Summary in Doctrine and Covenants Style

Paragraphs 1-3: Wesley’s trip to Idaho and class reunion, 4: Swimming lessons and associated adventures 5: Special conversations with the boys 6: Levi 7: Lincoln 8: Keller 9: Reflections on allowing growth 10: Venice is coming, each day closer Conclusion and farewell

1 Wesley attended his ten-year class reunion this weekend. Flying from Denver to Boise is really slick! He left early Friday and was home in time for dinner on Saturday. Even though he was basically gone just a bit more than a workday, his absences always make me (and the boys!) more appreciative for all that he does. Dinner, bath, bed, and life are just not as fun without Dad. I just don’t play hide-and-seek as well. And he’s so attentive and enthusiastic about our daily report—whether it be building a tower out of the couch cushions on the bed so they could touch the ceiling, seeing a garden snake for the first time, or just finding shoes. Wes is a fully-involved father. I don’t even dare imagining parenting without such a happy partnership. Plus! He endures so well! The poor man takes such good care of me even when I’m hormonal, moody, whale-like, and whiny!

2 He enjoyed the reunion. One of the things that impressed him as well as increased his general feeling of hope is how many of the people there are married and having kids. Most of the people our age that we associate with think we’re crazy to have a family; these guys were very supportive and even excited about our fourth. Many of them are quite successful and happy in what they do. In contrast to teen years, the group was just happy to see each other because of the shared commonality of high school class. They met for dinner on Friday night then at the park with families on Saturday afternoon. They are talking about doing a 15-year reunion. Wes felt the whole experience was so great that we’ll probably attend mine next year (not in the original plan).

 3Other benefits of the Idaho trip included being able to go to the temple with Christine and saw off some tree branches with Chad. We all wish he could have had more time with them. They are refreshing—and so busy doing the most important things! Wes returned loaded with toys and jam. We’re spoiled! Wes also met with a professor he knows at BSU; it turns out that some of Wesley’s UT research could benefit him. Fun intersection.

4 Swimming lessons continue! The boys are tuckered out. After swim one day, we continued celebrating Levi’s birthday by meeting Wesley for lunch at Tanglewood Park (near NREL). Then they all buried each other in the sand rather than running around. By Friday (our day off from lessons) they were content to sleep in and build towers out of couch cushions. Lincoln even napped! Levi loves swimming. I think it liberates him. He jumps in, bombs in, plugs his nose and goes. He kicks and scoops. I don’t know how much Lincoln likes it. He likes the water; he likes the wall. He doesn’t really connect with the teacher (who doesn’t pay much attention in general…this week I’ve felt nervous watching them in deeper water and wondering how long she’ll ignore him while he dead-man floats…) Keller surprised me on the day we got in the water. He blows bubbles, kicks, and knows what it means to use his arms like “ice cream scoops.” His favorite thing is to kick while trying to float on his back. All of them are entranced by the “deep pool” and the lap swimmers.

5 One of the other fun things about swimming lessons is the conversations we have while driving. Lincoln asked when he’d be resurrected; he doesn’t want to be whipped or be crucified. Somehow in our teaching about Jesus, Lincoln has internalized that when we die we’re all tortured and crucified and that it might continue after resurrection! No wonder he’s been worried about the mean guys resurrecting him! We clarified. Levi helped a lot. We testified of Jesus’ purpose on earth, or Lincoln’s purpose on earth, and we all felt the Spirit. Very special. Another time, Levi wanted to go over “how girls are made and how boys are made.” By this, he means XX and XY chromosomes. They’re all attentive on these explanations. Forgive me if my budding gynecologists ever share things with your children…they’re curious, they ask questions, I answer. We’re all comfortable and straightforward (until they start talking easily about the process of childbirth after primary and nursery—that’s when I wonder if I should hesitate!)

6 In our constant hero-play, Levi told Lincoln, “I’m your side-kick, so I’m Robin!” They ran around saving the world. (For the record, I am either Splinter or Wonder Woman. The deal is I get to wear more clothes as Wonder Woman—both for modesty and because there’s no room for Venice in that slice of fabric!) Because he is five, he decided that he’s old enough to have his own library card. He eagerly waited for Thursday, chose his card, and tied it to one of his new bags (purchased with birthday money) which is now his library bag. He’s extremely proud and protective. He also discovered that our library reading program cards result in prizes. While all of them could have totally blacked out the card in a day, I’ve tried to slow us down and make it a little more deliberate. He still led us on a determined walk to read signs followed by a few songs and more reading. During a rare moment of just me and Levi time, I read Levi his birthday letter about his spiritual gift we saw during the year (hungering and thirsting after righteousness). He wanted to look up the scripture references and talk more about the stories of Enos and Nephi who asked questions in their prayers. When I fell asleep, he quietly played in the other room. I woke up and he grinned at me, “I tricked you! You fell asleep and I was quiet so Venice could grow, grow, grow!”

7 Lincoln has become a little teacher. He wants to show me, but especially Levi and Keller, how he does things. I often hear the phrase, “Let me show you how…” with instructions on turning shirts right-side out, digging holes, climbing up or over or through anything, popping balloons, etc. He has been writing me notes and giving them to me, which is darling. He also picks me flowers. Primarily dandelions. But also lilies from the library flowerbeds, columbines from the neighbors, a few others I’m not sure where they came from; but he protects them so diligently through all of his adventures until we arrive home and he can dump them in a cup of water by the sink. Since the flowers are for me, picking them can’t be wrong in his mind. I asked him today if he wanted to go to preschool. In our discussion he expressed the desire to have preschool at home (other kids might come occasionally), and he’s really excited to be the oldest leader. I’m not sure what the best thing to do for him is. Interacting with other kids and adults would probably be good for him. He thinks I’m his personal gym. He spent the last ten minutes of nursery sitting on my shoulders and head today. After he leaped on me/Venice (and she retreated even lower if that’s possible), he kissed my tummy, gently whispering, “It’s okay, Baby, I will kiss you at night and in the morning time.”

8 Last night Keller kissed me all over, patted my cheek, grabbed my face, kissed my mouth and laughed laughed laughed. When I mention that it’s almost time for Dad to come home, he stakes out by the door saying, “Dad! Dad! Door. Door Dad.” To pass the time he smashes the bugs that sneak through the screen. He surprises us with his words. He has so many but prefers to use the all-purpose DA! He quickly learned “quiche!” and “box!” among others. What we hear most is “PEN!” and “PAPER!” He would wander around with both all day if allowed. He scribbles on more surfaces than the other two have combined. At church today he put his click-pen in my purse without my noticing. He screamed until he could find it. Kind of hilarious. At Costco, our deal is that the boys can run on the empty aisles (usually they are Ninja Turtles calling back and forth to Michelangelo, Raphael, and Leonardo). When the big boys took off, Keller—holding about 18 samples—would pat his strapped self and giggle, “Me too? Me too?” We went to the ward service project yesterday a bit late. They didn’t have much direction for us, so we cleaned all the chalk boards, sanitized doorknobs, and vacuumed. Keller found wrappers and threw them in trash cans. He also wiped down the chalkboards. He’s not one step behind in understanding.  

9 I need to let these kids grow up. They’re all ready to take over the world. I struggle releasing them, I guess. Sometimes I wonder if I’m holding on so tight in an embrace that I hold them back. They understand and are capable of so much. I don’t have little babies anymore (at least for another few weeks). Where did they learn to take care of each other and our family so well?

We made Buzz Lightyear helmet/wings out of boxes. And crowns out of paper. And masks. And they can sign most of the alphabet. They can quote scriptures. They care about missions (Royal: Lincoln often prays for you to drive safe—however that translates into your life!). They pray for the apostles and they love the Savior. Special, wise spirits in such wiry, energetic little bodies.

10 Venice heads on downwards. I’m pretty sure the dilation process has started, but I don’t have a consistent contraction schedule. With her I actually have to sit down sometimes. Annoying, but probably good. I had two disparate dreams this week with the same tone and woke up thinking about packing the hospital bag. I’ve avoided this since I don’t want to be overanxious. But the two dreams connected to each other convinced me I better get going. If nothing else—we’re prepared! I think she’ll be early. Maybe a few weeks, maybe a day. Maybe she’ll tease us and be late! Hopefully early enough to meet Grandma and Grandpa Cole when they come in July!

That’s enough!