Yesterday we decided that we needed to do something a little different. After supper I went outside and lined our vehicles up in the driveway, inflated a small wading pool, and prepared the supplies for washing vehicles and playing in the pool. The plan was that Butterfly and I would wash the vehicles while Ladybug and Kelley splashed about.

I went back inside to gather my girls and was greeted by two little naked booties running around the den. Kelley’s attempt to change the girls into their bathing suits was apparently overcome by their excitement. We eventually corralled them and got them outside. Both girls decided immediately that splashing around was the best course of action. This left me to wash the van by myself.

I was down scrubbing the wheels of the van and heard this deep, belly laughter coming from the wading pool. Butterfly informed me that she had a new game to play with her mother. I didn’t gather all of the information, but it involved her mother pouring water a cup of water onto Butterfly and then Butterfly laughing maniacally. (I’ll try to get more details so that we can try it out at the next pool party.)

Kelley decided that the exercise from washing a car could be beneficial and volunteered to wash the Green Goblin while I started bath time. At this point, Butterfly was employed to help while I bathed Ladybug.

Apparently, car washing isn’t too much fun because Butterfly came fluttering into the house not too long into my adventures with Ladybug began. Usually, Kelley and I tag-team bathtime, but here were both girls in need of scrubbing and the wife was outside washing my car…so I did what any father in this situation would do.  I called my mother.  No, wait, that’s a different story.  This is the one where I became Super Dad and juggled them as best I could (not literally).

Ladybug protested adamantly when I took her out of the tub. I started Butterfly’s bath and I’ll be doggoned if little Ladybug didn’t keep trying to climb back in. I was eventually able to distract her with books while soaping-up her sister. I’m still amazed that this 14-month old can fully comprehend certain things. When we’d finish a book, I’d tell her “Go get us another book” and she’d toddle off around the corner. I’d quickly apply soap or shampoo to Butterfly and a few seconds later Ladybug would toddle back in with a different book…which she would throw at me, spin around, and then plop down into my lap. This cycle continued until Kelley was able to come up and entertain the youngest while I finished with the oldest.  Later that evening, Kelley revealed to me that she straps Ladybug into a little chair when she has to handle bathtime on her own - information that would have been good beforehand.

At the end of the night, not only did I have quality time with my squeaky-clean girls, when I got done, I had a nice clean car to boot. Now that’s a good evening.