Dear Ol' Dad: Goofing Off The Johnson Way

Fun and Games

There was never a shortage of fun in the Johnson household. Mealtime was no exception. At breakfast dad would propose a challenge for the fastest peeling of a hard boiled egg. Ready? Set! Go! The timer wold start and dad would slash a knife right down the middle of the awaiting egg and deftly scoop it out! Record time! Besides the ever present quoting of movies that baffled mom and dad, there was other fun to be had at dinnertime. Spoons was a favorite game at our table! Nice look, don't you think?

Dyed eggs? or dyed eyes? Sheri and Shelly knew the difference.

"They ALL got Daddy's nose" At Malia's baptism in Island Park, everyone got "Daddy's nose". Michelle, Justin, Ryan, Gavin, Jennie

Sunny Days in the Park

I know we ventured out to the park so many times, but the memory that sticks with me the most always take place in the fall. The giant trees are dropping their leaves for us to enjoy! Dad would help us create "forts" or even whole houses with piles of leaves being or walls and beds. Dad and mom would pile huge mounds of leaves and toss us delightfully into them! The musty smell of the warm leaves is a memory we will always cherish!

The noodle standoff between Jennie and Ryan!

Watery hair-dos....Michelle & Malia!

To the Park & then the Hospital

I remember one specific park day down near the river--Ann Morrison Park, I think. It was the time of year when cattails were perfect for picking. We had a huge cattail fight in the evening sunshine and the air was thick with the tiny seedlings floating through the air as we burst the cattails open and threw them at each other. Everyone was covered and laughing. The ground looked like it had snowed. We were afraid we would all be arrested. :) Then Dad breathed in one of the tiny seeds and we decided he needed to be checked out by a doctor. He was a good sport, and turned out to be just fine, and probably saved us all from a family home evening at the police station!