Miles A. Remmel: 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. :-)