Q: What about your children makes you laugh?
A: Charlie goes around the house taking a poll, "Do you like Marvel or DC comics better?" and manipulates the answers till he gets the result he wants. I guess he'll work for Fox News one day. Margot brings home an armload of artwork from school and then has you sit on the couch and go through each piece. She explains the scenes, what each character or object is, and why she drew it. When she's finished with all of the art she asks, "Do you want to see it again?" And I say yes. Sargent and Audrey, who are 2-year-old twins, both sit on the bench of the electric organ with the drum machine beating. They bob their heads, not in unison, and then climb down and chase each other around the room, laughing, giggling, and shrieking at the top of their lungs.

Q: What is your favorite family ritual?
A: Friday night family night. We order pizza and all watch a movie. The kids crawl all over Leigh and me on the huge living-room couch.

Q: What was your most frazzled dad moment?
A: Anytime more than one child is crying.

Q: What parenting issue do you and your partner disagree most about?
A: We usually put up a united front. I often tell the kids to pick up their rooms and then stand there or argue with them until they do it—when I should just say my piece and walk away. My wife will say, "Dave, can I see you in the kitchen?" She does not seem to understand that kids need to be micromanaged and glared at until they do as I say.

Q: What is your parenting role: good cop or bad cop?
A: We always switch it up to keep 'em guessing. I think my girls can get anything they want out of me. That includes my wife.

Q: What do you wake up in the middle of the night thinking about?
A: Two weeks before the twins were born, I woke up and thought, Oh, my, they are coming! The number of kids in this house is going to double overnight, and there is nothing I can do about it.... So I moved away.

Q: What do you wish you had done before you had children?
A: My wife and I had plenty of great times before and after we [had kids]. Now we have an occasional weekend getaway without the kids, but we love going on vacations with them.

Q: What is a typical Saturday morning in your house like?
A: The twins always get up before seven, so some parent is up early. The two older kids usually sleep a little later. We always plan to get out of the house by midmorning because it gets too crazy if we don't. We walk in one of the many canyons in Los Angeles or go to the beach, a museum, the zoo—anything to get out of the house.

Q: What was your dad most right about?
A: That he is my dad. After six paternity tests, I guess I have to believe him.

WHAT'S YOUR...

...guiltiest pleasure?
Water. I know you shouldn't drink it, but I just can't help it.

...ideal getaway?
My wife and I are going away for five days for our 10-year anniversary. It will be warm, quiet, by the ocean, with great restaurants, and have some fascinating historical significance. (You can't come.) The ideal part would be if it were all free.

...favorite gadget?
Digital ear thermometer.

...current reading material?
A book that is so impressive that when I casually mention I am reading it, people think to themselves, Wow, that guy is smart and interesting. You know, that book.

WHAT'S YOUR PREFERENCE:

Wine or beer?
Beer. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.

Eat at home or takeout?
Have someone come to my home and cook takeout.

Coddle your tot or let him cry it out?
Cry louder than they do.