Getting outta bed update!

Today she only got out of bed once to tell me the movie was over and ask for another one.  However, bedtime was unfortunately pushed back a couple hours so by the time she went to bed she was really tired.  I had to run some errands in town and of coarse they took longer than I had planned.  Then make dinner and feed everyone. 

Lately just getting the kids to eat is a production.  They get up and play then say I'm not done I'm still eating!  This goes on and on. Maybe part of this problem is that we rarely sit down as a family at the table and eat!  I always worry about them eating enough so I fall for this and dinner time drags on and on. 

Plus, tonight my husband was watching a movie that looked interesting.  I wanted to watch it, but I had to take care of the kids.  However, at one point I got sucked into it, and the kids got to stay up late!  The morning ought to be interesting! 

Getting outta bed!!

My daughter is the master of getting outta bed.  She gets up so many times it drives me insane.  Topher used to do it, but most days he's out since I lowered the bed time to 7.  Evie has always been my night owl and usually doesn't fall asleep till 9.  That is fine with me, as long as she stays in bed.  She is allowed to watch one movie. Then it is lights out. 

She is so good at it she has become a master of excuses so I've decided to start posting them some are very silly others very cleaver!  I will probably tweet most of them, but tonight's will be posted and the count begins.

Reason number one, my movie is over!  She insisted I turn off the tv and place the DVD back into its case!  Ok fine back to bed.

Reason number two, you didn't sing me a song!  OK 1 song! back to bed.

Reason number three, I wanted to give you a hug and a kiss cause I love you!  Ok I love you to! Hugs and Kisses NOW BACK TO BED! if you get up again I will spank you!
Reason number four, I have an owey and need a band aide! OK here's your band aide turn around for your spanking! Which she did! I lightly tapped her but feeling bad for spanking for getting outta bed, but realizing she'd called my bluff! Couldn't back out now!
Reason number five, my Ariel doll is missing (The one I asked you where it was before bed cause I knew you would want it?) Here she is not get to bed, I can't she needs her pajamas. OK but turn around for your spanking you know your not supposed to be outta bed!  She turned around!  I almost laughed!  Biting my tongue I swatted her butt a lil harder than before, but not really!  Plus she is wearing a pull up!
 
Reason number six,  I am to scared up there.  You are not scared Evie you sleep there every night, and there is nothing to be scared of.  Go to bed!  We all sleep in one room.  So I know there is nothing to be scared of.  You need to go to bed you have school tomorrow.  Ok but you go to bed too so you won't be cranky!  I almost died!  I thought it was funny and sad!  I must be really cranky some times.  I told her she needed to go to bed so I could take my bath to relax so I could go to bed and not be cranky.  She asked why do you need a bath to relax.  Realizing I had been sucked in to a get outta bed conversation I quickly  changed the subject;  Go to Bed Now Before I spank your butt!  This worked she went to bed and fell asleep! 
 
This is quickly becoming night time routine for us, and it is driving me crazy.  I hate to spank my kids, but I don't know what else to do!

Spring time disturbing nap time!

I love spring time, until the thunderstorms start up!  I used to like them, but the kids get so freaked out!  I spend forever telling them its ok and trying to explain!!! They are laying on the couch for quiet time watching Tinkerbell and the lost treasure!  But every time the thunderclaps they are up trying to see the thunder!  So much for quiet time.  I miss the days when they napped!  But now if they do fall asleep they are up all night!

  I changed they're bed time to 7pm which works out so much better than before, because no matter how late they are up they wake up at the same time!  Which is killer for me!  So I try very hard to have them getting ready for bed at 6:30 and in bed no later than 7.  It is amazing how much better it works out.  They're old bed time was 8!  I would fight with them all night and they'd pass out around 10!  Turns out they were just so over tired they couldn't sleep!

Now we eat dinner between 5 and 5:30 then they play quietly (if I have my way) until 6 or 6:30.  The time we start getting ready for bed depends on if they need a bath or not!  Then its pajamas, brush teeth, wash faces, brush hair, pick a book, and then head to bed.  Where I read them a book, and then turn on a movie.  They alternate picking a movie.  Usually Topher is asleep within a few minutes.  Evie watches the movie most nights then its lights out! 

To help them follow the bedtime routine I made cards with pics on it showing each step and put them on a key ring.  It helped them follow the routine until they learned it! Now we all have our bedtime routines down pat!

Christopher's meltdowns have tamed some since we instituted an earlier bedtime.  The best part is the bedtime battles are far less.  He still has many sensory issues we are working on, and the doctor thinks there is something more (psychological) but getting a diagnosis is impossible.  They sent us to Chicago Children's hospital psych department, and that was a joke.  I sat in a tiny sardine can room and talked to a psychologist and she watched him play in the little room.  How on earth she was supposed to understand him under those circumstances is beyond me!  I cant afford to drive to Chicago once a week!  Plus, he needs to have Occupational therapy and Behavioral therapy but that's 40$ a week plus gas!  We can't afford that!  I don't know what to do!  So I'm stressed and stuck!