It's A Good Thing Sundays Are For Resting

You might be surprised to learn that, despite the outbreak of gymnastics and acrobatics that takes place most nights in our home, we're actually pretty serious about bedtime. We decided early on that we weren't going to do the "up-and-down-out-of-bed-all-night" routine, so we've trained each of our children accordingly. At around 8:00, we wrap up the book-reading, pray together as a family, tuck the little ones in, and turn out the light. And unless someone is sick, we don't usually hear from them until about 8:00 the next morning.

We've had a much later bedtime these past few nights, though. One night it was church, another night it was a birthday party, and yet another night was a get-together with our small group. For one reason or another, the kids have been up way past their bedtimes for a few nights now.

Unfortunately, the "go-to-bed-at-eight-and-wake-up-at-eight" plan doesn't translate into a "go-to-bed-at-ten-and-wake-up-at-ten" arrangement. No, no -- they're still up at 8:00 each morning. And the cumulative affect of the late nights has started to take its toll. Abby, who hasn't taken a regular nap in well over a year now, looked pretty pooped today when I put the little ones down for their naps, so I suggested she lay down on the couch for a bit.

Ten minutes later...

While Josh was at class tonight, I shot a rehearsal dinner for a couple from our church, so our wonderful friends, Steve and Libby, treated the kids to a night out and then brought them home to do baths and bed. And while they were squeaky clean and dressed in jammies when I got home, they most certainly were not asleep. They just couldn't miss a minute with their beloved Teev and Bibby!

I kind of doubt they'll go down early tomorrow night, either, because my parents are treating us to a night out while they come in town to stay with the kids.

Why the celebration?, you ask.

Well, Josh and I have been together in some form or another for over 13 years, but yesterday was our ninth wedding anniversary!!! As Isabel would say when she sees a cute picture on the back of my camera, "Awwwwwwwwww...."

Which is funny because that's exactly what I said when Josh called me yesterday evening on his way home from work and said, "At this moment nine years ago, I thought I was about to throw up on the church altar."

Thankfully, Josh is hands-down the most amazing husband in the world, and part of what I love so much about him is how he always makes me laugh. So it's good that I knew he was being funny...

Otherwise, he might have spent our anniversary sleeping in the garden tub.