Sweden’s colors are yellow and blue, but Sean and I were sporting our USA Independence Day Red, White, and Blues in Stockholm on July 4

Ammon and Carter the “Swedish Vikings” Sean & Haven outside the Royal Palace

Royal Guard Parade outside the palace

Narrow, medieval alleys in Stockholm

Stockholm: Old Town/Market Square

During July 2012 Sweden and the other Baltic countries were experiencing a heat wave. The temperatures were in the 90s, and only a fraction of the hotels, restaurants, or shops had air conditioning.

This year we were in Stockholm on July 4, 2012, and the temperatures were normal. It was also a breezy, sunny day, and it was gorgeous. In 2010, we had stayed in Stockholm about 5 days, and we got to know the city quite well, however, we did not have a tour guide help us with the city. On our 1 day 2012 tour, we decided to take a 3 hour walking tour of the medieval part of Stockholm. The area was very familiar, but our guide was informative and taught us things we did not know of its history. We also had a tour of the royal palace.

One of the best things about cruising is the new friends that we meet. Cedell Johnson is our new friend who we met and chatted with all morning in Stockholm. She is the one who took our family, Viking pictures. We love you, Cedell, and we are looking forward to years and years of friendship.

Happy Cool Stuff: I bought a new coonhound night light!

I had my other one for 11 years. I am looking forward to frosty evenings and taking Carter and Ammon up on the mountain behind our house this fall/winter. The early nightfall makes it easy for us to get up on the mountain waaaaaaaay before bedtime. We have no intentions to shoot any raccoons, but enjoying nature at night will be so cool. I’ve already been acclimating Ammon and Carter to the hunting with some old Coonhound magazines. Happy Friday and Weekend everyone!

Carter and Ammon really enjoyed watching Ryan Lochte win his gold medal in the 400 IM last night (July 28, 2012…Saturday) from London. Ammon said she wanted to learn the strokes to the Butterfly Stroke.
I hope and pray that Ammon and Carter will always enjoy swimming. Have a great Sunday everyone, and I hope you enjoy the brief videos.

Olympic Park: London England

Across from the Olympic Park: John Lewis Department Store

Ammon and Carter have been to London, England twice. They seemed to have some vague memories of the city from the summer of 2011 especially Big Ben, Parliament, and the London Eye. This year, we spent approximately 4 hours (strolling, a bit of shopping, and eating) at the new mall adjacent to the Olympic Park. It was July 8, and no one was allowed into the park for another 10 days or so. However, Carter and Ammon will have their schema set as we watch the XXX Olympiad for the next two weeks. I think they will really enjoy the swimming events since they’ve swum now for the past two summers.

It may be Citius, Altius, Fortius (Swifter, Higher, Stronger), for the Olympic athletes, but from the Caylor-Brown household, we wish all the athletes God’s blessings both physically and spiritually through the events, and we ask God’s blessings and protection to the spectators as well. Enjoy World!!

“I don’t want to Blink”
Traveling without complaints (well, maybe wanting to be carried or placed in a stroller), random butterfly kisses from Ammon, random “Give me a hug!” from Carter, “Let’s play Freeze Tag!” yells, toys strewn across the living room, the toddler clothes spread on the laundry table ready to be folded, the toddler Sunday school shoes placed on the shelf calmly waiting for the next Sunday: I love it, and I don’t want to blink. My blinks have already seen over 3 ½ years pass, and it keeps on racing.

I am so blessed to have Carter and Ammon. I have a request from you faithful readers (you know who you are) that God grants me more patience and better ways to spend quality time with my children in my daily life. I get so caught up with the chores around us that I feel as though I neglect valuable time with them, and “ I don’t want to blink. These are the best years of our lives.” …for me, literally.

Ammon & Carter at Aarhus’ Wishing Well

Aarhus’s Open-Air Museum: June 27, 2012

Ammon took Carter & Sean’s photo in Aarhus

Carter took Ammon & Haven’s photo in the Aarhus Cathedral

Aarhus, Denmark: June 27, 2012

Aarhus, Denmark is Denmark’s 2nd largest city. The best part of our excursion was the Outdoor Museum. The Danish government has taken house/businesses from around the country of Denmark that are noted to be in like the national registry for historical sites from centuries gone by, dismantled them, and reconstructed them in an open-air museum. There are homes, gardens, and a business district with shops and places to eat. The museum has different blocks of buildings dating from the 1500s to the 20th Century.

dual-memorial-day-2012-4Daddy's Birthday

MaryLou Caylor, Oliver Haven Caylor, & William Haven Caylor (Daddy H)
March 1982

We were in this 30 year old picture that was in a 30 year old wallet of mine! Woo hoo! Well, there he is. He was 42 years old in this picture. He was quite heavy, and 6 feet 4 inches tall (I know God played a “short joke” on me). We were so blessed to have this picture. We had never before had a family picture.God is great!
This was taken about 10 weeks before he died on May 28, 1982.

The links at the VERY TOP of the blog are more about Daddy.

The majority of you all never met my father, but I wanted you all to see him. He was AWESOME! Happy Tuesday, everyone.

Ammon: June 8, 2012 Friday

Carter: June 8, 2012 Friday

Well, folks. We have a few differences from the summer of 2011 (https://havensideals.wordpress.com/2011/07/18/summer-fun-carter-ammon-swimming/)

1)No water wings

2)Jumping into 9ft of water instead of 3ft. of water

3)Doing some great dog-paddling with some “circle”/breast strokes and some “windmill” freestyle.

Our friend Marnie Rodgers said something to the effect of “It’s one less thing to worry about.”, meaning that Ammon and Carter have conquered a fear of the water, are learning to swim and dive responsibly, and we’ve given them a gift that cannot be taken away.

We will always be cautious and respectful of ANY body of water, but we will know we can float, try to have fun, and yet save ourselves if necessary.

Watch out for the Monster Bubble, Carter & Ammon!

Central Park Carousel: May 7, 2012

If you have frequented Central Park in New York City, you know its uniqueness. We always find something/someone interesting. Several years ago, Ammon and Carter simply played with a little boy and his professional nanny. That doesn’t happen too often here in the Chattanooga parks. There have been all sorts of street performers, musicians, and, of course the playgrounds, ponds, and other attractions. We absolutely had to return to our favorite carousel. We also were entertained by a “professional” bubble blower. The bubbles were HUGE and awesome.

Weather permitting, we always love going to Central Park during our vacations in Manhattan.