tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29808469635285052662024-03-14T02:59:53.096-05:00Topham TimesDale Tophamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13236573449659666257noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980846963528505266.post-86908422639006603772016-05-26T22:19:00.000-05:002016-05-26T22:19:27.257-05:00Colette's Kindergarten ProgramColette's kindergarten put on a program for parents this evening. I recorded parts of it. In the videos below, Colette can be seen jumping rope in a relay race, dribbling a basketball in a relay race, and dancing to "If You're Happy and you Know It."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ehqun-wAEVM/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ehqun-wAEVM?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
Jumping rope<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Gmyby5rNeSo/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gmyby5rNeSo?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
Dribbling a basketball<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/lS1rKqOtV1o/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lS1rKqOtV1o?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
Dancing to "If You're Happy and You Know It"Dale Tophamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13236573449659666257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980846963528505266.post-11331825598312473402016-05-26T22:12:00.000-05:002016-05-26T22:12:23.096-05:00Leila's School ProgramLeila's school put on a program last night in which the kids danced to songs from the 1950s. Katie sewed the poodle skirt Leila wore.<br />
<br />
Leila performed in four choreographed routines. I will post video clips below. In the first two, it's just the second grade, so Leila is very visible. In the second two video clips, it's the whole school performing. The camera is, of course, focused on Leila, but she is a face in a crowd.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4_kA95sObsY/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4_kA95sObsY?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
"Splish Splash" (1958)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5GT04upXSLs/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5GT04upXSLs?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
"Rockin Robin" (1958)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/i3DuY2BFQYo/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i3DuY2BFQYo?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
"See You Later Alligator"<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Bbymh3IYyz8/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Bbymh3IYyz8?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<br />
"A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes" in sign languageDale Tophamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13236573449659666257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980846963528505266.post-85615550987589479362016-04-07T12:23:00.000-05:002016-04-07T12:38:03.998-05:00Colette plays her first ever April Fool's joke -- on her fatherI decided yesterday that Colette needs to work on her sense of timing.<br />
<br />
Because Katie
was ill yesterday evening, I "cooked" dinner for the kids. Translation:
I took them to Chick-fil-A. Once the girls had settled down to eat
their kids' meals, Colette opened her bag and showed me inside. She
said, "Look, dad. They didn't give me any chicken!" Sure enough, the bag
held only french fries and a toy. So I went up to the counter and got
her the chicken nuggets that the employees ha<span class="text_exposed_show">d left out of her meal.</span><br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
<br />
After Colette polished off the box of chicken nuggets I had gotten for
her, she pulled a second box out from under the table, held it up to my
face, and shouted, "April Fools!"<br />
<br />
While I had been distracted by
the chaos involved in getting three little girls their food, the darn
kid had pulled the original box of chicken out of her sack and put it on
her lap out of sight. <br />
<br />
So back up to the counter I went to pay
for the extra chicken nuggets. When I returned to the table, I told
Colette that she would have to reimburse me the $2.87 her joke had cost
me. The young lady, who was already crying, wailed even louder. Her
sisters, meanwhile, explained to her that if she *must* play a joke on
someone, she should let them know it's a joke before it goes too far and
costs the victim money.<br />
<br />
So Colette played her first ever April
Fool's joke on the wrong day, and waited too long to reveal that it was a
prank. Timing, dear child, it's all about the timing.<br />
<br />
Epilogue:
Colette deeply regretted her actions. She said she didn't have enough
money to pay me back. I told her not to worry about that yet, we'd work
things out. With tears rolling down her cheeks, she said over and over
that she was a bad person because she had made a mistake. I picked her
up, set her on my lap, wrapped my arms around her, and hugged her
tightly. I assured her that she is not a bad person. I told her that
everyone makes mistakes, it's part of being human. She argued that there
are lots of people who don't make any mistakes. I reminded her that
there has only ever been one perfect person to walk the earth. The rest
of us mess up all too frequently. And I kept trying to explain that one
mistake does not a bad person make. That didn't really seem to register
with her, so I just hugged her and told her over and over again that she
is a great kid, that I love her, that she is my special little girl,
and that everything would be okay.<br />
<br />
I felt so bad for that well-meaning, pure-hearted, innocent little soul!</div>
Dale Tophamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13236573449659666257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980846963528505266.post-38408994228029555812016-04-01T11:31:00.001-05:002016-04-01T11:31:16.897-05:00"Once Upon A Dream" <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PdEg9KMG-Os" width="480"></iframe><br />
Leila singing part of "Once Upon A Dream" from the Disney movie "Sleeping Beauty" at her school's talent show March 31, 2016. Way to conquer your fears and pursue your dream, girl! You did awesome! Mom and Dad are so very proud of you!!!!!!!Dale Tophamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13236573449659666257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980846963528505266.post-23366432393362304702016-03-28T13:43:00.000-05:002016-03-28T13:43:56.995-05:00My daughters encounter the 2016 presidential election, part 5Remember how Leila's goal has been to become the first female
president of the U.S.? She came home from school yesterday and announced
that she was 100% certain that Hillary Clinton was going to win the
November election. Therefore, she would need to find a new goal. To that
end, Leila asked me if I could turn her into a "Black girl." She said
that if she couldn't be the first "girl president," then she wanted to
be the first African American woman to be president. (Ah Shirle<span class="text_exposed_show">y Chisholm, where are you now?)</span><br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
<br />
My dear daughter, if you get an owie on your knee and need someone to
kiss it better, daddy can do that. If you need someone to teach you what
a gerund is, daddy can do that. But if you need someone to transform
you into an African American kid, that is one thing daddy cannot do.<br />
<br />
A little fatherly advice, if I may: It would be more realistic for you
to try to become the first female president with Mexican heritage. Yeah,
I know it's a stretch, since we are talking about your second great
grandfather, who migrated north into Texas from Mexico in 1903. But
"Leila Topham, part of the Reconquista since 1903" would look great on a
campaign button.<br />
<br />
Now, dear child, set aside your political
ambitions for the moment and keep practicing the solo you will be
singing in your school's talent show in just over a week. One thing at a
time, kiddo, one thing at a time.</div>
Dale Tophamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13236573449659666257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980846963528505266.post-85949296900951319932016-03-28T13:40:00.000-05:002016-03-28T13:40:08.540-05:00My daughters encounter the 2016 presidential election, part 4Political strife of an unusual nature is afoot next door. One morning
I awoke to find that my neighbors had planted a Donald Trump banner in
the lawn on the boundary line between our yards. I was much relieved a
couple days later to see it had been moved to the center of my
neighbors' front yard. A few days later, it disappeared altogether. <br />
<br />
I mentioned this to Savannah, who giggled and said, "I know." She then
explained that her friend who lives in our subdivision and rides <span class="text_exposed_show">the
bus with her to school every day is the granddaughter of our next-door
neighbors. Unlike her grandparents, she does not support Trump's
candidacy. It was she who had been moving the banner around. Savannah
said that her friend kept moving it as a form of protest, as well as an
act of defiance against her grandparents. One day, she turned the sign
around so that passersby would see the print backwards. She gleefully
announced that it now read "Pmurt." Apparently, that was the point at
which the grandparents conceded defeat and removed the sign entirely.</span><br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
<br />
Nine-year-old girl: 1 Grandparents: 0<br />
<br />
Laugh. Out. Loud.</div>
Dale Tophamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13236573449659666257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980846963528505266.post-3341993042308895462016-03-28T13:36:00.000-05:002016-03-28T13:36:10.692-05:00My daughters encounter the 2016 presidential election, part 3When I picked Leila up from school today, she immediately started in
on politics again, continuing this morning's conversation (see earlier
post for context). She told me the kids talked about politics all day.
She said some of her classmates' fathers think Trump is great, but
others do not. She said the kids whose parents do not support Trump kept
referring to him as "Tronald Dump." Leila thought this was funny, given
the slang meaning of the word "dump."<br />
<br />
Then Leila switched<span class="text_exposed_show">
to discussing the Democrat candidates. She said she opposes Hillary
Clinton solely because Hillary is currently the biggest threat to her
dream of becoming the first "girl president," as Leila phrased it. Then
Leila wanted to know how soon she could run for president. She was
appalled when I said not until the year 2044. She decided my math was
off and set out to double-check it. She came up with 2028 as the correct
year. Turns out, she thought she could run for president after she
turned 18. When I told her the magic number was 35, it ruined her day.
She thought it was dumb of the Framers of the Constitution to pick such a
ridiculously advanced age as the minimum requirement. </span><br />
<br />
This kid entertains me.Dale Tophamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13236573449659666257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980846963528505266.post-43256414123067915142016-03-28T13:33:00.000-05:002016-03-28T13:33:13.346-05:00My daughters encounter the 2016 presidental election, part 2Scene: driving Leila to school this morning. She is looking at all the election signs along the way.<br />
<br />
Leila: "Dad, I had a dream last night that I voted for someone for
president. It was a made up person. I can't remember his name now, but
his last name started with a 'P'."<br />
<br />
Me <thinking>: Just so long as his last name didn't start with a 'T' kid!<br />
<br />
Leila, still reading names off signs: "Dad, Why don't you want Trump to win?"<br />
<br />
Me <thinking>: Because he's a xenophobic buffoon, among other things.<br />
I then explain that he has lots of unpalatable views, and that he just
keeps saying more disturbing things every time he opens his mouth. She
requests an example. I ask her if she has heard of Muslims. She says no.
I explain that they are a very large religious group, the vast majority
of whom are peaceful people just trying to live good lives. I remind
her about 9/11 and tell her that Trump has tapped into some people's
post-9/11 fears. I explain his anti-Muslim stance and tell her he
dislikes millions of people based on their religion.<br />
<br />
Leila, as she hops out of the car at school: "So, like Hitler?"<br />
<br />
Dear Mr. Trump, my 7-year-old daughter is on to you! You haven't got a prayer.Dale Tophamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13236573449659666257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980846963528505266.post-29080394704659807852016-03-28T13:28:00.000-05:002016-03-28T13:28:51.066-05:00My daughters encounter the 2016 presidential election, part 1Dear Hillary Clinton,<br />
<br />
My seven-year-old daughter Leila has, over the
last several weeks, repeatedly expressed a strong desire to become the
first female president of the United States. To that end, I respectfully
request that you withdraw your candidacy from the current election and
allow my darling daughter to chase her dreams She will be eligible to
run for office as early as the 2044 presidential election. Assuming she
is elected and then serves for two terms, you could r<span class="text_exposed_show">esume
your presidential campaign in time for the 2052 election. At that time,
you will be 105 years old. You've waited this long, surely a few more
years won't hurt?</span><br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
<br />
Sincerely,<br /><br />
a doting father<br />
<br />
*Important note to Facebook friends: This post's intent is
lighthearted. The post is not meant to be interpreted as a political
statement or to stir up politically charged controversy. Please do not
be offended by this post. And for the love of all that is holy, please
do not write argumentative or nasty comments below. I repeat: I am
simply trying to be silly -- though Leila is totally serious in her
desire to become the first female president of the U.S.</div>
Dale Tophamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13236573449659666257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980846963528505266.post-43396105093540049582016-03-28T11:47:00.001-05:002016-03-28T11:47:11.712-05:00Savannah Saves the Day: An Easter Egg Hunt StoryHave I ever told you that Savannah is a real sweetheart?<br />
<br />
We
had an Easter egg hunt in our yard over the weekend. At the appointed
hour, three girls raced out the front door in a mad dash to collect as
many candy-filled eggs as possible. As they competed for the same eggs,
Leila and Colette collided on the patio. The bigger kid came out of the
fray with the loot safely tucked in her basket and raced into the
backyard in search of more. In contrast, Colette burst into tears and<span class="text_exposed_show">
threw her Easter basket, scattering what few eggs she had gathered.
Deeply discouraged, she plopped down and refused to rejoin the hunt.
While Katie
tried to comfort Colette, Leila sailed on ahead, filling her basket to
overflowing. (Tell you what, that kid can MOVE when properly motivated.
I'm pretty sure she broke the sound barrier.)</span><br />
<br />
<div class="text_exposed_show">
Within seconds -- literally! -- all of the Easter eggs were gone.
Meanwhile, at the encouragement of her mother and oldest sister, Colette
had finally decided to give it another try. But by then it was too
late. So she sat back down on the patio, wailing louder than ever. Then,
from the back yard, I heard Savannah call out, "Come here, Colette!
There's still one over here!" This puzzled me because I knew full well
that the yard had been stripped clean of every last Easter egg. So I
walked around the side of house and into the back yard to investigate.
And there I saw Savannah taking eggs from her own basket, crouching
down, and carefully planting them along the fence line. As she did so,
she kept shouting out to her little sister, "I found another one!" And
"Here's one more!" Eventually, she succeeded in coaxing Colette into the
back yard, where she began picking up the eggs Savannah had hidden.<br />
<br />
Back on the patio once more, Colette noticed the contrast between her
few eggs and Leila's three dozen or so. And once again she burst into
tears and threw her Easter basket in the air, scattering its meager
contents. Undaunted, Savannah tried a new approach: she ran inside the
house, got the bag of unused candy, filled a bunch of plastic eggs with
it, and proceeded to hide those in the bag yard for Colette.<br />
<br />
Amidst the hubbub and chaos of a hunt for Easter candy, Savannah saw
that her little sister was discouraged and defeated. Neither parent said
a word to her. She came up with a solution on her own. And gave away
her Easter candy. What nine-year-old kid does that? Seriously, who does
that?!!<br />
<br />
(I'd like to claim that good parenting is responsible, but the truth is, the child was simply born that way.)</div>
Dale Tophamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13236573449659666257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980846963528505266.post-27932701992256879082016-02-22T12:11:00.000-06:002016-02-22T12:11:07.782-06:00Of Talented Daughters and Imbecilic Fathers<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
Scene: The family is seated around the dinner table. The girls are discussing what they are good at.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Savannah: "I'm good at reading."</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Colette: "Dad, you're good at watching football."</div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
Leila: "He is also good at reading."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Colette: "But dad is REALLY good at watching football!"</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
That's right folks. I am neither athlete nor artist. I cannot run a four-minute mile or paint the Mona Lisa. No singer or dancer am I. No scholar, either. Heck, I'm barely literate. But stick me on a couch in front of the television and put a bowl of chocolate ice cream in my hands and I can watch football with the best of them!!</div>
</div>
Dale Tophamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13236573449659666257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980846963528505266.post-86301992511390963792016-02-14T17:09:00.000-06:002016-02-14T17:12:16.297-06:00Valentines Day 2016 Daddy-Daughter Dance<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
I witnessed a strange phenomenon Friday evening at the Daddy-Daughter Dance at Leila's school. It was oddly familiar, and yet not. For much of the time, the walls of the gymnasium were lined with fathers focused in on their phones. They were completely oblivious to their daughters, who danced their hearts out in the center of the room.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
As I observed the middle-aged wallflowers, I thought back to the dances I attended as a teen, when I spent the bulk of my time holding up gym w<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">alls with my back. That night, however, I was no wallflower. When you are north of age 40, and your kids are south of age 10, it doesn't matter whether you can dance or not. I happen to have all the grace of a pig on roller skates and all the rhythm of a dead cow. But I danced with my daughters -- at least until the girls ran off and began dancing with their friends. Then I stood mesmerized as I watched them flawlessly dance carefully choreographed routines to song after song. And when, at long last, the DJ's played one -- count 'em, ONE! And no, I'm not bitter -- actual daddy-daughter song, I picked up all three daughters at once and danced with them.</span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
Of course, in doing so, I screwed up my back and hips, but never mind. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. My girls loved it. And so did I.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-632uJ82AFVc/VsEIhhSWWDI/AAAAAAAAALk/UCUX0ObMe-Y/s1600/2016-02-12%2B18.30.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-632uJ82AFVc/VsEIhhSWWDI/AAAAAAAAALk/UCUX0ObMe-Y/s320/2016-02-12%2B18.30.32.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
Six-year-old Colette's post-mortem on the Daddy-Daughter Dance:</div>
<div style="line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
"Dad, why did we even have to go there? I didn't like my cookie. And dad? I feel like it blew out my ear drums."</div>
<div style="display: inline; line-height: 19.32px; margin-top: 6px;">
Me too, kid. Me too. I feel like I've been to a rock concert -- but listening to mindless drivel instead of music. What on earth is Wip it Nae Nae?</div>
</div>
Dale Tophamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13236573449659666257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980846963528505266.post-61454319703653486712015-02-09T12:13:00.000-06:002015-02-09T15:51:24.908-06:00In which my daughters pass notes back and forth, reverently insulting each other during churchOn Sunday, my 6 and 8 year-old daughters entertained themselves during church services by carrying on a conversation via notes they passed between them. It was not exactly a love-fest. Here is what they wrote:<br />
<br />
<br />
L (age 6): What is your name<br />
<br />
<br />
S (age 8): Savannah<br />
<br />
<br />
L: I cant read.<br />
<br />
<br />
S: [very messy this time] Savannah<br />
<br />
<br />
L: Now that is sloppy.<br />
<br />
<br />
S: Half of it is cursive.<br />
<br />
<br />
L: I don't care. Wright neat.<br />
<br />
<br />
S: [carefully written] Savannah<br />
<br />
<br />
L: I still can't read.<br />
<br />
<br />
S: If I wrote as neet as I can you still would not be able to read it.<br />
<br />
<br />
L: Well wright neeter<br />
<br />
<br />
S: I can not write neeter.<br />
<br />
<br />
L: Why<br />
<br />
<br />
S: because ped [sic] is not hot.<br />
<br />
<br />
L: What is ped.<br />
<br />
<br />
S: I ment pen<br />
<br />
<br />
L: What do you mean.<br />
<br />
<br />
S: You see pen is not hot<br />
<br />
<br />
L: could you wright that neeter please<br />
<br />
<br />
S: Pen is not hot.<br />
<br />
<br />
L: Then it is cold<br />
<br />
<br />
S: Yes I gess Leila<br />
<br />
<br />
L: you speld guess rong do you care.<br />
<br />
<br />
S: [illegible]<br />
<br />
<br />
L: You had no anser<br />
<br />
<br />
S: Yes I did I will underline it<br />
<br />
<br />
L: Well, I can't redd<br />
<br />
<br />
S: You spelled Read with two ds<br />
<br />
<br />
L: I still can't Read so stop<br />
<br />
<br />
S: Well then learn how Leila<br />
<br />
<br />
L: I wont<br />
<br />
<br />
S: Learn how to read.<br />
<br />
<br />
L: Wy<br />
<br />
<br />
S: So we can get some were. in your word what you forget the a [i.e., 'h']<br />
<br />
<br />
L: Why<br />
<br />
<br />
S: To learn<br />
<br />
<br />
L: Wut<br />
<br />
<br />
S: Leila I thought I told you how to read.<br />
<br />
<br />
L: Wut<br />
<br />
<br />
S: how did this start Leila<br />
<br />
<br />
L: I Don't NO!<br />
<br />
<br />
S: well figer it out<br />
<br />
<br />
L: HOW?<br />
<br />
<br />
S: Look at the first note<br />
<br />
<br />
L: Wut whon [one] this wun [arrow pointing off left side of page]<br />
<br />
<br />
S: No the other one<br />
<br />
<br />
L: Wut whon. this one [arrow pointing to top of page]<br />
<br />
<br />
S: That is the same one<br />
<br />
<br />
L: now it isn't<br />
<br />
<br />
On the bottom half of the page, Leila drew a picture of a snow person wearing a tiara and a dress. She labeled it: "a snow man." Savannah wrote back, "I think that is a snow woman Leila."<br />
<br />Dale Tophamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13236573449659666257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980846963528505266.post-86229480938878777782014-04-23T23:22:00.000-05:002014-04-23T23:22:47.812-05:00My seven-year-old daughter clearly has my number<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Typically, Katie </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">and I take turns reading the girls their bedtime stories. Lately, however, Savannah has insisted night after night that only her dad could read her stories. After a couple weeks of this, Katie asked Savannah why she always wanted me to read and not her. Savannah explained that sometimes she can talk me into reading extra pages (we are reading from an enormous library book about space, so we just read 4 pages a day). Then she said, "And after dad's done with my story, if I hurry and ask him lots of questions, I can get him to stay and answer them."</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Oh goody. My seven-year-old is playing me like a fiddle.</span>Dale Tophamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13236573449659666257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980846963528505266.post-49579469302050995592014-04-22T14:41:00.000-05:002014-04-22T14:42:22.212-05:00J. C. Penney Company and the Atomic Bomb (part 2)<br />
Here are some more articles from the J. C. Penney publication <i>Pay Day</i>:<br />
<br />
"Laboratory Associates at Atomic Bomb Tests," April 1955<br />
<br />
"Charles W. Dorn, Laboratory head, and James Fynn, assistant, were invited to attend the recent Atomic Test Program of the Federal Civil Defense Administration's Operation 'Q' as project consultants on textiles."<br />
<br />
"'The Penney Company clothed 75 mannikins [sic] for the operation. Fifty were placed in houses and trailer homes while the remaining 25 were placed in the open at various distances from the point of explosion' Mr. Dorn explained. Two years ago the Company furnished clothing for mannikins [sic] used in similar tests."<br />
<br />
"Help in Exposing Fabrics"<br />
<br />
"Mr. Dorn and Mr. Fynn also cooperated with the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists, an organization in which they are both active members, in exposing over 300 fabric samples to atomic radiation. The samples were composed of various textile fibers ranging in color from black through the intermediate shades to white."<br />
<br />
"Known as 'open shot tests,' their purpose was to test certain effects of an atomic blast on an imaginary civilian population and installations. Between 1500 and 2,000 persons in industry participated."<br />
<br />
<br />
"FCDA Honors Lab Heads and Company," August-September 1955<br />
<br />
"The Federal Civilian Defense Administration recently presented to Penney's a public service award certificate for its contribution to the National Defense through participation in the Civil Defense Atomic Test program at the Nevada test site last spring."<br />
<br />
"The Company contributed fabrics and clothing for a test conducted by the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists during Operation Cue, the atomic explosion set off May 5. Over 300 combinations of various fabrics were exposed at varying distances from ground zero, the point of explosion, to judge the effects of the intense radiation generated in a nuclear reaction on textile fibers. Mannikins [sic] clothed by the Penney Company were also exposed both indoors and outdoors."<br />
<br />
"Individual Awards Given"<br />
<br />
"C.W. Dorn, head of the Central Office laboratory, and P. J. Fynn, his assistant, spent nearly a month on the test site to prepare and set up the experiments. In appreciation of their participation in the test, they were awarded individual certificates from the Federal Civilian Administration and the Atomic Energy Commission."<br />
<br />
[I hope they used the certificates as toilet paper!]<br />
<br />
"Operation Cue occurred near the end of a series of 'shots' or atomic explosions designated as Operation Teapot. A part of the AEC research program on nuclear explosion devices, Operation Cue was conducted by the FCDA as an industry participation program in an attempt to work out some of the problems of protecting life and property in the event of atomic attack. Private industry was encouraged to experiment by exposing standard and special installations of material with the purpose of determining the effects of an atomic explosion."<br />
<br />
"All material used in the test was shipped to Lowell, Mass., headquarters of the AATCC, for photographing and study. Mr. Dorn recently visited Lowell to examine the fabrics. Results of the textile experiments were given in a technical paper presented at the annual convention of the AATCC in Atlantic City in September."Dale Tophamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13236573449659666257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980846963528505266.post-36770103750770216952014-04-22T10:53:00.000-05:002014-04-22T10:53:06.360-05:00J. C. Penney Company and the Atomic Bomb (part 1)Yesterday, I wrote a Facebook post about my family's connection to the A bomb tests conducted in the 1950s and 1960s at the Nevada Test Site. (My parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents were downwinders.)<br />
<br />
Today my boss showed me a series of articles published in JCP Co.'s Pay Day discussing the involvement of the Penney company in the testing of the atom bomb. As a professional historian, I found it very interesting -- an aspect of the A Bomb testing I had never heard of before. With my boss's permission, I am going to share some of the articles.<br />
<br />
"Director of Penney Laboratory Attends Nevada A Bomb Test" Pay Day April 1953<br />
<br />
"C.W. Dorn, head of the Penney Company's scientific testing and research laboratory, was chosen to represent the National Retail Dry Goods association at the atom bomb test held March 17 near Las Vegas, Nev."<br />
<br />
"At the NRDGA's request, Penney's, through its Las Vegas store and with Mr. Dorn's supervision, supplied clothing for more than 50 mannequins which participated in the experiment. The dummies, clothed in all types of winter and summer wear, were placed at varying distances from the explosion."<br />
<br />
"The clothing will be displayed throughout the United States to illustrate the blast's effects on various textile fibers."<br />
<br />
<br />
Uh, Mr. Dorn, I don't think you ought to attend the test . . .<br />
<br />
<br />
"Research Head Reviews Atomic Blast Effects on Penney Clothing" Pay Day August 1953<br />
<br />
"Charles Dorn, director of Penney's research laboratory and chairman of the Technical Committee, NRDGA, recently reviewed "Operation Doorstep," the atomic blast test conducted near Las Vegas on March 17, 1953, which included examination of the effects of heat radiation and flying debris on clothing, as well as homes, shelters and automobiles in the blast area."<br />
<br />
"His article, Textiles in an Atomic Blast, appeared in the July 1953 issue of Stores, published by the National Retail Dry Goods Association."<br />
<br />
"In 'Operation Doorstep' fifty mannequins were dressed from clothing in the stock of the J.C. Penney Company. They were placed in living quarters of the houses, outside, in indoor shelters and in cars to simulate everyday conditions. The nuclear device was exploded on top of a 300 foot tower and had an equivalent of 15,000 tons of TNT."<br />
<br />
"Examining the clothing after the blast, [I do hope you wore gloves and a protective suit. Mr. Dorn!] Mr. Dorn found that textiles could be damaged by both flying debris and thermal radiation. [My, how very shocking! Who'd've thought?] Thermal radiation damaged unprotected textiles even at a distance of two miles from ground zero."<br />
<br />
"He found that because dark colors absorb heat they caused more difficulty than light colors, which reflect light waves. Mr. Dorn also noted that thermoplastic textiles could cause severe burns through fusing as a result of the radiation."<br />
<br />
"In his article he also recommended that when the opportunity permitted, a more scientific test should be made. Fabrics should be spread on frames at varying distances from ground zero, with proper instruments for recording the effects of the blast. The fabrics should include all textile fibers and a complete range of light to dark shades."<br />
<br />
<br />
Uh, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, Mr. Dorn, but it doesn't really matter what kind of J C Penney clothing people are wearing when exposed to an atomic blast. They are all equally screwed.Dale Tophamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13236573449659666257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980846963528505266.post-25337855429098373822014-04-16T12:17:00.002-05:002014-04-16T12:17:58.777-05:00The Trouble with being Short<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_534ebb01bcf5f9532379379">
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">An irate Savannah: "Dad, you have the shortest legs in the history of legs!"<br /> <br /> Legs have a history? I don't think that's been chronicled yet. One of my fellow historians ought to get on that!<br /> <br /> (Context: Either I am too short, or the chairs in the cultural hall in our church building are too tall. If I sit in a chair and put my feet on the ground, I cannot provide children wishing to sit on my lap a<span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span><span class="text_exposed_show"> level surface. It's more like they are balancing precariously on a downward sloping slide. That would be okay, except when I am wearing a suit and my daughters are wearing dresses, they slide right off my lap. Savannah wanted me to color with her in her coloring book today while she sat on my lap, and got really frustrated by the fact that she kept falling victim to gravity, as did the coloring book. She urged me to grow longer legs to solve the problem. I told her I could keep her safely planted on my lap if I wrapped my arms around her. She found this unacceptable because it would mean I couldn't color with her.<br /> <br /> Maybe I'll start bringing a small step-stool with me to church each week.)</span></span></div>
Dale Tophamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13236573449659666257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980846963528505266.post-54318223808929734582014-04-12T15:12:00.000-05:002014-04-12T15:12:09.464-05:00Too Many Cooks, or the Girls Plan a Surprise for their Mother Several evenings over the course of the last couple weeks, after Katie and I had tucked the girls in bed, they stayed awake chatting for quite some time. When we asked them what they were doing, they said they were working on a surprise for their mother.<br />
<br />
A few days ago, Savannah told Katie that she and her sisters were trying to stay up until after the parents went to sleep so they could carry out their plans in secret. Katie told her they couldn't do that. So Savannah came to me with a dilemma. She whispered in my ear that they wanted to surprise Katie with breakfast in bed, but couldn't figure out when to do it. Katie, she said, always went to bed too early, but still got up in the morning before they did. I suggested that they do it on a Saturday or Sunday morning, when Katie could sleep in. And Savannah said that her mom would still get up before them. I told her the way around that was to ask Katie to stay in bed while they put together their surprise.<br />
<br />
I soon found myself recruited to help them carry out their plans. We selected Saturday April 12th to "surprise" Katie. Upon awakening in the morning, the girls were supposed to come get me. At 3:50 a.m., a very anxious and excited Colette (age 4) woke me up and asked me if it was time to make mommy breakfast. I told her no and shepherded her back to bed, much to her dismay. I told her she would know it was time when she woke up and saw sunlight. Colette returned at 7:48 to inform me that the sun was up. I talked her into waiting until her sisters joined us, which they did twelve minutes later.<br />
<br />
And then, off to the kitchen we went to make cinnamon toast. Savannah and Leila argued over who would carry out which part of the procedure. In the end, they decided that each of them would custom-make their own cinnamon toast for Katie, rather than create it in an assembly line-style format. When the toast was ready, Savannah asked to make scrambled eggs as a "side dish." I denied her request and she fled the room in tears. Colette, meanwhile, picked out two yogurts and a bottle of water for Katie. Then we marched into the bedroom, with Savannah carrying the plate of toast and yogurt, Leila carrying the water, and Colette carrying the spoon.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BFgjh2oOcAg/U0mVI2yIAqI/AAAAAAAAAI8/-H4t1vJ02vw/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BFgjh2oOcAg/U0mVI2yIAqI/AAAAAAAAAI8/-H4t1vJ02vw/s1600/005.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
chefs at work. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OA0_cameA7Q/U0mVMdMsM5I/AAAAAAAAAJE/XHyH9KAFZV4/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OA0_cameA7Q/U0mVMdMsM5I/AAAAAAAAAJE/XHyH9KAFZV4/s1600/006.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYpmmwv8QDg/U0mVQYSzjII/AAAAAAAAAJM/HLpZrHkWVhw/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CYpmmwv8QDg/U0mVQYSzjII/AAAAAAAAAJM/HLpZrHkWVhw/s1600/007.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Ready to march. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0Vh0pcb_y9I/U0mVbmHCQlI/AAAAAAAAAJU/Uvhy4ac3FC4/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0Vh0pcb_y9I/U0mVbmHCQlI/AAAAAAAAAJU/Uvhy4ac3FC4/s1600/008.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Marching. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VdNA1F0CXdU/U0mVipXbfbI/AAAAAAAAAJc/PS7LWlZdX-E/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VdNA1F0CXdU/U0mVipXbfbI/AAAAAAAAAJc/PS7LWlZdX-E/s1600/009.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After Katie was served, the breakfast-in-bed program snowballed. The girls announced that they were now going to give *me* breakfast in bed! They ordered me to stay in the bedroom, then went off and made cinnamon toast, this time without adult supervision. After delivering my food, they got the crazy idea to make each other breakfast in bed. I heard Colette call out, "I'll be waiting in my bed!" as she raced down the hall and leaped onto her bed. Savannah and Leila dutifully served Colette breakfast, then Katie got up and served breakfast in bed to her oldest two daughters.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AsfaM1Ekj4A/U0mW608avUI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/BQulqDNnAGo/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AsfaM1Ekj4A/U0mW608avUI/AAAAAAAAAJ0/BQulqDNnAGo/s1600/001.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LDMtwhryNnA/U0mXLdEWMzI/AAAAAAAAAKA/h4V09C7pnck/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LDMtwhryNnA/U0mXLdEWMzI/AAAAAAAAAKA/h4V09C7pnck/s1600/002.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Above: Savannah holding the plate of food the girls brought to me. Photography by Leila.<br />
<br />
Right: Savannah and Leila holding the food they made for Colette.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p_pxQ4og-1o/U0mWjtLbhrI/AAAAAAAAAJs/lYJPppv26OU/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p_pxQ4og-1o/U0mWjtLbhrI/AAAAAAAAAJs/lYJPppv26OU/s1600/003.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>Left: Colette having breakfast in bed.</div>
<br />
Below: The food Katie made for Savannah and Leila.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-scaCYh2h0RA/U0mXDX_W8cI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/j-7A4CQtLVk/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-scaCYh2h0RA/U0mXDX_W8cI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/j-7A4CQtLVk/s1600/004.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a>Below: Leila eating breakfast in bed. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dU0g5XXs1kE/U0mXlbPqmpI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/0Rr6Utx9XBI/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dU0g5XXs1kE/U0mXlbPqmpI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/0Rr6Utx9XBI/s1600/011.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZerrTaQO0Lo/U0mXld-hVFI/AAAAAAAAAKU/_u7j49Rr9Vw/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZerrTaQO0Lo/U0mXld-hVFI/AAAAAAAAAKU/_u7j49Rr9Vw/s1600/012.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Above: Savannah eating breakfast in bed.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5o8CO9wRU6g/U0mXlUhhQiI/AAAAAAAAAKM/2XNo2IKvKa0/s1600/013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5o8CO9wRU6g/U0mXlUhhQiI/AAAAAAAAAKM/2XNo2IKvKa0/s1600/013.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Above: All three girls eating breakfast in bed.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A surprise for the whole family!</div>
Dale Tophamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13236573449659666257noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980846963528505266.post-13466662842608918842013-06-02T20:29:00.001-05:002013-06-03T01:06:32.627-05:00Our first sprinkler park and swimming of the season<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So the girls have been begging me since March to take them to the sprinkler parks or to go swimming. And normally we do so sometime in May, but this year has been cooler and rainier than most. As a result we haven't gone till this past weekend.<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J1lWGT_vLVw/UavugFzOY0I/AAAAAAAAAWA/Mqwr9bRtmhQ/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J1lWGT_vLVw/UavugFzOY0I/AAAAAAAAAWA/Mqwr9bRtmhQ/s320/052.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Savannah got a watering can (which she asked Santa for) for Christmas. She has been itching to use it ever since then. Well, at the sprinkler park she spent most of her time filling it up and watering the grass and cement. I sure hope she knows that the cement won't grow.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S2vBDm9pShw/UavurTrAtxI/AAAAAAAAAWI/QKRuAAQixb4/s1600/057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S2vBDm9pShw/UavurTrAtxI/AAAAAAAAAWI/QKRuAAQixb4/s320/057.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Colette loved the sprinker park. She was independent and had a ball. One of her good friends, Liam, was there. I didn't get a good picture of them together, but they had so much fun playing and getting wet together.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-inkWkAJjsk0/UavuxZCONcI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/s83OLuXPwBo/s1600/053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-inkWkAJjsk0/UavuxZCONcI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/s83OLuXPwBo/s320/053.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Leila loves to get wet, except her face. Here she is trying to fill the bucket to help Savannah water the cement, without getting her face wet. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FBVpgvN2WiE/UavvSG12BEI/AAAAAAAAAWY/ryoFpN4ude4/s1600/085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FBVpgvN2WiE/UavvSG12BEI/AAAAAAAAAWY/ryoFpN4ude4/s320/085.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
And lastly, the next three pictures are of the girls jumping in the pool. It seemed to take the girls all summer last year to build up the confidence to jump in, but the first time going this summer, they not only jumped in, but they did it without me there to catch them.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YZHcy7CUHmY/UavvXBUKedI/AAAAAAAAAWg/KhUrBeysOc0/s1600/075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YZHcy7CUHmY/UavvXBUKedI/AAAAAAAAAWg/KhUrBeysOc0/s320/075.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z-v1Q5ovogk/UavvbjaFUJI/AAAAAAAAAWo/T4_KrscFFK0/s1600/074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z-v1Q5ovogk/UavvbjaFUJI/AAAAAAAAAWo/T4_KrscFFK0/s320/074.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17794751384019496328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980846963528505266.post-34754029069580438632013-06-02T20:15:00.000-05:002013-06-03T01:11:15.687-05:00Our First Field Day ExperienceSavannah's school had Field Day this past Friday. There were something like 12 or 15 events which the kids rotated through. They competed against another kindergarten class. Most of the time they got beaten, but they were all so busy having fun, they didn't seem to mind.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vuFqILEN1LU/Uavrb9NUrvI/AAAAAAAAAVU/j6Ef4l3eDGA/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vuFqILEN1LU/Uavrb9NUrvI/AAAAAAAAAVU/j6Ef4l3eDGA/s320/007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Savannah said this was the funnest event because the girls competed against the boys and the girls won. As you can see, she is pulling with all her might with her best friend in front of her.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mkznfgloT5Y/UavryO_fb-I/AAAAAAAAAVc/7dl7oHm5nmM/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mkznfgloT5Y/UavryO_fb-I/AAAAAAAAAVc/7dl7oHm5nmM/s320/025.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
This is the first time that Savannah ever tried popping a balloon by sitting on it. She had a hard time but finally was able to get it. Most of the kiddos needed the assistance of their teacher sticking something sharp in the balloon to pop it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-psjhm7lec6Q/Uavr8GkU_GI/AAAAAAAAAVk/tpMAAc-PDNA/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-psjhm7lec6Q/Uavr8GkU_GI/AAAAAAAAAVk/tpMAAc-PDNA/s320/032.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
They got to play and do whatever they wanted with hula hoops. Savannah decided to use it as a jump rope. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CcKX3rASKRc/UavsHFi7HRI/AAAAAAAAAVs/1Bv-rRPAD-0/s1600/036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CcKX3rASKRc/UavsHFi7HRI/AAAAAAAAAVs/1Bv-rRPAD-0/s320/036.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
And her favorite event was flag tag. They played three rounds and the girls won. As a result, one of the girls' fathers said he would buy the whole class pizza for lunch. Savannah was pretty happy about that.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jP_DR8nbvFM/UavsQAKP8VI/AAAAAAAAAV0/HQQscP1bcBE/s1600/051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jP_DR8nbvFM/UavsQAKP8VI/AAAAAAAAAV0/HQQscP1bcBE/s320/051.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And lastly, at the end of the day they had an "end of the year" class party. As you can see, Savannah had fun, but she was pretty worn out by this point. </div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17794751384019496328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980846963528505266.post-84614991082018505802013-05-14T09:49:00.003-05:002013-05-14T09:49:57.502-05:00Savannah the Sweetheart<br />
In April, Savannah was excited to learn that her school was going to sell T-shirts for Field Day. We disappointed her, however, by explaining that we couldn't afford to buy one for her. Near the end of the month, Savannah announced that she had counted the money in her piggy bank and found she had enough to buy her own T-shirt ($12.00). When she told Katie that she was planning on buying a shirt with the money, Katie reminded her that she had previously said she was going to spend that money on a present for her sister Leila on her fifth birthday. Katie told Savannah that it was her money and, therefore, her decision to make.<br />
<br />
Savannah agonized over the decision. But in the end, as she later explained to me, she wanted to buy a present for Leila just a "teensy tiny bit more" than she wanted to buy a Field Day T-shirt for herself. <br />
<br />
The day of Leila's birthday, I took Savannah to Toys R Us so she could buy her sister a present. As soon as we walked in the doors, she shouted, "Oh!" and darted off to a display of toys. By the time I made it to that display, she had scampered over to another. She zigged and zagged around the store in search of the perfect present. When she finally stopped, I told her I had an idea for Leila that she might want to consider. I told her what it was, and she responded, "Dad, I'm the one buying her present! You're just the driver!" Then she grabbed the front of my shirt, twisted her fistful of fabric into a knot, and yanked me to another location. Pulling me around by my shirt, she continued her quest. She eventually settled on two items: a jumbo-sized Jake and the Neverland Pirates coloring pad and some sort of Doc McStuffins toy. <br />
<br />
As we waited in line to pay, Savannah started worrying. "Do I have enough money, dad?" she asked. I told her that the sales tax might push the purchase over $12. She asked, "Can you pay for that part if it does?" I assured her that I could. The cashier was very kind to Savannah and patiently counted out the mountain of coins she dumped on the counter. The total came to $11.89, a fact that greatly pleased Savannah.<br />
<br />
Savannah and I went home and together wrapped the presents. Savannah decided that, since she had 11 cents left over, that she would include the cold hard cash with the gift instead of returning it to her piggy bank.<br />
<br />
She was so excited for Leila to open her presents. Katie and I worried that Leila would not react to the gift in the way Savannah hoped, so we explained that Leila probably would not understand the significance of Savannah's sacrifice and the tough choice she had to make. I worried when Leila tore open the wrapping paper, shrugged, and moved on to the next wrapped present that Savannah would be hurt, but she took it all in stride.<br />
<br />
In the days since, Leila has spent a lot of time with the coloring pad. She has really enjoyed it. To our surprise, the Doc McStuffins toy has languished in obscurity.<br />
<br />
As for me, I genuinely enjoyed the shopping experience with Savannah -- even though I was *only* the "driver." It was delightful to see her enthusiasm and excitement as she painstakingly picked out the perfect gift for her little sister and paid for it all by herself.<br />
<br />
Savannah is such a good big sister. Such a sweetheart!Dale Tophamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13236573449659666257noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980846963528505266.post-30275231712041834332013-05-01T13:11:00.002-05:002013-05-01T13:11:53.576-05:00In which Leila offers to pay for our daddy-daughter date<br />
A few days ago, I picked up Leila from preschool and had 45 minutes before I needed to pick Savannah up from her school. Thinking it would not be worth it to drive back home, only to hop back in the car and get Savannah, I came up with an idea to fill the time. I asked Leila if she wanted to go on a daddy-daughter date with me. She squealed with delight and said, "Yes!!" I then called Katie to tell her of our plans. During our conversation, she cautioned me about spending too much money on the date and told me to keep it cheap. <br />
<br />
I relayed this message to Leila as we were trying to settle on a destination. Leila immediately said, "Dad, you can borrow money from me for our date. We can just drive home and get my piggy bank and then go on our date. I explained that time would not allow us the extra trip home and politely declined her offer to pay. In response, she said, "But dad, I have a lot of money. I mean, TONS of money."<br />
<br />
I said, "Oh yeah? How much you got?"<br />
<br />
She said, "I have two dollar bills!"<br />
<br />
I agreed that that was a large sum of money, but told her I could afford to pay for our frozen yogurt at Yogurtland.<br />
<br />
She said, "Dad, you need to earn more money." Then, after a pause, she offered me a means of supplementing my income. She said, "I got an idea, you could tickle my back and I will give you some pennies. Then you will have more money."<br />
<br />
<br />
Pennies, huh? You mean you're not willing to pay me the big bucks to tickle your back?Dale Tophamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13236573449659666257noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980846963528505266.post-88419681747519837652012-12-06T23:03:00.000-06:002012-12-07T00:50:40.336-06:00First time....Gingerbread Houses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ga3Khp6oGBs/UMFpOwhXMHI/AAAAAAAAASg/z8y_fxdMjv4/s1600/103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ga3Khp6oGBs/UMFpOwhXMHI/AAAAAAAAASg/z8y_fxdMjv4/s320/103.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
OK, so this year I decided it would be fun to make gingerbread houses. I have never really done that before in my life so it would be a fun new experience for all of us. So the first few pictures are of the girls decorating the houses. By the end of the task Colette figured out how to use a frosting bag.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ylWP4WR4Png/UMFpwoAq-xI/AAAAAAAAASo/maWmMliNV3c/s1600/104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ylWP4WR4Png/UMFpwoAq-xI/AAAAAAAAASo/maWmMliNV3c/s320/104.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Leila used more frosting than her two sisters combined did. Hers took the longest to dry because there were just gobs and gobs of frosting on her house...and her hair....and her shirt...and the table...you get the idea.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g_PkDTX7KlQ/UMFqDuaSHQI/AAAAAAAAASw/niOE3lZKO1I/s1600/087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g_PkDTX7KlQ/UMFqDuaSHQI/AAAAAAAAASw/niOE3lZKO1I/s320/087.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Savannah has this thing with lines. She colors in lines (meaning thin, long rectangles) when using crayons, and she decorated her house the same way as you can see by the above picture. I loved though how their different personalities came out in how they decorated their houses and what they were thinking.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XR7cbkzKCw4/UMFtH2IbydI/AAAAAAAAATE/8c5HsJXzMBo/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XR7cbkzKCw4/UMFtH2IbydI/AAAAAAAAATE/8c5HsJXzMBo/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
This one is Savannah's The pretzel squares are windows and the large marshmallows are chimneys for Santa to use when he visits. That is a big deal in our house this year as we are living in an apartment without any chimneys and the girls are worried that Santa won't be able to get in to leave their gifts.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kYA3ZWraGe8/UMFudAnacEI/AAAAAAAAATM/ku1xKJ2TfPM/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kYA3ZWraGe8/UMFudAnacEI/AAAAAAAAATM/ku1xKJ2TfPM/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The photos above and below are of Leila's house. It was her idea to use pretzels as windows. When she was decorating her last side she realized that she hadn't done any windows yet and decided to make up for it on that last side.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-neZ8ZqvE4SM/UMFul8btYiI/AAAAAAAAATU/8FJ5nyT8ZeE/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-neZ8ZqvE4SM/UMFul8btYiI/AAAAAAAAATU/8FJ5nyT8ZeE/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
And Lastly we have Colette's. She chose candies for decorating based on what she likes to eat because she knew sometime soon she was going to be able to eat some. She kept asking when she would be able to eat her house. It was so cute.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IcbC6s7-EpE/UMFuu6gB8YI/AAAAAAAAATc/UKeCY7_k5uI/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IcbC6s7-EpE/UMFuu6gB8YI/AAAAAAAAATc/UKeCY7_k5uI/s320/010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I loved this activity with the girls. They are so creative and had so much fun!! Definitely a tradition we are going to have to continue in years to come!Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17794751384019496328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980846963528505266.post-20801285675558937012012-09-23T19:50:00.003-05:002012-09-23T19:50:46.691-05:00Kindness.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLK5LNY-XEg/UFp2XrY6f7I/AAAAAAAAAQo/DCqslHjm3c0/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLK5LNY-XEg/UFp2XrY6f7I/AAAAAAAAAQo/DCqslHjm3c0/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Ok, so I was going to post about this awhile ago, but obviously I didn't. One afternoon there was a knock on the door. By the time I got to the door, the knocker was gone, but a bag was on the porch with the above note. The bag contained several shirts (both long sleeve and short sleeve), two dresses, and two skirts. For those of you who don't know, Savannah started kindergarten this year and, here in Dallas, TX the schools require uniforms. Not knowing exactly how much clothing to get, and not having a lot of money. I was brought to tears by this wonderful surprise. <br />
<br />
Then I noticed the second half of this sweet note. Leila and Colette were told that they would get something later. They were so excited about not being left out of the excitement that found our home that afternoon.<br />
<br />
A couple weeks later, 4 more bags appeared on our porch. These contained new matching skirts for the girls, along with a shirt, socks, a hair barette, and a new movie for each kid. And this time, there was a very touching gift for me. Savannah also got some uniform pants for school. My emotions overcame me and I weeped. My girls were wondering what was wrong with their mom. I have no idea why someone chose to do this for my family, but it was truly an answer to prayer -- and much more! Thank you so much to whoever did this. I wish there was something I could do for your family in return. Please know my heart is full of gratitude and love for you!<br />
<br />
The girls wore their new matching skirts to church the next Sunday. Savannah's primary teacher asked her if I had sewn the skirts, and Savannah excitedly told her that someone had left them in a bag on our porch. My girls absolutely loved being thought of and enjoy all their new treasures throughout each week!Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17794751384019496328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2980846963528505266.post-36951492004385533302012-09-20T22:30:00.000-05:002012-09-21T00:26:37.471-05:00F is for Fairy Tale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So several weeks ago the girls and I did a fairy tale theme for preschool. It was so much fun. In the following three photos you can see the Three Little Pigs' houses, Cinderella's glass slipper (which was a shoe cut out, painted blue, and sprinkled with glitter and sprinkles), and two pictures which shows the difference between a frog and a toad (just in case you wanted to give one a kiss). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As you can see in the first photo below, Savannah drew her own houses and then applied the straw and sticks. The red one is the brick house and was painted with a rectangle sponge. She was going to fill in the whole paper but remembered that the wolf goes down the chimney, so she added one in the </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
top right corner of the page.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YPg5Un_gliw/UFvJ_nJ23GI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/dvqGEzZ7kIw/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YPg5Un_gliw/UFvJ_nJ23GI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/dvqGEzZ7kIw/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Leila's artwork is pictured below. Leila drew her house of straw similar to Savannah's and applied straw, but then decided to draw her stick house like I drew Colette's houses. She also used toothpicks to put in a window. The brick house is the red one. The outer layer is the bricks, and the pink middle is the inside of the house. The small gap in the bricks at the bottom is the door, and if you look closely, you can tell that she remembered the chimmey at the last minute.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K5V-Y_u0vW4/UFvKGE0MG2I/AAAAAAAAARA/_etYWweZPz4/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K5V-Y_u0vW4/UFvKGE0MG2I/AAAAAAAAARA/_etYWweZPz4/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I drew all three of Colette's houses but, as you can see below, she had her own style when it came to placing the sticks on the middle home. It's amazing how different three kids can make the same project.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fdhVOtBy8mY/UFvKYaWXmwI/AAAAAAAAARI/0DKG0kdRh6Q/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fdhVOtBy8mY/UFvKYaWXmwI/AAAAAAAAARI/0DKG0kdRh6Q/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
In the next picture on the right-hand side, you can see Colette's frog and toad better. We glued oatmeal and rice on one and painted it browns and grays to make it look like a toad. The frog was a shiny paint of any color since frogs vary in color. We based this project on The Princess and the Frog story. The other artwork is painting with apples, which we did after we read Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I2UJYxi8P_U/UFvMWClIMAI/AAAAAAAAARQ/gomowOF8dlU/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I2UJYxi8P_U/UFvMWClIMAI/AAAAAAAAARQ/gomowOF8dlU/s320/005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The photo below is Leila's Apple Art.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xbmp1N_ulQE/UFvMaFmFEdI/AAAAAAAAARY/MjK5QqHIOEk/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xbmp1N_ulQE/UFvMaFmFEdI/AAAAAAAAARY/MjK5QqHIOEk/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Below is Savannah's Art. She is very much into her artwork having some kind of order.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5qW3_nnWThY/UFvMdgxlOsI/AAAAAAAAARg/cYb5yyaHy6w/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5qW3_nnWThY/UFvMdgxlOsI/AAAAAAAAARg/cYb5yyaHy6w/s320/007.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
We also read The little Red Hen and made home-made brownies afterwards. We made princess hats, a dragon mask, and then a castle out of card board boxes, which the girls painted. Then we acted out Sleeping Beauty. Savannah was Sleeping Beauty, Colette was the wicked fairy Maleficent, and Leila was Prince Phillip. We had all the important characters at any rate. Below, the girls are sporting their princess hats.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8JaXBb2Jm_A/UFvc558NvsI/AAAAAAAAAR0/cMqNBLhePXc/s1600/045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8JaXBb2Jm_A/UFvc558NvsI/AAAAAAAAAR0/cMqNBLhePXc/s320/045.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LuEel4AUC5Y/UFvdHQDy3rI/AAAAAAAAAR8/ruBfeZ8HSQ0/s1600/055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LuEel4AUC5Y/UFvdHQDy3rI/AAAAAAAAAR8/ruBfeZ8HSQ0/s320/055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
We also made miniature apple pies when we read Snow White. Leila is showing hers off in the photo below. We also played games like finding Cinderella's lost slipper, or picking which shoe would make a good glass slipper. We had races and ran away when the wicked fairy tried to get us. It was so much fun and so much fun to watch the girls express their different ways of looking at life. It was also fun to hear what they took away from each story, after all a fairy tale is supposed to teach us something. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N0g3HN7NvL0/UFvdXBPugEI/AAAAAAAAASE/cVS3bz6GGkg/s1600/061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N0g3HN7NvL0/UFvdXBPugEI/AAAAAAAAASE/cVS3bz6GGkg/s320/061.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17794751384019496328noreply@blogger.com2