I love Sundays. The boys usually wake up earlier than normal (who knows why?) and we tromp down to the couch. They cuddle up on each side of me and we have a mini “Behold Your Little Ones” lessons. What an amazing manual. Today we talked about Jesus’ miracles, like multiplying the loaves. Lincoln pointed at the bread during sacrament and asked, “Did Jesus make this?” The answer, in so many ways, is yes.

For the record, we finally caught the lizard that moved into the toy room a month ago. He’d grown, so maybe we should have let him stay…I think he’ll be happier outside; plus he had climbed into our big farming tractor. Keller would have eaten him eventually.

Keller nurses only twice a day. I plan to finish weaning by his birthday, hopefully sooner. He’ll drink about an ounce of formula, or eat a ton of it with cereal and food. Since we began a couple of weeks ago he has gained solidity. The kid can eat! He needs to since he only stops moving in his sleep. He really loves dancing, in my arms or on his own. “Head, Shoulders, Knees, & Toes” really inspires him to wiggle-boogie. He’s also discovered the joy of cars, trucks, and motors in general. During family prayer, he found a fire truck and pushed it all over growling his truck noises. And! Magnets! We have dinosaur magnets on the fridge that occupy him for minutes and minutes. He concentrates so hard trying to figure out how to get them back on, gives up, throws them across the room, gets them, starts over…then finds the stairs. Keller climbed seven steps on Tuesday. He climbed all the steps on Thursday. And for the rest of our lives we’ll all be dashing to the stairs since gates only fit partially. Thankfully, the big brothers take seriously their charge to teach him to safely go down the stairs. Currently, he dashes for them face first as soon as he’s on the ground. We had a few too-close calls, but we’re still safe! We keep our angels very busy. (I told Levi this morning that angels surround us and care for us. He responded, “I know.” Of course he does.)

Lincoln tells us of his needs. “I need cookies! I need cake! I need doughnuts!” Most of all, “I need Nike shoes!” Good grief! For FHE we reviewed our emergency plans: where to go if there’s a fire or tornado, who to talk to if lost, phone number, etc. Tuesday, Lincoln tested that out by running away in the library. Levi ran to save him. I untangled from 40 books and pushed our huge stroller around. Thankfully! Our boys are not quiet. I followed the sound to Levi wrestling Lincoln into submission and calmly telling a library worker (not a mother with children), “It’s okay. We’re waiting for my mom. She will find us if we wait.” Lincoln: “I am—” straining against Levi’s arms, “going to RUN!” I know this is funny. He still spent a lot of time strapped into the stroller for the rest of our week outings. On Friday, when we were all over-stimulated and twitchy, Lincoln saved us all with his sweet serviceable spirit. “I will get that for you! I will hold your hand Levi! Keller can use my blanket! I will feed Keller! I can untie your shoes, Dad!” It’s been fun to have more one-on-one time with him when Levi goes to preschool and Keller naps. He’s not sure what to do with it, but we party.

Levi started PALS (Preschool/Preschoolers Acquiring Language Skills). We all tromped up to the classroom. Did he even turn back to wave before running to his classmates? Not a chance. Miss Valerie reports that he’s “very chatty” (surprise, surprise!). He loves, loves, loves it. They sent home packets of things to work on. He’s so excited about homework, he carries it around with him all day. Our school time has been significantly more directed and useful after a couple weeks of seeing preschool-models. The only slight drawback about preschool is that it is during our outside time in the morning (before it hits 98); we just try to start a little sooner. I heard this conversation while making dinner one night:

Levi, with numbered blocks carefully arranged. Quizzing Lincoln: “What number will you be after 3 ½?”

Pause.

Levi: “I know you know it!”

Pause.

Levi: “Come on, Lincoln. You know this! What number will you be after 3 ½?”

Lincoln, laughing (because he did know): “But I am 2 ½!”

Levi is a determined, diligent teacher and student. His favorite part of the mother’s preschool on Thursday was “picking Hannah up then riding home with her in her van.” He likes that I’m weaning Keller because I wear more dresses. “I like your dresses and soft clothes, Mom. It makes me want to snuggle you.” Oh, man.

I was a grouch yesterday. Just one of those days when I start looking on Craigslist for punching bags; I should probably work out twice a day or something. Finally I regained some control, apologized to the boys, and asked forgiveness. They didn’t even hesitate. It was already granted before I pulled myself together and requested it. “We love you, Mom. It’s okay,” said Levi.  “Let’s not be grouchy! Let’s run!” exclaimed Lincoln. There is nothing better than feeling the Spirit with your family in seemingly small matters.

Wes worked most of Labor Day and most of yesterday. September will train us for the future academic life. In a few more weeks more schools will announce openings. Until then, he’s finished a paper, revised a few others with collaborators, started a NREL fellowship proposal, and taught two lectures. He dresses up on class days (Tuesday/Thursday); he is one handsome dude. I’m swoony even on T-shirt days. He loves teaching. He enjoys putting together his lectures—which is good, because this initial experience requires a lot of time and effort in creation. He notes possible homework questions wherever we go. It’s so fun to watch him work and feel his enthusiasm. Energy rocks.

We love you!

WCJLC

P.S. Book group Thursday. We discussed Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. So awesome. Discussion is necessary, though. Someone asked me if I thought it deserved a Pulitzer. YES! It brings up important questions and considerations. I realized in this reading (fourth time) that accuracy in perspective may not be the point. When do we ever perceive accurately in mortality? We balanced the book with a light strawberry-cheesecake invention. Good times. Quality questions raise my adrenaline. Love them.

Strawberry Yum-Yum (adapted from Blueberry Yum-Yum)

Graham cracker crust (about 2 packages crushed and ½ c. margarine) or crushed sugar cookies,     divided

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

About ¾ c. whipped cream with a touch of vanilla

1-2 lbs. sliced strawberries

Strawberry jam

Layer ½ of the cookie crust on the bottom of a 9x13. Whip cream cheese and cream together, spread ½ over cookies. Mix the jam and strawberries together (kind of like a pie filling—any fruit filling works) Spread rest of the cream. Top with cookies. Enjoy!

It didn’t last long.