Josh on Josh: Ten

Josh, our magic middle, is such a wonderful little man, and at ten, he is finding his way through the bliss and murk of moving from little boy to big boy.  He is insightful and inquisitive, seemingly mature beyond his ten years.  He is always asking questions or seeking information that will help him to expand his knowledge of the things he enjoys (and we've yet to find a subject that he doesn't enjoy), and pushing for bigger responsibilities at school and at home.  He takes initiative and is unceasingly determined.  He has deep fears of the night and darkness that he just can't shake no matter how much he tells his active, beautiful imagination to settle.  Josh is a kind, considerate and helpful friend and brother.  He has a lot of great friends at school and on his soccer team and is always begging for time to play with them.  He loves to help and share his vast knowledge and understanding, which is usually pretty nice, but he is still working on knowing that unwanted help isn't helpful.  This particular trait causes Josh and Luke to butt heads a lot and improving their interactions is something we are all working on.  Josh loves to read and write and is a math whiz.  He is excited about expanding his vocabulary and checks the thesaurus regularly for new words.  His grades are stellar and his thirst for knowledge and love of sharing his knowledge are unquenchable.  He loves to share about his day, his life, his thoughts and the things he has done, and appreciates when he can have an undivided audience more than any of the other boys.  Special one-on-one time and cuddle time is a requirement for him.  He is our biggest son, as far as placement on the growth chart goes (50th percentile!), so it is easy to forget how very sensitive and tenderhearted he can be, but he really is.  He feels things deeply and needs gentle guidance for his stubborn streak.  Persistence is a crowning trait, which as a parent can be a double-edged sword!  We love that he doesn't back down to a challenge, but also would love it if he wouldn't challenge so much...for now.  We are proud of our sweet Josh, and know he has a bright year ahead!

How old are you?  "Ten!"
What makes you happy?  "Being with my family; also being with my friends."
What are your favorite things to eat?  "Fettuccine shrimp alfredo, potstickers, most things Mom makes."
What is your least favorite thing to eat?  "Cooked spinach."
What are your favorite things to do?  "Play soccer with Eli and Canyon, and Sophie."
What is your favorite TV show?  "Hmm...Studio C...totally."
What are you really good at?   "Soccer, rollerblades, reading, math, and other stuff like that."
What is your favorite movie?  "I honestly don't know, I like a lot of movies...Maleficent."
What is your favorite animal?  "Narwhal."
What is your favorite color?  "Orange."
What is your favorite song?  "Counting Stars by OneRepublic."
Who are your best friends?  "Eli, Canyon, Sophie and the Ryans (Dean and Simonds)."
What do you and Mom do together that you love?  "Going to movies and snuggling while reading or watching a movie."
What do you and Dad do together that you love?  "Playing soccer."
What is your favorite sport?  "Soccer."
What is your favorite book?  "The Kronos Chronicles."
Where is your favorite place to go?  "The Conlin cabin and Panda Express."
What makes you feel scared?  "Dark places."
What do you want to be when you grow up?  "Pro soccer player."
What words would you use to describe yourself? "Cheerful, fun to be around (most of the time), fun, happy, smart, inquisitive, curious."
What is the most exciting thing you got to do this year? "Went to Florida?  Wait.  That was last year.  Went to the Sand Dunes.  Turning double digits."
What do you want to tell the future you? "Nice uniform.  Work hard if you want to stay on the team!"