Night Time Ritual

Gabriella 3 1/2

Gwen 20 months

First, the girls get into their jammies. Gabriella's has to be in a "jammie dress".

Then, I ask Gabs how old she is. She says 3.

Then I tell her to pick up 3 pink toys.

Then 3 toys shaped like a circle.

Then 3 toys that go in her room.

Then 3 toys that go in the basket.

Then 3 Little People.

Then 3 Polly Pocket dresses.

Then 3 books.

Then 3 toys that have orange in them.

Then 3 of everything, until it is all picked up. All of it except the girls clothes.

Then I ask Gwen how old she is. Gabriella answers 1.

Then I tell Gwen her 1 job. To take the clothes to the laundry room. Everynight, that's her job.

Then we try and have Gabs randomly pick a picture from the Gospel Art Kit and talk about it. We're not perfect, but we do try.

Then we give the girls milk.

Then Gabriella uses the restroom.

Then they brush their teeth. Gabriella sings the itsy bitsy spider song 3 times while brushing

Then she knows she's done.

Then we race. Gabriella runs into her room and brings out the elephant. And puts it in the exact same spot in the hallway every night.

Then Joe and the girls line up at the fireplace and Gabriella designates me as "the caller."

Then I say, "Ready. Set. Grape Juice." And the girls laugh.

Then I say, "Ready. Set. Goldilocks." And they laugh some more.

Then I say, "Ready. Set. Go."

Then everyone races past me into their room.

Then they come running out and give the caller high-fives. That's Gwen's favorite part.

Then Gabriella takes a turn being the caller.

Then we do it again.

Then we do it again.

Then we do it again.

Then we do it again.

Then, after 5 times, the girls have to stay in their room.

Then we kneel around Gabriella's bed and say a prayer.

Then Joe sings his "goodnight sweetheart song" to the girls.

Then I rock each of the girls before I lay them in bed and whisper, "It's pajama time, hush hush. It's pajama time hush hush. It's pajama time. Shh. Goodnight. Sleeptight." It's from one of their favorite books.

Then I kiss them on the forehead.

Then Gabriella sits up in bed and gives me a big bear hug. Then she holds my cheeks and kisses my lips.

Then I lay Gabriella's special blanket perfectly over her so there are no wrinkles in it and she has her favorite corner right by her face.

Then Gwen stands up in her crib and reaches out her arms and open and closes her fists and says, "Hug. Hugs. Hugs."

Then I give her hugs.

Then they ask for more milk. We say "Tomorrow."

Then Joe lays down on Gabriella's bed.

Then I stand at their door and sing a song I made up that is mostly full of "I Love You's" And we do a little twisting dance...kinda like chubby checker.

Then I blow kisses.

Then they try and ask for milk again.

Then Joe asks the girls what song they want to hear.

Then the girls say "John B."

Then Joe sings the song he's been singing every night since Gabriella was a little girl. The Beach Boys, Sloop John B.

Then the girls sing along.

Then he kisses them goodnight.

Then he closes their door.

Then we get frozen cookie dough from the freezer.

Then we sit together in our favorite spot on the couch.

Then we turn on The Office or some other show we missed.

Then we relax.

Then we smile.

Because tomorrow, we get to do the exact same thing all over again.

And just so you don't think we're cruel parents, it really is that light out at 7:00p.m. in June in the Pacific Northwest when the girls are getting ready for bed. Love the long summer days!