Bedtime Routine

My husband once told me that the military believes strongly in bedtime routines.  I quickly giggled to myself and imagined a bunch of soldiers wearing their pajamas getting a bedtime story read by their captain.  He explained that when soldiers had to execute all night missions it was very important for them to get their sleep during the day.  If they followed the same routine during the day that they did at night, they were able to fall asleep easily as if it were a normal night of sleep.  I had already instilled a pretty strong bedtime routine here in my house, but that just made me even more of a proponent of a solid bedtime routine.

I have three children and here is a picture of my little cuties:

As you can imagine, bedtime is a little crazy around here.  In fact, I have a love/hate relationship with it.  I love that it is the end of the day and I will get some much needed time to myself, but I hate that it is so much work!  For my eldest, Kiera, she has had the same bedtime routine since she was 6 months old.  Only one thing changed when the twins came along: Special Time!

So a typical night in our house looks like this:

5:30 Dinner for us
6:00 Dinner for Babies
6:30 All kids get a bath.
Babies first, then Kiera.  While she plays, I nurse the babies.
7:00 Babies Bedtime Routine
For now the babies bedtime routine is Food, Bath, Lotion, Nurse, Swaddle, Sleep.  It never changes.
7:15-7:45 Kiera's Special Time
Kiera chooses what she wants to do with Mommy or Daddy for this time.  Some of her choices have included Hide & Go Seek, Board Games, Science Experiments, Playing with Shaving Cream in a Pan, a Puzzle, Playing School, and once we even went and got ice cream in her pajamas!  This has been such a good addition to the bedtime routine because it is the only time Kiera gets all our attention.  Also, we get to see all she is learning on a day to day basis.
7:45-8:00 Kiera's Bedtime Routine
Read 2-3 books, Pray, Hugs & Kisses, Music On, and then we leave.  She prefers her lights on and door open and we oblige because every night she falls asleep and doesn't wake up when we turn off her light and shut her door.
Hugs & Kisses is my favorite part of the routine and probably hers too.  I sing this silly little song with her at a slow, medium and fast rhythm and her Daddy does jumping Hugs & Kisses where he helps her jump on the bed.  We don't do it the same way because we want her to have something special with each parent.  On occasion we both put her to bed and do both sets of Hugs & Kisses. It's a lot of fun.
I am a huge proponent of reading each night to your children.  Some of our favorite books right now are:

At about 6 months, I will add a book to the twins bedtime routine right after nursing.  I want them to be able to put themselves to sleep (not fall asleep nursing) and also enjoy the love of reading.

Sometimes when we come home late at night, we still do the bedtime routine.  Very rarely we will drop the bath or Kiera's special time, but the story, praying, and Hugs & Kisses is always done.

So, I am curious, what is your bedtime routine?  Do you stick with it?  Do you have any suggestions as to how I can incorporate special time with my twins when they are older?