Your kids are young, so it is tough getting out the door and into the church building, getting everyone settled, and in my past experience, dealing with the one or two who doesn't "settle."  You say that you do this alone, does your husband not join you?  That makes it harder, doing it alone!

One of the things I am still trying to make a habit/something to look forward to, is to start the Sabbath day with a special breakfast, for us, Maple Pecan Rolls that I prepare on Saturday...When I do manage to get them prepared!  That delightful treat paired with yougurt and fruit start everyone off with a good breakfast that is simple for me to prepare.

 And little things here and there can set the mood for a special day, yet more restful for Mom, candles, dessert with lunch, simple very light dinner (sometimes for us it is popcorn & nuts).

Please know this, it does get easier as they get older! 

When my little ones were little, I started preparing for Sunday on Monday morning.  I'd wash and put up their church clothes, even letting the girls pick out what colour tights to wear.  I'd place their church shoes up on the high shelf so they wouldn't get lost so I'd be able to find everything.  That way on Saturday night I'd know what the kids were wearing, where their shoes were and all I'd have to do was pack the diaper bag.  It was so much easier when I started earlier in the week.

Then as they got older, I started teaching them the hymns we sung.  Most hymns have the same chorus you sing over and over.  So, I focused first on singing the chorus.  Then in church every time we'd get to the chorus I could tap the back of the hand, so they were cued and they'd sing with gusto!  I found when they learnt the songs they stopped trying to play during worship.  Now, one of my greatest joys on Sunday morning is seeing my four kids arms held open wide to their Saviour singing for all their worth.  They might not all stay on key, but it's music to Jesus and me!

Thanks for all these great ideas.  I, too, am a mom of many young ones.  I do not find Sundays restful.  But I want to whether I choose Sunday to be our sabbath day or not.  It is hard to worship in a worked up state.

I just received the book today!  I can't wait to get into it, but have a number of books on the go, so it will take some juggling.

For me it's not the kids that are the hard ones to get ready, it's the hubby. But honestly, he works Saturday nights so he's trying to wake up enough to go to church (because he wants to) it's just hard.

When we don't make it to church we read from the kid's story Bible but that's about all we do because they're 3 and 1 so that's about all their attention spans will handle.