You've just gone against about every scientific discovery and theory in the last century!!!! Personally, though I think its obvious that evolution as a phenomenon is real... the evidence is just too overwhelming. However, it may be that evolution only accounts for a small part of the changes that have occurred in creatures. It handles the small details while G-d controls the large scale evolution... I guess that's called directed evolution.
Considering the fact that the bible itself doesn't use the term "day" in Genesis (as K James did... which was in error) but rather "period of time" there is/was certainly "time" for G-d to use evolution as his technique just as he uses All of nature (which was created by him) to affect his will.
Your what is refered to as a "practical athiest"...