Click on “Disney World Tips” below to read the article, and as always, “Likes”, “shares”, & comments are greatly appreciated.
Category Archives: Family
Autumn 2013
Our Autumn Mantel is set. Our harvest angels have graced our home for several years now. During the autumn, they flank our Lladró figurine of Jesus Christ, The Master Teacher. As I turned their faces toward the figure of Christ, I couldn’t help but think of Dantes Paradiso XXIII 43-45
Then her eyes turned to the eternal Light
Into whose depth we may believe the eyes
45 Of no other creature penetrates more clearly.
When there are angelic figures or human figures on our mantel, I try to position them where their eyes are fixed on the Eternal Light, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Happy Autumn Everyone, and God bless you all.
Peggy, Janie, Kelly, & God…thank you all!
Friends & Family
There was a chain reaction that started with Peggy Lamb (Carter and Ammon’s aunt) helped me get in contact with a local author, Janie Dempsey Watts (You need to read her Moon Over Taylor’s Ridge Moon over Taylor’s Ridge ). Janie gave me the suggestion to head to Barnes & Noble to speak with the manager Kelly Flemmings. I have been so blessed that these wonderful people have helped me to write. I now have 2 books! It took 2 years, but I did it.
My parenting/travel/memoir is Parenting Strategies on the Go , and I had a great “kick off” book signing at Barnes and Noble in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
My other book is Christmas Hawk
God-loving Hearts
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.
Ammon Moment: Shevelev Meets “Monster High”
“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
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
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”!
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
Readers especially parents/grandparents (you know you want to brag) and teachers what do you think, and what do you have to share?
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
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
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)
We Survived 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 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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
