Night Time Routine
Lisa runs the show when it comes to getting ready for bed. It works as close to clock-work as typical children will allow. We head upstairs after "Last Chance Snack", which you can see Scotty finishing off in the first picture.We are NOT usually so cuddly as these pictures show, but hugs are given out freely most of the time by our children.Scott and Thomas both like for us to climb in bed with them for a few minutes. Scott will say "Com'mon Dad! Spoon with me!"Two nights ago I went in to cuddle Scott, and he said "Oh Dad, I wanted to cuddle with mom." I thought it was so sweet that he keeps track, and sometimes wants one of us specifically. Thomas will take anyone, anytime. Parker needs little more than a peck on the cheek, a quick hug, and he is out like a light.Here is a rare moment of brotherly love. Scott looks like he might be recovering from a blow or bite to the face, however, painting a slightly more realistic picture. Although there isn't much actual violence with fists or scratches, bedtime routine isn't always as pretty as I'd like to paint it. Lisa and I are working on being 'at peace' with our little warriors while trying to keep the mood light and 'happy'. You know, it's always great when you are yelling at the top of your lungs that everyone had better stop yelling.Many evenings actually ARE calm, for the most part, but even so, the average night has at least one mishap of someone not being very nice to someone else. We DO have many 'nice' moments in the evening when reading from the Book of Mormon every night before prayers, and then a chapter or two from a book. Reading is our family past-time. Currently we're back on the Magic Tree House series. I preferred 'The Candy Shop Wars' and 'Fablehaven'. Thomas didn't always like the intensity, but Scott thrived on both series.I'm the hygiene Nazi - so my kids don't really brush their teeth. I brush them. I floss them. I'm currently out of my favorite floss: the kind that has toothpaste on it by Reach. The toothbrush is Oral-B, but I could talk toothbrush talk for hours with you. It's what happens to be working at the moment. I use the Sonicare. Clean and slick!

