin at night. He likes to have his back rubbed and I have to hold one of his hands with my other hand. It makes for an awkward position, but he is so sweet that it's hard to mind the crick in my neck afterward.