Dear Johnny

Dear Johnny Manziel:

Everyone knows what a stud you are.  Those blog readers who don't, will surely Google you and bear witness to your athletic prowess too.  But while you are lighting up college football, and congratulations on that, I am thinking about my kids.  As a 21 year old college student, you are walking a fine line between being a kid and being an adult.   It seems from your behavior off the field that you have forgotten the joy of acting like a real kid.
http://www.businessinsider.com/outrageous-things-johnny-football-2013-12?op=1

It also appears that your kind of fun has some fairly negative associations.  The word punk comes to mind.  It would seem that sports writers would be hard-pressed to fault you if you acted a little more like my kids, ages three and five months.  Dare I say that our brand of fun just may be a little more gratifying and a whole lot less controversial.

Have fun with your family.  The good, clean kind of fun that won't get you on the front page of the papers. 

Sledding, for example.

If you need a more exciting activity, you can spice it up by sledding down a hill toward a freezing lake.

Or you could try your hand at ice skating.  Thomas did a mere three days after getting skates from Santa and was shockingly good at it.  I'd bet that you too, Johnny, would find that you are very good at a different sport.

Standing on his own the second time around!

Since you live in the south, sledding and skating may not be easy options.  In that case, I might suggest something that can be done anywhere: dress up and pretend.  The day after Christmas, Thomas started pretending he was Santa and brought his dad skates and a candy cane.  Very cute.  Nana added a fun prop to the mix.  No one was spared from Santification.

Thomas Claus

Ryan Claus

Mama Claus

Daddy Claus

Nana Claus

Papa Claus

Keep taking selfies.  They're fun.  Here are some of ours:

(Thomas' sweats and boot)

Like son, like mother (my new skates)

I understand that you have a rigorous physical training to attend to, but why not make it fun too?  Ryan has a blast trying to rip down the bunny from his chair.  He finally mastered it this week.

He's also getting the knack of using the exersaucer as a workout tool.

Our fun is a little lower key than you may be used to, Johnny, but Thomas and Ryan attest that it is the best kind.