We had a busy 2018. Lev turned two and Misha seven, and they’re busy guys. Natalia continued her work as a research scientist at the Medical College of Wisconsin, where she’s working in the Department of Biophysics; she’s focusing on the role of cell membranes in the formation of cataracts. Dave was grateful to return (in August) to being an Associate Dean and English Professor after serving 18 months as Interim Dean of the College of Letters and Science at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Full Deans spend way too much time in meetings.
Vital Facts
- Family weight progress. Overall, our household lost 45 pounds, after accounting for Lev’s and Misha’s and Tyomka the cat’s ongoing, significant increases.
- Family height progress. We are four inches taller after 2018. Dave is now 6′ 1″. The cat is somewhat shorter.
- Family aging progress. We continued to age this year.
- Family fitness progress. Dave ran his first 5K in a time that wasn’t super embarrassing (ok, it was 30:09), and Natalia ran a five mile race that she thought was a 5K. It did take her a little longer than she expected.
- Family rock star progress. Misha can now play a recognizable “Wild Thing.” Dave’s burgeoning second career as a rock star continues to bump up against challenges imposed by his early bedtime. This year Iron Monocle played bars, a block party, and a 40th birthday party. And they finally broke into the lucrative bilingual daycare market.
Lev
Lev loves everything related to music and dancing and microphones. Many thanks to everyone who bought him loud instruments for his birthday.
He’s very two. He only likes things that are his idea, and as we learned on an international flight, he hates being buckled in on a plane and lets everyone know it.
Misha
Misha is into lots of stuff: He’s taking guitar lessons at School of Rock, which is somehow still a thing 15 years after the movie. He also played a lot of soccer this year, took swimming lessons, and earned a green belt in junior karate. He’s particularly excited to be joining a rock climbing team in 2019. And he really likes video games; sigh.
He loves school, most of the time. Especially math.
Here’s to a peaceful, productive, and politically sane 2019.