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5 Tips for Family Fun on New Year’s Eve

. Family, Holidays, Parenting . , , , , , , , , ,
Ammon & Carter usher in 2015

Ammon & Carter usher in 2015

 

5 Tips to Keep up a Youngster for New Year
1)Party! Party Hats & horns break out around 11:00 PM New Year’s Eve to keep our children engaged. We also watched the exciting sights and sounds of “Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve”: A 40 year tradition for Sean and Haven.
2)Talk it up for several days beforehand. On New Year’s Eve morning of 2014, the first thing Carter said was, “Happy last day of 2014!” when he got out of bed.
3)Toast the New Year before bedtime just in case they fall asleep: Carter and Ammon knew the New Year was a special occasion when we broke out the chilled Champagne glasses and drank our Welch’s Sparkling White Grape Juice. Consider holding hands and praying for a safe and healthy New Year coming up. Your children will love toasting (they have to make at least one SERIOUS/GRATEFUL toast) each other even if they are silly toasts….believe me!!

To My "Old Lang Syne" departed loved ones, Ammon, Carter, Sean, and all of you all. Happy 2015

4)Late, lite snacks high in protein with caffeine: Ammon & Carter eat some peanut butter and crackers around 9:00 PM. Our soft drink of choice in this household is Coke Zero. Ammon & Carter drink quite a bit. Don’t worry, it was all “gone” from their systems by 12:30 AM 😉
5)Play some new,exciting game several hours before midnight. . Christmas of 2014 Ammon had received a Monster High Share or Scare game. All 4 of us played. We couldn’t believe that Carter enjoyed it too. We played for over an hour, and I think it got us to about 11:00 PM!

Not the best video to watch, but the audio is great. I’ve always loved “Auld Lang Syne”…The Good Old Days. Of course when it is sung slower, it is so melancholy and lonesome, but Mariah jazzes it up and gives it that happy, new, fresh feeling that the New Year deserves.

I wish there was a better title like “The Passed Loved Ones”, because that is really what it is about for me: Daddy, Nanny, Granddaddy, Mamaw Wimpy, and my dear, dear “Adopted” Grandmother, Remell Hall. Oh, how much I miss them, and “We’ll take a cup o’ kindness for old lang syne!”

Friends, loved-ones, and relatives, keep your eyes on Jesus every day in 2016. He is the way, the truth, and the life. If you already have a relationship with him and love him, maybe make a conscious effort to “fall in love” anew with Jesus the Christ every single day. I hope and pray that God blesses every one of you with your best, calendar year ever. With lots of love, Haven

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The Little Drummer Boy: Josh Groban

. Christmas . , , ,
Groban-"Noel"

Groban

What a wonderful time of year to consider what we can give back to God! It should be a goal every day of our lives to lift up a prayer and ask, “How can you use me today, God?” However, if you are like me, we get lost in “What am I doing for myself today?”. We are also in trying to do for and please our spouses, children, parents, bosses and co-workers, teachers, and it goes on and on.

Returning to “How can you use me today, God?” I am so glad that this time of year, I am reminded of the Christmas song, “The Little Drummer Boy”. God has given us talents, and we should use them to His glory, “…so to honor Him.”

I absolutely love Josh Groban’s “The Little Drummer Boy”, and I am sharing it with you all. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO0XsQUpUng

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Christmas 1971/Gene Autry/ & Daddy

. Christmas, Family . , , , , , , ,
Haven's 1971 Christmas

Haven’s 1971 Christmas

 

Christmas 1971

What a haul that year! I was 5 years old. I am forgetting quite a bit, but I got a Hot Wheels Track set, a cat clock that wagged its tail and blinked its eyes, a portable record player, and records just to name a few things. One of my records was the album you see today, Gene Autry: Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer And Other Christmas Favorites. Several days ago I heard Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer by Gene Autry, and my heart sank a bit when a wave of childhood memories of my father and Christmas flooded my heart and soul.

My father, Oliver Haven Caylor, truly loved giving us presents and seeing us enjoy our Christmases during childhood. He loved cowboys, and he loved Christmas, so it was natural and a pleasure for him to buy me this album. My heart still misses him so much especially during Christmas. He passed on May 28, 1982: Three weeks after my 16th birthday.

It just so happened that Carter and Ammon heard Gene’s version with me, and I told them about my album and a few words about their Papa Caylor. He would have such fun with these two!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ara3-hDH6I

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Educational Excitement

. Christmas Hawk . , , , , , , , , , ,
Barnes and Noble Book Signing

My Future Authors, Carter & Ammon

 

What a week: November 23-November 28, 2015!

From a story (Christmas Hawk) that was created by Carter, Ammon, and myself December 2013 as we walked in our field to the week of November 23, 2015, we made it to Chattanooga television and a book signing at Barnes and Noble!

My “babies” and I created, wrote, and published the book, but it was because Kelly Flemmings believes in us that we had such an exciting and educational week. Kelly is the Barnes and Noble store manager at Hamilton Place Mall in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He runs the best Barnes and Noble retail store I’ve ever set foot in and that includes the Barnes and Noble on 5th Avenue New York City. Thank you, Kelly.

My spiritual anchors for the book signing were Vicki Trapp, her sister, Susan, Sheila, Claire Randle, Leah McDonough, Janie Dempsey Watts, and Endia. They filled my spirit and made the event like a fellowship. I was so blessed, and I thank God for all those people and the opportunity I had to experience this life-changing event with my precious children, Ammon & Carter.

Haven reading "Christmas Hawk" to a Barnes and Noble crowd

Haven reading “Christmas Hawk” to a Barnes and Noble crowd

 

From WTVC News Channel 9 in Chattanooga I thank both Margie Scott and Brian Smith (Thin N That) for their kindness and support. From WRCB Channel 3 in Chattanooga I thank Julie Edwards for her support and awesome and engaging interview with Carter and Ammon.

 

Interviews 

WTVC – This N That 

http://bit.ly/thisnthat_Hawk

WTVC This N That

Getting Microphones placed for our interview with Brian Smith

 

WRCB- 3 + You

http://bit.ly/3plusyou_Hawk

 

WRCB 3 + You

Carter & Ammon Patiently wait for their interview with Julie Edwards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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2015 Thanksgiving Posters

. Holidays, Thanksgiving . , , , ,

Sean and I are so Blessed to have Ammon & Carter

Ammon's Top 5 Things she is Thankful For in 2015

Ammon’s Top 5 Things she is Thankful For in 2015

 

Carter's Top 5 (okay, more) Things he is Thankful for in 2015

Carter’s Top 5 (okay, more) Things he is Thankful for in 2015

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Red-Tailed Hawk Unit Plan

. Christmas Hawk, Learning . , , , , ,

Multiple Intelligences Unit Plan 

There are 8: Naturalistic, Bodily-Kinesthetic, Intrapersonal, Verbal-Linguistic, Interpersonal, Logical-Mathematical, Spatial, & Musical

 

(1) Naturalistic- Being outside and watching flight patterns of Hawk. Flying straight looking for food or circling for “entertainment” (anthropomorphic) ….. which leads us to ….

 

(2) Bodily-Kinesthetic Carter, Ammon, and I try to jog every evening. We turned our our jog into a  fun experience with Toy Red-tailed hawks and some hawk-circling moments. It was awesome

 

(3) Intrapersonal coupled with  (4) Verbal-Linguistic)

  • – Write a paragraph with an opening statement, 3 supporting declarative statements, and a closing sentence telling how Carter and Ammon feel about red-tailed hawks.

 

This also took several days as a part of our writing lesson plans. I was so proud of Carter and Ammon’s first, complete, 5 sentence paragraph.

 

Carter writes his first complete paragraph in 5 sentences.

Carter writes his first complete paragraph in 5 sentences.

 

Ammon completes her first paragraph with 5 sentences.

Ammon completes her first paragraph with 5 sentences.

 

(5) Interpersonal- Two quick interpersonal interactions with acquaintances based on our book , Christmas Hawk.

 

"Christmas Hawk"

Ammon’s Interpersonal Conversation

Ammon’s Dermatologist: “How cool is it that you all helped write a book?”

Ammon: Yes, she calls to us when we call to her. She eats field mice.

Ammon’s Dermatologist: Good luck with your book signing.

Ammon: Thank you

 

Carter’s Interpersonal Conversation

Carter and our family Friend, Joann

Joann: This hawk lives near your house?

Carter: Yes, she circles above our house, and we wrote a book about her.

Joann: What is the name of the book?

Carter: “Christmas Hawk”….(Carter hands Joann a copy of the book).

Joann: That is beautiful! Congratulations!

Carter: Thank you.

 

(6) Logical-Mathematical-  (A)Cypher and work 4 word problems based on a reading “Cool Facts” from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology: About red-tailed hawks.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/red-tailed_hawk/lifehistory

After reading, I created these mathematical word problems.

 

  1. A red-tailed hawk can make 1 nest in 7 days. How many days would it take a red-tailed hawk to build 3 nests? (21)

 

  1. If 4 male red-tailed hawks each weighs 2 pounds, how much do they weigh altogether? (8)

 

  1. If a female red-tailed hawk can lay 3 eggs a year, how many eggs would she lay in 5 years? (15)

 

  1. If we have 20 red-tailed hawks and there are equal numbers of males and females, how many male/female pairs would be made? (10)

 

I am not wasting your time with pics of Ammon & Carter’s answers, but they both made 100s.

 

(B) Make a fun board game having Hawk fly from start to finish:

Blank Game Board.

  1. We used coins for game pieces.
  2. We used two regular dice.

 

Sorry it’s sideways, but here is our board! I was so proud, and the game was so fun!

Red-Tailed Hawk Game by Carter & Ammon

(7) Spatial– Color a Red-tailed Hawk

Hawk in Flight-coloring

(8)Music- Create a short song about Red-Tailed hawks

It took several days to compose the lyrics then execute the song it was a wonderful experience. It is a combination of both Musical & Verbal-linguistic Intelligences.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Fall Water Color (Okay, Mixed Media)

. Watercolors Paintings . , , , , ,

IMG_2195

Our Year of Seasonal Watercolor Masterpieces is complete with “Fall Sunset”

Autumn Watercolor Pallet

I do love macaroons, but this is about Pastel Painting! LOL

I do love macaroons, but this is about Pastel Painting! LOL

Painting Needs:

(Suggested beginning doses: more paint for darker color OR add more water to lighten it up)

-Pallet of Fall Pastels (I like the macaroons, but we aren’t baking…painting LOL)

-2 Plastic Cups

-Fall Pastel Squares of Tissue Paper (please see the above pallet)

-Choose Two Fall-Color paints (please see the above pallet). In each cup
4 tsp. Water
2 drops Watercolor

-Strips -2 sizes for (a) tree (b) branches of the tree of Brown construction paper (for however many trees your child wants)

-1 Yellow Oil Pastel crayon (regular crayons are okay, but Oil Pastels work best)

-1 Sheet Watercolor Paper
-1 Paintbrush (keep a 3rd cup of clean water to rinse the brush)

 

Step 1: Make a yellow sun with your oil pastel up at the top of your paper. When you paint with your watercolors, don’t worry about the oil pastel sun. It will repel the water and look great!

Step 2: place your pastel tissue squares on the paper and paint over your tissue squares. The watercolor will make your squares “bleed” so as to add extra paint colors to your work. Pick up your tissue squares after they have bled.

(Tip: Don’t saturate your watercolor paper)

Step 3: Allow the Painting to Dry for 24 hours

Step 4: Glue your tree and branch strips to the dried watercolor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Fall Fun 2015

. Family, Seasons . , , ,

Here in the Southeast Autumn is Awesome! We may not have the spectrum of autumn colors that New England has, but we do have some great colors. To me, the best part is the cool, sunny days that are not too cold! If you notice what Carter and Ammon are wearing, they are wearing T-shirts and jeans. However, at sundown, it got so chilly. I think the low for this night was about 45 degrees.

I love the magical, autumn memories Carter and Ammon have been making during their lives: autumn leaves, beautiful views of Hunter’s Moons in October, the early frosts covering our roses, learning to ride bicycles, and now starting to learn to skateboard. We are so blessed, and I want to share, once again, what our mantel looks like from the First Day of Autumn until the Day after Thanksgiving.

Autumn_angels

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 Dante’s 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.

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Correct Alexander Dates

. Family . , , , ,
My Great Grandparents buried in Varnell, Georgia

My Great Grandparents buried in Varnell, Georgia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

According to the Hartsfield Family Bible, The Atlanta Journal -June 29, 1935, and The Dalton Citizen News the week of May 9, 1945, the stone should read:

William Oliver Alexander : May 15, 1875-June 29, 1935

Sarah Maro Cox Alexander: September 26, 1886- May 9, 1945

These great-grandparents are paternal, and it goes next to Mary Naomi Alexander Caylor (May 15, 1918-August 10, 1985), to Oliver Haven Caylor (September 19, 1939-May 28, 1982) to me, Haven William Caylor-Brown (May 7, 1966-present).

 

 

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Christmas Hawk (Teaser)

. Books, Christmas, Christmas Hawk . , , , , , , ,

 

"Christmas Hawk"

“Christmas Hawk”

“Christmas Hawk” on Amazon

 

Who would ever think Santa could use raptors (Hawks, Eagles, etc.) to help him find children for his nice list?

Written together with my two children—Carter and Ammon— this book speaks to young readers and imparts a timely lesson. Enjoy our This N That (WTVC-ABC Affiliate-Chattanooga, TN) Interview : photo below

 

This N That -11-23-2015 Interview with Brian Smith

This N That -11-23-2015 Interview with Brian Smith This N That Christmas Hawk Interview

 

The story follows a “Christmas Hawk” who is recruited, along with other birds of the world with keen vision, by Santa himself to help him with the names on his Nice List. This sees an adorable hawk find not only nice girls and boys but also those who are the givers themselves. After all, the Christmas spirit is all about giving.

The “Christmas Hawk” arrives just in time to remind readers that “it is always more blessed to give than to receive.”

 

Rock City's Birds of Prey Red-tailed Hawk, Cody

Rock City’s Birds of Prey Red-tailed Hawk, Cody

 

Christmas Hawk
Haven Caylor

Hawk and keen-eyed birds from around the world had been recruited by Santa Claus to watch children, place them on his Nice List, and in doing so, helping spread the spirit of Christmas. Some of Hawk’s friends from around the world called to help Santa included the Bald Eagle from Alaska, the Golden Eagle from Mexico, the multicolored, Chinese sparrowhawk from China, and the South American Caracara from Venezuela. Santa sent his helpers forth with magical reindeer food to help them fly faster.

Hawk’s area of the world included the Mississippi River, rolling plains, plateaus, and the ancient Smoky Mountains. With Santa’s special reindeer food, it did not take long to fly, watch the children being nice, and take note of their giving spirits. Outside her nest in a tall White Oak Tree, Hawk found a brother and sister who touched her hawk heart. Their names were Carter and Ammon.

Carter and Ammon had sent a letter to Santa asking for new bicycles. They were friends with their neighbors, Jenny and Henry, but Jenny and Henry’s parents were too busy for Santa Claus “shenanigans”. “Did you write to Santa for presents?” Ammon asked Henry and Jenny. Henry sighed, “What good would it do to write? Our parents don’t believe in Santa. They will not help mail a letter.” Ammon was sad…..

…. to find if Hawk has, indeed, chosen nice children with the Christmas Spirit please finish reading “Christmas Hawk” available from both Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

November 28, 2015-Haven reads "Christmas Hawk" to a crowd at Barnes and Noble

November 28, 2015-Haven reads “Christmas Hawk” to a crowd at Barnes and Noble