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!

The Dooz: Moving Fast

I really want to get on and make more journal entries, but by the time I attempt to handle the craziness that is being a parent of two little boys, I'm too tired to turn on my computer, let alone be purposeful in writing about it all.

On December 10th, Joann and I had to move out of the Horrock's home in Woodland Hills, as they returned home from their mission. Since all our belongings were in storage anyway, we decided to have an adventure and drive 26 hours to South Padre Island, Texas for the winter.  More on S. Padre on another post.

The drive wasn't as much torture as I predicted, but mostly because we weren't so anal about keeping the boys in the straight-jacket-like car seats required by American society these days. We are more than halfway through the stay and are only here another 3 weeks.  The time has flown by, but it's been so enjoyable to see photos and hear the complaints of our Utah friends who are stuck home dealing with all the snow.  So much so, that we have decided to leave the snow and move to St. George when we return.  Anyway, that's another story for another time.  Tonight, I want to highlight some of the goings on with our sons.

Tag and Pack are so much fun, that I don't really know how to communicate how lucky I feel to be able to travel with them to such a fun winter place.  Not only that, but to have work that offers me as much freedom as I have to play with them during this small window in time when they are learning and changing so quickly. I waited and toiled for so long to be a DAD, that I feel heaven has given me a unique chance to soak it all in.

My favorite people

Pack, aka Doozie, (14 months old) has discovered walking and I haven't seen him return to crawling for about 10 days now. Watching him attempt to chase Tag, walk in the sand, spin in circles, pick up a ball and return to standing, etc. is poetry in motion. He is a confident, daring, and stubborn child who knows what he wants and screams so loud when he wants it.  He loves balls of any size, just like Tag did, only I'm noticing that he may be a left-hander like me and his grandpa!  Grandpa would be so proud.

Being an older parent, I find I relish peace and quiet quickly, so unfortunately Pack's screams often get him what wants.  Yeah, yeah, I know this only encourages more of the bad behavior, but give me a break, I'm tired.  This loudness also makes him virtually impossible to bring to a restaurant, but we still love to go out and eat while on the island.

Pack often will be sitting on the counter in the kitchen with Joann and I'll hear, "Dada!" -- I'll look in his direction to find him smiling at me and trying to get my attention.  I'll look at him and we'll both smile and I'll look away and the game continues.  He is tiny and light (compared to Tag), making him so fun to engage in pillow fights on the bed.  He loves to climb on my back and have me play horsey and throw him off into the pillows.  He points at things he wants or places he wants me to take him, and gives a loud grunt -- "UUH!"  If I don't immediately comply, he gets louder.

Just yesterday, he learned how to say "Mom" and he is quick to say it when Joann is not around.  Oh, how he loves his Mom. Everywhere we go, people move in close to look at his baby blue eyes and try to be rewarded with his smile, which he doesn't give out to any Tom, Dick or Harry.  He's a very handsome child.  Often times, he will see Tag give "bones" to a stranger, which is the act of bumping fists.  Then he'll reach out his fist to the person and when the fist approaches, he withdraws his offering leaving the other person hanging.  I love this move.

Pack loves his older brother.  You can really tell.  He copies him, follows him, imitates him, and aspires to do what Tag does all day long.  The biggest fights we see are when Dooz sees Tag with a drink or a ball and he wants it for himself... NOW.  Or all hell breaks loose.  I've initiated a rule that Joann is not to give one of the boys a drink unless the other is offered the exact same drink in his own container.

Pack is much more daring than Tag was (and even is).  He'll go down a steep slide headfirst and grunt for more the minute he hits the bottom, even if he got banged up a bit on the way down.  I love this about him.

He loves to eat fruit and guacamole, and most other things, and when he doesn't want something, he has a funny, violent NO head shake that leaves no question as to what he doesn't want.

3 Years Old

Tag,

You turned 3 years old today. When you woke up, there were a lot of big balloons waiting for you in the living room and we watched one of your favorite movies called "UP" for breakfast.

You call this movie, "Mr. Fredrickson" after the old man in the movie.  The first time you asked to watch Mr. Fredrickson, it took me a while to figure out what you were talking about!  Now I call it the same thing. There are two lines in the movie that you always laugh at and want me to rewind.  One is when the little boy is looking around Mr. Fredrikson's house for the first time and he sees the photo of the old man as a boy wearing goggles, and he says, mostly to himself, "Hmmp.  Goggles."

The other line you like is when the little boy is telling Mr. Fredrikson how he got the house to South America using his GPS, and he makes funny sounds as he describes it to the old man.  He says, "The GPS tells me wherever we are on the planet, BE BO BOOP BA BE BE BEEP."

I love that you noticed these lines and have taught me to laugh at them too.

Watching "Mr. Fredrickson" with the boys

Then we had a blast jumping on trampolines at a little place in Provo. Some of your friends from Nursery were there, as well as some of your Kriser cousins.  But I was honored to find out you have the most fun hanging out with me.

Successful candle extermination, first attempt.

How old are you, Tagman?

Opening presents.

As I think back over your 2nd year, I am in awe of how much happiness my life has with you in it. When you were born I really didn't know if you were going to stay alive for even a day... But this ominous start to your life helped me understand how precious each day is and we really had fun this year.  I don't know if you'll remember all the fun we have had, but I will never forget it.

My consulting practice as an internet marketer allows me to be at home and around you and Doozie more than most Dads and we take full advantage of playing, pillow fights being our favorite.  About a month ago, I took a break from working and went upstairs to get a drink.  You noticed me and yelled, "Hey Dad!  What are you doing?"
Me:  I'm getting a drink.
You: And then you have to go work?
Me:  Yes, I have to go work.
You:  Sometimes Daddy's have to work?
Me: Yes
You:  But, sometimes little boys want Daddy's to play!

We went and had an epic pillow fight.

During your twos you mastered things quickly.  You have a great arm and can throw a spiral pass with a football right to me from across the room.  I showed you how to hold a baseball bat during the summer and pitched a few of the little practice baseballs we have to you and within about 5 swings, you were smashing them right back at me or over my head.  Papaw Spence was visiting and he saw you hitting some balls and he asked, "How long has he been doing that?"  When I told him it was your 2nd time, he shook his head in amazement and commented, "That's not normal."  There's no doubt that your hand-eye coordination is above average.

You also like to kick soccer balls to me.  We spread our legs and try and kick it across the room into the goal and you mostly beat me at this game.  You love any sport I present you with and quickly pick it up.  This gets me very excited about future adventures.

You have a fun and unique personality.  You are mostly outgoing and often walk up to kids your age in restaurants and say, "Hi!, What's your name?"  When adults who know you or wish they knew you come up and say hello, you sometimes are shy, but you are quick to give a high five or "bones". Momsie Spence runs the nursery in our church and she often comments how you instinctively know when another child needs some love and you are quick to give them a hug or a smile.  This is unique for a 2 year old and I really admire this quality in you.

You and a cute girl you met at the airport and took her away for a chat,
causing much grief for us and her parents until you were found

You are a real talker and have a much more developed vocabulary than other kids your age.  You ask me so many questions while we drive, that sometimes I lose my patience and tell you, "No more questions!" -- To which you reply, "Dad, not even one more question?" -- Or you say, "Dad, are you frustrated with me?"  This makes me laugh and I just have to remember to respect your curious mind.

At least 5 times a day, you stop what you are doing and you turn to me, put your arms around me and say "Daddy, I love you."  We are very close and I hope this friendship will continue.

You share a love for Halloween with me, and I really love that about you.  This year, you really knocked trick-or-treating out of the park.

You LOVE to try on scary masks

More fun at the costume store

Scary SkeleTag

Since Halloween, when I pretended there might be monsters in the dark corners of the basement, you are constantly wondering about "monsters" and you often ask me if there are monsters in the trees or downstairs.  Even though I reassure you that there are no monsters, and we sometime pretend there might be some, I can tell you wonder about this. Just recently you decided you didn't want to sleep in your tent, and you switched to the regular bed with only a few small episodes of waking and crying in the middle of the night.  I hope it has nothing to do with monsters.

Love - Hate relationship with the Ghost I hung up

You have a tender heart and sometimes I wonder how I can teach you to be tough in a world that requires this trait.  I taught you a little trick when you get hurt that helps you sometimes.  When you fall and get hurt, you raise your arms above your head and pull them down really fast at the elbow like you are doing an imaginary pull-up, and you make a loud grunting noise.  It's a good reminder to be tough with physical pain.  I wonder how I am going to teach you about emotional pain and how to handle those situations.

Last week we took you to see Santa and it was classic.  You know who Santa is and that he has something to do with Christmas, but you aren't yet aware of Santa's magic powers and his ability to grant your wishes.  So, when you sat on his lap and he asked you what you wanted for Christmas, you quietly replied, "I want a candy cane."  Santa said he could probably grant that wish.  As we walked away, you looked at me with a sincere face and asked, "Dad, how come Santa didn't give me a candy cane?"

You love your little brother and you often give him hugs and tell me how you are going to teach him to throw or kick or run.  A few times, you have pushed him down for no reason, but mostly you share with him and love to have him around.  I feel the same way.  I will reserve my observation about Doozie for another post.  When you and I are having a pillow fight or doing any playing at all, it only takes about 10 seconds for The Dooz to crawl his way into the room and scream at me to lift him up right in the middle of the action.  You are mostly always accommodating and welcome him into the game.  I really like that about you.

Hangin' on Santa's couch

You and The Doozie

You do this often to The Dooz

You love to sit close to me and watch Bugs Bunny or other fun things.  You love Yosemite Sam and Tweety Bird but not so much the Coyote vs. Roadrunner cartoons.  I feel the exact same way.  Oftentimes, a cartoon will come on and you'll say, "Dad, this is a dumb one."  And you are always correct.

You used to only want to watch Toy Story, but this year you switched to E.T., UP, Wallace & Gromit, Ice Age, and your favorite, Curious George.  You are much like Curious George, who is curious and happy, with no guile.  Oftentimes, I see you on the other couch watching Curious George and laughing to yourself with his antics and adventures.  I love that.

You are a Broncos fan

I've heard about the "Terrible Two's", but you really haven't had those.  Yeah, when you are tired you can be a little stubborn, but mostly Joann and I marvel at your happiness and ability to make friends.

You, dive-bombing a pizza

Ellie VanTassel.  She's 6, but one of your good friends

Most of all, you have taught me how much love Heavenly Father and the Savior have for me.  I love you so much and my life is so much happier with you in it.  If you ask me for something with your sincere, happy little heart, I find myself excited to give it to you and hope you will continue to ask me for more help or even just a lollipop because it lets me know you believe in me and that I can and will give it to you.  Whatever the desire, it doesn't matter.  I just want to give it to you.  Isn't this how God is to me?  The answer is yes.  Each time I have remembered to ask him for help, surrendering my pride and ridiculous notion that everything I want is up to me, He answers my prayer and helps me in ways that only a father can deliver.  I hope I can teach you this important principle as you grow up.

Happy Birthday, Tagman.