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God-loving Hearts

My Singing Angels

My Singing Angels

Proverbs 22:6
“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”

My greatest and most profound gift from God my Creator has been Carter and Ammon. I know Sean is their father too, but I take their love and knowledge of God and Jesus Christ personally because it’s my responsibility. I cannot help it.

Ammon and Carter each have said several things the past couple of weeks that help me know I’ve begun okay.

Several mornings before St. Patrick’s day, I was in the kitchen getting Carter and Ammon’s breakfast ready with them still in bed. I knew they were stirring, but suddenly I could hear Ammon singing. I walked into their room, sat down on the bed and said, “Good morning, sweet heart! What are you singing?”

With her eyes still shut, she sang, “O be careful little eyes what you see. There’s a Father up above. And He’s looking down in love. So, be careful little eyes what you see.” She had kept her eyes shut so she didn’t see the tears in my eyes as I said, “What a beautiful way to start the day, Ammon. Thank you!” I was ecstatic and grateful that she started the day with God in her heart.

Several weeks ago right after school, Carter, Ammon, and I were out playing in our yard. They had spent time riding their bicycles, and Ammon decided to get off and head to the swing set. In an animated and protective voice, Carter bellows to his sister, “I will help you to ‘play park’ (our swing set) to protect you!”, and he dismounted from his bicycle.

I proclaimed to Carter, “How sweet of you to protect your sister.” Carter said, “That’s why God put me here at this house. To protect Ammon, Daddy H, and Daddy S.” As Carter and his sister headed toward play park, I couldn’t help but wipe away a tear and pray, “Thank you God for my children.”

Okay, folks, enough “misty-eyes” here. LOL Please enjoy our last singings from church. I apologize for the “Red start” to “Christ Arose”. I have no idea what happened.

“Christ Arose”

“Praise Him”

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Ammon Moment: Shevelev Meets “Monster High”

"Thumbs up" to Photography

“Thumbs up” to Photography

“In every truly exceptional portrait there is evidence of an intellectual-emotional passage between the photographer and the subject, and often also between the subject and his or her animate and/or inanimate environment.” (Shevelev, 1989)

Cleo, Laguna,Draculora,Clawdeen, Ghoulia, Frankie, & Operetta

Cleo, Laguna,Draculora,Clawdeen, Ghoulia, Frankie, & Operetta

Ammon has become quite the photographer lately. Her “Monster High” girls (all daughters of famous monsters who just so happen to attend high school together) have become her #1 toys since her first Monster High doll for her birthday. She even used her allowance money (scrubbing toilets, making her bed, folding clothes) to buy Cleo, the mummy’s daughter.

She has been using her iPad to take photos, but she can use our Canon 35 mm as well. Since she has traveled since she was born, she’s seen and helped me take photos since she was about 3. She’s doing great.

Here is link to a great Website with a title Teach Your Child to Take Good Pictures
http://bit.ly/YL1jkZ

Daddy H’s tips are simple for a preschooler 1)Be ready to help hold the camera to help the preschooler with fine motor skills 2)Be ready to delete (praise the Lord for digital deleting)a LOT of photos, and 3)Praise, praise, praise

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Carter Moment

Carter Moment

Journal for the Educated and the Gifted
helps shed some light on early identification of high-ability students, but a Daddy H knows! (hey, 24 years of teaching, Ed. D. in education, being intuitive helps too!)

Exceptional "Ham"!

Exceptional “Ham”!

An exceptional child that can outthink me as a pre-teen or teenager I’m not looking forward to, but my preschool-age exceptional learner son is COOL!

While in Rome, Italy several years ago, a shop owner who fell in love with Carter and Ammon gave us several, small puppet Pinocchios. We’ve used them as Christmas tree ornaments, but one made it to the playroom as a toy. Well, poor Pinocchio has become decapitated, but he is still played with. How you may ask?

After some preschool homeschooling one day this week, I walked into our bonus room/play room, and Carter was walking around with Pinocchio. He asked, “Do you want to see a puppet show?” I said, “Sure!” Carter jumped up on an arm chair and began fiddling with his toe. I was sitting in the floor with his foot almost directly in my face. I questioned, “What are you doing?” In his best and solid, “matter of fact” voice, Carter stated, “It’s a Toe Puppet Show.” He then slipped the loop-threaded decapitated Pinocchio head his big toe and said began a brief puppet show by saying, “Hello, Daddy H! How are you today?” I was amazed!

Decapitated & denosed Pinocchio Toe Puppet

Decapitated & denosed Pinocchio Toe Puppet

Readers especially parents/grandparents (you know you want to brag) and teachers what do you think, and what do you have to share?

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Ammon & Carter’s New Bicycles

The tricycles Mamaw bought for Carter and Ammon two years ago were still being used just about every day, but it was time to move up to a bicycle. When Ammon, Carter, Sean, and I did the Santa list before Thanksgiving, both of the children put a bicycle on their lists.

Ammon, new bicycle, and coveralls Christmas Day 2012

Ammon, new bicycle, and coveralls Christmas Day 2012

I was 5 years old when I got my first bicycle, but I didn’t learn to ride without training wheels until I was 7. I’m not too sure how they will do without training wheels, but I will keep you all updated…LOL

Carter, his new bicycle, and coveralls Christmas Day 2012

Carter, his new bicycle, and coveralls Christmas Day 2012

One more thing. I love coveralls for both Carter and Ammon and myself. They are so warm, easy to put on during the winter months, and easy to toss in the washer and dryer if they get dirty. Hey, and aren’t they a contrast to the “Cutesy Christmas clothes”? (You cannot peg what this family wears!) ;o)

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We Survived Christmas 2012!

Sean, Carter, Ammon, & Haven at the end of a Great Christmas 2012

Sean, Carter, Ammon, & Haven at the end of a Great Christmas 2012

I got Ammon and Carter up at 7:30 (I’m soooo glad there is sleeping and no peeking during the wee-morning hours during this age) to tell them that Saint Nicholas has been here. I loved reading “Twas the Night Before Christmas” on Christmas Eve, and Carter and Ammon were anxious for Santa.

They had a good and blessed morning with their Santa toys. Their biggest gift and challenge is their bicycles.

Santa was good to Carter!

Santa was good to Carter!

Santa was good to Ammon!

Santa was good to Ammon!

Ammon and Carter’s Nana has the Jesus Christ’s spirit of GIVING during Christmas, and she spares no expense on her grandchildren. They are very blessed (in a familial way & material way …LOL…) to have their Nana.

Carter's Nana Claus haul!

Carter’s Nana Claus haul!

Ammon's Nana Claus haul!

Ammon’s Nana Claus haul!

I hope and pray that you and yours enjoyed Christmas 2012. Starting and ending the day with my family and with Jesus the Christ child in my heart was my favorite and most important part.

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Toys R Us 2012

It’s so cool to enjoy the Ferris Wheel at the Toys R Us in Times Square, New York City. Ammon and Carter really enjoy going there even if it is just to “look at toys”.

3rd Annual Toys R Us Ferris Wheel Ride: Haven's 1st ride with Carter.

3rd Annual Toys R Us Ferris Wheel Ride: Haven’s 1st ride with Carter.

Nana & Sean's 1st Ferris Wheel Picture with Ammon: 3rd Annual Toys R Us Ferris Wheel Ride

Nana & Sean’s 1st Ferris Wheel Picture with Ammon: 3rd Annual Toys R Us Ferris Wheel Ride

It’s so cool to see Carter & Ammon growing. I am including their last year’s link so we can all compare.

2011 Toys R US

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Mamaw’s Birthday

Ammon, Carter, & Mamaw Nov. 22, 2012

Spectacular loving, caring, giving, & entertaining mother. Devoted daughter, wonderful and faithful wife, GRAND- grandmother and GREAT –great grandmother who is spectacular, loving, caring, and entertaining to children. Breast cancer survivor. Great housekeeper, excellent cook, diligent and wonderful yard-worker. Those things above describe my mother, MaryLou Wimpy Caylor, and today is her birthday. It worked out nicely that Carter and Ammon will get to spend her birthday with her. As a matter of fact, it was Mamaw’s (you readers know that is my mother’s familial-endearing name) choice. Mama, I hope your 72nd year coming up is the BEST year you’ve ever had, and that God blesses you continually the way you bless all who know you.

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Happy Birthday, Ammon

How time flies, and what a blessing Ammon has been. Heart melting moment(s). Ammon has a new, wonderful habit of saying, “I love you.” at different times and places.

Once again the kitchen is the setting (all you parental care-givers understand how much TIME  is spent in the kitchen): Haven cleaning surfaces when Ammon bounces into the kitchen from the living room. The sink is open to the rest of the kitchen-eating area with no back drop, so Ammon and Carter can peer above the counter and see me working at the stove or wherever.

“Daddy?! (an interrogative exclamation), “Yes, Ammon?” . “Daddy, I just wanted to say…, ‘I love you.’  “Thank you, sweetheart. I love you too.” : just like her brother, she melted my heart. Happy Birthday, Ammon. We love you.

Happy 4th Birthday, Ammon! 11-6-2012

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Happy Birthday, Carter!

How time flies, and what a blessing Carter has been. Just Tuesday morning (10-30-2012), Carter woke up called from his and Ammon’s dark bedroom, “Daddy?!” Often times if Carter doesn’t wake up feeling too rested and “cranky” he yells for me, so with a bit of concern in my voice I answered back to him from the kitchen, “Yes, son?” He then called back, “I love you!” ….yet another heart-melting moment from my son.

Our 4 year old Boy!

God, Thank you for Carter, and, Carter, may your 4th year be a blessed one.

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Cousin Linda/Daddy’s Birthday

Daddy’s Birthday

Once again, thanks to Facebook, I’ve been able to meet a family member and do some good chatting…both online and phone. My 2nd cousin’s name is Linda Kirk. She is 8 years younger than my father, but she spent A LOT of time with Daddy, Nanny, & Granddaddy.

It’s such a treat to hear her perspective of Varnell, Georgia during the 1950s with my father. My father had a wonderful (no, nothing is ever perfect as we all know) childhood with Linda, her mother, Madeline, her father, Charles, and Linda’s brother, David. As has been told by Nanny Caylor and Linda, there was hardly a weekend that went by (for years and years mind you)  when the Caylors and the Kirks were not together.

Well, today is Daddy’s birthday (he would have been 73), and I know that Linda is like me and filled with wonderful memories of a wonderful man, my father. However, I’m envious of her because she got to know him as her “big brother” cousin who knew each other as human beings so to speak. Knowing my father as a human being was something I only got to know for a little while, and it was still that “friendship/father” relationship.  Linda and I each have our own set of blessings that came from knowing Oliver Haven Caylor….cousin to her…father to me. Happy birthday, Daddy!

Daddy would be 73 today!!