Quality time for Free

On of our goals, if that's what you can call it, this year is to spend time with the boys each week and it not cost us a penny.  Now, sometime we do spend money like this past weekend when we ran the Nashville Zoo 5K and went to the Circus.  However, that same weekend we all cuddled up on the couch, watched Brave and ate popcorn.  We were even making memories then.  What I will remember is that Noah is an M&M hog and ate all the candy, leaving Aiden and I none.  You can't blame a boy who knows what he likes.

 

There are a few other things we've done this year, like hike at Dunbar Cave.  The weather was a beautiful that weekend, which was unseasonable for January.  We took Rocky with us and he's not real great on the lease so that was interesting but we all enjoyed the time outdoors.  Steve ran the trails while the boys and I hiked them.  Aiden and Noah had both been there before so they were proud to show me the way. 

 

Our goal is that our boys will look back and have fond memories of their time with their family.  That when they are older they will always want to come home and that hanging out with their parents may even be cool.  I will keep posting some of the things we do so that you guys can hold us accountable.  Having fun doesn't have to  cost and arm and leg, it's the quality time together that will never be forgotten.

Aiden's First 5K

Wow, what a wonderful weekend for the Gambill family.  We had a weekend full of family time.  It was definitely a busy weekend but when I reflect back, I feel so blessed and am so happy to have had this time with my wonderful family.  As a parent, the opportunity to see you children so excited and proud is a wonderful experience.  I believe this was one of those weekends that Aiden will always remember.

Aiden and the flamingos

On Saturday the entire family ran the Nashville Zoo 5K.  It was Steve and Aiden's first race.  It was also Noah's but he rode in the stroller so I'm not sure that counts. Noah favorite weekend memory was the person in a giraffe costume.  I ran with Aiden and Steve pushed Noah in the stroller.  I was so proud of Aiden!  He was excited to be in a race and though he hadn't ran much, he really pushed himself to finish.  I think the excitement of it all was really energizing to him.  He ran the first mile and half without stopping, I even had to tell him to slow down a few times. Then we walked/ran the next mile, stopping periodically to look at the animals but we ran the last half mile to the finish line.  I was behind him at the finish line and in true racer fashion, he sprinted it in.  He's a natural!

Noah and the giraffe costume.

 

There are a few things about this weekend that I will never forget.  One, I will never forget watching Aiden weave in and out, passing runners like he was a pro.  I loved his confidence most of all.   I'll never forget the pleasure on his face when he crossed the finish line and I'll never forget his attitude.  Aiden had such a can do attitude during this race, an attitude that I hope he can take and use in other places in his life.

 

One funny moment worth sharing is when we were running through the bamboo at the Zoo.  Aiden says, "do they have Panda's here?"  I said, no.  Then he replied, "then why do they have bamboo, it's not native to this region."  My smart son!

 



Team Gambill

What a blessed weekend the Lord granted us!  I hope our boys remember these special times with full hearts, knowing that their parents love them and enjoy their company.

Starting 2013

Hello Everyone, it's been a while since I have blogged.  It seems like there is so much more to do but this blog always weights on my mind because I know someday it will be a great reflection on our relationship with the boys.

I thought since this was my first blog of the year and the first in awhile, I'd spend a minute catching up.  Steve and I have started the year with a clean eating diet.  It's been pretty simple for me but Steve is really struggling with it.  During this process, I have become more aware of what our boys are eating.  Just this morning, as Noah was eating his Lucky Charms, I was thinking about all the processed food they eat.  I opened the pantry and realized that if I threw out all the processed food, we'd have nothing left.  We have got to start teaching our boys how to eat healthy now.

I'm still running and Steve has signed up for a half-marathon.  I'm excited that we will have this to do together.  The whole family is going to run in a 5K at the end of January.  This will the be year of good ole' healthy family bonding.