The Morales Miracle

December 23, 2020

On the morning of December 22, Joann posted an old children's cabinet for sale on Facebook marketplace. She listed it for $10 and she had a woman contact her to buy it. Joann arranged to have this woman come by the house to pick it up later that morning. I placed the cabinet outside our front door.

That afternoon, Doozy saw a woman outside trying to lift the tall cabinet with her two daughters. I looked out the window and saw a hispanic woman with two YOUNG daughters struggling to lift the cabinet. There was no husband or man with them.

I immediately walked outside to assist them and the mother and I carried the cabinet down to her van that I noticed was in dire need of repair. 

More noticeable was how happy and smiling her children were. She had 2 daughters (11 and 9 years) and a son (6 years) with her. Despite not having much, they were also clean and well behaved. This impressed me about this Mother. I gave her the cabinet and told her to have a nice Christmas.

As the family drove away, I had an immediate feeling to get her to come back to the house, so I told Joann to text her and tell her to come back because we forgot to give her some hangers. We hurried and grabbed 20 or so kids hangers and when the woman and her kids knocked, I gave the kids the hangers and asked them to go back to the van so I could speak with their mother.

I tried to hand a $50 bill to the mother and told her it was a gift to help her with Christmas. She shook her head "no" and wouldn't take the bill. Instead, she started to sob. I was stunned and so impressed with her. She had a personal pride about herself and as I held out the bill, for at least 10 seconds, she would not take it while she wept.

Joann gave her a hug and told the woman (we found out her name was ANA) that she was also a single mother for many years and that it was okay for her to accept this gift, but Ana wouldn't take it, so I smiled and put it in the pocket of her coat. Ana then answered Joann and said that she was, indeed, a single mother and that she had 5 children.

"5!?" I thought to myself and I left them while they were talking, mom to mom, and went into my room to grab another $50 bill to give to her.  When I returned and offered it to her, she wept again and wouldn't take it. I placed it in the coat pocket next to the other one and told her "Merry Christmas."

Honestly, it felt like I had just given her $5000! She was so stunned and grateful, it melted my heart right there on the spot because it was obvious how much she needed that money, today.

Ana left, and without thinking I jumped on Facebook and recorded a short video of this experience and how impressed I was with Ana and I asked my friends to help me help blow her and her kids away with a Santa gift. 

It was totally spontaneous and without much thought, but I know my friends and I knew they would be impressed with how Ana wouldn't take my money and I thought that perhaps a few people would have the desire to deliver some badly needed money to a nice family in need.

I remember thinking how cool it would be if I could offer Ana another $500.

Within minutes, my Venmo app started to ding.

$200!

Another $50

$100

$10

$25

Ding after ding. Within one hour I had received more than $1500! I was stunned! I immediately started worrying that Ana may have a heart attack when I try and hand her $1500! 

All the comments that friends made on Venmo, along with their generous Santa gifts were so inspiring.

Be Santa story on FB

🌲 family

Give this to your sub for Santa mom.

Christmas spirit!! Thank you

Gifts for family in need

For the brown eyed niños

I made another quick video thanking everyone for their generosity and letting everyone know that more than $2200 had been given, and I even got choked up. I thought about deleting the video and starting over, but I thought 'What the hell' and posted it.

Ding. Another $25. Saw video about the little family. Good stuff. Merry Christmas.

Ding. Another $80. 🎄from my kids

Ding. Another $50 Your Christmas Family.

Ding after ding, the money and Santa-hearted comments kept coming in. My friend Craig texted me and said:

Cool! You're going to literally change her life. There are tons of people in this world who want to help people who are willing to help themselves.

I replied: The fact that she would not take my money and was so grateful truly inspired me!

Exactly, It's why I wanted to help.

Another friend, Justin, texted and said:

People like her are the ones I love to help, not asking for anything and doing all they can to better their own situation. I can't wait to hear her reaction.

I think these comments summed up nicely why my video rang true with my friends. There's something about someone, especially in Ana's position, who wouldn't reach out to take money, even when it's obviously so needed. She was the type of person who wasn't looking for a handout and who even had a hard time accepting a "hand up" gift like mine was.

I went to bed.

I awoke the next morning with $2200 in my Venmo.  

Holy CRAP! This was starting to blow my mind.

Another friend called me and offered to help pay for any repairs Ana might need on her van and that he knew a mechanic. 

Another friend called and said he wanted to help fix her van too. I thought this was a great idea, so I reached out to my golfing buddies down here and asked if anyone knew a tire store owner who might hook us up with some tires.

BOOM! An immediate reply saying "YES, my neighbor is one."

Then I reached out to my neighbor and the Bishop in my congregation, who is a dentist and asked him if he'd be open to check the teeth of these kids to see if they have any cavities.

"I'd LOVE to!" he said.

Ding. Another $100.   Sub for Santa family. Make that momma and her kids happy!!!!! Merry Christmas!

Ding. Another $50.   Santa project

Ding. Another $25   Helping 🎅 Merry Christmas, Mitch! Thank you for doing this!

I started thinking about how to get together with Ana. Where did she live? Would she be willing to get together? We had her cell phone and Joann texted her to come get Doozy's bed. She replied and said, 

"You have already done too much for me. Please if you can't sell it first, let me know and maybe I could use it."

I had an idea. My friend Vasu is a fireman in town and an all around great guy. A few years back I brought my boys to the station and Vasu let them climb on the big rig and sit in the driver's seat. I called and asked if he'd be willing to do the same for Ana's family.

"Sure! Let's do it tonight at 6 PM"

I texted Ana and made the invitation for her kids. I thought while I might not be able to lure her to our home to get these new gifts, I could lure her kids to the fire station.

"We would love to, thank you so much", She replied. 

Game on! 

I was having so much fun, thinking about Ana and how she was going to probably pee her pants tonight. I ran around town and grabbed some candy for the kids and some Santa paper bags.

Joann called me while at Costco and thought it might be good to not give Ana all that cash and that giving her some of it on a Costco card might be a good idea.

"Do it! Put $500 on a Costco card", I said.

I stopped into my credit union and asked if they have a debit card program where I could give someone a certain amount of money on a debit card that this person could use wherever they want. Yep, they do, so I put $1000 on a card with Ana's name on it. This was cool because if I received any more Santa monies, I could add this to her card with a few clicks of the mouse.

Ding. Another $250

Ding. Another $100

At 5:45 PM, I added up the amount and it was at $3,100. Are you kidding me?!

We went to the fire station and Ana came with her 5 kids.

Boy 15, Girl 11, Girl 9, Boy 6, Girl 18 months.

The 18 month old. I couldn't take my eyes off her and I immediately started flirting with her to see if I could get her to play with me and let me hold her. She was shy. But within 15 minutes she let me hold her. Awesomeness.

Vasu let the kids play on the red trucks and put on the fireman coats and hats.

We took the family into the station's living room, which had a Christmas tree. I gave the kids the small Santa bags with candy and they all said "Thank you!" and I asked Tag and Dooz to take the kids back out to the garage so I could speak to the Mom. Joann and Vasu went with them. The 15 year old son stayed with me to help translate, as we found out Ana's english wasn't very good.  

All her kids were born in the USA and attend school so they all speak english and 

Spanish fluently. Ana is from Acapulco, Mexico.

I had a Santa bag for Ana, filled with $300 in coupons for all kinds of restaurants in town given to me by generous friends, an envelope of $1000 in cash, a debit card with $1100 on it, a $500 Costco card, and $600 in my wallet to go towards fixing her van.

I had printed out a "Statement" from Venmo that showed all the profile pictures/faces of the "secret Santa's" who had a special gift for her family. I left the amounts off the printout, but there were 5 pages full of happy Santa faces! Incredible.

I told Ana, while her son translated, that I had a Christmas story for her. I explained that I was so impressed with her hard work and happy children. And more importantly, that Joann and I were impressed with her not wanting to accept my gift earlier at our home.

I told her that I had some amazing friends and that had I made a short video to tell them all the story about her and her cute kids and had put it on Facebook and asked those friends if they'd be willing to give Ana a Christmas to remember.

She immediately started to cry. 

I had wanted to find a way to video this conversation, but I just knew it would be too personal for her and I just couldn't do it. But let me tell you, what you'll read below was a thing to behold.

I thought to myself, "Oh man, sister, you have no idea what's coming! You'd better save some tears!"

I also got a little concerned that her knees may buckle and she might have a heart attack when I showed her the gifts and I was suddenly glad I was in a fire station with Vasu who knew CPR!

I trudged forward.

I pulled out the 5 pages of friends' faces and showed this to Ana and asked her to look at everyone. Her son translated what I was saying, as they both cried. She grabbed the pages and looked at all the faces.

I then told her that my friends had a special Christmas gift for her of $3,100.

Silence.  Sobbing.  Christmas tree right behind her.   Magic.

I showed her the gifts. Envelope of cash. Costco card. Credit card. Coupons. 6 Minky Couture blankets!

She. Almost. Fainted.

As if on queue, Joann, Vasu, my boys, and the kids came back in the room. Ana did her best to compose herself.

Ana asked Joann to tell her kids what just happened. This, I caught on video.

Watch video here.

After we went home, I had received several hundred more in donations. Wow.

If you're reading this you are probably one of my friends who gave so generously the last 24 hours. Thank you!

2020 has been such a dumpster fire for us all. For those of you who use Facebook, you have read my rants about the masks and ridiculous government overreach. I can't believe it's Christmas and we're STILL wearing masks around, where we can't see each other's smiling faces. I digress.... haha

I have many friends whose businesses have suffered and this is so frustrating.

Still, the Christmas spirit abounds and I am so honored by all of you who quickly helped. I feel a great sense of stewardship to make sure ALL the donated monies and gifts get directly to Ana and her kids. I have a spreadsheet and I mark down each donation.

My family has always been big believers in Santa Claus. This year, Tag came to me and privately told me he knew I was Santa Claus. I acknowledged his discovery and immediately enrolled him into the Santa secret society so that he could keep the magic alive for his little brother. All of December, Tag has helped hide the elf and keep the magic alive.

The spirit of Santa is the spirit of giving. And in our home we celebrate the greatest gift of all from the King of Kings. We believe in Christ, we worship Christ and we seek to know Him better. He has blessed our family in so many ways that let us know he knows us by name and is aware of our circumstances. He will do the same for you when you humbly ask him for help.

My neighbor and friend, Ryan, said a great statement to my boys. Recently, he invited me and the boys to go out fishing on a Sunday morning. It was a beautiful morning that day, and he said to the boys, 

Remember, boys, it's more important to think about Jesus while fishing, than it is to think about fishing while at church.

Indeed!

Merry Christmas to all of you and my God bless you for your generous Santa hearts.

Mitch

December 24, Update:

Joann helped bring Ana's van into the tire store. Turns out her tires were okay, but they found $3,000 in things that need fixing. We are going to get another shop to verify this, but I would love to help make sure her van is safe and functioning as she takes it to work (she cleans houses) and as she carries her kids around.

I am determined to to help her do this. Note: if you want to help, my Venmo link is below.

December 25th, Christmas morning:

Just got this text from Ana:

Joan, I don't know how to thank your family and your friends for all the help and for all the help you've done for us. I think I feel like it's a dream I never imagined in my life.  I'll ask God to bless you today. I don't know how to thank you all this is a dream for my family. Thank you. Thank you

This was another blessing thanks to you and thanks to friends

 

Long Live 2

Tomorrow, Pack (a.k.a. The Dooz) turns 3.  I have been dreading this day for months.  I'm not shy in saying my favorite age is between 18 months - 3 years, and let me tell you, Dooz did NOT disappoint!

My Last Night With 2 Year Old Dooz

In fact, he has been so fun that I was able to successfully avoid mourning the loss of Tag leaving his two's.  So much so, that I can barely remember Tag in his two's at all -- which leads me to my current level of fear and sadness about Dooz turning 3.  Who will take his place?  How will I fill this void of happiness? And who can replace his hair in the morning?

Morning time is Doozy time

Don't lecture me about how fun they also are after this phase.  I know this.  Also, please don't tell me to "Have another one!"  This is out of the question.  I'm too tired and too old for another.  I'll be 49 in a few months.  That makes me 64 when Dooz is a senior in high school.  Plus, I am looking forward to no more diapers, straight-jacket car seats, and sleepless nights.  I'm also ready for the ability to take my wife on an overnight date soon in my future.  See?  I know there are advantages coming.

But, my heart has experienced so much joy over the last 3 years with these two boys in the sweet spot, that it's no wonder the Savior, when he visited the Americas said, in effect, "Bring me the little ones!  They are the BEST!" Imagine how much more fun the Lord had in these moments because he knew these little ones before and now could see them in their two's, smiling, playing, etc.  That had to be hilarious!

As I ponder this magic time, consider this.  We came from a pre-earth existence where I'm assuming we were adult age in form.  Then, after our time on earth, we return to a similar state of development.  This means that 2 years old only happens ONCE in eternity.  It's such a gift to see and experience this moment that there is honestly nothing that has given me more pure joy in my life.

I keep telling Dooz, "I don't want you to be 3, Dooz!  Can you stay 2 a little longer?"

"No, Dad, I need to be free and a half, so I can be BIG," he replies.

Dooz longs to be doing the things his older brother does.  And most of the time, Tag is a patient teacher and allows Dooz to follow him around and play.  Actually, they play together great.  I can see myself and my own brother, Nate as I watch these two boys play and interact.  I find myself fiercely protective of the Dooz, which often doesn't bode well for

Tag after he has taken advantage of his little brother.

Dooz is a sweet little boy who has crazy Einstein hair, only blonde.  He gets smiley looks and happy reactions no matter where we go. He is left handed, except when he swings a baseball bat and golf club.  Exactly like me and his grandpa Howard.  He is already adept at the iPhone and a few games.

At 18 months until 2.5, his favorite movie was The Iron Giant.  I think he watched it 100 times at least.  Now, he loves Tweety and Scooby Doo.  We just ended Halloween, and he was the Hulk.  Or HULT, as he calls him.  He knew that's what he wanted to be in September and he never wavered.

Hulk and The White Ninja.  Hallow's Eve 2014

Like their dad, both boys love Halloween.  Here were some backup costumes this year:

Gladiator

Black and White Ninjas

Hercules and Achilles

Hercules and Philoctetes

One of our many visits to the Halloween store.

You're FIRED!  (The Donald)

The Donald, LIVE

Dooz loves to go to his nursery class at church.  Always has.  His teachers love him as do the daycare girls at the gym.  Both always brighten up when he arrives.  Some of the things I love about my 2 year olds are how they love to cuddle up next to me and I can put my whole arm around them from many angles.  Dooz loves to wrestle and at this age it's so fun because he thinks he is being tough, but he's not big enough to hurt me.  One of the greatest gifts of my life is that my work is at home, so I really took advantage of this and took many wrestling and pillow fight breaks.  Too many to count and it wasn't enough.

Dooz is deliberate.  He can handle sitting at a puzzle and figuring it out.  He is fiercely independent, and wants to climb a climbing wall 5 times his size by himself.  He is tough and gets over an injury quickly.

I love how much he loves super heroes.  He has pajamas that are Superman, Spiderman and Batman.  He has others, but these are his favorites.  After I put them on, he actually becomes the super hero in his mind and it is so classic to watch.  He slides off his bed, lifts his shoulders like a bull about to charge, and runs out into the room and yells, "SuperMAAAAN!" -- while he lifts one hand in the air like he has arrived to save the day.  Recently, he asks me to "fly me to the couch".  I lift him in the air in a flying position and he puts his arms straight out and in his mind he IS flying.  So am I.

The "HULT"

Dooz has good hand eye coordination and I think he will be a good athlete, like his brother.  As a fan of sports, this thrills me to see both boys take to sports.  However, if Dooz decides that he's more of a musician or whatever, it won't matter.

"Blue 42.  Set, HUT!"

In front of people, he wants to pipe in or participate, but once he notices everyone is watching, he gets extremely shy, looks down in a mad face, and can be seen running to his room crying and slamming the door.

He makes Tag and I laugh.  A lot.  But sometimes, when we laugh at his antics, he gets mad as if we are laughing AT him, rather than with him.  I look forward to seeing him grow out of these shy beginnings.

Tag and Doozy at 2 -- the greatest gift of my life.  I pray I won't miss you too much as you grow, little boy.  I love you.

Tagism Compilation

Joann keeps hounding me to pull off all the Tagism's from Facebook and put them in a better place so we don't lose them.  Tag has always had a unique brain that comes up with some classic quotes.  Enjoy.

11/1/12
Dad, maybe I'm magic, because when I do stinky toots, why do I not smell them?

11/8/12 
Tag: Daddy, where are you going?
Me: I have to work.
Tag: Sometimes Daddy's have to work?
Me: Yes
Tag: But sometimes little boys want Daddy's to play!

11/19/12
10:08 pm
Me: "Tag why aren't you asleep?"
Tag: "Because I always just want to be awake..."
Me: "But if you go to sleep you'll be strong tomorrow."
Tag: "Like the Hulk?"
--Both bust out in laughter

12/16/13
Tagism: Dad, I am NOT cute. I am only handsome now because I am 4 years old.

2/6/13
Tag: Mom, can I sleep with you?
Joann: Why do you always want to sleep with me?
Tag: Because sometimes boys always want to sleep with their Moms because they love her. 

Think he got his wish?

2/2/13
Tag: Dad, do you know why I love you?
Me: No, why?
Tag: Because you're the best!

5/31/13
Tag often sneaks in to my office while I work. Yesterday I told him I had to focus and couldn't play. He asked what "focus" was. After a pause I said that focus was thinking about ONE thing. He thought for a second and said:
"But Dad, I want to focus on thinking about 5 things!"

5/27/13
Tagism:
Dad, today do you want to go to the Summit Pool and swim with me OR stay home with me and have a pillow fight? -- tough call!

5/21/13
Tagism:
Dad, you didn't hear the toot from my bum because it was so quiet.

6/29/13
Tagism: "Dad, do you know how much I love you?"
Me: No, how much?
[flexes arms like a mini prize fighter]
"I love u from my muscles up to my shoulder!"

6/26/13
Tagism: After Tag had a meltdown because we wouldn't give him more chocolate milk, I was asking him why got so mad and he replied, "Well, sometimes Dads get fwustwated, and sometimes boys get fwustwated."

6/23/13
Tagism: After popping his little brother's balloon and then lying about it, he said, "But Dad, pretty soon I will stop lying and start telling lots of truths."

6/15/13
Tagism: Watching the US Open today he said: "Dad, do sometimes golf courses have a name like this, -- I am a golf course--"?

7/13/13
Tagism: Joann: Tag, you are cute.
Tag: I don't wanna be cute! Just let me be myself for once!

8/8/13
Tagism: This morning, Tag was eating one of Joann's cinnamon rolls. I told him those were good but that his body also would like some fruit. He replied, "Dad, our bodies like bananas, strawberries, blueberries, AND cimmamon rolls!"

8/6/13
Tagism: Driving with Tag tonight he said, "Dad, I know what Track's name is."
"Really? What is it?" -- I asked. 
Tag: "Track."

9/26/13
Tagism: Dad can you come help me because my tummy hurts and I need to lay a deuce. 

9/5/13
Tagism: Dad, I don't think I can go to the beach. 
Me: Really? How come?
Tag: Because I just yawned.

10/6/13
Tagism: I don't want you guys to be so frustrated at me, because I'm just a cutest little boy.

11/26/13
Tagism: [Looking down proudly at his legs] Dad, my legs are getting HUGE! Look how far away my toes are!

11/12/13
Tagism (Family nighttime prayer): Heavenly father, thankful for this day and I really wanted to wear my Batman cape to bed but Mom wouldn't let me. I really miss Grandpa and can't wait to show him how I can catch. Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

12/16/13
Tagism: Dad, I am NOT cute I am only handsome now because I am 4 years old.

1/10/14
Tagism: Dad, maybe I'm magic, because when I do stinky toots, why do I not smell them?

2/11/14
Tagism: Dad, is the witch in "The Lizard of Hoz" a bad lady? (Wizard of Oz)

2/9/14
Packism: 
Me: I love you. 
Pack: I luv you too. Highew than outew space and more than Iwon (iron) Giant.

2/6/14
Packism:  My 2 year old saw his first men's figure skating tonight. As the Russian was spinning, he yelled, "Whoah! He dizzy!"

2/1/14
Tagism: Dad, your belly is getting fatter but not mine.

3/5/14

Tagism:
Dad, why do you work so much?
-- "So that I can have the money to buy your soccer shoes, your Spiderman shirt, and the pretzels you just ate."
[Considers this for a few seconds]... Okay, can you work a little more and buy me some Skittles? Because I really love Skittles.

4/30/14
Tagism: After learning I am getting knee surgery in the morning, he said, "Awwww, when you get home we can race and I'll let you win."

4/9/14
Tagism: Dad, I wish we had the same birthday, so that when I was 3 you were 3, and when I was 4, you were 4. 
ME: Why?
Tag: So that you wouldn't work and we could be best friends and play all the time.

5/27/14
Tagism (pre-breakfast): Mom, even though I'm not hungry, my teeth need a workout, so I should eat something.

5/23/14
Packism:
Me: Dooz, how was your swim lesson, buddy?
Dooz: "Dad, I swim and I didn't cwy!"

5/10/14
Tagism:
"Dad, when am I going to be 5?"
Me: Oh, you have all the way until December which is after Halloween.
Tag: "Good, because I like being 4 because I learned to wipe my own bum."

6/2/14
Tagism: 
Dad, when we were at the rodeo, I think the bulls were mad because they were at the end.

7/23/14
Tagism:
Dad, how big is the earth?
Me: "It's really big."
Like 5600?
Me: "Yeah"
[pauses] ...Wow.

Tagman Turns 4

Tag, it's late and I should be in bed, but I can't stop thinking about you on your birthday today.

You are 4, but you keep telling me you want to hurry and be 6 so you can beat your friend Track Arrington since he is already 5.  Today, I hired a photographer to come to the house and take a picture for our Christmas card.  I told her to be there at 5:30 PM, because that is always a time when you and Dooz are happiest.  But you played so hard all day at the Children's Museum and then I took you on some errands and to get you a treat of your choice (you chose a Bomb Pop), and on the ride home you fell asleep in the car just as we arrived home at 5:20.

At 5:30 I had to wake you and you wouldn't stop crying, complaining that your legs hurt.  A growth spurt perhaps?  We had to reschedule the photo shoot.

Then, we tried to take you to dinner and while there, Dooz pooped his pants and had to sit at the restaurant in his new diaper because his pants were a mess.  Typical night as a parent trying to have a normal night out with little ones... You kept pouring parmesan cheese out on the table so you could eat it with your fingers and I let you do this because it was your birthday.

Tag opening Batman socks from Grandma Julie

You got a Big Wheels track that mounts to the wall in your room and you LOVE to play with cars and pretend you are racing. Joann gave you a book and when you opened it, you said, "That's not fun." and went for another present.  That was funny.

Enough play by play.  What I really want to tell you is how much I miss my 1 year old, 2 year old and 3 year old Tag.  Last night after I finished telling you a bedtime story, I hugged you and told you how I'm going to miss my 3 year old Tag.  You thought for a minute and said, "Dad, it's okay. You have to like my 4 because I have to get big."

In our prayers tonight, Joann and I cried as we thanked God for you and what a blessing you are in our lives.  We looked in each others eyes and marveled at how you turned out after that scary night 4 years ago while we sat in the NICU at Primary Children's Hospital with a little boy that we were told had a "birth defect".

Tag's cranial CAT Scan on Dec. 5, 2009

I think about those first few weeks and my mind is clear about how scared I was and how we just hoped you would live to get to know us.  Little did we know during those first days and weeks just how special of a boy we had in our possession.

On the other hand, I look at photos of you at 2 and I can barely remember you.  Those memories have been replaced with a live version named Pack (aka Dooz).  Perhaps this is why I can't get enough of Dooz right now.  He helps me deal with the loss I feel of you leaving that wonderful age.

But, there's no mistaking it son.  You are VERY special to me. After I left your room last night, I heard you whimpering in your room so I returned to see what was the matter.  After asking you, you said, softly, "Daddy, I just wanted to give you a kiss."  So I let you kiss me on the cheek and we lay in bed together for a while longer, as we said goodbye to my 3 year old.

Thank you for that moment.  I love you.

Best 2 Years of My Life

Dooz, you are turning two years old tomorrow and I just can't sleep until I tell you how getting to know you (while continuing to enjoy Tag) has been the best two years of my life.

I'm 47 now.  Older than a typical LDS Dad.  In fact, two of my best friends from high school are already grandparents, as is my own wife!  The downside to this is how tired I am all the time, unless I sneak into my casita and fall asleep on the couch, leaving Joann to fend for herself.

But the upsides to being your father at 47 are so grand, I scarcely know where to begin. Working from home while you and Tag have been born has been the greatest blessing I could ever imagine.  Just today, for example, I was in the Casita trying to drum up some new business and got interrupted by Ironman (Tag), two Batmans, and just the Dooz smiling and wanting to watch Mickey Mouse and the Giant for the 100th time.  These interruptions are at times frustrating when I'm on the phone with a client, but most of the time are so special, that I find myself getting upset at myself when I get upset at the interruptions.  Please keep visiting me, son. Really, this is all I really need in my life.

You and Tag visiting my office

Important business meeting

Play tennis, Dad!

Of course it would be nice to have nicer things, but at my age, enjoying you at your age is more important to me... Having time to play with you and laugh at literally your every move. A few of my favorite things you do right now are:

1) Argue.  At least once per day I try and create a situation where I say to you that I can, and you respond, "NO!  You Dan't!"  The way you furrow your brow and say, "You Dan't" is so classic that I laugh just thinking about it.

2) You run to the front door and tell me to, "Say it, Daddy!" -- and I say,  "Blue 42 .... Seeeeet .... HUT!" -- While I say it, you get down in a 4-point stance (kind of) and on HUT you run as fast as you can to the couch, slamming into it to stop and laugh, return and repeat until I stop.  I should count how many times you would do this before stopping.  Currently, you always outlast me.

3) Every day the last while you want to "Hit Dennis" -- which means you grab the mini tennis racquet given to you by your friend Rory Wright and you have me toss balls to you and you try and hit them.

4) As bedtime nears, I often find you hugging my leg and giving me 'loves', just being near me.  I love this.

5) You always want to watch videos and look at pictures on my iPhone.  The same ones over and over again.  Your favorite is watching yourself knock on our door and say "Trick-or-treat" in the dress rehearsal for the big night.  You and Tag were Dracula and this video is so classic.  I pray I will save it so you can watch it later in life.

6) You and Tag love to watch cartoons.  Your favorites are Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, Vintage Bugs Bunny, and Iron Giant.  You especially like the Tweety Bird ones.  Whenever we watch you either cuddle up to me and put my arm around you, or you sit right on my stomach.  Joann must think I'm nuts watching all these again and again, but I'm just savoring your little body close to mine.

Spreading out

7) Everything Tag does, you copy him in your own way.  Tag notices this.  Sometimes he does things he knows you can't do, to assert his dominance, but mostly (for now) he is a good big brother and helps you and wants you to participate. You are just getting big enough for Tag to play with you more and I see some good times for you two ahead.  I also see many fights and I have to work on my patience, given that I'm mostly motivated by quiet (another downside to being single all those years and being older now)...

8) You are learning more words every day and the way you communicate is so funny.  You can't say your S's, so Superman to you is "Pooperman" and Spiderman is "Piderman".  Whenever Grandma comes to visit, she's amazed at how I understand what you say, but that's because I love your language so much I want to learn it!

9) You seem tough for your age.  You get over falls quickly and want to get right back in the action.  I wonder if this will make you more like your Uncle Nate, who loved football more than me.

10) You love to kick balls at me, swing golf clubs, hit baseballs, throw balls, etc.  You are all boy and I visualize the great athlete you will be.  Like Tag, you seem to have a natural athletic ability, and because those are the things Tag likes to do, you copy him and want to be like him.

Visiting my office, trying to get me to play "basketball hoop"

Swinging high on Matt Coombs' tire swing in Carmel, CA

11) You love to put on a football helmet and run at me and tackle me.  It's so fun right now because you are still so small that you can't hurt me going full speed.  You aren't as much interested in pillow fights as Tag was but you do like to hide under the blanket with me while Tag tries to find us.

12) Today, for the first time, you hugged my leg while I was eating dinner and said, "I love you Daddy."  I about started to cry as I love you so much back.

13)  The lucky people who know you always say, "Dang, that kid is cute."  -- Joann and I say daily how we wish we could freeze you right now.  I hope you get to experience a child of your own someday.  If so, remember that 18 months to 2 1/2 is as good as it gets.  You are right in the middle of prime time and I'll be damned if making a buck is going to get in the way of really soaking you in over the next 6 months!

Ready for Church

Chillin'

Happy Dooz

Clint Doozwood

After pooping his pants in nursery at church, this was all that was left of his outfit.

14) I like how if we are playing and I fake cry, you stop what you are doing and say, "Don't cwy!"  Then you give me a hug.  You have a tenderness about you that is really cool.

15) You have a GREAT laugh and you do it often.  You are a very happy child.  I have some great videos of you laughing that I will treasure.

16) You love to have me or Joann read stories to you at night.  If we weren't overdosed on iPads, TV and iPhones, you'd probably like that even more.

17) Your first Halloween experience just two weeks ago was so fun for me to watch.  Grandma Brinton also followed you around as you walked from house to house at your own pace, enjoying all the sights and sounds.  Oh how I wish you could watch yourself years from now at how cute and funny you were.  Given that I'm a Halloween nut, it was like sweet nectar to be with you and Tag on All Hallow's Eve.

Brintons, undead

Cemetery Home.

Out walking with Dooz on Halloween.

Packula

One of several trips to the Halloween store. Pack scares Tag.

I could go on and on. I have a new appreciation for how God the Father loves me, knows me, and wants to help me now that I am a father to you and Tag. My soul is enlarged and fed each day by just knowing you.  I can't understand why I am blessed to have such a special son during this time of my life. Oh, how I wish Grandpa could have known you better and visa versa.  He would have been addicted to you just like I am.

Happy Birthday, little Dooz.

Here's a few more of my favorite photos over the last year...

Pacific Beach, CA

Pine Valley, UT

First putting green, Gladstan Golf Course, Eagle Ridge, UT

Office visit, showing me his tie.

Dooz, bad ass.

"Ice keem!"

Carmel, CA

Go Broncos!