This taken at 10:30 p.m. "HI!" he says.

Monday night Wesley put Lincoln in his pack-n-play for a timeout. Lincoln’s mischievous smile gleamed as he pretended to reach his leg over the top; then he stopped pretending because he realized he could actually get his leg over it. The next thing we knew he was gleefully plopping out of the pack-n-play. We thought, “Not a big deal, we’ll put the gate up. It worked with Levi!” But children are not the same. Lincoln climbed over the gate in less than two seconds. Levi finally fell asleep through the craziness (he’d been up early, before six I think), and Lincoln continued to climb out, over, and down the stairs to join us. He fell asleep close to eleven. Tuesday we brought in the big boy beds to their rooms. Then we adventured out to buy security locks. The unexpected transition has been better than anticipated. Ongoing, of course, and exciting for them, funny for us. Tiring for the group.

Lincoln’s new discovery doesn’t help his already thin caution. He walked across the piano keys rearranging the nativity on the mantel. He squeezed halfway out of the stair railing onto the (tall!) bookcase. He walks along window ledges. He flicks the gas stove. He runs, screaming, everywhere. His nursery leaders told me today that he’s so “cute and funny” because he’s completely silent until someone starts encroaching on his space: then, he shrieks. That’s my territorial boy! Now I understand why people enroll their young children in gymnastics. And through all this, he’s decided to be scared of things because Levi has reservations. Today in the leaves, “Ladybug! Scared! Scared! SMASH IT!” Oh my crazy cat.

Levi grasps “why” and I hope we never hear the end of it. “Why did Jesus get baptized? Why do we get baptized?” then 12 more questions ending, “Why did Jesus get baptized?” “Why does Heavenly Father live in the sky? What he do there? Why?” During dinner one night, Lincoln let his voice be heard in Ukraine (I’m really feeling some regret here for all the practice I did as a little girl to be Eponine—screaming), and Levi responds calmly, “Why you scream, Lincoln? Why you do that? Lincoln, why you scream? Talk to me Lincoln!” His obsession with the correctly coordinated clothes continues; he even added a segment of changing clothes into his baptism play. On most days he dresses us all to match according to what Wes wears. He can’t choose his pajamas when he gets five check marks in a day. Wes chose some that didn’t match (unbeknownst to him!)—Levi couldn’t believe the indignity that he actually had to wear it all night long.

This is also the week that we decided to help Keller get on a better schedule, particularly at night. He puts himself mostly to sleep now—in spite of the squealing in the next room. I’ve been taking a natural supplement that seems to be helping the reflux/gas/pain, but we still reek at the end of the day. But he’s a fatso; gaining weight is not something he struggles with. At least the volume has decreased and he has slept around 5 hours straight. Go Keller! I wish I didn’t want to snuggle him so much; that would make teaching him to sleep easier. Alas. He started chuckling this week with a few real non-gas smiles. I love this part. He’s showing signs of an early crawler. Already he wants to keep up with the brethren.

The big news of the week (aside from the Christmas tree still standing): I went grocery shopping with all three boys on my own. I know that sounds silly. I’m still proud of myself. We went to a puppet show at the library. All of them loved it, danced, and shout-whispered their delight. Keller included. We visited our friend in Manor whose baby passed away soon after birth. The boys love her. I hope we brought comfort rather than pain. They’re the type of people who should have been in the City of Enoch and the last year has been bam-bam-bam. If they need refinement, I can’t even begin to imagine the sanding I need.

We attended the ward Christmas party. We had to leave the talent show early to start the bedtime stuff, but the boys wanted to stay so bad. A guy in our ward is a country singer (for a living). Check him out: Nate Burnham. We watched the Powell kids on Saturday. Julia is five, Alexander is two. Lincoln and Alexander beamed at each other. Levi and Julia transformed into snow monsters. In short: a jolly grand time. We look forward to playing with them again. Levi has prayed for his friends lately—not just the imaginary ones—so Lincoln joins in. Melts my heart.

Wesley and I don’t remember anything else from the week. I’m sure it was great.