I fixed the kids....

...that Jason "broke."

We are pretty strict on bedtimes.  Well, I usually would say "we" but I am starting to wonder if it is more "me."  Our kids (and us!) function much better with a regular routine, predictable schedules, and a good night's sleep.  Our kids go to bed at 7:30.  Every day.  Of course, there are exceptions, but really, 6 out of 7 nights the kids are in bed at 7:30. It is good for them and it is good for us. 

Amazingly, with three kids in one room, bedtime had been going great.  A gal we work with even said they were the easiest kids she had ever put to bed.  We would do our normal bedtime routine (jammies, teeth, prayers, kisses, bed) and we would walk out the door and that would be the end of it...

...until I got home from Chicago.  I got home and life (and bedtime) was chaos.  Caleb wouldn't want to go to bed, was getting up EARLY, and Levi thought bedtime was playtime.  The first few days were a nightmare (well to me..I don't have much patience in this area).  I would have to keep going in to try to get Caleb to stop playing, Levi to stop jumping, and almost always I had to pull one of the boys out of there so the others could sleep.  Caleb was falling asleep at odd hours of the day and all three kids were whiny and cranky. 

After a few days I asked Jason what in the world he did to them while I was gone.  "Not much" he said...you know, just later bed times, letting Caleb get out of bed, letting Caleb fall asleep during the day and not getting him up, etc.  So basically, he broke them.

Well, after a few days and nights of some hard work and rescheduling, we had our first very successful night last night.  All three kids in bed at 7:30 (well okay, 7:40) and I didn't hear a peep out of any of them. And my sweet Caleb is back --- he had been crank and stand offish all week but his sweet on-the-go personality is back. Phew.  Naps are back on schedule.  Kids are happy.  Mama is happy.  Husband is forgiven :)

So that is my major accomplishment for the week :)  Hey, I have to gloat in something because I haven't scrapped a page in a LONG time and my house has seen better days.  Trying to feel good about something :)

Hope you have a great Tuesday!  Mine will be full -- appointment this morning, then the boys will be home at 1:00 for another afternoon of hanging out at the pool and having fun together.  Plus, we get another boy today so we will work to settle him in. Things are good :)

Comments

[joelsgirl_Kellie]

Hey wanna come fix mine???

[MandaKay]

ROFL about Kellie's comment! No really - great job! Summer is so hard for us to get our kiddos in bed on time - but I totally know how it makes a difference! Good for you for getting it back on track!

[Laura]

Same here.. schedules are a necessity around here. It amazes me that some kids don't need them while some thrive on it. I am glad all mine need it, it gives me good "quiet time" :)

[Iara]

I'd love to put the kids in the bed that early but at this time DH is arriving from the work and he would not see the kids with we would do that. So, our bed time here is 9:00-9:30. The kids sleep them until 10:00 in the morning, it is good for us like that so the kids see their papa and I have some computer time in the morning.

I already went to SBG to see if there is a grab bag this month lol can't get enough of your templates, and I have tons of them :)

I am right now scrapping with the numbers album (25 photos) a layout with DD -one picture per month- she turned 2 yesterday!

I am glad your house looks great, I better do some cleaning now! have a great day, Iara