Since we started our new school more than one year ago, Jake has adjusted very well to the rules.

In fact, he has been begging for more rules since the very beginning. He begs me for the rules to apply at home and often times asks me if he's doing a good job following all the requirements. 

"Wait, what was that specific direction?" he'll inquire when he forgets what I've asked him to do.  He asks the questions at home, verbatim off his rule sheet from school. 

From the beginning he'd ask the teacher, "How come S has more rules than I have?" he'd ask after begging for more structure.  I don't think he wants to struggle and fail, but he so needs very clear expectations in place.

The school expectations are unique to every student based on their abilities and likelihood of success deemed appropriate by the awesome staff. For the first year he had just 5 rules and wanted more, more, more! 

Today, the first day of 5th grade, he popped in the car with a grin from ear to ear. He couldn't even let me get out of the parking lot before contorting himself to yank his giant book bag from the back seat, he nearly hit me in the head while flopping it over the seat so he could rip out his binder. 

"Look. Look. Look!" I have new rules mommy, I'm a super HUGE 5th grader now! We should call Daddy, and Auntie Julie, and Peter..." 

I was driving so I couldn't really look at his binder, but was fully expecting  just one more requirement on his already challenging list of rules. 

I told him to read them to me so I could listen while I drove. He excitedly started in the list of TEN rules. He was beaming with glee. 

"I'm a young man now right mommy?" 

"Yeah buddy, if you can follow all those rules, you are quite a young man. I'm very proud of you." 

"Yeah me too!" 

Ummm, hello? 

What happened to July? 

I seem to have missed an entire summer. When we're off school schedule, we pack our days full in order to avoid boredom, stimming and insanity. 

"Time-off" can be very stressful and Jake thrives on routine, so I am forced to plan the weeks ahead of time. If we're not travelling, there better be a schedule with big exercise and adventure. 

After summer school ended, we rode bikes in 5 states, in 5 days -- bang, one week down. 

Then headed to Florida for another week with family... bang bang, another 5 days of bliss, behind us. 

Now, bang bang bang, we're in the middle of the week. Five days from the beginning of school. I haven't purchased a single school supply. I've taken on way too many projects than my sanity will allow and Jake has two daddy days ahead of him. 

Keep on pumping over that hill!!! The end/beginning is almost here! 

Just a little funny from today. 

Jake and I were riding in the car and listening to the radio. He's so aware of everything lately, I have to be quick to change the station if something 'inappropriate' or too grown up comes on. 

I'm usually pretty quick with songs, but this time he was actually listening to the on air personality. The perfect voice on the radio said, "We are on the air..." 

For a kid with a daddy in television, this phrase means, shut your mouth! He's seen the On Air sign at daddy's work and is pretty good with stopping dead in his tracks. 

But today his literal mind rendered me speechless. As parents of black-n-white thinkers, we have to change the world to make it concrete. No small task. 

"What is On the Air?" 

"What do you mean Jake? You know what On the Air means from daddy's work." 

"But what is it like air? How is something on air?... now he's doing a big blowing motion right in my face, as I'm driving, so I feel his breath. 

Silence. 

Crap. 

I don't freakin' know. 

"Ummmm On Air in radio means... ya know how the people talking are not in our car right... well they speak in a special microphone and their voice travels through the air to our radio when you see that number station." 

"How?" 

"Ask Daddy. We good for now?" 

"Yep, I'll ask daddy." 

Literal minds are beautiful. No muss, no fuss.

Oh goodness, I've finally done it!

I wrote about IT! 

I've purged all the pain from our second failed adoption. Some people don't even know it existed, but I actually had a good cry while writing this one and that's rare. I usually cry days later! 

Most of you know about the adoption that failed before we were united with Jake, but I've never written about the one from two years ago. 

It's finally time to complete the healing process for me. 

Sorry if it's a major downer, but you know going in that writing is my therapy. 

Read at your own risk. Find Reminder in the Mail on the adoption and family page!