I found out from a mutual friend that one of Ian's classmates' mom had a serious illness unexpectedly occur. It sent a bit of a shock through all of us among the moms who know her. I told Ian that his friend "John" may not be in school due to the serious condition his mom was in. If John was in school, he should be extra sensitive to him. Don't say anything to John unless he says something first. And try to keep your response positive. Ian said he would tell John, "I hope your mom feels better."
I didn't go into too many details telling Ian what was going on; only saying that John's mom was sick. If John did feel the need to talk about it, I didn't want Ian to start asking a bunch of questions and make John feel bad about what was going on.
At the end of the day, Ian gets in the car and I asked him if John was in school. Ian said yes. Here was their conversation:
John asked Ian if he thought his mom was home or not.
Ian: Yes, she's home.
John: No, my mom is in the hospital.
Ian: I hope she feels better.
John: Thanks.
Ian: I wasn't supposed to say anything until you said something first.
Oh my!!! Next time I give Ian instructions, I am going to have tell him not to say what the instructions were! It's very sweet how innocent kids are. Ian meant well and didn't realize what he was doing. Gosh, I love that kid.
Monday, March 17, 2014
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Got potato?
The family that cooks together...eats together!
A few weeks ago Jeff mentioned it would be fun if we, as a family, cooked dinner together one night. All of us. WHAT!?!!? Do I look like I am having that much fun in the kitchen each evening? Do you really have nothing else to do that you have to invade my space and join me in this necessary evil called 'cooking dinner'?!?!?! If you've never seen Jeff in the kitchen before, it is a sight to behold. He likes to have everything he needs within reach. This goes for pans, pots, mixing bowls, cooking utensils, measuring spoons/cups, knives, and pretty much everything you find the fridge and pantry. Whether or not he will actually use it, it is as close to him as possible. Most of the time he will find use for it all. It becomes an impressive display how one meal can use so many pots, pans and mixing spoons.
I tried hard to let his suggestion of us all cooking together go in one ear and out the other. My goal is to find things to make for dinner each night that can be done as efficiently as possible. In and out. I am not there to linger. I've got too many things to do!
We had a snow day not too long ago that kept us stuck in the house together all day long. I had on the calendar to make Chicken Noodle Soup for dinner. I wanted to put something with it as a side (besides french bread) and decided it was time to get the family involved in making dinner. Yes, I was going to go there and fulfill Jeff's idea of a good time. The kids and Jeff were going to make homemade potato chips.
I had been to a Pampered Chef party at a friends house back in January. I saw this really cool gadget that made amazingly delicious, crispy potato chips (with no oil!) in the microwave. The only thing you needed was a potato and salt. At the Pampered Chef party I had also ordered an easy slicer to help make the potatoes as thin as they needed to be for chips.
I pulled out the slicer, the special trays to microwave the potatoes and got my Toppall team to work. Each person had a job. Ian sliced the potatoes, Jeff patted the potatoes dry to absorb any liquid on them, and Sam salted and placed them on the trays. The potato chip making ran like a well-oiled machine. Each batch took exactly 3 minutes, 30 seconds to microwave. It took about 6 batches before we all started telling each other to stop eating them as soon as they cooked and wait until we sat down for dinner. They were so tasty and we were all starving from being outside shoveling snow. It was hard not to devour them as soon as the microwave dinged. Finally, Jeff, Ian and I started showing restraint. Sam however, decided it was necessary to taste test each batch. We were losing too many to quality control.
Dare I say it? We were having fun. Jeff, Ian and Sam had their own thing going on and I was busy making the soup. We were all in the kitchen cooking together. It actually worked out well. Who thought that was possible? Well, Jeff did. Guess what? He was right. Yes, I am admitting it. He was right.
A few weeks ago Jeff mentioned it would be fun if we, as a family, cooked dinner together one night. All of us. WHAT!?!!? Do I look like I am having that much fun in the kitchen each evening? Do you really have nothing else to do that you have to invade my space and join me in this necessary evil called 'cooking dinner'?!?!?! If you've never seen Jeff in the kitchen before, it is a sight to behold. He likes to have everything he needs within reach. This goes for pans, pots, mixing bowls, cooking utensils, measuring spoons/cups, knives, and pretty much everything you find the fridge and pantry. Whether or not he will actually use it, it is as close to him as possible. Most of the time he will find use for it all. It becomes an impressive display how one meal can use so many pots, pans and mixing spoons.
I tried hard to let his suggestion of us all cooking together go in one ear and out the other. My goal is to find things to make for dinner each night that can be done as efficiently as possible. In and out. I am not there to linger. I've got too many things to do!
We had a snow day not too long ago that kept us stuck in the house together all day long. I had on the calendar to make Chicken Noodle Soup for dinner. I wanted to put something with it as a side (besides french bread) and decided it was time to get the family involved in making dinner. Yes, I was going to go there and fulfill Jeff's idea of a good time. The kids and Jeff were going to make homemade potato chips.
I had been to a Pampered Chef party at a friends house back in January. I saw this really cool gadget that made amazingly delicious, crispy potato chips (with no oil!) in the microwave. The only thing you needed was a potato and salt. At the Pampered Chef party I had also ordered an easy slicer to help make the potatoes as thin as they needed to be for chips.
I pulled out the slicer, the special trays to microwave the potatoes and got my Toppall team to work. Each person had a job. Ian sliced the potatoes, Jeff patted the potatoes dry to absorb any liquid on them, and Sam salted and placed them on the trays. The potato chip making ran like a well-oiled machine. Each batch took exactly 3 minutes, 30 seconds to microwave. It took about 6 batches before we all started telling each other to stop eating them as soon as they cooked and wait until we sat down for dinner. They were so tasty and we were all starving from being outside shoveling snow. It was hard not to devour them as soon as the microwave dinged. Finally, Jeff, Ian and I started showing restraint. Sam however, decided it was necessary to taste test each batch. We were losing too many to quality control.
Dare I say it? We were having fun. Jeff, Ian and Sam had their own thing going on and I was busy making the soup. We were all in the kitchen cooking together. It actually worked out well. Who thought that was possible? Well, Jeff did. Guess what? He was right. Yes, I am admitting it. He was right.
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| Ian slicing the potato. |
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| Sam putting the potatoes on the tray. |
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| Yummy potato chips!! |
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| They don't last long in our house. |
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Hamentashen YUM-O!
The Toppall's came together for their annual Purim baking of Hamentashen cookies. Our group is getting fast at making these yummy triangle shaped cookies! As soon as we arrived and started rolling out the dough, we were concerned there wouldn't be our usual crazy number of cookies we produce. What we didn't realize is everyone was rolling dough! Before you knew it, we couldn't get them filled, folded and on the tray to put in the oven to bake fast enough. The counter top was covered with dozens and dozens of little circles. Even Samantha (our youngest helper) was holding her own and rolling with the best of them. It was so fun having everyone join in, including the older boys.
I think we counted 149 Hamentashen were made with lots of love and fun when all was said and done!
I think we counted 149 Hamentashen were made with lots of love and fun when all was said and done!
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
The Saturday we rocked!
It was like the clock had stopped moving. On this most recent Saturday morning, my Toppall team and I got a ridiculously large amount of stuff done before 9:00am. It's not unusual for us to be early-risers, really early-risers; it is unusual however for us all to be motivated and work together towards a common goal. Usually it's me or Jeff that is eager to get going on the to-do list; generally it doesn't happen to us at the same time. And for the kids to be equally motivated to want to help, is quite phenomenal. All of four us together accomplishing our to-do list is amazing. I don't think this has ever happened before, not to this extent I know that.
The morning started off with Jeff at Wegman's at 6:15am. Fortunately I had the shopping list done the night before and he could go as early as the store would allow him to show up. Sam spent the time with Jeff gone yelling at me and acting up. She was going off about something or other. Honestly, I do my best to difuse the situation and hope she calms down quickly. I knew once Jeff came back she would be fine again. In hindsight, he should've just taken her with him grocery shopping.
From the moment Jeff walked back in the door and put away the groceries, we all pitched in and got moving. From five loads of wash clean and put away, to the bathrooms being scrubbed, to the floors getting vacuumed, to both kids getting showers, to beds getting made, and the pool membership application getting filled out, we moved swiftly and efficiently. Within 2 hours, the whole house was clean. Everything was done by 9:00am!! It was pretty sweet!
Ian and I met some friends at Wildfire for lunch and did a little shopping at Tyson's. Gosh I love that restaurant. Jeff and Sam walked to Coldstone for ice cream. Later in the afternoon, Jeff played catch with the kids (It was GORGEOUS outside!!) and I went for an hour walk. I made my chicken meatballs and spaghetti for dinner which everyone loves. What a great day!
I loved that the kids wanted to help. They are doing a great job with the cleaning. I hope we can have more Saturdays like this. Go Team Toppall!
The morning started off with Jeff at Wegman's at 6:15am. Fortunately I had the shopping list done the night before and he could go as early as the store would allow him to show up. Sam spent the time with Jeff gone yelling at me and acting up. She was going off about something or other. Honestly, I do my best to difuse the situation and hope she calms down quickly. I knew once Jeff came back she would be fine again. In hindsight, he should've just taken her with him grocery shopping.
From the moment Jeff walked back in the door and put away the groceries, we all pitched in and got moving. From five loads of wash clean and put away, to the bathrooms being scrubbed, to the floors getting vacuumed, to both kids getting showers, to beds getting made, and the pool membership application getting filled out, we moved swiftly and efficiently. Within 2 hours, the whole house was clean. Everything was done by 9:00am!! It was pretty sweet!
Ian and I met some friends at Wildfire for lunch and did a little shopping at Tyson's. Gosh I love that restaurant. Jeff and Sam walked to Coldstone for ice cream. Later in the afternoon, Jeff played catch with the kids (It was GORGEOUS outside!!) and I went for an hour walk. I made my chicken meatballs and spaghetti for dinner which everyone loves. What a great day!
I loved that the kids wanted to help. They are doing a great job with the cleaning. I hope we can have more Saturdays like this. Go Team Toppall!
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Coffee Talk
About a month ago during one of our many snow days from school while I was out to lunch with the kids, I ran into a mommy friend that I first met when Ian was a baby. Once her little boy and mine got old enough for preschool, we naturally went on different paths and didn't really talk as much. We had traded emails sporadically, but that was the extent of our friendship.
We decided it would be nice to get together for coffee once school was back in session and we were sans kids for few hours. This past Friday was our date to meet at Panera Bread for coffee. I got there about 10 minutes early, got a cup of hot tea and found a table. This particular Panera location has their tables really close together and my table for 2 was near the really big table that a Panera Bread always has available. Seated at the big table were 3 women who had to be in their mid-seventies. They were chatting a mile a minute. These women were so full of life and were pretty much finishing each other's sentences. After listening to their conversation for 5 minutes (really, it couldn't be helped!), I had to chime in. I HAD to!! It was killing me to keep my mouth shut.
Me: Sorry to eavesdrop, but I've been watching for 37 years, since I was 5 years old. I totally agree with you, the character of Sonny couldn't be played by anyone else.
THESE WOMEN WERE TALKING ABOUT GENERAL HOSPITAL!!!!!
We started chatting and I instantly fell in love with these women. They were the coolest! To hear them talk about this soap opera reminded me that I am not alone in my love of the show. We are a dying breed!
When my friend arrived, she sat down and told me these women are always there. Every time she's been there, these women are sitting at the same table and having the same conversation about General Hospital. How cool is that!?!?
Once I've retired from all my jobs and have more time on my hands, I aspire to be one of these women. A regular coffee meet-up to discuss General Hospital or whatever the latest show is my idea of a great reason to hang-out with friends. I wonder if these women will still be around then?
On a side note, it was really great catching up with my friend. We filled each other in on our kids, what's new, our Summer plans and more. I told my friend about Sam and my latest challenges with her. It's been more intense than usual and we are really going through a difficult time. Once I got done giving her the 5 minute version, she just looked at me and said, "Wow, you don't even look haggard. You always have a smile on your face." All I could answer her with was, "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. What else can I do? I can't give up. I've got to keep trying."
We decided it would be nice to get together for coffee once school was back in session and we were sans kids for few hours. This past Friday was our date to meet at Panera Bread for coffee. I got there about 10 minutes early, got a cup of hot tea and found a table. This particular Panera location has their tables really close together and my table for 2 was near the really big table that a Panera Bread always has available. Seated at the big table were 3 women who had to be in their mid-seventies. They were chatting a mile a minute. These women were so full of life and were pretty much finishing each other's sentences. After listening to their conversation for 5 minutes (really, it couldn't be helped!), I had to chime in. I HAD to!! It was killing me to keep my mouth shut.
Me: Sorry to eavesdrop, but I've been watching for 37 years, since I was 5 years old. I totally agree with you, the character of Sonny couldn't be played by anyone else.
THESE WOMEN WERE TALKING ABOUT GENERAL HOSPITAL!!!!!
We started chatting and I instantly fell in love with these women. They were the coolest! To hear them talk about this soap opera reminded me that I am not alone in my love of the show. We are a dying breed!
When my friend arrived, she sat down and told me these women are always there. Every time she's been there, these women are sitting at the same table and having the same conversation about General Hospital. How cool is that!?!?
Once I've retired from all my jobs and have more time on my hands, I aspire to be one of these women. A regular coffee meet-up to discuss General Hospital or whatever the latest show is my idea of a great reason to hang-out with friends. I wonder if these women will still be around then?
On a side note, it was really great catching up with my friend. We filled each other in on our kids, what's new, our Summer plans and more. I told my friend about Sam and my latest challenges with her. It's been more intense than usual and we are really going through a difficult time. Once I got done giving her the 5 minute version, she just looked at me and said, "Wow, you don't even look haggard. You always have a smile on your face." All I could answer her with was, "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. What else can I do? I can't give up. I've got to keep trying."
Monday, March 3, 2014
The case of the missing homework folder
Every Friday afternoon Sam comes home with her homework folder. It is filled with homework for the coming week. Each Friday morning, the folder gets turned in and the cycle begins again. I always, ALWAYS keep the homework folder in the same spot, each and every day. Friday morning I put the homework folder in her backpack and Friday afternoon, I take the homework folder out of her backpack. Without fail this has been going on since Ian was in Kindergarten. Same exact schedule, same exact spot.
At some point during the weekend, Sam will say she wants to do all her homework for the coming week and Jeff or I will sit down with her to get it done. We never need to ask where the folder is, because we always know where it is. The homework isn't due till the end of the school week, so the completed folder gets put back in the same spot. The whole thing is very predictable. We've never had a problem with this system since it began.
I left for Florida on a Thursday afternoon. Before leaving, I put a big post-it note on the back of the front door "DON'T FORGET TO PUT THE HOMEWORK FOLDER IN SAM'S BACKPACK".
Monday night I come back home and take notice the homework folder is not where it should be. I check Sam's backpack and it is not there. I ask Jeff where it is. He has no idea. I ask Sam where it is. She has no idea. I ask Jeff if he put her homework folder in her backpack before school on Friday. He said yes. Hmmm, that's weird. I then ask Jeff if she came back home with it at the end of the day. He said he doesn't know. No one knows where Sam's homework folder is.
I send an email to Sam's teacher and ask her to help solve this mystery of the missing homework folder. Did the folder not make it home? Did the teacher decide to not assign homework (although she has never skipped a week before)?
It takes a full day but the teacher responds and writes that her assistant who does all the homework folder stuff was not in school today. She will check with her tomorrow and send the homework folder home with Sam on Wednesday. She also added a line that we shouldn't worry if Sam needs more time to do the work and we can turn it in late.
Finally on Thursday I get an email from the assistant teacher. Sam already turned in her homework folder with all the work completed. This was done on Monday. As the assistant writes, "Sam is on top of it!".
On top of it? Really? Wouldn't on top of it mean that either Jeff or Sam knew they received the homework folder, did all the work in it and returned it on MONDAY!!?!?!? Just a few hours later when I got home on Monday, neither of them could remember any of that.
Mystery solved. Case closed.
At some point during the weekend, Sam will say she wants to do all her homework for the coming week and Jeff or I will sit down with her to get it done. We never need to ask where the folder is, because we always know where it is. The homework isn't due till the end of the school week, so the completed folder gets put back in the same spot. The whole thing is very predictable. We've never had a problem with this system since it began.
I left for Florida on a Thursday afternoon. Before leaving, I put a big post-it note on the back of the front door "DON'T FORGET TO PUT THE HOMEWORK FOLDER IN SAM'S BACKPACK".
Monday night I come back home and take notice the homework folder is not where it should be. I check Sam's backpack and it is not there. I ask Jeff where it is. He has no idea. I ask Sam where it is. She has no idea. I ask Jeff if he put her homework folder in her backpack before school on Friday. He said yes. Hmmm, that's weird. I then ask Jeff if she came back home with it at the end of the day. He said he doesn't know. No one knows where Sam's homework folder is.
I send an email to Sam's teacher and ask her to help solve this mystery of the missing homework folder. Did the folder not make it home? Did the teacher decide to not assign homework (although she has never skipped a week before)?
It takes a full day but the teacher responds and writes that her assistant who does all the homework folder stuff was not in school today. She will check with her tomorrow and send the homework folder home with Sam on Wednesday. She also added a line that we shouldn't worry if Sam needs more time to do the work and we can turn it in late.
Finally on Thursday I get an email from the assistant teacher. Sam already turned in her homework folder with all the work completed. This was done on Monday. As the assistant writes, "Sam is on top of it!".
On top of it? Really? Wouldn't on top of it mean that either Jeff or Sam knew they received the homework folder, did all the work in it and returned it on MONDAY!!?!?!? Just a few hours later when I got home on Monday, neither of them could remember any of that.
Mystery solved. Case closed.
Saturday, March 1, 2014
70 Candles
A week ago, I was down in Orlando to celebrate my mom turning 70. If you know my mom, you'd know she doesn't act like she is 70. Most days she has more energy than I do and keeps going, going, going like the Energizer bunny. She is funny, thoughtful, quick to lend a hand and one of the best people you'd ever be fortunate to meet. My mom is beautiful inside and out. Simply put, she is my best friend.
My sister Lori and I threw my mom a small party for her 70th. Originally Jeff and the kids were going to travel to Florida with me, but after spending 2 weeks with everyone at the end of December, and Jeff's upcoming trip with Ian in March, it didn't make sense to spend hundreds of dollars on airfare for a long weekend. So I got to have a wonderful weekend back home, sans kids. The timing could not have been more perfect as I was really needing a break.
This most recent trip going solo got me thinking. There were many moments when I wished Jeff and the kids were with me. I wanted to hang out with my mom/Jim, dad/Rita, Lori/Ben/Rachel, and Meghan with my kids and husband. It was hard to be at the party and not have them there. Hanging at my sister's house with her new baby really made me want Ian and Sam to get to know their cousin as much as they could. It didn't seem right that I got to hold her and no one else on my Toppall team could.
My other thought that hit me was "What the hell was I thinking moving so far away from everyone?!?!?" I absolutely ADORE my family. The amount of love I feel towards the Florida crew can not be measured. On Monday afternoon, a few hours before my flight back home, Rita, Meghan and I went for a quick lunch. It is not an exaggeration to say that we laughed our way through the entire lunch. Oh, what fun we had! This lunch was such an impromptu, last minute idea and it will bring smiles to my face every time I think about it.
I know it is not practical to even consider moving back to Orlando (nor do I want to deal with the heat), but if given the right opportunity, I'd jump at the chance. My sister's baby (Rachel) is so blessed to be growing up with her grandparents and aunt a mile or two away I am not a jealous person, but this does get me teary-eyed on how special it will be for her.
Every time I come back from a visit down South, I feel incredibly grateful to have had the chance to go. I also instantly get depressed that I won't be around my family until the next time I go down to visit. As of now, I don't plan to go back until July. Gosh, that seems so far away. I may need to do something about that.
My sister Lori and I threw my mom a small party for her 70th. Originally Jeff and the kids were going to travel to Florida with me, but after spending 2 weeks with everyone at the end of December, and Jeff's upcoming trip with Ian in March, it didn't make sense to spend hundreds of dollars on airfare for a long weekend. So I got to have a wonderful weekend back home, sans kids. The timing could not have been more perfect as I was really needing a break.
This most recent trip going solo got me thinking. There were many moments when I wished Jeff and the kids were with me. I wanted to hang out with my mom/Jim, dad/Rita, Lori/Ben/Rachel, and Meghan with my kids and husband. It was hard to be at the party and not have them there. Hanging at my sister's house with her new baby really made me want Ian and Sam to get to know their cousin as much as they could. It didn't seem right that I got to hold her and no one else on my Toppall team could.
My other thought that hit me was "What the hell was I thinking moving so far away from everyone?!?!?" I absolutely ADORE my family. The amount of love I feel towards the Florida crew can not be measured. On Monday afternoon, a few hours before my flight back home, Rita, Meghan and I went for a quick lunch. It is not an exaggeration to say that we laughed our way through the entire lunch. Oh, what fun we had! This lunch was such an impromptu, last minute idea and it will bring smiles to my face every time I think about it.
I know it is not practical to even consider moving back to Orlando (nor do I want to deal with the heat), but if given the right opportunity, I'd jump at the chance. My sister's baby (Rachel) is so blessed to be growing up with her grandparents and aunt a mile or two away I am not a jealous person, but this does get me teary-eyed on how special it will be for her.
Every time I come back from a visit down South, I feel incredibly grateful to have had the chance to go. I also instantly get depressed that I won't be around my family until the next time I go down to visit. As of now, I don't plan to go back until July. Gosh, that seems so far away. I may need to do something about that.
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| This was my mom 'back in the day'. Wasn't she beautiful? |
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| My mom with her 2 girls. |
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