Got a call from Jack’s teacher tonight. All good, just to relay a really funny story, later re-confirmed by my friend Beth who is an aide in his school.

There was an assembly today with the 3rd, 4th and 5th graders where the principal was discussing the school’s Code of Conduct with the students. How to treat people, what things were not allowed in the school (cell phones, game boys, etc), what to do if something happens, consequences of not following the code, etc. All the 5th graders were raising their hands asking questions about the electronics but no one else was really participating.

Enter Jack. In front of about 250 people in the assembly, he raises his hand and asks the principal "Is this list in order of importance?" No trepidation, no nervousness- just spoke out in front of everyone. My sources said all the teachers were laughing to themselves and were all saying "omg, he’s a 3rd grader!" He definitely has that Beyrer speech making gene, no question. He’ll be a lawyer just like daddy, I’m sure.

Just love this kid. He’s such a rip these days. Awesome expressions (both physical and verbal). He wants to do everything the big boys do. Running out the door to "soccer practice" today cause he was going to play too. Everything is ‘me too’. Some of my favorites currently:

Hoorade! (that would be parade)

Hecho (Echo)

youuuuuuuur’e welcome.

Anything remotely resembling castle turrets is automatically "cinderella castle"

I go to Carbel (Carvel) for choc- o- lit ice cream (we did tonight since the big boys are at a Mets game and he wore the whole thing)

Whas that say? (asking about anything written- he so wants to read now)

I’m okay!(whenever he falls down and is not really hurt) or if you ask him if he’s okay you get "yes, I’m okay, mommy".

"BokChow"- supposed to be "ca-chow" what Lightning McQueen from Cars says. Timmy seems to think Lightning is chinese.

"tushy-burp" usually followed by a very boyish giggle

He has an infectious little laugh and ear piercing screams.

Scratches his back on trees.

"Hi there little fella"

"ohhhhh….sooooo cuuuuuute" (said in a high squeaky voice)

I’m sure there are other things he’s doing lately but I’m drawing a blank at the moment. Brain like a sieve these days.

He had his orientation at his school today, met his teacher Miss Diane and played in his new classroom. He starts separation (2.5hrs two days a week) this year so it’s a very big step for both of us. He loved it today, and his best pal Olivia is in his class so I am hoping it will ease the transition a little. We hit the park and pizza with Olivia and Sharon after orientation and had a great time. The two of them looked just so big sitting on the other side of the table eating their pizza. Such a difference since the beginning with highchairs, etc.

Timmy will have a very busy schedule this year with something every day. I know people think I’m nuts doing that but he just loves it. We are even doing swimming lessons one morning a week.

Potty training is proceeding. He totally has the pee thing down (really has only had 2 or 3 accidents since starting) but still no poop in the potty. We’ll get there. I am hoping to have it all done by December so he can go in the big pool (no diapers allowed) in Florida and terrorize Mel.

Ok, this guy. Totally crazy. Always has been. I KNOW HIM! There is some- I don’t know- festival of sorts out in Nevada called Burning Man. A Woodstock of sorts for this generation. Anyway, at the end of the "festival" they burn this big man of wood. Well, our friend Paul Addis pictured here in his MUG SHOT, decided this year that he would burn it early. So he did. Like 4 days before it was supposed to be burned.  He is now facing felony arson charges and the anger or praise of lots of Burning Man followers. Nuts. And all over the news in San Fransico where he lives. If you are interested in the real news story or to read some interviews with him, just google his name.

How do I know him, you ask? Well, I went to college with him at University of Miami and he happened to be married to one of my best friends for a while. I was maid of honor at their wedding! They have been divorced for quite a while, thank god. He has always had a few screws loose (probably not loose, just completely missing) but to hear that he went this far off the deep end- just crazy and a little sad. Smart guy. Nice guy. Guy with lots of problems. We did have our fun though, watching Heathers a zillion times and quoting every line. Going dancing at the Kitchen Club in Miami Beach (before South Beach was cool and trendy- when it was gross and scary)every weekend. Yelling at "butch" out the window of my apartment. Going to all you can eat sushi at Taisho in Coral Gables with Cat and Riley and the whole crew. Lots of fun. Bet his trial isn’t going to be so fun….I just hope he is okay. Wow.

and I am so sad about that. Well, mostly sad. The big boys definitely need some structure back in their days and so do I. A little school is probably good now after them being home with me all day every day this summer. But, I will REALLY miss the getting up whenever, not having to rush to be anywhere at a particular time, eating whenever, going to be really late. And the not preparing. During the school year, I felt like I spent all my time PREPARING. Preparing breakfast, preparing the backpacks and lunches, preparing for them coming home from school, preparing dinner, preparing for afterschool activities-making sure they have their homework done and materials ready for the activity, preparing for bed, preparing their clothes for the next day. Just always PREPARING for the next thing. Not being in the moment. Just moving on to the next thing.

There was no preparing this summer and it was great. The beach was particularly nice this summer (no seaweedy days, no jellyfish days) and we really sucked the life out of the last few days there. Staying really late, eating a delicious dinner Nelson brought down for us, eating at the Osprey Deck and watching the sun set the last night there. Fantastic.

Timmy thoroughly enjoyed his summer (although he kept asking "I go Timmy’s school?" almost everyday) and made it over some significant hurdles this summer…like being afraid of falling thru the half-inch cracks between the boards on the boardwalk, like going in the ocean a little and not being afraid, and swimming all alone in the big pool (with the swimmy vest) and going underwater. Big stuff. And the big boys got a little more freedom this summer…walking to the rocks alone, going to the pool with their friends, going up for hourlong baseball games. It was all good. For all of us. I miss it already.