Catching Up

It's been a busy Fall.  Wayne and Cole are both on the Lake Region Cross Country Team. Cole is also playing soccer. Heather is on 2 soccer teams.

Together, Wayne and Cole are giving Lake Region a name in XC.  Here they run at a large North Country meet involving many schools.

Cole finishing strong.

Wayne is right behind him.

This is Wayne's new girlfriend, Kaitlyn. She's called Kait. She does not like to keep her shoes on.

Heather and I picked some apples...

...and made a pie.

Another XC meet, this one at U32 in East Montpelier.

Cole ran his personal best and overtook these two of his toughest competitors at the finishline.

Wayne also ran a personal best and overtook the runners on front of him for a strong finish.

School Begins Again

First day of school for Cole and Heather on August 27.

Cole begins 9th grade at Lake Region. Heather starts 6th grade at Glover School

 Then the first official day of high school for Cole and Wayne on the 28th.  Thought we should have the truck in the background as Wayne was driving himself and Cole to school.

Cole 9th grade, Wayne 11th grade

Wayne

A lone photo of Wayne, just because he's so handsome.

Glover Day

Glover Day photos in no particular order.

Another Track Meet for Cole

This one held at St. Johnsbury Academy.

Cole competed in the 400m and the 800m.

Below, the start of the 400.

Cole takes an early lead, but around the 3rd corner, this boy from Champlain Valley swill speed past him.

Cole places 2nd but both he and the Champlain Valley kid break the Vermont state record at 57.96 and 58.30 (the state record was 60.?)

Lining up for the 800. The boy on the right is from St. Johnsbury and is Cole's new nemesis.  He is the same age as Cole (14) but obviously much smaller and not carrying any body weight. He wins many races.

Finishing the 800, 1st place.

Cole Says Good-bye to Glover Community School

Cole returned from his 8th grade trip with a terrible illness. He had a high fever and sore throat.  A trip to the doctor and a throat culture proved negative for strep.  "Must be something viral," the doctor said.  He missed most of his last week of school.  He made a couple attempts to attend, which resulted in me leaving work early to pick him up and bring him home. The school nurse called one day and said he had fallen asleep on the floor in language arts. The principal called another day and said he was having a hard time staying awake in science.  The throat pain did not subside spread to his ears, keeping him awake nights. Another trip to the doctor again resulted in a negative test for strep.  The doctor prescribed antibiotics anyway, and with 24 hours, Cole reported feeling 90% better.

In the middle of all this unwellness, he managed to get himself through his 8th grade graduation.

Fintan Letzelter-Smith, Grant Laclair, William Thomas, Cole, Zephyr Hill-Barnes

 This class started off with 6 members in kindergarten, but grew over the years.

Cole and Alayni Miller read their speech. The audio is not great, and the crying baby and Cole's hoarse voice make it difficult to hear, but crank up the volume and you'll get the gist of it.

 Cole receives his diploma.

 There was cake and refreshments afterwards.

 With Grammie afterwards.

Cole with best friend, Zephyr, who will go to St. Johnsbury Academy next year.

 The Flower of Thanks - during the graduation ceremony, each 8th grader gave one to the person who had supported them the most.  Cole gave this to me.

Flashback to kindergarten graduation.

 Hard to believe these kids have grown so fast.

 Cole and Zephyr

Track and Field State Championships

On Wednesday afternoon, Cole and a few select members of the OCSU track and field team traveled to UVM for the Middle School State Championships.  The photo below is not great, but it shows Cole awarded 3rd in the state for the 1500m run.  He had a time of 4:45 which is a bit slower than his PB at U32 which was 4:38.  The same kids that beat him at U32 also beat him here at States, but he has become friends with them and one of them sent him this photo. (Wes went to this meet, I could not get out of work, and special thanks to Joanie for picking Heather up from school that day, amidst the chaos of the "full scale evacuation drill, including emergency responders, with lights and sirens")

On Saturday, June 2, Wayne and his Lake Region team also went to Division III state championships at Green Mountain Union High School in Chester VT.  Wayne did great, placing 5th overall in the long jump, 17'11.5"

 Wes, Heather, and travelled the 2+ hours to the event.  I had to drag Heather out of bed, the younger sister forced to attend her brothers' events - getting old for her.  "I've had to go to EVERY baseball game, EVERY basketball game! I'm NOT going. I'm not!"  She got over it, but it was very boring for her. Meanwhile, Cole is still on his class trip to Boston.

  

 Wayne did great in the high jump, placing 3rd overall, clearing 5'4".  His PB is 5'6" but didn't manage it this time.

Today, shopping and lunch with Heather for putting up with her brothers.