October's New Year's Resolution Experiment

I feel great!! My change for the month of September was to be less connected throughout the night. To not have access to my iTouch and be able to check email or Facebook once I went upstairs to bed. This actually wasn't as tough as I thought it would be. I didn't have any kind of withdrawal symptoms nor did I miss not being able to see what was going on online. For the most part, I slept better and when I did wake-up, it didn't take as long to fall back asleep. I am going to keep this change going. I am so glad I finally got some perspective on how obsessive I was getting with needing to check email and Facebook.

Now, to announce my change for October. I am going to not use credit cards (including the checking debit card) for the entire month. Talk about a challenge! It's cash all the way baby. I will take out $250 a week and live off this. This includes groceries (yes, paid in cash), gas, and any incidentals that come along. If I don't have the cash for it, then I won't get it. I think the key for this succeeding is to go grocery shopping first and see what is left to spend the rest of the week. And my last priority is going to Target, because if I made this my first stop early in the week, then there wouldn't be anything left for groceries. :)

The only downside to this plan is that we won't be earning any reward points for money charged on the Amex card. This is a tough one for me to swallow because I am all about getting points and using them for things we wouldn't normally be able to do; like Jeff and I going to Mexico right after Thanksgiving and saving points for our dream trip to Australia. But, I have a feeling the reward will be even greater when Jeff reads this October challenge and knows that when I do something, I do it all the way.

Art imitating life

Many thanks to Amy (a great mommy friend) who saw this comic strip and thought of me. This is so true that it borders on not being funny. If you ever wanted to see what my calendar hanging in the kitchen looks like...just see below. This is us to a tee!  Pretty scary, but its good to know that we are not alone out there. Either the artist who did this is spying on us or is closely related to their own version of what life is like for the Toppall family.  For as much as I love electronics and the latest gadgets, I love my old-fashioned calendar hanging on the wall more.  There is something comforting to me to be able to walk by at any given moment and see where it is I need to be next. 

I believe you can click on this comic strip and it will appear bigger. Or, here is a link to read the comic online.  http://www.babyblues.com/archive/index.php?formname=getstrip&GoToDay=09/12/2010

Can you hear me now?

I admit it, Ian will be one of those kids who has a cell phone at an extremely early age. He will be the kid who other parents hate because it means they now need to get their child a cell phone. Yes, we will be those parents. In fact, there was a moment two weeks ago when Jeff & I actually had a conversation about possibly getting him a cell phone for him now, at age 5.

Please allow me to explain before you start to judge. When kindergarten first started, Ian was having a difficult time waiting for me in the kiss & ride line. I wanted desperately to let him know he wasn't alone and I was only a few cars away from him seeing me. The patrol (older kid at the elementary school) would get him from his classroom and take him to the kiss & ride area where the cars come up and collect the kids who do not take the bus. The patrol leaves the little ones, lets go of their hands and walks away. Ian is left standing there feeling completely alone and abandoned. In reality, there are two adults who are standing there assisting the kids who are getting to their parents' cars, but Ian didn't know this. Nor, were any other in kids in his class doing kiss & ride. I would pull up and Ian would be in tears or very close to crying waiting for me.

It didn't take long until I figured out a solution to the problem. Getting one of the adults who assists the kiss & ride area to introduce herself to Ian did the trick. She was very understanding and told Ian he could come stand next to her until I drove up. I held my breath that first day after the introduction was made. I was #9 in line and knew I was too far back to beat Ian to the punch and be pulled up waiting for him to come out. I texted Jeff and said, "#9 in line, let's hope Ian keeps it together until I can get up there." Jeff texted back with "maybe we should get him a kid-friendly cell phone, you know the kind that can only call 3 numbers". And in that instant I knew, it is only going to be a matter of time. I do think age 5 is too young. And, I am not sure what the appropriate age is. But I do know, that I don't want Ian to feel alone. I want him to know that I am a quick phone call away if he is scared.

There is going to come a time (granted, in a few years) when Ian is somewhere, without me, and plans change. Soccer practice gets called off early or the movie he and his friend is seeing breaks in the middle and Ian needs a ride home sooner than anticipated. Or, Ian is at the mall and I want to reach him. I want to know I can reach him at any point. True, growing up I never had a cell phone and managed to survive just fine. However, there were pay phones back then and I clearly remember using them to call my parents.

So I ask my readers this question -- when is an appropriate age to get your child a cell phone? 10 years old? 12 years old? Yes, this is with the assumption that many parental controls will be set in place (texting, Internet access, unlimited calling to anyone, etc). I'd be very interested in hearing all opinions; those who think I am off my rocker and those who agree with me and have a definite age in mind when the time would be right.

Heard and Observed XV

Walking back in the house after knowing Jeff and the kids watched football:

Me: Sammy, did you watch Football today on tv?
Sam: uh-huh (this is her way of saying yes)
Me: Who was winning?
Sam: Barney

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Me: Sam, you get to go to school today.
Sam: No way. No school. Apple picking.
Me: We are going to go apple picking on Sunday. School today.
Sam: No way. No School. Apple picking.
Me: No apple picking. Apple picking on Sunday.
Sam: Apple picking soon. Apple picking. Apple picking.

This exact conversation carried on all the way to preschool. Then when I picked Sam up and we get in the car to go home, she says, "apple picking soon." Three hours being in school and she hadn't forgotten our conversation.

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We frequently Skype with my mom in the mornings and the kids eat their breakfast while Mom-Mom hangs out on the kitchen table. 

One recent afternoon, Sam went up the computer monitor and knocked on the screen, saying:  "Hello in there.....Mom-Mom, hello in there."

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All plugged in!

I have a lot of things that needs to be plugged in and charged. Here's my list of items that require a charge until the battery runs out and then needs to be recharged:

Cell phone
iTouch (x2) - each kid has one
iPod
Garmin Forerunner - I use this for running
Digital camera
Kindle

Plugs today have gotten bigger and bulkier. They no longer contain a small two- or three-prong plug. These days, there is a huge box at the end of the cord. Not sure why it is needed, but most of the electronics seem to have them. Makes it very hard to use a classic type surge protector. One plug could easily take up 2 or 3 outlets. Oy! At home I'd have to divide and conquer, using various outlets in different rooms to fit all the cords of things that needed to be charged.

Then I took a trip at the end of June to Martha's Vineyard and discovered something that I didn't know existed. In our hotel room was the ROUND surge protector!

Oh, how life has become simplified and easier. I have revolutionized the way I give our electronics a charge and created The Charging Station. The Charging Station is located in our living room, nicely hidden on an end table that is in between the sofa and oversized chair, tucked away in the corner. The lower shelf holds the round surge protector and the top shelf has the end of the plugs and any electronics that need to be charged. It is genius, if I do say so myself! I've got 6 cords plugged in all the time. I can charge everything at the same time, in one place. The only thing that needs to get switched out are the iTouches, because they use the same cable. 

Now I just need to hope I don't blow an electrical circuit.

This little piggy got some polish!

Two nights ago, we were all sitting on the couch watching tv, counting down the minutes till bedtime.  Sam looked at me and said, "Pedicure me."  I couldn't refuse her request and promptly got out a bottle of nail polish and painted her toenails.  This was a first for us.  Sam and Ian had done pretend pedicures in the past and Ian would "paint" Sam's toenails with a variety of crayons that Sam had picked out.  But when Sam looked at me and asked for a pedicure, I went for it. It was the real deal and I painted her toenails a very nice shade of hot pink.

When I was done, I had to explain to Sam she couldn't move her feet and needed to give them a couple minutes to dry.  Together we blew on her little toes to help the drying process go faster.  Sam took one look at her feet and said, "Soooooo pretty.  Soooooo pretty." 

It is no secret that I can't wait to take Sam with me for regular pedicures.  I think 2 years old is too young, but will probably take her on her 4th birthday as a special treat.  This is not something I ever did with my mom, but it is something I'd like to with my little girl.  What a better time to bond than while getting our feet pampered?  This is what makes having a girl special.  Ok, just one of many reasons. 

All the news you need to know re: Ian

Here's an update on a few hot topics these days at the Toppall house. In no way do I apologize for coming off as an over-protective, overly sensitive mother. This is my job and I am taking it more seriously than I ever thought I would. I don't see myself changing anytime soon either. :)


TRANSITION TO KINDERGARTEN:

After 9 days of school, the child I have grown to love more than anything (equally tied of course with his sister, Sam) has returned. I was more than a little worried when each day I'd ask Ian if he talked with any of his classmates and he would tell me no one or just this one boy, James. How could this be? Ian is a non-stop Mr. Chatterbox and I couldn't imagine him not speaking to any kids his age for 3 hours, 20 minutes each day (2 hours on Mondays). I was concerned that this is how it was going to be for the next 13 years and Ian wouldn't form any friendships. If I could get access to his classroom and find a few kids to bribe to be his friends, I would've. My heart was breaking each time I asked Ian the question and heard his answer. Then towards the middle of week #2 at school, the tide had changed. I'd ask Ian if he talked to anyone and he would list 3 or 4 kids and have a big smile on his face as he was saying their names. On Thursday we got up to 6 kids.

And fortunately, I figured out the issue with the kiss and ride pick-up and why Ian was in tears or close to tears by the time my car came around the bend. All it took was a simple introduction to one of the adults standing there assisting and Ian no longer felt isolated or abandoned. Now each afternoon when Sam and I go to get Ian, he is standing next to Ms. Rolander and has a big smile on his face. It makes me feel good to know that no matter what car number I am in line, Ian will be just fine until I get there. Again, you can't imagine how hard it was for me to see Ian in tears when pulling up to the school curb.

I know there is always going to be something that needs to be addressed, but I really didn't want Ian discouraged so early in his school career. I think for the time being he is going to be okay. And, so am I.


FACING DISAPPOINTMENT HEAD ON:

Ugh! On Wednesday, I got a call from Parktakes (the Fairfax County division for classes and all things rec centers related) and was told that Ian's T-Ball class on Tuesday mornings was cancelled due to low enrollment. I quickly tried to find a replacement class of some sort before having to tell Ian the bad news. Unfortunately there was no other class that met for his age group at the time of day we needed. I wasn't sure how I was going to break the news and decided to sit on it for a day or so and see if I could put some kind of positive spin on it. However, things didn't go as planned and on Thursday morning when dropping Sam off at preschool, a fellow preschool parent who Ian knows very well asked him when T-Ball starts. Oy! I broke the news to Ian then and there. While Ian was disappointed, he took the news surprisingly well. I think I took the news harder! I knew how much Ian was looking forward to this class.


RIDING ON TWO WHEELS:

Back at the beginning of summer when Ian turned 5, he said he was old enough to take the training wheels off his bike. Ian's Aunt Elaine had just given him a bigger bike and we decided this would be the bike for him to learn. After 3 quick sessions (think 10 minutes or less), Ian never really had the confidence to get the hang of riding without a little help. Ian was scared and would let himself fall gently to the ground and then say he was done. We didn't push it and since Ian turned his attention to the new scooter he received from his grandparents, the bike sat there collecting dust.

Fast forward to this past Wednesday when we met our friends Beth and her kids at Popes Head Park. I asked Ian what kind of wheels did he want to bring with him; scooter? bike with training wheels? bike without training wheels? Ian said he didn't want to go back to riding a bike with training wheels. I came up with a brilliant idea and decided to take off the training wheels on the bike he was comfortable with. It was smaller in size and he knew this bike like the back of his hand.

When we got to the park, Ian took off and never looked back. It was most impressive how well he did from the moment he got on his bike, until the moment we left 2 1/2 hours later. It was like Ian was always riding just two wheels. I admit I was tearing up a bit at how great he was doing and not having to struggle.


AN UNSELFISH ACT:

Jeff came downstairs the other night to tell me this story. He went into Ian's room and saw Sam on his bed watching "Barney". Jeff asked Ian how this came to be. Apparently Sam walked into Ian's room and asked him to put the show on his tv. Ian did this completely on his own and allowed Sam to be in his room watching what she wanted instead of something he wanted to see. Anyway, Jeff was looking for Sam to give her a bath. He could hear Ian telling Sam to hide under his comforter so daddy wouldn't find her. Sam listened and did just as Ian instructed. It was really cute. How wonderful these two get along. They are so close and it makes me incredibly happy that Ian looks out for his little sister. Even if it is to escape getting clean.


THE SLEEPOVER THAT WORKED!

Ian was invited to give the sleepover thing another try. This time he went to Ethan's house and along with Ian, another boy joined them named, Andrew. So in essence, this was also Ian's first slumber party. All reports came back that it went well and the boys were asleep by 9:30pm. Ian didn't ask to come home once or even want to give us a call.


Below is video of Ian riding without training wheels.