https://livestream.com/accounts/18247672/nursery/videos/116500622
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!!
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
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!
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.
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
Getting Microphones placed for our interview with Brian Smith
WRCB- 3 + You
Carter & Ammon Patiently wait for their interview with Julie Edwards
Our Year of Seasonal Watercolor Masterpieces is complete with “Fall Sunset”
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
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.
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.
“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 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.”
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
(Available at Amazon & Barnes and Noble)
Who would ever think Santa Claus could ever use raptors (Eagles, Hawks, etc) to help him with his Nice List? Well, Carter, Ammon, and I did, and the result is an awesome tale. It has the potential to be a Christmas Classic, and you all can help it make it one.
Carter and Ammon helped me write “Christmas Hawk” one December afternoon as we watched the Red Tailed Hawk who lives behind our house circle above our heads.
It would also be a blessing you would write a positive review after you read “Hawk”
My last year in my 40s. Wow! I’ll never forget my father purchasing a calculator (like nearly $25 for a simple, bare-bones, with the highest function of multiplication…LOL) and placing a year then subtracting 1966 to see how old I would be. 2015-1966= 49 😉
Okay, my birthday (LIVING) was MAGNIFIED a bit with seeing “fragile life” with my emergency appendectomy on Sunday April 27. The inflamed appendix was caught early, but it could have burst, and I could have been gravely ill. Thanks to good health and God, my recovery went well.
I was riding rides at Dollywood 6 days later.
My Birthday was totally awesome. We went to see “The Avengers: The Age of Ultron” then went to eat at Provino’s Italian Restaurant: Eggplant Parmesan!
Several weeks ago, my friend, Beth Sexton Rogers, from our Lipscomb University days sent me a picture and video with a suggestion to make Sun Catchers for Mamaw & Nana. Beth is one of those friends who everybody needs. She sought me out on Facebook over 3 years ago. She is an awesome friend and Sister in Christ. Well, Carter, Ammon, Sean, and I rounded up all the necessary articles, and made sun catchers for Mother’s Day gifts.
I grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, and we had Mamaw and Nana over for Mother’s Day lunch. My only regret is that we didn’t take any photos.