"Mijo…mija! Where are yooou?" James called from the living room. "Are you…under the table? No? How about….behind the curtains? No? James could hear the muffled giggles of his young twins inside the coat closet buy the front door. "Donde estan mis pequeños?"

"Babe?" Have you seen Emma and Emilio?" James called to his wife.

"No…no I haven't seen them." Came a sing-song voice from the kitchen. "Have you checked under the table?"

"Yes."

"Have you checked behind the curtains?"

"They weren't there."

"Well then I don't know where they are." She replied melodramatically

"I bet they are hiding upstairs," said James. "Yep, I'm coming to get you…here I come." As quietly as his bulky figure would allow him, James tiptoed down the hallway towards his children's hiding place. The giggles got louder as he approached the door and he silently pressed his back against the wall beside the closet.

"Shhh! Emma, be quiet!" Emilio scolded his sister from inside the closet. "He's gunna hear you." James waited, silent and still.

Creeeak. Emilio's head poked out of the closet. "Let's sneak up on him!" he whispered to his sister as they emerged from their favorite hiding spot.

"Rawwrrr!" James jumped out from the wall. The twins screamed in surprise as he scooped them both up, one under each massive arm. They kicked and squirmed as they laughed and shrieked in delight.

"Daddy…that's…not fair!" protested Emma in between her high pitched giggles.

"You tricked us!" Emilio wiggled in his Dad's grip.

"Ahhh I got you now mis pequeños!" James playfully growled. "And now I'm gunna…..Squeeeze yoooou!" Emma and Emilio laughed and squealed as he kneeled and brought them both into a giant bear hug.

"Daddy?" asked Emma. "How come you always find us?"

"Well mija, you always hide in the closet." James said as he reached out and tickled her and she burst into a new fit of giggles.

"Sounds like you found them."

"Yep."

"Good! Now everyone wash your hands, it's time for dinner."

"You heard the Commander, forward march!" Said James as he pointed towards the downstairs bathroom.

"But Daddddyy, you're a Commander too," Emilio whined "tell us we don't have to wash our hands."

"Yes mijo, but your mamma is the CO of this house and what she says, goes. Now scoot." Emma and Emilio groaned but turned and walked to the bathroom, their small bare feet patting against the cork floor.

"You too James."

James smiled. "Ma'am, yes ma'am!"