Passing of the Torch

My son, Kellen, has started captain's practice for cross country.  Kellen is a soon to be 8th grader who is not very big at all.  He is pretty proud of his six pack and likes to flaunt his pecs, but compared to his peers he is on the small side.  You would never really know that because Kellen has a HUGE personality!!  He is always smiling, joking around, and pushing the envelope just a little bit.  He is everything I wish I was at that age!!  Anyway, back to practice.  Kellen loves to run which is funny because when he was a small boy he ran really funny - kind of sideways.  We almost took his to a doc for an evaluation, but we figured he would outgrow it kind of like Forrest Gump.  Well, he did.  Kellen shows up every day at captain's practice even though it is optional. He is the youngest one there.  He runs hard and has big goals. Wednesday he experienced the "runner's high" for the first time and now I am sure there is no stopping him!  When I picked him up from practice his face was bright red and he was exhausted.  Then he began to spew (yes, that is the right verb!) "Mom, that was the hardest run ever.  I ran with the fast guys and I kept up.  I worked so hard. I am going to do that again tomorrow.  I am so proud of myself!" And he went on and on all the way home as he made plans to  the set records in distance running.  LOVED IT!  Kellen is one of a kind!  Some of his traits that annoy me the most - his stubborness, his questioning of authority, his lack of caring what others think - are also the qualities I admire most in him.  I love that we share a love of running!!  We are planning on running a half marathon together in August.  I think sharing that love is a thread that will always keep us connected!

New braces!!  I love that he chose colorful bands!!!