Category: Totally Tatum

Reading, drawing, and making stories.

I went to check on her before bed, and I found her doing this:

Whatcha doin Tot?

She will read like this all the time. Then, later, I found her on the floor with her notepad.

Whatcha writing?

I had to actually tell her to stop writing (and reading to go to bed). Kinda cool! I love your brain and imagination, Tot.

Coopy really wanted to play. He awaits Tatum’s return.

She comes back with a new friend. BLUEY! He’s going to play with the cars first…if you don’t mind, Coopy?

Oh, I just love you, Bluey!

Will you read to me?

And draw me a picture?

Time for a snack! Come over so I can share with you, Coopy.

Now, I have to nap, Coopy. You wore me out!

You might as well take a nap too. We have to teach Coopy to share his stuff now! Like his ball?

Till next time when you’ll join us for Coopy’s adventures. Stay tuned for Cooper learning to share.

That’s us.

What do we both say?

We don’t see what each other writes until we read it. I like that we both like reading, talking, swimming, and eating. (well, I like the eating part).

Oh our little snuggle bug.

Time for your shots, little guy.

How much does he weigh???

Well maybe his haircut took off a pound. OK, now be still boy.

That wasn’t so bad?

We love you Coopy-head. They say you are all healthy! Now I have to start brushing your teeth. Joyful joyful!

Well, one thing is true. We all adore each other. So much that we love to write post-its and cards to each other all the time.

I came home to this today. My HHH. **MELT**

Another thing we (at least Tot and I) love to do (and Doug gets to be the beneficiary) is to BAKE!

My HHH has a baked good tooth that I love to indulge, but with the healthy versions.
Every day, I make him a microwave mug muffin of various flavors: Chocolate, Apple, Pumpkin, Lemon…I have all types I like to spoil him with. A yogurt-cream cheese topping always accompanies.

Last week I made zucchini bread: Coconut flour and all the goodies. None of the guilt!

This week Banana bread…same deal HEALTHY and delish!

He was in heaven and I moved up a few notches in his love for me! (heehee!). The key is to keep all the ingredients gut and waistline friendly but still yummy!

I even made cauliflower gnocchi from TJ’s with tomatoes, shrimp-scampi style.

It’s been fun to cook and bake for my family, but to transform these dishes into healthy masterpieces. A tweak here and there, and you have a winner dinner! (or brekkie).

It’s the ABC’s that make the Hay’s happy (and healthy)!

Tonight, she gave us a little concert. The words to her songs are truly stream of consciousness. Inspiring, Holy Spirit filled, and heart warming. They discuss being filled with HIS love and trusting HIm.

She is singing at SBC this year in the choir, and I think it is paying off! She sounds amazing.

All of her lyrics, however, are from her own heart and mind.

Sing it Taties!

Tatum and I like to go out to breakfast on Fridays. We have been going to Einstein’s before school to do our devotion, pray, and talk.

When we were there last week, a lovely gentleman in his 70’s approached us and was so impressed at Tatum and her reading of the Bible. He went out to his car and brought Tatum this rock. His wife makes these to inspire people.

Well, this week, remember how she gave out the verses, pictures and lollipops to her classmates?

She was a bit disappointed that they only seemed to enjoy the lollipop. I told her that God saw her generosity and that is all that matters.

So we are in Einstein’s again this Friday and who should walk in but this nice man, Bill, and his rock-inspiring wife, Carole. She was hoping Tatum was there because she had a gift for her.

LOOK AT THE PICTURE! She had NO idea we had a white dog. I told her the Holy Spirit revealed this to her!

Look at that! Tatum realized that this gift was a result of her sowing kindness and generosity.. We always get back what we give out….10 fold! (That can be good and bad, I reminded her).

Thank you, Carole, for the kind rock. You’ve inspired us!