text to Addie.
We’re at Aileen’s, and she needs some help. Can you please check into an agency here that does nurses/nannies/housekeepers? Get one of each if you would.
Got it. On it.
You truly are the best.
I know!
I love her cheeky reply, and I love her, too. I’d be lost without her. Nothing I ever ask her to do is too much for her, and she’s endlessly efficient and organized. I make it well worth her time and effort, but the truth is I’d pay her twice as much to keep her.
I stash my phone and go to help Natalie with the kids. On the way out the door, Logan produces a plastic sled from the front closet. We clomp down the stairs in a noisy group, Natalie and I with our ski masks covering our faces. The kids think they’re hilarious, which I suppose is better than scary.
On the sidewalk, I load the kids onto the sled and pull them behind me down the snow-covered sidewalk, extending my free arm to my wife. We’ve left Fluff sleeping in a ball on Aileen’s sofa. At the park, we spend more than an hour making a snowman, having a snowball fight and making snow angels. When the kids begin showing signs of tiring, we load them back up and set out for home, stopping on the way for pizza and hot chocolate.
The startled restaurant staff immediately recognize us, but I ask them not to make a thing of it in front of the kids. Thankfully, they respect my wishes. I’ll ask Addie to send them a signed photo to show my appreciation.
We return to the apartment with two tired, well-fed kids who had a great time.
“Thanks for this,” Natalie says as we follow them up the stairs.
“It was fun.” And it was. Life’s simple pleasures tend to get lost in the sea of celebrity madness that surrounds me. I like that Natalie and her friends have helped to remind me of what’s really important.
“Guys,” I say to the kids, who are preparing to barge into the apartment. “Your mom is probably sleeping, so let’s be really quiet, okay?”
“Okay, Mr. Flynn,” Maddie says solemnly.
We help them out of their snow clothes and boots outside the door. “One other thing I want you to do for me.”
“What?” Logan asks.
“I want you to go in your rooms and pick up all your toys and put them away. Then you need to make your beds and gather up your dirty clothes. Can you do that?”
“If we hafta,” Logan says glumly.
“Let’s see who can get their rooms picked up the fastest.” The contest sparks some interest in them, and they scurry into their rooms.
“You’re going to be an awesome father,” Natalie says.
“Funny, I was thinking the same about you earlier.” I kiss her nose. “An awesome mom.”
“That’s going to be fun,” she says, smiling at me.
“I can’t wait.”
“Really?”
“To see you round with our baby?” The thought of it does weird things to my heart and stomach. “I. Can’t. Wait.”
She wraps her arm around my neck and kisses me. “Love you,” she whispers.
“Love you, too.”
“I’m going to clean up the kitchen.”
“I’ll check on the kids and then take on the living room.”
“This is way, way above and beyond the call of husbandly duty.”
I lean in close so my lips are touching her ear. “You can reward me later.”
I leave her with that thought and go to pick up the toys, pillows, blankets and newspapers that are strewn about Aileen’s living room.
While I tend to the mountain of dirty dishes in Aileen’s sink, I think about how great Flynn was with Logan and Maddie. From pulling them on a sled to supervising the building of a snowman, to engaging in a snowball fight, he was incredible with them, and they loved every minute of the attention he showered them with.
I’m not sure what the deal is with their dad, just that he’s not in the picture.
When I finish in the kitchen, I go to find Flynn, who’s stretched out on the floor of Logan’s room with both kids pinning him down.
“Natalie, help! I’ve been taken
We’re at Aileen’s, and she needs some help. Can you please check into an agency here that does nurses/nannies/housekeepers? Get one of each if you would.
Got it. On it.
You truly are the best.
I know!
I love her cheeky reply, and I love her, too. I’d be lost without her. Nothing I ever ask her to do is too much for her, and she’s endlessly efficient and organized. I make it well worth her time and effort, but the truth is I’d pay her twice as much to keep her.
I stash my phone and go to help Natalie with the kids. On the way out the door, Logan produces a plastic sled from the front closet. We clomp down the stairs in a noisy group, Natalie and I with our ski masks covering our faces. The kids think they’re hilarious, which I suppose is better than scary.
On the sidewalk, I load the kids onto the sled and pull them behind me down the snow-covered sidewalk, extending my free arm to my wife. We’ve left Fluff sleeping in a ball on Aileen’s sofa. At the park, we spend more than an hour making a snowman, having a snowball fight and making snow angels. When the kids begin showing signs of tiring, we load them back up and set out for home, stopping on the way for pizza and hot chocolate.
The startled restaurant staff immediately recognize us, but I ask them not to make a thing of it in front of the kids. Thankfully, they respect my wishes. I’ll ask Addie to send them a signed photo to show my appreciation.
We return to the apartment with two tired, well-fed kids who had a great time.
“Thanks for this,” Natalie says as we follow them up the stairs.
“It was fun.” And it was. Life’s simple pleasures tend to get lost in the sea of celebrity madness that surrounds me. I like that Natalie and her friends have helped to remind me of what’s really important.
“Guys,” I say to the kids, who are preparing to barge into the apartment. “Your mom is probably sleeping, so let’s be really quiet, okay?”
“Okay, Mr. Flynn,” Maddie says solemnly.
We help them out of their snow clothes and boots outside the door. “One other thing I want you to do for me.”
“What?” Logan asks.
“I want you to go in your rooms and pick up all your toys and put them away. Then you need to make your beds and gather up your dirty clothes. Can you do that?”
“If we hafta,” Logan says glumly.
“Let’s see who can get their rooms picked up the fastest.” The contest sparks some interest in them, and they scurry into their rooms.
“You’re going to be an awesome father,” Natalie says.
“Funny, I was thinking the same about you earlier.” I kiss her nose. “An awesome mom.”
“That’s going to be fun,” she says, smiling at me.
“I can’t wait.”
“Really?”
“To see you round with our baby?” The thought of it does weird things to my heart and stomach. “I. Can’t. Wait.”
She wraps her arm around my neck and kisses me. “Love you,” she whispers.
“Love you, too.”
“I’m going to clean up the kitchen.”
“I’ll check on the kids and then take on the living room.”
“This is way, way above and beyond the call of husbandly duty.”
I lean in close so my lips are touching her ear. “You can reward me later.”
I leave her with that thought and go to pick up the toys, pillows, blankets and newspapers that are strewn about Aileen’s living room.
While I tend to the mountain of dirty dishes in Aileen’s sink, I think about how great Flynn was with Logan and Maddie. From pulling them on a sled to supervising the building of a snowman, to engaging in a snowball fight, he was incredible with them, and they loved every minute of the attention he showered them with.
I’m not sure what the deal is with their dad, just that he’s not in the picture.
When I finish in the kitchen, I go to find Flynn, who’s stretched out on the floor of Logan’s room with both kids pinning him down.
“Natalie, help! I’ve been taken
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