Cyber space and gramma

I love his face, his enthusiasm for life, how he enjoys making others smile.
Not always perfectly behaved - but always enthusiastically involved in life.  I pray that he will always understand how important he is to our family.  Our only little guy so far, struggling to stay a foot among all us girls,
telling us stories to make us laugh,
pushing his momma's buttons until he is sure she is upset.
Dancing around, constant moving...
making bebop noises, sometimes not in the appropriate places...
but always trying to bring joy to people, always blessing others.
He is quiet and we wonder what is going on?
It appears as though K has a new game on his Ipod...
gramma doesn't have a clue of the game,
but I must admit I see a bonding going on between fellows...
a love that I don't understand but can not deny is there.
As I see him sit next to his friend and they build a house in cyber space...
I relax and remember I don't have to understand everything.
Sometimes it is best just to sit back and enjoy the smile.

The paper Christmas tree

She told me the story over the phone.
Going out to have coffee and conversation with a friend, she leaves her apartment with a kiss and a see you in a little while.
I imagine them getting right to work, her daddy and her.
Going to the Dollar Tree and getting some Christmas paper and tape.
When they get back home they measure, cut and tape...
we must hurry,
gotta find the lights and ornaments before momma gets home.
Finally it is ready - they plug in the long cord and it lights up the pretty paper against the white stone wall.
When she arrives home from coffee,
she closes her eyes and her baby girl takes her by the hand...
standing there in the dark,
her eyes open to the lights of a paper Christmas tree...
made totally of love,
and a few small things from the dollar store.
Merry Christmas momma...
Merry Christmas baby girl!
I think if a daddy and a little girl can always be this excited and creative...
a paper tree Christmas may be the best ever!

Retro

When it came to the matching aprons - Frieda used a "complimentary" color from the others...
and then sewed up Cassie Grace her very first ever...
"retro" apron.
Sometimes a gramma will just go out of her way to do something different...
that will hopefully be remembered for many years.
Maybe this will be something saved for Cassie's babies.
I hope some day when she opens it up and sees the apron that she will know the love in the planning and the love in each stitch!

Thanksgiving at the Johnsons, 2013

Cassandra Grace on Thanksgiving

Cassie Grace and her cousin Logan

Sometimes when you can't be together with all of those you love under one roof...
it helps to picture them with others that love them just as much as you!

Palm trees and lillies...

When I was a little girl my hair never went past the top of my ears and off we would go to the beauty shop for a "pixie".  I don't know if it was the style, the way my mom liked my hair, or if it was just easier that way... I do know I had thin, stick straight hair.  My girls all had long hair, I never did cut it until one day my mom impressed on me the fact that when Emi Jo sat down to go to the bathroom her hair reached the water in the toilet. 
Do you believe that?
Well, I did cut off her curls, they never came back.
Now the girls have their own girls.  They have all had a little baldness when they were babies... but it always fills in... 
first enough for a little palm tree...
then for a lilly on the side.

Aprons

This picture was taken on December 25th, 2013 - everyone was home for Christmas Eve together at our house.  Grams made Swedish meatballs, cheesy turkey and some luscious sweets.  Lindsey made some "zoupa" soup, and sangria's! We had mashed potatoes, artichoke dip, chips and salsa.  For one of Gramma D's gifts we bought her and the great grand-kids matching aprons.   She has always been known for her cooking and even now she continues to make the best meals around.  JaciAnna and Gramma D do baking together when ever they can, and if life permits it won't be long before the others join in!  After the opening of presents, the eating and the rest...   here they all are, about 11:00 in the morning with Gramma D, their matching aprons, Papa and Grammie Pammie too...
waiting for the day...
when the baking begins!

Cassandra Grace, 11 months old!

Said the night wind to the baby girl...
"do you hear what I hear, way up in the sky little girl?"