Nighttime ritual

It seems to take us longer and longer to get the kids to bed every night. In theory, they get pajamas on, we read a story, we read a page out of the kid's Book of Mormon (the one with all the cartoon pictures), sing a song, say a prayer, and then leave. Oh yeah, and somewhere in there they brush their teeth. That's a lot of stuff, but we've been doing it for so long, that they freak out if we try to skip anything. In reality, there's a lot more to it than that. I often have to chase Meagan down to get her pajamas on. She thinks it's the funniest thing in the world right now to run the other way when I call her, laughing all the while. The laughing is really irritating. Then we have to read each of them a story, because they never want the same one. Then I have to hunt through the house to find their stuffed kitties, because how could I possibly expect them to sleep without them? Oh, and then there's a potty breaks, and then they each have to have a song. And it's the same song every night from each of them. Bethany always wants "Drops on roses" and Meagan wants "Row row my boat". It gets very tedious singing the same thing over and over every night. Sometimes I do put my foot down and say it's my turn to choose a song, but not often. Then getting them to calm down and be reverant for the prayer is usually a chore. It's probably not good to be angry during every prayer, but it happens all too often. Then just when we've turned out the lights, and I think I've escaped, the whining starts. Bethany needs water, Meagan wants another kiss, Bethany didn't get a hug...and on and on. Sheesh. When I've finally gotten out of the room, and have just sat down on the couch to relax is usually when the crying starts. Last night was kind of funny. Meagan had rolled sideways and her head got stuck in the ladder. She wasn't hurt at all, but in the dark she couldn't find her way out.

Another nighttime goodie they've started to pull is taking their diapers off in the middle of the night. If I catch it, then we're okay, but if not, then they usually wet the bed. That will wake Meagan up, and she cries. Here is where I run into a big difficulty with them both sleeping on the same bed. The last time Meagan did this, Bethany was still sound asleep. I took off the sheet and mattress pad from Meagan's end of the bed and rolled it up into the middle. Then I covered just her end with a new pad and sheet and put her back to bed. I had to wait until morning to finish changing out the sheets. If Bethany wets the bed, she'll tend to sleep through it, which is why she is still wearing diapers to bed. A few nights ago, they both pulled the same stunt in the same night. At least I only had to change the sheets once that time.