Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Say "Cheese!" and Night-Night

Last Wednesday, November 10, was Joshua's preschool picture day. I dressed him up, and then thought I might as well have Caleb look good, too. :) Before leaving for school, I snapped a couple pictures of the boys together. I'm anxious to see how Joshua's pictures turn out! He said he was told to say "french fries" instead of cheese. :) :) :) His teachers commented on how sharp he looked, and the aide asked if anything special needed to be done before he could play soccer that afternoon. I asked if she would just unclip the tie and open the top button of his shirt for him. I should have said "please help him with his belt if he has to go potty." By the time soccer was finished, he was literally dancing! Poor guy!
The boys have a cute night-time routine that I thought I would post here. It's only been the last couple weeks since I've been sick and Caleb's been in Joshua's room. After the normal things like PJs on, snack time, teeth brushed, etc. we finally get them into their room that they're sharing. Joshua climbs into his bed and Caleb into his. Then, we sing "night-night" to everyone in the family (to the tune from the Thomas book). Joshua asks us to start with him (which we always do, of course) and then he says it's mama's turn. So, we sing to me. Then Daddy, as he requests (and Caleb never seems to have an opinion), and then Caleb Luke. We end with singing to the baby. Sometimes they'll request another song, but typically not. We begin tucking them into their blankets. Caleb says he wants all three blankies from his old room (something we'll have to change up soon enough!) and we say "THREE?!?! That's a LOT!" He laughs and repeats "that's a LOT! that's a LOT!" Then we tuck him in his green blankie first, frog blankie (from the rocking chair in the nursery) second, and the frog comforter (that goes with the nursery) set third. He somehow manages to wiggle out of those blankies several times before all is said and done, so we put them back on in the same order with the same expression until he finally falls asleep.

Joshua typically has his t-bear and blanket near him as we tuck him in his sheet and quilt, but lately he's been hoarding so many toys on his bed that it's next to impossible to snuggle with him at night (which he still requests). Daddy takes one for the team and climbs in amidst the dinosaurs, books, cars, and whatever else is Joshua's prized possession from that day. Then Caleb begs for more snuggles before we leave. Daddy will often read to them from the "Sleepyhead" book in their rooms, where I usually start the process with a book of their choice in the rocking chair in the office. Eventually, we say goodnight and leave, and every night Daddy has been the last one out the door because he'll continue the hopping from one bed to the next for one last snuggle, desperately wanting the kids to go to bed on a happy note.

Then we hear the boys talking to each other. Sometimes Joshua pretends to read Caleb a book. Sometimes Caleb pretends he's gotten hurt to wander out and come get a kiss from us (and Daddy patiently takes him back in). But, eventually they both fall asleep, and we can officially call it a day.
Oh, how I love my handsome and precious boys! And their Daddy! We are all blessed.

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