Josiah is 17!

The start of the spring semester was met with not a lot of joy or excitement.  Caroline's sleep scores on her FitBit dropped.  She came home that first day of school ready for a nap.  It's rough getting back into it.  We like to look forward to the next scheduled holiday.  Only nine more school days until MLK day.  My class celebrated a birthday that first day back, so we had a soft start.  Once those cupcakes are served, we eat and try to get out to the playground before the sugar rush hits.

Josiah had a birthday today.  The big 17.  Before celebrating today, he celebrated with a few classmates downtown on Saturday.  They did an escape room together.  We were sitting in the lobby towards the end of their hour and we kept hearing this banging sound - sort of like someone was trying a code and it wasn't working.  A lot.  We were a little concerned they were not going to escape, but when they walked out, they said they made it.  Later, in the car, I asked Josiah if they requested any clues.  Yes.  How many did you need?  I didn't count.  That would be a lot.  But they got out and it was the hardest room there.  Afterwards, they got ice cream and walked around a record store.  He originally ordered birthday cake ice cream and the lady had to tell him they were out.  What?!!  He was a little disappointed.  But the peppermint ice cream was good. He said he had a very good time, which is what you always hope to hear. 

Josiah was up bright and early this morning.  He was ready to find all his gifts sans siblings.  I did wake the other two up.  One stayed in bed.  The other came down, but was not an active participant in the festivities.  We had hidden Josiah's gifts and gave him clues, which he solved quickly for the most part.  His toughest clue was Numbers 21:33: "Then they turned and went up by the way to Bashan.  And Og the king of Bashan came out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei."  But we capitalized both letters of Og.  It was the OG spot - under our square table.  

While Josiah and I were waiting for his pizza dinner at Papa John's, I decided to look up what was the percent increase in his weight.  Starting at 2 lbs 15.9 oz to (around) his current weight, he has had a 4576.41% increase.  That's insane!  Then he had stuffed crust pizza and cake, so there goes the percent.  All the food for his birthday meals involved cheese in some form.  He wanted Froot Loops as his cereal, but he didn't eat them.  He ate a cheesy omelet.  He eats omelets every morning, but he added bacon to his birthday one.  For lunch, he requested Grandma's homemade mac and cheese.  For the first time, I successfully doubled her recipe.  I felt like I avenged myself from the bland mac and cheese I cooked for Thanksgiving.  

For the better part of four hours today, the menfolk worked on setting up the new basketball hoop.  It was the group Christmas gift for the kids, but it didn't come until after Christmas (because it wasn't ordered until after January...).  Towards the start of the process, Henry tested the hoop on all of us.  He slid it up and down like you would a hula hoop.  I held my breath when he came to me, but fortunately, I made it.  Throughout the process they touched on all the emotions.  Anger.  Frustration.  Boredom.  Frustration.  Happiness.  Anger.  Hope.  Frustration.  Annoyance.  And double back again.  But when the goal was lifted up and put in place, all was forgotten.  mostly.  I tried to get some pictures, especially because the backboard will never be that clean and clear again.  We were all a little shocked by how tall 10 feet was.  Technically our driveway is inclined, so that probably makes it slightly taller.  

Josiah received many nice gifts for his birthday, but the best gift of all was the news that he was cast as Mr. Green in the Clue play at school.  He is so incredibly excited to get the script and get everything started.  The drama teacher had a tough time picking the actors because there is no ensemble cast with this play.  It is a far more technical play with the lights and sounds, so they need a ton of help in those areas. 

It is hard to believe we are already in the 3rd quarter of school.  The fall semester always seems to fly by.