Since Conference we have been praying more fervently to be filled with love, see others as God’s children, and share the gospel as encouraged by Elder Ballard. He promised that if we did so we would have missionary experiences that would be natural and normal. As a testimony to this promise, we shared the gospel in some form every day this week. All naturally and normally. Monday we reviewed Conference with the boys and testified of living prophets. Tuesday, a colleague gave Wesley a ride home from work and he testified of families. We met with friends that day and shared thoughts on why we have difficulties. On Wednesday another work friend turned to Wes and said, “I need to talk to you, but not about work.” In the duration of their conversation, Wes expressed the importance of prayer and counseled his friend to try it. Then Wesley went to mutual. Thursday we invited Wesley’s friend (from Tuesday) over for dinner. Friday we took a boy from the ward to a football game; he got to see how a family can work together. Saturday we attended a ward baptism. Wow! Missionary work is developing relationships and loving people. We’ve realized how differently we would act if we truly see others as our brothers and sisters. We’re still working on it; miracles happen as we try.

Last week we(s) had applied to two academic openings. As of last night, we’ve applied to 22. We’ll apply to a few more. Currently, we’re most interested in Colorado University—Boulder, BYU, University of Illinois—Urbana-Champaign, and University of Maryland (8 miles from D.C.) Granted, we apply to so many schools because we don’t know where we should go. We’ve determined to put our best effort forth and we pray for inspiration and discernment. This has happened as we’ve decided where not to apply. Over the next few months our discernment and faith will be refined. We may not be interviewed. We may not hear anything for months. We may be interviewed and receive offers before others have responded. What an exciting time! An interview lasts 3 days. If Wesley interviews at 12 schools (which is a lot), he’d be gone 36 days. We’ll see what happens! And what a good opportunity to serve and develop relationships!

Keller has been fully functioning and weaned for two weeks! My body seems to struggle with this process more than our children. Thankfully, when my pump died on Monday a friend loaned hers to me. (Another miracle! I was really nervous about repeating mastitis.) One of the entertaining perks of my hormones shifting and settling is that I’m even more clumsy than usual. Noticeably. We have more to joke about, which I need sometimes. I run into stuff. I drop stuff (not our children! Due to angels, no doubt!). I’ve broken dishes. When I reached for a plate this week, I crashed it on the counter, it spun like a coin, then shot through the canisters like a Frisbee—all without breaking! Lincoln watched in wonder, “Do it again, Mom!”

In the world of pretend, The boys have been apostles and prophets. “I’m Uchtdorf. You be Monson. Dad’s Eyring…” They’re glad to have Wes around, often requesting “boy time.” (I’m very happy to open a book!) We went to a puppet show of Jack and the Beanstalk, which they loved. Technically, the library puppet shows are for over 4 years of age, but they make a model audience. Levi even wore his bow tie and suspenders. They’ve all been giants and dragons and chickens laying golden eggs. Keller’s roar impresses me. Last night was a ward party/trunk-or-treat. Levi wore his crocodile costume, Lincoln Superman. They acted out the crocodile attacking Keller and Superman saving him. They all roared.

On Friday, as mentioned, we went to a Hendrickson High School football game to watch some of the youth in band. Apparently, they’re really good—sixth in the nation? We chose poor seats right behind the student section, but we all enjoyed it. In Texas, half time is 30 minutes long: 15 minutes for the visiting team performance and 15 for the home team. We saw two very dynamic marching bands with accompanying baton twirlers and color guard as well as two dance teams. Band is cool here; they’re athletes, too! Good grief! They moved all over the field fast while blowing in huge instruments. No wonder they have 6 a.m. daily practice! We’d been there, sweating with a “nice breeze, for over two hours when we left after halftime. The boys didn’t want to leave. They were still upset about leaving the next morning.

We shifted Levi into a booster car seat. Oh, the freedoms of escaping a 5-point harness. “You don’t have to look back, Mom. I’m watching for ya!” Keller moved into Levi’s seat (backward facing). Lincoln just wants to sit in the seat. “But I am big!” Then mournfully resigned, “I am little!” As long as he can hold a football or Frisbee, he’s satisfied.

While washing dishes one night, I glanced out the window to check on the boys playing. They had been digging benignly in the compost. But, no. They were whacking the tree. With a rusted ax. Where did they find it? Perhaps in the debris of our shed? Regardless, Levi wielded a weapon larger than himself with great joy while Lincoln miraculously didn’t get his head chopped off. I ran out as fast as I could: Wesley laughed. Levi hacked as fast as he could until I got to him. When I asked what he was doing he simply said, “Chopping down the tree.” Duh! WHY? Why not when you’re a four-year-old who discovered dangerous treasure in the backyard? The next day we went to a park. Before I could unload Keller, Levi scaled up the nose and windshield of the van to examine the luggage rack. We have handprints all over the vehicle. And this isn’t the first time we’ve addressed climbing cars, refrigerators, walls…In addition to managing axes and vans, Levi has figured out the art of negotiation and of the phrase, “But I didn’t know…” and “I didn’t realize…” He wants to make a deal with everything. Finally Wesley challenged him to go a day without check marks. He made it. What a glorious day for all of us! Isn’t the power of agency amazing?

Lincoln sees pictures of Evalyn, sees our many expectant friends, and requests, “I want a baby! I want a purple baby! A yellow baby! I like yellow!” I took him and Keller to a hardware/garden store during Levi’s preschool. We looked at all of the plants. He ran in the rocks. We walked inside, the parrot squawked at us. “It’s YELLOW! And ORANGE!” He felt some trepidation about the baby chicks, yet edged toward the parrot cage, “I want to stick my fingers in there…” He didn’t need the sign: “I do bite!” Then we went to the aisles and aisles of tools. Paradise! He spun in wonderment. With each phrase his voice increased in pitch and volume. “When I am big I will have all of these screwdrivers!” Then, “I need a saw now! You threw my saw away so I need a saw!” Then, reverently, “Wrenches!” He and Levi ran our entire walk today. He giggled, “Come Levi! Come Levi!” the entire way. Then they’d body-slam into a hug. Lincoln’s idea.

As the big boys wrestled out their affection, Keller reached for them. He doesn’t want to stand. He wants to move. Fast. He screamed through sacrament meeting and Sunday school. Then he found the pipe of the sink in the mother’s lounge. Once he calmed down we went to the hall, where he screamed again. We just went to nursery to help there. Overall, he is an extremely happy baby. That happiness seems to allow a full range of emotion—which he expresses freely. He loves the Bounce ‘Round. He sprawls in the middle of it while the big brothers bounce him high. (“Dangerous” is a new favorite word around here.) He loves the tub. He loves his blanket. I went in his room last night to find his blanket on the floor and him reaching and screaming for it. Super cute. He signed for milk, quivers and grunts for sweets (ice cream is a new hit) and seems to have a little bug. Lots of diarrhea makes the potty go round and round. I can’t believe he’s almost a year old! Simultaneously, how did we ever have life without our Keller?

All in all, I think we’ll start a circus. Or invite others to the party we already have!