Another Week in Wonderland

Wesley is giving his 60 (plus) students their final. After they’re done, he’ll grade the tests and focus on research until January! We made over 100 cookies for the students to offer support (or comfort?). After the final he’ll go straight to the airport and fly to Colorado. He interviews with NREL tomorrow for the Director’s Fellowship and will return late tomorrow night. Exciting! Any other person might cancel the weekly tutoring session with one of the young men in the ward. Wesley met with him this morning after seminary to help him prep for finals. No wonder blessings rain in on us; Wesley is unflappable! University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaigne contacted Wesley to schedule an interview in April. They’re filling multiple positions and assume he’s doing a post-doc (which is a good assumption). He’s excited about this possibility. Illinois is rated 11^th or so and it’s a smaller town. We’ll see what happens! It feels good to be contacted if nothing else!

Yesterday the young men’s president in our ward was called to the stake level. So, the young men’s presidency (Wesley as first councilor) was released. Only the president was called. They asked him to keep acting in position until the positions are filled. Who knows what will happen? We can’t really remember life without mutual and youth meetings.

In general, the week was one of many miracles and much destruction. The usual, I guess—but it all still surprises me. Like when my visiting teachers stop by in the middle of dinner while Wesley’s rushing out the door, then Lincoln throws a plate of manicotti across the table into my lap—what do you do? Carry on! Grateful for the visiting teachers, for the meeting, for Lincoln, and yes, grateful for that manicotti. My mothering report card scored pretty low in general, though. I’m hoping Heavenly Father is chuckling rather than reconsidering His inspiration to us to raise children! Last Monday what began as a routine potty-break amounted to the glass broken out of our bathroom cabinet door. I never worried about these cupboards because I didn’t think anyone could get the panes out! I was wrong! They unloaded the pantry in front of the garage door just as we were trying to leave (and smashed the cereals with cans!). They played volleyball with the tree. Ran away outside in shorts and no shoes in 35 degrees…and we still slipped into Wesley’s colleague’s celebration lunch and then spent 3 hours or so taking a family to their pediatrician. (we didn’t catch the pneumonia, I’m grateful! And amazed!) I determined not to be such a high strung, nasty creature after Monday and overall succeeded.

The Thinkery (once called the Children’s Museum) reopened. Wow! We’re glad we have a membership because we might make this a weekly adventure. They have an entire outdoor adventure zone. A room dedicated to lights and shadows (picture a room-size Night Bright). A room dedicated to “currents” and water works (we left soaked despite the waterproof aprons). A mini-marketplace. A reading room. And we didn’t get to the rest. Tons of stuff is just the right shape and size for toddlers—this is a much friendlier addition. Keller loved it. Lincoln loved it. Levi loved it. Heck. Even I didn’t want to leave!

As a family we went caroling on Tuesday and delivered treats to friends on Thursday. Our neighbors were all very shocked over the caroling. “We didn’t know people still did this!” We feel more Christmasy now. Saturday evening we went to the Pflugerville Christmas parade. Some of the youth in our ward marched in the band so we cheered them on. The boys came home with 20 times more candy than they ever imagined at Halloween. Plus a foam football! They loved the lights, floats, costumes, even the cold (okay 50ish degrees but windy).

On Wednesday our neighbor knocked on the door with her arms laden with coats and sweaters in Levi’s size. Her grandson had grown out of them. How did she know we needed them? We just haven’t been able to go shopping. Her kindness was such a tender mercy for me. Heavenly Father does not forget or forsake us! Levi loves the coat, too.

Levi loves his new underpants. They are all white. He chose them because they look the most like garments. He likes to pair them up and roll them the same way I roll ours. He woke during the night just so excited about them. The next morning he discussed his mission and learning Spanish. “I want to go to New York City, but I will let the prophets decide.” Good choice! His PALS preschool ended the year with a Polar Express theme day. They all wore their pajamas and came home with a bell necklace. If that’s not exciting, tell me what is. He led us in caroling, which everyone appreciated. When we opened some of Grandma Cole’s Christmas books, Levi ran to couch and spent a good chunk of time pouring over them.

While Levi was at preschool, Lincoln, Keller and I went visiting teaching. This woman taught preschool for 25 years, collects Amish-made decorations, and loves family history. She slathered Lincoln with attention. In turn, he let her carry him all over and asked her darling questions. I think they’re bosom buddies now. He’s starting to feel better. When we finished reading The Best Nest Lincoln pointed to the Mom, Dad, Baby Keller Bird, and told us that Levi and Lincoln were out running. Of course. He’s been “hunting” a lot lately and sword fighting, “I am cutting off your leg Mom!” Levi runs in, “But I am a hero and will save you!” Follow the warrior cries.

These two also have friends named Baba (the mom) and NunNun (the dad). I think they are large birds? Baba and NunNun recently had a baby and moved this week. Levi and Lincoln acted as the moving crew and welcoming committee complete with brining them meals. Lincoln carried a hammer and a “pie.” Ha!

Keller walks, dances, and is close to running. He woke on Saturday night for three hours to stroll around his crib and giggle (then only took one 20 minute nap on Sunday! What are our kids made of?). He’s so proud of himself; as he should be. When the big boys go hunting they put underpants on their head for facemasks. So Keller found some and balanced them on his head. When they fell off, he pulled them back on. He even attacked me with a “sword.” He put his first HEBuddyBuck into the machine today for a sticker (at the grocery store) and gleefully put the sticker on his shirt. He wants to eat cookies. And more cookies. When angry he flails and screams, but he’s learned to roll softly on the tile and then scream rather than head-banging directly. Good grief. I don’t even respond! He loves his toothbrush. Every day he searches out pens and paper. And he sings, sings, sings. He pees in the potty at least once a day. What he really likes is to roll away during a diaper change and sit on the rug in front of the potty, wait for me to scramble, then pee all over the rug. Goofball. Welcome to the circus, little man!