My Turn {Simple Moment, Bigger Picture}

It was my turn to put the girls to bed tonight. Ed was off to choir practice (He says he’s a bass but I think he’s more of a baritone) and so he kissed the pajama-dressed girls goodnight and drove away. I lit the first purple candle in our Advent wreath while Lily and Emmy ran around the house turning off lights. We began the new nighttime routine we started last Sunday; first, we sing the songs Lily and Emmy will be singing in the Christmas Service, then we sing “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” and finish with Silent Night. We sing the same songs every night, but not always in that order, and sometimes with an addition or two.

Then comes the ritual of arguing about who will blow out the candle even though Mommy (me) tries to enforce taking turns. This will be so much easier next week when we light two purple candles instead of just one.

Then up the stairs we went, heading for my favorite part of putting the girls to bed by myself. Normally, Ed takes Lily to her room to read chapter books to her, and Emmy and I go read picture books. But when Daddy’s gone, each girl gets to pick a book to read, and we snuggle in Mommy and Daddy’s bed. Tonight’s picks were The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog written by Mo Willems (Emmy) and Officer Buckle and Gloria, written by I don’t remember please don’t make me go look  (Lily’s pick). After reading time, Lily snuggles deep into the covers of the bed, while I go and rock Emmy in the old glider. I sing bedtime songs. After carrying Emmy to her bed, Lily follows me in and kisses Emmy good night. Just a couple of hours earlier they had been bickering like mad, unable to get along. I love seeing Lily being so gentle with her little sister.

Lily goes off to bed next, and I give her a little snuggle time in her bed.

Our bedtime routine is different when Ed is gone, and we always miss him. But we know he’s not gone for long; he’ll be back the next night to sing Silent Night with us. And we are thankful.

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17 Replies to “My Turn {Simple Moment, Bigger Picture}”

  1. I never said I was a bass. I'm not really much of anything, what with my 3/4 octave range!
    It's interesting to hear how you do solo bedtimes. I do it differently, but with the same result…two little girls asleep a lot sooner than expected!

  2. I remember having an advent wreath when I was little. I never thought about doing it with my kids. Hmm…

    I know how the bedtime routine changes when Daddy is gone; the kids always miss Daddy here on those nights, too. But it sounds like you have a lovely routine going right now.

  3. So sweet! John works late so Sprite and I are usually on our own, but when he's home, bedtime gets disrupted since she wants so much attention from him, it kind of drives me up the wall. 🙂 We're working on a routine for when he is home..

    1. Yes, it's true, our kids are such a blessing! I'm a pastor's daughter, Lindy, so I have a feeling that you're putting the kids to bed by yourself quite often! 😉

  4. I sometimes enjoy bedtime more when daddy takes a night off and has other plans. I put on my supermama cape and patience comes out more easily. And often times dinner comes earlier, then baths, and there isn't the normal romping fest right before it is time to settle….which means bedtime comes earlier. But boy howdy, I am glad it is only one night.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog.

    1. You're welcome! I know what you mean…my husband had to go out again tonight, and so I had to put the girls to bed by myself again…it didn't happen as smoothly as last night! (Especially since he came home before they were asleep….)

  5. I love the bedtime routine. I know I failed at that with our children but they don't seem to remember.

    I took your old button off my blog and put up the new but it is not showing up!

  6. Did you have a bedtime routine growing up? I did not, but I always had one for my own children. To this day, they are both grown now, they talk about the wonderful routines we had throughout the years. Keep doing what you're doing, your kids will remember 🙂

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