Night time routine

Our nighttime routine has always been the same: washing up/pjs, teeth, read, pray, and rock (while singing!!).

this is an older picture, but still captures the fun in our little routine

The rocking part is the cuddle time I have with them before bed; not rocking them to sleep, just holding and loving on them. Now that there are no longer the sides of the crib to keep the baby in, both of our little guys like to extend the nighttime routine. Yes, some nights it can get a little late, and everyone is tired and starting to get a bit cranky. But then there are other nights, you would love for it to last forever, just holding and loving on the most precious gifts ever given!

I have always love the singing part, partly because I just love to sing, and then too, because it seems soothing to my little ones! My oldest is beyond the years you would normally think of rocking, but he was my cuddle bug!! I could hold him every time he slept, and as he got older and accustomed to our little habit, it continued for quite some time. There is even the occasional night he comes to me, climbs in my lap, and wants me to sing to him. Just melts a momma's heart! And then there's my baby, who really isn't a baby anymore. He has to have his singing at just the right volume for his cuddle time. "Not too loud" he says with a snarled nose. So I sing softer, right. To which he says "louder" as he nods his head. Ahhh, I love those boys!

But as I sang and rocked to both last night, I thought about the songs that each loved to hear, and how special the songs have become to us. I don't wanna forget these!! So, here's a list of the most memorable songs we sang, and still sing today (and you have to remember that children like familiar things, so often times, it the same songs over and over!...thus the reason for feeling they've become so special)

These are just the naptime/bedtime songs, because sometimes we just sing all day around here! :)

My oldest:

• Jesus Love Me
• Jesus Loves the Little Children
• Somewhere over the Rainbow
• Nana's song (as he calls it. It is a song my mom used to always sing in church, so when I told him that, it just became "Nana's song". But the actual title is Talk to my Father)
• Pa Jody's song (another situation as above...New Kid in Town). This became a favorite during Christmas seasons, and then stuck around for a while)
• Raindrops on Roses (from the Sound of Music)
• I am a Promise (children's song I sang when I was a child, and now sing to my boys. And both love this one)

The baby:

• Jesus Loves Me
• Jesus Love the Little Children (as you can see, I love these classic children's Bible songs for them!)
• You are so Beautiful
• I am a Promise
• Somewhere over the Rainbow
• Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire (which is actually called the Christmas Song, I think??? But you can see this one developed during the Christmas season)
• Deep and Wide
• B-I-B-L-E

and I almost forgot, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star! That was/is a frequent song on the playlist for both.

There were and are many others that we sing too, but these are the favorites that have been sang countless times.

(sighing and smiling) It makes my heart smile to think about these precious moments we have spent together!

-Cindy

Chocolate Chip banana cookies

I wanted to have a sweet treat after lunch today. So on the inspiration of a cookie I made a long time ago that used banana as the base, I whipped these up. Very good for a healthy cookie. My oldest said they were the 'best ever' after he reached for his third cookie! (good thing they were small) Ha!

If you know me and my cooking, I put a sprinkle of this, a tad of that, and a dash of this. But these are pretty much spot on to what I think I added. I wanted to write it down so that I can make my measurements more precise and include in it my normal cookie baking.

So here it is. My healthy(ier) chocolate chip banana cookies! (by the way, this is a very small serving. Made about 9 small cookies.)

 Chocolate Chip Banana Cookies

1 ripe banana (mashed)
2/3 cups of oats
1/3 cup raisins
1/8 cup mini chocolate chips (I use Enjoy life brand to keep them allergy safe for my family)
1 TBSP oil
1-2 Tsp pure maple syrup
sprinkle of cinnamon
pinch of salt

Stir together all ingredients. Scoop in tablespoons onto greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 15-20 min, or until slightly golden brown.

Then enjoy your healthier alternative to a oatmeal chocolate chip cookie!

-Cindy