Bedtime Disaster - Needed, Parents with Great Ideas

I can't take it anymore!  I got home from teaching a class last night at 9:30pm and my children were still up! They wouldn't fall asleep until after 11:00pm!  I had to turn off all the lights and T.V. and get into bed myself just to get them to sleep.  I ended up back up and out of bed at 1:30am and didn't fall back to sleep until 5:30am when I have to be up by 7:00am! Now it is 11:00pm and one of them is crying and claiming she is hungry, she didn't eat any of her dinner so it's possible. But every night it's something!

I know how important it is to keep to a schedule, especially for kids.  I try to have their bedtime be at 8:00pm but by the time they brush their teeth, read stories, talk and give hugs and kisses goodnight, it is sometimes 9 or 10!  They then want milk or they start saying they can't sleep because of the dark or they don't feel good, it is just to buy time so they can stay up all night!

I tried everything to keep these kids on a good bedtime schedule but 8pm never happens even when I start getting them ready for bed at 7.  My kids have tons of energy and like to find all sorts of ways to stay up longer! Any parents out there who have some great ideas on how to make bedtime easier? Besides tranqualizers! (just kidding). Help!!!!!

Steph

Hocus Pocus! It's Crocus

This morning I saw the most glorious sight I could hardly believe my eyes. After months of a torturously cold and snowy winter I spotted the first sign of Spring, crocus. As I drove to the end of my street and stopped at the stop sign, I looked to the right to check for cars and there they were, the most beautiful sight in the World. A half dozen long green stems with buds on the top about to burst open. The crocus are here! Always the first to bloom and the sure sign that Spring is here, or at least right around the corner. It's been known to freeze up a little but at least now we know that the worst is over and the warmth is on its way.

Jan
Sleep log - the changing of the clocks is still wearing on our sleep. Kids can't get to sleep early and it's hard to wake them in the morning. The little one was up 4 times last night crying and calling me. Hoping for better sleep tonight.