7.30pm

Of all our family rituals, we the parents must admit that one of our very favourites is one that occurs nightly at 7.30pm. The kids have been bathed and had teeth brushed, been read to, cuddled and prayed with, then tucked into bed. Oh how we love them, but oh how we also love that magical time of 7.30pm. Mark brews the pot of tea, and we sit down on the couch together to snuggle up and watch an episode of something light (these days it's usually 30 Rock) while we sip a cup of tea and have two  three four a few pieces of chocolate (these days it's Cadbury Dream).

Ahhhhhhh.... sometimes just the thought of this sweet time is what keeps you powering through those long days and more challenging moments of parenthood! Sitting down together, with a job well done (or done at least!) and an evening ahead to relax and reconnect.

Although my precious children are the source of many delights in this family and I'm sure will also be the focus of much of this blog, I also want to document other areas of delight in our family and lives! As much as we adore our children, I'm sure many parents will agree they are just that little bit more adorable when peacefully asleep!!! (and then of course they look so cute, you get this crazy urge to wake them up. Do NOT listen to this urge! Kiss them and walk away... trust me!)

Our nightly 'tea and chocolate' ritual is a quiet time to relax together that we both simply adore. It reminds us that we are a team - we work hard for our kids, especially while they are so young, and it's ever so satisfying to also take a little down time together, just to chill and snuggle and laugh. One or both of us may be so completely exhausted it seems hardly possible to even lift that cup of tea to our lips, but just sitting side by side seems to make everything alright.