Nightly Ritual

My dear sweet Miriam has always thrived on routine, have I mentioned this before? Anyway, every night at about seven o'clock Simon is tired so we start getting ready for bed. This is the way it goes and don't you dare try changing it up:

• Kids get undressed and play on Mom and Dad's bed
• Mom and Dad wrestle to get kids in pajamas
• Kids brush teeth
• Family prayer
• Mom puts Simon to bed first while Dad and Miriam read books
• After Simon is down it is time to read the Book of Mormon with Miriam

When I come out this is how I find them every night:

Miriam thinks it is so much fun to hide from Mom. She has a hard time not laughing and giving away the hiding spot.

To finish out the routine I rock and sing with Miriam. We say her prayer, go potty, give Dad kisses, and off to bed (hopefully Simon is fast asleep by this time, which he usually is). It makes me so happy to see Miriam having so much fun with Michael. During the week this is the only special time they have to spend together. I hope she will always remember hiding with Dad.