Bedtime Giggles

One of my favorite parts of the day is when Suhana and I close the door to her room and we get ready for bed. It's our alone time for 20 to 30 minutes. I have to admit that its a much better situation now that I don't have to wait until she falls asleep, she does that on her own now. So, the routine is as follows:
-Turn on the sound machine
-Turn on the green clover lights ($1 section of Target)
-She picks 1 book and I pick the other. (mostly so I can put some variety into the usual rotation)
-It takes about a minute for her to get settled and sit next to me. And this is usually where I either tickle her, snuggle on her, and cover her with kisses. She is squeaky clean and I love to just eat her up!!!!! She ends up laughing so hard that she can't take a breathe!
-I read the two books
-I then turn off the light and tell her one of the three stories: 3 Piggys, Goldilocks and the 3 Bears or Princess Suhana from the Kingdom of Ooogly Boogly Googly.
-She usually wants to hear the Princess Suhana stories, which I am not creative enough to make up, so that gets told every other night.
-I pat her back and sing her one song.
-Lay next to her for a few minutes (trying not to fall asleep)
-Tell her I love her, tuck her in and she holds all the animals that stay on the bed. Sometimes they are rotated or ignored, depending on her mood.
-I get up and close the door as she yells "I love you mommy!" melts my heart every time!

This is our routine and I love it. She is usually in bed at 8 and sleeping (I think) by 8:40 or so. She has evolved so much from the times where it would take almost hour to put her to sleep every night and I would end up falling asleep with her. I was tired, you mommas know how that is!

Suhana loves her school and she takes dance classes and sports classes there every week. We have a recital coming up in June, more on that later! She also loves to pretend she is teacher and make us all, usually her Dad, Jiana and myself sit around as she leads us in songs and then reads books to us. It is amazing how kids can memorize books after reading them so many times. I want to share a video here of her reading "Brown bear brown bear" to me and Jiana. Jiana by the way, LOVES that book. She will go and pick it out of the bookshelf and give it to me with pleading noises until I read it to her. Or Suhana does in this case. Just click on the link below.

http://youtu.be/CaQRfK5EGL0

Life in Pictures

I recently cleaned out pictures in my phone and there were such good ones in there. I needed to get them on my blog. With smart phones that have really good cameras I find myself taking less photos with my big camera because of the convenience of the phone. Anyways, here are some of my favorites.

Showing some Laker Spirit

Suhana at gymnastics class

Jiana, Buama and Chachu

Playing dressup at Lily's house.



Playing with her big sisters castle. Jiji doesn't look scared.

My newest niece. Dahlia Richardson. She is so sweet!



Suhana drew a picture of Daddy. Apparently he is a pirate.

A rare sister photo when they are both smiling.

Watching Toy Story. No one said a word for a loooooong time.

You want chippy?