Bed Time

It's so routine the girls could probably do it on their own. Nevertheless, I feel compelled to document the steps we take to get our tinies down for the night. 

Step 1: Brush Teeth. The challenge here is making sure the girls actually brush their teeth rather than simply run their toothbrushes under water and then suck on them. Sometimes I brush my teeth alongside them and can't help but laugh when they mimic my spitting and toothbrush tapping on the side of the sink. When I remind Ireland to be sure and clean her teeth well, she jiggles her head like a bobblehead doll. It's so adorable it kills me.

Step 2: Dance Party. Somehow Brent came up with this scheme to get the last bits of energy out of the girls. No one will be knocking on our door for choreography gigs but Brent doesn't care. He unabashedly dances with his little girls while the room fills with squeals of joy. Their favorite part is his version of Ring Around the Rosie.

Step 3: Church Video. We've tried all sorts of things to get in a little spiritual thought before bedtime and so far this is the one we've settled on. The church has so many wonderful videos on lds.org which also help the girls calm down after kicking up their heels. We ask them follow up questions to see if they're paying attention and get some pretty funny answers. Someday we may read scriptures together but for now this works well. 

Step 4: Prayers. Lately Liesel always thanks the Lord for being able to "play with Barbies" which I find odd since we don't own any. Ireland always prays for more food. There's something said pretty much every night during prayers which has Brent and I stifling our laughter. 

No peeking allowed!

Step 5: Off to Bed. The girls get one last thrill as Brent whisks them away to a land of dreams. Sometimes there is one last request for some milk or to have a rice bag heated up. And then the house falls silent. Brent returns from their darkened room red-faced from all the exertion and without missing a beat he stands at the edge of the room and looks around; calculating his next move. Then he either picks up his laptop, catches up on some ESPN or haunts the kitchen for a bit more dinner (when the meal was especially good). 

I cuddle Brigitta a bit tighter and somewhere between the jammies, "sparkle fingers" and heartfelt prayers for more Oreos, I fall in love with my family all over again.