Nighttime Rituals

Beth used to go to bed nicely. But then she decided sleep is for babies. And she's two now. About the time she should be settling down, she starts going crazy wild. It was at its worst when our family was in town. As I would attempt to put on her pajamas, she would escape and run away yelling, "Get me." It's especially funny since she was usually running away half-clothed. One night, she got away with her pjs still around her knees. She was running and laughing and it's a minor miracle she didn't fall on her face.

After the other kids went to bed, Bethie would decide it was "wrestle time." Chris plays a game where he holds a pillow in front of him. The kids take turns running down the hall and jumping into the pillow. They call it "pillow wrestling." Beth would announce that it was time to wrestle, and then sit down holding the pillow. She would also dictate who(m)* should run and jump into the pillow. "Unca Nate turn." If Uncle Nate wouldn't go far enough away, Beth would point down the hall and say, "GO!" (He needs to have enough space to really get going. That's what the kids do with Chris.) Nate, a good sport all around, would obediently run down the hall and attack Beth's pillow. Then Beth would turn and say, "Trevor turn;" "Tammy turn;" "Justin turn." Auntie Tammy and 15-year-old cousins, Trevor and Justin, would all take turns. They just couldn't resist Beth because she is adorable. The last night they were here, Trevor said, "Beth you are just so cute. I've got to video this." He got out his new Christmas gift and taped Bethie's bossy wrestle time. It was so fun watching Beth have fun with her uncle, aunt, and cousins. I kind of miss the nightly routine--even though our evenings are more peaceful now.

*That's for you, Laura. My style guide is clear over there on the shelf in the closet.