Bed Time Routine

So, my kids love routine. If they know what is expected, they are usually more likely to do what is expected of them without complaint.

A few weeks ago I decided we have to change some things and get some things figured out better. See, I am the world’s WORST at remembering to get my kids to brush their teeth. I usually just forget all together, or I don’t remember till they are laying down already tucked in, so I just think, we’ll just do it as soon as they get up..which never happens. ~That probably isn’t the best thing to admit, but it’s true.. Anyway.

I remember thinking a few weeks ago {while driving home late, telling my son that he has to get right in bed when we get home and not cry about it..} thinking, what did we do when I was little..

We would be driving home late and I remember mom saying “as soon as we get home, ..Pajamas on, Brush Teeth, Say Prayers, In Bed”. That was our chant growing up. I thought, what do my kids have to do.. pajamas on brush teeth, say prayers, get in bed..but they have to go potty too. Gid still goes to bed with a Sippy cup, he has since he was in diapers and has only wet the bed once! But I am sure to make him go to the bathroom before he climbs in bed!

So we came up with our little chant! “Pajamas, Teeth, Potty, Prayer, Bed”.  I had to walk him through it a few times the first couple nights, we pound our fist into our hand and say “Pajamas, Teeth, Potty, Prayer, Bed!” He caught on quick and LOVES it! E does too! They LOVE LOVE LOVE brushing their teeth..and they always know what is next. It has helped me help them get it done every night as well, because that is the way the chant goes.. it just has to happen! Sometimes (teasingly) I’ll say.. “Okay, go get pajamas on and go potty and get in bed.” Gid says, “NO MOM! It’s Pajamas, TEETH, potty, PRAYERS, bed!”

Anyway..that was a long schpiel to tell you my kids bedtime routine, but it is wonderful! And they climb right in. It’s like…

…magic!

   

Here it Is!

I finished the bed a couple weeks before Christmas.. but he didn’t get the ladder until Christmas. It was his Christmas gift. :) He got to sleep on it Christmas Eve and loves it!

I’m still figuring out the ladder though.

I made the ladder and it ended up being a couple inches short. I can’t screw it to the bed, or it would be fine, because it needs to be removable, so the baby can’t climb up and fall off the top…and she DOES try :). Actually with me standing near, she has climbed up the whole way all by herself..she’s quite the little dare devil at 16mo.! ..anyway..

I need the ladder to be a couple inches higher so I can put some hooks on it, or I need the bed to be  a few inches shorter, which creates a problem with the boards around the bottom..so, I think I’m going to be rebuilding the ladder. In the spring, ..when it’s warmer. Until then, I help him up and down and he’s very careful!

As you can see in the pics, his room is VERY small, THEIR room is small. This loft bed has REALLY opened up the floor space in their room which has really been fantastic for playing in there through the winter, since we can’t go outside as much. We have all loved it!

 

Snow Days

Not a whole lot has been going on here.. Lots of cold days in pj’s, and snow snow snow… These pics were taken last week, right now it’s snowing out and we’ve already gotten about 8 inches+. It’s still coming down hard. It’s the most snow I’ve seen in a LOOOONG time! But it’s the pretty flaky stuff, that you can just brush off the car, not the icy packed stuff we usually get, so I don’t mind it so much!

Mom, what is this stuff..?  

Can I eat it?

 

Hmmm..ya..it’s pretty good…

  

Gloves and Boots!  She LOVES her boots! :)

    

Snow Angels

Play Play Play!

Cleaning off the cars!

Time to go in..

 

Actually, she didn’t like it as much as the pictures show..I just got the good pics., and she was really just sad I wasn’t in the house holding her.

New Blog Button for My Craft Blog!

1st Hair Cut

My baby was 16 mo. yesterday and got her first hair cut. I feel like it’s so short now..but it was much needed to get rid of her nasty matted Alfalfa-whatever look she had going on in the back..

Doesn’t it just say “SHAVE ME ALL OFF”

... I was sooooo tempted!

 

It took a few of these to keep her distracted! 

And then a few more! :)

But it did the trick, and looks SOOOO much better now!
I just love her smile :D!! I can’t wait until she has beautiful long-er, thick-er hair that I can actually doo something with.. ahhh..one day!

Christmas Weekend

We headed to my Mom and Dad’s on Sat night. We got there pretty late and were able to go to church with everyone on Sunday. It was fun to see all my sisters and my little bro., and parents of course!

My little brother and baby girl fell asleep on the way to church! Late night the night before :)

 

“Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam, to shine for him each day. In every way try to please him, at home, at school, at play! A Sunbeam, a Sunbeam, Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam. A Sunbeam, a Sunbeam, I’ll be a sunbeam for him!”

 

G graduated from nursery! I can’t believe he’s getting so big! We’ll see what he really thinks of it over the next couple weeks, I don’t think he quite understands what I’m telling him at this point! No more nursery G! You’re a BIG “Sunbeam” now!

Papa made a bow and arrow for G for Christmas. It is so awesome and G’s most favorite Christmas present I think! He immediately stuck the arrows down the back of his shirt and started shooting them off.. “Mom look, I am Robin Hood!” (Has been one of his favorite shows lately!)

   

Family Picture!

Dad, Katee, Shaun, Adi, Hailee, TJ, Dustin, Whit,(Maia),(Zoey), Derrick, G, me, J, Mom, E

Hailee, TJ, Adi, baby2

  

Whitnee and Derrick

 

Katee, Shaun, Baby1

(oops, hope that wasn’t a secret!)

I know, I know, she looks just like me!

Playing with more Christmas toys. Dad got a RC plane that the boys had fun with for a few minutes..till dad lost it first, then a couple flights later the wing broke (..but fixable!)

   

2 Brother-in-laws, my husband (holding the remote), my little bro, and dad!

I did get a Scroll Saw from my parents for Christmas too! TOTALLY unexpected, but I am SUPER excited to use it, as well as a game called Wacky-6 and a few other little things! Oh, and a cool wreath from my sister! I need to get that pic up!

Lots of these RC helicopters were flying around the house too! I just thought this was a cool pic! I love my camera (got it about last Christmas)! One of my goals for the new year, is to really dive into photography and learn how to use it!

Christmas Morning

We had a WONDERFUL Christmas, and it was so fun to wake up in our own beds and have our own little Christmas for our first time!

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Sleeping in his new Bunk Bed! I built it in the fall, but he couldn’t sleep in it until Christmas night! Pics to come!! It worked well, ‘cause I have to make a few adjustments to the ladder or bed..still deciding, so I had to remove the ladder. ..so he couldn’t get down in the morning and wander the house w/o us!! :)

Cinnamon Rolls – mmmmmmm……

Got the tool table second had for $8 w/all the tools! I was pretty proud of myself :) He loves it and it looks brand new!

E loves her little table..mostly to climb up on top of, but has been having fun with it in her room playing “house”!

Santa brought Toy Story 3 “It’s the Lotso movie”! My son defines them as the “Without Jessie”, “With Jessie”, and the “Lotso” movies! They are by far his favorite. He watched it twice and  asked to watch it a 3rd that day!

 

Puzzle I made..he enjoys putting it together, but mostly stacking them.

E got a cute little phone and purse!

J got me a Dutch Oven Pot!

He got a wrench set and a new charcoal grill!

My dad and father-in-law went in together and got me a Miter Saw!!! :D

  

J’s parents drove all the way to our house on Christmas Eve, and then home again that night..it’s a 3hour drive both ways just to bring it to me! They went to the Chinese Restaurant with us too..it was delicious, and fun to have them! I was so sad I forgot my camera for the Restaurant :( If anyone in my area needs a good Chinese place to eat though, DEFFINITELY check out Joy Wok! Yummy and great Sushi bar too!