When the cat's away

Early this morning Julie left for the airport on a work trip. She will return Saturday night, so its 36 hours with Ted in charge! Because Julie left at 5:30am, the house activity began early. So when the kids got up Ted was ready to make pancakes, which confused Joe a bit as it was both a "school day" and a "pancake day." Breakfast went fine and we were out the door early - so early that Clara was the first infant at school and we had to find a teacher to give her too! It's a mystery as to their actual activities during the day, though Clara's report said she stood without support many times for up to 10 seconds at a time! At pickup, Ted finally found Joe in the Kindergarten room in the bathroom, shorts around his ankles, and about to get on the potty (wow, what a difference a week makes!). Ted decided to go for Father of the year (from a kids perspective) and took the kids to McDonald's for dinner. This was not planned in advance so Clara had no sippy cup or bib. Both kids got hamburger happy meals - Clara eating a fry looked like a dog with a stick in her mouth, and you can see how she handled the burger! Joe gobbled up fries and dipped them in ketchup (and once in his milk) - he also sneaked a sip of Ted's soda when he wasn't looking and exclaimed "I like that!" to which Ted and Joe had a good laugh about. At the end of the meal, Joe said he had to go potty, so Ted escorted him into the bathroom (holding Clara), and somehow managed to lift him onto said potty while also holding Clara (one of those feats of superhuman strength and balance only parents can summon). After about one second he said he was done and eased his way off. We all washed grubby ketchup soaked fingers, gathered up our tray and made our exit (not before requiring the assistance from a woman to throw out our garbage and get out the doors). And as a kicker, as we got to our car a huge McDonald's semi pulled through the parking lot a few feet from us which had both kids with mouths agape.

When we got home, Clara went straight to bath, but as he did last night, Joe asked to take a bath with Clara. So both kids got teeth brushed and plopped into the bathtub. Clara thinks it's hilarious when Joe has the soap on his head, which means she starts pawing at him, which annoys Joe, which requires mediation from Ted. Otherwise we got through the bath, got Clara a couple stories and off to bed, and then Joe a story and off to bed as well.

We all miss Julie. Joe said he wants to show Mommy his toy from McDonald's (a Pokemon doll he thinks is a bunny rabbit), and Clara keeps searching for someone with hair to twirl through her fingers.

We will see what tomorrow brings!