Motherhood Monday - Running Partners

Apparently I'm still cool enough to hang out with and I guess my kids like me enough that it really doesn't matter what we do, as long as we are together.  That makes me feel really awesome, especially since I mess up the "mothering/nurturing" thing so often.  I sometimes joke with Nathan that we don't need to be perfect parents, we just need to save up for the counselors our kids are going to need.  :)

I love that my boys will go out and run around the neighborhood with me.  I love that they are bummed when they have plans that won't permit them to tag along.  Normally there isn't a ton of communicating going on... I'm usually just trying to breathe and not die, but it's time alone for me and my kids.

Even when they get tired and refuse to jog, the conversation and bonding is always great.  Just after I snapped this picture, Isaac asked me if I had any money.  I told him I hadn't brought anything like that with me.  He said, next time, he was going to bring some money so we could stop at the nearby gas station and buy a candy bar to eat on the jog home! Bahaha!!!  I love that kid!

Nathan told me not long ago that as a younger man he struggled to come up with a way he could bond with his mother.  They didn't have a lot of the same interests and she wasn't able to get down and wrestle or be active with him.  He said that he finally figured out that they both liked TV and movies.  So occasionally they would watch TV together and go to movies.  He told me that he was glad the boys and I are doing this together, because it provides us an opportunity for me to do something with them - something that we can bond over.

Who knows how long they will continue to enjoy this and want to go with me.  Who am I kidding?  Who knows how long I am going to last do the thing I dislike the most.  But while it lasts, I'll take it!

Jared's 6th Grade Graduation

 Last week, as part of the end of school festivities, we attended Jared's 6th grade graduation.  It was a nice program.

Here is Jared getting his graduation certificate.

Showing it to mom for the picture.

My not-so-little man!

Grandpa and Grandma Carter were able to come.  Jared also received an Outstanding Art Award as well as The Golden Eagle Award.

 Afterwards, we took him to +Kneaders for dinner and dessert.

So proud of my boy!

Cavity-Free Crew

Last week we all hit the dentist.  Fortunately, there were not cavities.  In traditional fashion, I present you with a cavity-free selfie.

The not-so-good news is that it is time to head back to the orthodontist!