John J. Johnson

The Tree

I usually put the tree up the day after Thanksgiving. This year things are a bit crazy, so I did it Sunday night. When I say "I", I mean "I". I have great expectations every year. Maybe the better thing to say would be I have visions of Christmas movies running in my mind where everyone is happy and having a wonderful time,  remembering Christmas's past and hanging ornaments.

That didn't happen. Not even close. After I got the lights on the tree, I called Grant in to start help decorating. He decided to gently place dump all of my ornaments on the floor so he could "pick which ones he wanted to hang". He broke one of my favorite ornaments and then "didn't know how to hang them on the tree". Really, Grant? So I showed him. He then proceeded to hang 5 ornaments. 5. In the same spot. Which drove me crazy. I like all the ornaments evenly spaced and hanging at the perfect length and all facing the right direction. Call me what you will, but it makes the tree pretty. And Grant didn't notice I rearranged his ornaments. He's a boy and isn't so uptight about things like that.

Kinda blurry. Camera malfunctions.

Another Christmas, another Gingerbread House

I do it every year. I get all excited about Christmas and go out and buy a gingerbread house. And every year I get super stressed while trying to put it together. Last year it took me 2 hours. Grant ate most of the roof candies and nothing worked as it should. NOTHING. The thing collapsed at least three times.

So this year, I decided on letting Grant choose the Christmas craft. We went to Michael's. The location of numerous meltdowns. I braved it and in we went. Grant immediately couldn't make up his mind. It takes him forever to make a final decision. He's indecisive. So am I. I can't fault him.

After much debate and encouragement for anything else, he chose a gingerbread house. A foam one. At least that was a bonus. We took it up to the hospital to assemble, so Grandpa Dod could partake in the crafty Christmas cheer.

It wasn't so cheery. I think I said the "s" word so many times Grant could spell it phonetically. Bless his heart. Foam isn't any better than the real thing. The directions weren't really directions at all. Just diagrams of shapes. The pieces were labeled on the directions, but not on the actual pieces. Helpful. Really?

So, two hours later, here it is:

Giggle Box

Something happens to Grant right before bed. I vaguely remember it happening to me. He gets super hyper and then finds everything humorous. Apparently I'm hilarious.

Hospitaled Out

Well, Grant and I have been running back and forth between home, school, work and "the hospital". Grant has become so accustomed to this routine he just assumes that's where we are headed each afternoon. He's made friends with all the nurses. They LOVE him. We walk in and they all say "Hi Grant!" He acts all cool, casually giving them a little wave.

Trying to keep him occupied the other day, I gave him my camera.  "Go take pictures from your favorite windows". He took a ton. He's really not a bad photographer.

The view from St. Anthony's 10th floor

We love you Grandpa Dod. Get well soon!!!!!

Grandpa Dod

Our lives have been turned upside down the past week. Grandpa Dod has been in the hospital. Grant has been great, rolling with each new day. Praying every night. Spending each evening at the hospital watching movies and eating ice-cream or going to spend time with Matt or Nannie. We continue to take one day at a time and rely on the grace of God to bring us the strength to move forward. I find strength through Grant and seeing the world through his eyes. Our children are truly a gift from God and honoring that is our gift back. We love you Grandpa Dod and thank you for all the years of genuine love you've shown us. As you would tell us, "chin up" and "put yourself on top of the ladder". Get well soon!

Grant using a glove balloon as a gun at the hospital. Great......

Tooth Fairy

Apparently Grant has been learning about the tooth fairy.  A song about the tooth fairy.  I  tried to video. See: