spitball.

bedtime routine for the little boys:

brush teeth -- be sure to get all the sugar bugs...you may find them playing on the swings behind your front teeth or going down the slide on the back of your tongue. be sure to get them all.

get in pajamas -- preferably clean ones...if no clean ones can be found, boxers and a t-shirt are acceptable (but only with much persuasion for the littlest who prefers his footie pjs).

read a book -- two, actually, since one can never be agreed upon...each gets to choose one. personal favorite, "Froggy Learns To Swim" on account of the numerous onomatopoeias and floP floP floP sounds i get to make.

get in bed -- at the conclusion of the book readings, there are usually mysterious attacks of leg pain and/or complete exhaustion that debilitates both boys (amazingly) at the same time, rendering them incapable of dragging their worn out bodies up the stairs and requiring individual piggie back rides that must conclude with a thrilling toss into bed.

prayers -- always volunteered by the youngest: "thank you God for this food" (although neither seem to ever notice that food is not involved in the bedtime routine process)...and if i'm lucky, "thank you that wolisa got to come over."

bartering -- requests for water, nightlight, tummy zerberts, shouted songs ("MY DAD IS A ROCKSTAR"), anything to distract from the situation at hand which is calming down and going to sleep (to which i repeatedly say, "ok, calm down and go to sleep.")

lullaby -- the lighthouse song. my mommy sang it to me. i sing it to them. it is like a magical spell to see their eyes almost immediately begin to droop and their little energetic bodies relax. best part is, they know the song now... here's how it goes:
so sleep, sleep in peace and rest
don't be afraid of the darkness
the lighthouse is shining for ships far at sea
as God keeps the night watch for you and for me

kisses -- the older has to be kissed on any exposed appendage and the younger says "come closer...closer...closer" until our noses are pressed against each other's and then we just stare for a minute and blink...then i smother him with kisses all over those chubby little pickin' cheeks.

goodnight -- "i love you, sleep good." "i love you wolisa...here's a spitball."