Nigh, Night

My favorite part of the day is our bedtime routine (and not just because they are going to bed!) We have really established a good pattern over the last few months and even when we've had the whiniest of days, bedtime always makes me smile and appreciate them.

6:15PM PJ's and diaper changes with a rousing rendition of us yelling"naked baby!" as they run around the house slapping their bellies. I have NO idea why they do this, but it's awesome.

6:25PM Read Goodnight Moon and Counting Kisses, or whatever they pick out.

6:30PM "Let's brush our teeth!" They run to the bathroom door and use their pointer fingers as fake brushes and wiggle around their mouths. They jump up and down and bang on the door. Who was ever this excited to brush teeth?!
We take turns saying "ahhhh" and help them brush. They are usually cooperative. We wash faces and then they stand on the scale to see how big they are. Sometimes together (like last night, while hugging).

6:40PM Nigh, Night! My favorite. We say goodnight to Benny (he still goes to bed an hr later), Goodnight to the Christmas tree, then into the nursery. They kiss each other first, then us. It's like a big love fest in there, people. We tuck them in with their "lovies" and more cuddles as they lay down. Then they just go to sleep!

Sometimes we here giggling for a few minutes afterwards, but generally they are tired and ready for bed.

I hope bedtime is always this sweet around here.

Update

This is mainly for me, but if I don't write down what the kiddos are up to I'll never remember.

Tate: WILD MAN. Running, climbing, jumping off tall buildings (or couches). All boy and all energy. He is still a cuddle bug though and likes to suck his thumb with his "Linus" blanket and lean on my leg for 20 seconds, then it's back to the races. He loves to wrestle with daddy when he gets home and try new moves out on Gracie. The Christmas tree is proving too tempting for him and I'm thinking about starting time out pretty soon. We need a better course of discipline. Tater is starting to talk more, that is, his babbling is starting to sound more like real words. The kid loves to vacuum. He is such a good sport playing "where's Gracie" over and over and ring around the rosie whenever she wants. He loves Benny and smothers him with kisses all day long. He is quick to apologize and quick to hit. I adore him.

Gracie: SASS-A-Frass. Still. Getting quite the stubborn streak these days. I hope she's teething or we're in trouble. Loves to dance and has started singing her own songs! CUTEST thing ever! Sometimes it sounds like songs we sing together, sometimes just random. I love it. She is a social butterfly and loves to yell "HI!" to people everywhere. She just started climbing this week and furniture all over the house trembles in fear. Nothing is safe from my toddlers anymore. She learns new words every day it seems: Go away! DOOO it! Tater! Up(ah), down, mamammamamamammama, etc. I love it. My favorite time with her is one on one. She LOVES ths red couch blanket and has taken to sitting next to me with it and cuddling. She might read a book or watch tv with me, but she's so still! It's sweet. We had snack that way yesterday while her brothers were still napping.

Benny Bear: All Smiles. He is so easy going and mellow 99% of the time. God blessed us with the perfect baby to fit into our busy household. He takes pokes from the older babies without complaints and waist patiently awake in his crib for me to come get him in the morning. He naps anywhere and everywhere and will smile at your slightest effort. I have a suspicion he wants to roll soon. He likes to blow bubbles and Gracie and Tate make him laugh out loud! Warms my heart.

'Tis the Season

Our visit with Santa turned out pretty much as expected:







But THIS is my favorite part of the season anyway

I am in trouble here, people.

Thanksgiving Recap

I can't believe I didn't get a single picture of my kids or us as a family on Thanksgiving! Actually, I can, since we are always so busy on holidays. I guess I am more disappointed. The kids looked super cute. :)

We went to my in laws and my moms on turkey day and stayed the night down in Puyallup. Friday we even braved the mall for a little black friday shopping. Going in the afternoon wasn't too bad at all. I love being at the mall around the holidays. It feels so festive with a million people there buying gifts and having a big budget to shop for my family. I love gift giving! Sean and I also have a game we play where we guess how many Santa hats we will see in the mall that day. The person closest without going over wins. Ha ha, it's silly, but fun.

We spent Saturday and Sunday at home and at church, showing of our new Christmas themed outfits (thanks to Grandma). Besides Gracie's massive temper tantrum at a friend's house, it was a nice, relaxing weekend.

Here is the only picture I have-of Gracie and Tate and my niece tackling my mom on Thanksgiving. Better than nothing I suppose?

Bring on Christmas!

Peach Fuzz

Is there anything cuter?

Testing, Testing, 1-2-3

This is going to be a bit disjointed, but I never write out what I am thinking before hand (like I have that kind of time), so bear with me.

I have been presented with challenging situations lately, that have felt like tests of my intergrity. Basically a series of accidents at stores (Gracie's sticky fingers, my absentmindedness) that have given us things we know we didn't pay for. Gracie took a hat from a clothing store, I left the grocery store with items that didn't get rung up (twice!). In this situations it would be easy to go on our way and steal actually, but I have felt strongly compelled to do the right thing. This meant extra trips back to stores and returning and/or paying for said items. It's funny, I felt proud of myself and almost happy with an opportunity to witness to my kids. Of course they have no idea what's going on, even when it was just Benny and I at the store yesterday, but I would know and of course God would know if I just put the case of coke in my car and drove off.

I want to be better than that and I want their little eyes and hearts to see that mommy does the right thing, even when it's a pain. I was happy to call my mom and husband to tell them what happened. So I was thinking about all that and patting myself on the back a little bit when I felt a nudge from the Father. "Why are you so proud of yourself for doing what your supposed to?"

Ouch.

I was proud, I thought I had passed these tests with flying colors. But perhaps I missed the point. No, I didn't steal, but hello?! I should be ashamed if I had? Is this not what is expected of me? How often do I congratulate my students for doing their work or praise my kids for not hitting? It's what they are supposed to do. I have set these standards for their own good and while I am glad they do it, It's not necessarily something I want them to gloat about. Perhaps it's the same with my Father and Teacher. He would expect me not to sin in front of my children, He would be glad I didn't succumb to temptation, but probably more disappointed at how prideful I was about it. I can get my rewards here or in heaven, and lately, I've been choosing here. I want my kids to know why we choose to do the right thing, but I also want them to see their mother walk in humility. After all, I am likely to screw up in a variety of other ways.