Caleb's Birthday Etc.

I just found this in my draft folder.  Time to get it published as Caleb's birthday was October 6th.

 (I'm changing the publication date so it will be in the right spot even though it really is being finished up in November).

"Mom, you've got to take a cool birthday picture."

Cache sent a few gifts, we are guessing they are things leftover in his apartment.  One was a birthday book for  March 23 (horoscope, numerology etc.) and this lovely tie.  Caleb was very excited to be remembered by Cache and is planning on wearing the tie--to what occasion is still being determined.

Caleb turned 17 yesterday.  (how?)  And now, after the announcement yesterday, that means that in exactly 1 year he could serve a mission, except for the fact that he will not have graduated from high school yet.  Blows my mind.

Anyway, I've had a few things to post about him lately that just haven't happened so I'm going to lump them all together in one post.  The agenda:  birthday, indexing and cross country.

Caleb is such an amiable kid (much of the time; he's a teen after all) and his sisters had wrapped up some presents for him, which consisted of pictures they had made and a few of their 'boy' toys they were regifting. He was very cute with them and made them feel special for what they did.  He also got underwear again this year (at his request) and even opened it while his friend was here.  No embarrassment from him--happy and jovial.  We love his easy going fun personality.

He wanted Philly Cheesesteaks for his birthday meal, then who does he invite over?  His vegetarian friend.  Had I known Sam was coming I would have put something else on, but he came when we were close to finishing the meal and so he just ate pickles and chips, then had cake with us.

Caleb wanted a red velvet cake with caramel, cream and butterfingers.  I forgot to buy candles so he had the leftovers I had in my candle basket.  Didn't matter--he just loves this cake.

Our stake president (see him on page 55 of October 2012 Ensign) promised the youth in our stake if they would index they would have extra help beyond the veil.  Since Tom has a testimony of indexing, he decided to dangle a carrot to help that along.  As soon as Caleb heard his mountain bike would be fixed for a certain number of names indexed, he jumped right on it.  In a short time he has nearly doubled what he had done.  I find it amazing how much happier he is when he's indexing daily.

Now a bit on Cross Country.  Right now AFXC boys team is ranked #3 in the nation.  Do you know what kind of training is required to achieve that?  I only know in the form of how much I send him out to run and then hear a little about the different kinds of work outs they do. I also know if the form of keeping him fed.  (It's A LOT!).  I have a chart on my fridge recording miles run.  Since Memorial Day he's ran over 1,400 miles(November tally; not October tally).  In those miles he runs a hard hill they call Grinder (weekly in the summer; not as much in the season).  They do speed workouts, capillary runs (70 minute runs at a fast pace), endurance training and much more.  All in all, it is very good as he is learning discipline and very hard work.