This kid is TWELVE

Seventh grade starts on Wednesday! 

Middle School

I just can't deal with politics right now! So here are some great pictures of the MIDDLE SCHOOLER! Lots of transitions -- some tears -- but Miles is adjusting pretty well. He's moved up a level in gymnastics, and continues to practice three times a week. 

The public schools started a month before WWU, so I just started teaching yesterday. We had a great summer, on different coasts. Miles flew to Maine by himself, where he spent three weeks with family and friends. I road-tripped through Oregon and enjoyed some good beer and camping, and one of my favorite places in the world, Crater Lake. 

Happy Birthday! 11 years old!

Car-loving kid.

Emblematic of our personalities, here's me hanging on to him,
while he's having a great time!  

Great plum harvest this year. 

First day of Middle School!

Tree-climbing with cousin Liam. 

Miles's Choir Solo

Last night was the Lowell Choir Concert. The tradition is that fifth graders (who choose to) can sing a solo. Miles sang the Brandi Carlile song, "Have you ever?"

Here's Brandi's version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkxyT27xRH0
 
Here's Miles's (sorry about the sideways; still haven't figured that out):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aV8lekM1zqc&feature=youtu.be

Miles pointing to his artwork in the window.

Maine 2017

Hello Dear Readers!

I hadn't realized until just now that you're long overdue for an update. Most of you (readers) are on Facebook, so you've received snippets of our lives from that medium. But this will serve as a bit more detailed account of what has been happening in 2017.

First, we've just returned from Maine. Miles was at Orr's Island for about a week; I flew there for the weekend to bring him home. Quintessential Maine: lobster rolls, sailing school (for Miles), and a hike to a lighthouse.  It was lovely to see the other coast and for Miles to spend some quality time with Chuck, Kathy, and Seth.  (Miles will be in another weeklong sailing camp in Bellingham next month.)

Miles's year in fourth grade was great. We both really liked his teacher, Matt Peterson, whom I found to be very capable and also compassionate. Miles has a self-described "clump" of friends: Oz Resnick, Robbie Henkel, and Noah Hawkins.  Miles and Oz have been in the same classroom since kindergarten, and we'll have to see if that's the case for fifth grade. Robbie started attending Lowell in second grade, and Noah just moved to Bellingham this winter.  Apparently, they eat lunch together almost every day, and Miles and Oz go to the YMCA together.  I love that Miles has a close group of friends, though he seems friendly with almost everyone.

Miles qualified for a competitive gymnastics team this spring, and has practice twice a week for three hours! (Though he's on a bit of a hiatus now because the practices conflict with summer camps.) He loves it and is pretty good, though still a beginner. He likes all the apparatuses (apparati?), but I think he does the best on the rings. Amazing what the kiddos can do, even at this level. Miles will start competing at meets in January. It's a big commitment, and think it will be good for Miles to stay focused, and just to get better at something. We've been carpooling with some neighbors, which is helpful because it is a lot of driving!

For this first time in many years, I'm not teaching summer session. I'm writing a bit, and working on some other (sustainability) projects.  We're road-tripping with friends to see the eclipse next month. And then school starts on August 23rd. Summers are always too short. :-)

Most knowledgeable at sailing camp!

Miles in an Opti.

Ferrari at the Owl's Head Transportation Museum

Ascending lighthouse steps

Chuck, Kathy, and Ethan's boys

The view from the deck at Orr's Island. Gorgeous!

The view of Bellingham Bay from our deck! 

Nine!

A pretty mellow birthday for the kiddo today. School day -- cookies for the classroom -- and pizza dinner with Robbie and his family. Two days of fourth grade completed, and so far, so good! Miles's teacher, Mr. Peterson, has a lot of energy, and seems very kind and compassionate.  Summer was too short, but it's nice to get back into a regular schedule.

Crater Lake!

Tillamook Cheese Factory

First day of school!

Nine candles for my star kid

July can't come soon enough!

Ethan's blog

Um, 2016?

My friend Adam Resnick took this photo of Miles in November

I see that my last post was in October.  And I know that this blog is titled "Miles Remmel" but his life is (obviously) linked to mine. And in a word: challenging!  I think of myself -- mostly -- as a pretty positive person, but the last several months have been rocky.  Starting at the holidays...I was missing my parents, especially my mom. But I couldn't feel too sorry for myself because I ended up with pneumonia! (What a drag.) My Christmas miracle was antibiotics.  

Miles and I had a lovely, mellow Christmas (seems like such a long time ago!), spent with friends in Bellingham. And two days later, we were in Florida with the Remmels. Miles had a great time swimming and beach-combing with his cousins.  I enjoyed the warmth and sun, which aided my recovery.  Miles then contracted an upper respiratory infection and missed three days of school. Poor kiddo (poor Mom!). 

AND THEN (yes, there's more, but I'll make it short)...I'm in a cast and crutches, due to a torn foot muscle.  I got the cast on my birthday, and it comes off on MARCH 26!  Miles has been super helpful, and gaining independence, but it's really, really, really a bummer. Understatement of the year.  

School is going well for him...he's working on a Science Fair project. BIRDS: FLYING WONDERS! and he is able to explain Bernoulli's Principle. :-)