Do kids sleep at really sleep at night?

My kids are still both awake and have been in there room for 2 hours now. No one is crying or fussing, they are just in there playing. I drive myself crazy going in there and threatening them to go to sleep. Greg tells me to just leave them alone, they will go to sleep when they are ready. However, if I leave them alone it may be 1:00 before they go to sleep. Should I drive myself crazy over this, or just put them in there at bed time and let them play until they are ready to sleep? This isn't a rhetorical question, I am truly looking for advice.

I can't really come up with a good reason to stress out about this. I mean when they go to sleep, they sleep all night. They don't wake up until around 9:00 and since we don't have anywhere that we have to be early, what's the problem with that. Should I just chill out and push their bedtime to later? During the day they are typically sweet children. I mean we aren't having temper tantrums due to lack of sleep and they usually nap very well for me. Well, I should say Matthew does. He is a lot like dad and could sleep all day long. Katie is more like me and afraid she is going to miss something if she goes to sleep. I am having to work real hard to keep her from dropping her nap all together. I personally really need them to keep napping. I need the short break in the afternoon.

Anyway, if anyone can help me I would love it!

Honoring our husbands

I know you can't read the small print, so I am going to type it for you.

Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready, on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal ( especially his favorite dish) is a part of the warm welcome needed.

Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.

Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.

Clear away the clutter. Make on last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives.

Gather up schoolbooks, toys, paper etc and then run a dustcloth over the tables.

Over the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering for his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.

Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small), comb their hair and if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part. Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet.

Be happy to see him.

Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.

Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first - remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.

Make the evening his. Never complain if he comes home late or goes out to dinner, or other places of entertainment without you. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure and his very real need to be at home and relax.

Your goal: Try to make sure your home is a place of peace, order and tranquility where you husband can renew himself in body and spirit.

Don't greet him with complaints and problems.

Don't complain if he's late home for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through that day.

Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or have him lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.

Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.

Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgement or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.

A good wife always knows her place.

Wow, how times have changed!!!

I do not have a green thumb. I can't seem to keep flowers living past the first week. I planted a few pots I guess a month ago. Two of the pots are already dead, and the other two have been taken over by weeds. I don't know how the weed thing happened. I guess I didn't know weeds would grow in a potted plant. Anyway, I have one gorgeous plant that I have not manage to kill. It is a huge hydrangea plant. I have had this thing for about three years now. It seems like the more abuse and neglect it gets, the more it thrives. I have cut it back each winter, every time thinking I surely killed it. I am like a mad woman. When I start trimming hedges, I go crazy and can't stop. However, just like always this plant has come in larger than ever this year. I am getting beautiful flowers from it, and since I am at home I have been taking the time to cut a few and have around the house. I wanted to share some pictures of the ones I cut yesterday.

God's Provisions

I receive comfort everyday that me leaving work to stay home with Matthew and Katie was the right decision and that I am following God's plan for my life. I have managed to pick up the number of homes for the month of May and am on a great roll for June. Plus, I had an offer that I couldn't refuse. An ex-coworker is going back to school and needs help typing and proofing his papers. He is being very generous with his compensation so that is just extra $$ I never expected.

Weekend at the Lake!

We just came back from the lake yesterday. We had such a great weekend! The kids had a blast. Katie is going to be a little fish. She would play in the pool with no one around if we would have let her. Matthew on the other hand wasn't real thrilled with the pool, but he loved being on the boat. Greg says that Katie is going to be the one we have to drag out of the pool kicking and screaming and Matthew is going to go fishing. I can totally see that.





I am attaching some pictures for you to enjoy. I think they turned out very cute.

Sorry I haven't posted anything lately. I am still trying to get into the swing of things here at the house. I have to say it isn't anything like I thought it was going to be like. I am still so thrilled to have the opportunity to stay at home with the kids, but I am not getting as much done here as I thought I would. I thought I would have the whole house spring cleaned by now and get like some major project done each day. Boy was I wrong. I have finally told Greg that it is like I gave up my 8 hour a day job to clean my kitchen 8 hours a day. Oh well, at least it is my kitchen and I am here with my babies. I am trying to get me and the kids on a better schedule. This is going to sound crazy, but I am having to learn how long it takes to do the everyday stuff. Each day is getting better and more productive.

I have gotten my bathrooms and kitchen spring cleaned. You could eat off my bathroom floors if you wanted to (but eewww, who would want to do that)!