While Heidi was in Houston I had the girls all to myself... and we had a blast. Seriously, everyone seems shocked at this - that Heidi had the gall to leave the girls with me (ALONE!) in the first place AND at the fact that not only were we all happy, clean, and well by the end of it, the house was also sparkling clean.
Party on the trampoline
I spent all day Wednesday, the day Heidi left, at home with the girls. I loved being able to attend Evette's dance class and soccer practice.
Soccer practice
Siblings of Evette's soccer buddies
Great kids
Secret #1 for dads at home: Have the kids set the table for you
Nightly video chat with mom (and Mimi!)
On Thursday, Evette went to work with me and Miriam stayed with a friend.
On Friday, Evette had school so another friend watched Miriam during school and then both girls the rest of the day. They really went above and beyond, even inviting us to stay for dinner after I got off work.
And they gave Evette driving lessons.
Secret #2 for dads at home: Have your kids learn how to drive with someone else's car
Saturday at the San Jose Children's Discovery Museum
Corn husk doll. I did it all except for the hair. Not bad, eh?
Bubble station. Fun but terrible design. Why? No washing station nearby, so when Miriam inevitably rubbed her eyes she also rubbed soap into her eyes. Nightmare. I have a hard time believing we were the first family to run around the museum panicked looking for the nearest sink with a screaming toddler.
Secret #3 for dads at home: Carry a sink with you?
Secret #4 for dads at home: Teach your kids alchemy. It pays well.
Secret #5 for dads at home: Let someone else read to your kids
Secret #6 for dads at home: Find an interactive toy that your kid loves. Then sit back while she plays with it for 20+ minutes.
Secret #7 for dads at home: Make the kids do the gardening
Secret #8 for dads at home: Apparently granola bars count as lunch
Secret #9 for dads at home: Make the kids drive
Secret #10 for dads at home: Make the kids cook
Secret #11 for dads at home: Let the girls do their own makeup
Secret #12 for dads at home: Wear your kids out by spending 6+ hours at a museum, let them fall asleep in the car, and then kick back once your home.
Heidi asked me to send photos of the girls dolled up for Sunday... Memes wasn't a fan.
Last video chat with mom before she came home!
We decorated Heidi's and my bed with welcome home signs
Bed time singing
She's back!
So I wasn't lying when I said Heidi came home to a spick-spack clean house (I mean she just spent the weekend cleaning her mom's house, so I had to do my part)... But it wasn't all roses...
Secret #13 for dads at home: Keep your house clean by keeping the kids out of the house. Stay out as long as possible and only come home right before bedtime. No presence = no messes
But the downside... The girls were flat exhausted. Evette took about 2 days to recover, Miriam took about a week. I'm glad I was able to deliver a clean house but I'm not sure Heidi appreciated the crying, whining, and temper-tantrums that came with it.
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