More about lost time...or is it gained?!

So...as I was saying...our trip to Texas. Lots of roadside picnics:

After our package delivery and a pit stop in South Houston for Dan to check out his International Scout, we made it to Galveston, Texas for a day at the Gulf:

Dan actually spent much of the day back in South Houston loading up the Scout. We had a blast and have the peeling sunburn to show for it! On to the Rainforest Cafe for some din din and souvenirs...

After our meal, we headed over to a park where there was a real submarine and battleship. Very cool tour and whew...tuckered us right out.

Back on the road again, heading up to Arkansas to see Steve and Amy in Bella Vista. Not without a typical Topel incident, though! Dan and I started hearing a noise coming from the shifter area and discovered that it sounded like a bearing. After our last trip to Florida and our 6 hour tow back home, we decided to be a bit more proactive this time...checked the transmission fluid and found it was VERY low. No external leaks though...hmmm...so the noise got better after we filled it and a few hour set-back: we were on our way.

Made our way up to their house and visited with them and their 4 dogs, 4 cats, and bird!! Dan is pictured with Big Boy, one of two Great Dane's. Amy works at the Animal Shelter!

Spent the night there, then on to visit Karl's in Cedar Rapids. Had dinner and visited with them. Always great seeing them and the girls. The flooding was just starting to get bad when we arrived in Iowa, but got way worse after we left. Not too sure how we got from Cedar Rapids home, as both Dan and I were wiped OUT!

Oh yeah...The mystery of the transmission fluid was soon solved en route home. The fluid was actually leaking into the transfer case (which became way overfull). Good thing we own a repair shop!

Trip summary: Kids proved they can co-exist in a very small area for long periods of time and get along wonderfully. Had some great family time and confirmed that Tara cannot stand sleeping in hot trucks all night long! Also noted that preventative vehicle care has advantages! (check Arkansas off of the Cracker Barrel visited state list).

Making up for lost time...

I remember this time not long ago. A time when Wisconsin got dumped on with snow and our business got dumped on with work. Sleep was a luxury and our home was a pit. The phone didn't stop ringing and we didn't stop for meals. Yes, we were blessed with assistance all around, from employees to friends and of course family (which is both).

It would seem with about as much spontenaeity as it took for that to happen that our family has been blessed once again with what would almost seem a "reward" of mini-vacations galore!

It started on May 30th on the kids last day of school. We headed 'em up and moved 'em out to Montello at Wilderness Campground. The whole fam damily...even Brady.

Our home for the weekend...a 1969 trailer from Dan's cousin, Trent & Pam.

Other than the ants, it was a nice cozy little place to sleep!

Mallory made a friend, McKennzie.

Christian made a friend, Katie.

The kids played awesome together all weekend. We relaxed, played games, went paddle boating, went fishing, and even had a visit from Brian & Lynnell from down the "road" in Princeton!!

Though the time was a bit short (Dan had to head out early to go go-kart racing at Sugar River Raceway-it was pretty much worth it, as his team came in 2nd.), it felt like we were gone for a week. Before we left, Dan had a call from someone in Texas who bought a car through Hemming's Motor News from a guy in Jefferson who wanted it delivered.

Wouldn't ya know it, we got back, barely unpacked, then repacked for a Topel Family Trip to Texas. National Lampoon's ain't got nothin' on us...

The darker car on the right is the '41 Cadillac Limo we took down in the enclosed trailer. This is after we dropped it off in New Waverly, Texas. Stay tuned for more...the work is piling up as I write...

Heather & Matt's Wedding

Happiest of Mother's Days

What a happy day it was here at the Topel Homestead. A day spent with Dan's mom, the mother of our nephew(Dan's sister, Pam), my mom, and my Grandma Vitense, it was memorable. The kids showered me with gifts they made with so much effort and love. Mallory has been extra "lovey" the past few days, taking time to massage my shoulders and give me lots of X's and O's.

The wedding we went to was so much fun for all of us. We bowled, danced, visited, and ate...boy did we eat! Straight from my upcoming favorite...can you say, Yummo!

A busy week coming up: Monday is Mallory's last dance class of this school year. Wednesday night, Christian will have his 2nd T-ball practice (he's pretty pumped and focused on T-ball!!). Thursday is Mallory's field trip to one of our family favorites-Aztalan, AND a Spring Concert at St. Paul's at 6:30 when Mallory will be singing in the Cherub Choir. Friday, we all fall down. Saturday is the rehearsal for the dance and Sunday (drum roll, please) is Mallory's big production in Whitewater. Usda! Gotta love the end of the school year!

Just want to wish all of you Mom's a Happy Mother's Day! I've been very blessed with so many role models in my life to help me be the mom I am and to all of you, I am thankful!

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days
to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her
tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat
the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her
husband also, and he praises her:
29 "Many women do noble things, but you
surpass them all."
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a
woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her the reward she has
earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Proverbs 31:25-31

Round and round

From Bicycles...

to carousels...


Our weekend has been a whirlwind! Friday night, we went into Madison to get Christian and Mallory their new bikes. Luck would have it that Mallory's bike that was "recalled" actually wasn't, so just Christian ended up with a "new" prized bike. He will have to grow into it, but it beats his little hand-me-down from his cousin Alexs' visits to Wisconsin. On to Ella's Deli for a yummy meal, dessert that topped us all off, and enough stimulation for the next month!


It's 5-Alarm weekend, so Dan packed in a trip out on Rock Lake for opening weekend. A few bass, but nothing to write home about.


Our friend Julia turned 30 this weekend, so we all headed over to Jefferson on Saturday night to Ken's Towne Inn for her SURPRISE party!! We were supposed to go out at night, but Dan's early bird prize earned him the "party-pooper" award at night! Tara came in a healthy second, as she just couldn't muster up the umph to go out on the town.


Here it is Sunday already. Dan, John & Steve Chady, Steve's wife Heather, and Cliff worked hard over at 5-Alarm getting things cleaned up for what will probably be the last 5-Alarm weekend in our history. Time will tell. New management may have new plans for the company.


Busy weekends coming up...

May 10th: Dan's cousin Heather is getting married and Mark, Pam, and Alex are coming home for the weekend.
May 17/18: Mallory's recital weekend at Irving Young auditorium in Whitewater
May 24th: Lake Mills Tribute to Memorial Day in Lake Mills
May 30th: Last Day of School/First day of camping trip to Wilderness in Montello.


Until then...

HAPPY 12TH BIRTHDAY ON MAY 7TH, ALEX!! HOPE IT'S A FUN-FILLED DAY!

Making up for lost time...

Can you say pfeffernuts? This isn't just a one day activity. Glad we could make Christmas complete for Grandma, though!
What a bunch! We can never get enough time with Alex when he is here.
Our stay at the Chula Vista with Mark, Pam, Alex, Cliff, and Vi. Memorable to say the least!
An "Un-Birthday" celebration with Carla & Hannah Hinrichs. Fun, fun, fun!!
Now that's what vacation is all about.

A fringe benefit of staying at the time-share. Christian was devestated that it had to come off before bed.
An Easter tradition...time together!
Mallory and my mom went to see Cheryl Kirking for an Advent Celebration. Cheryl is a superstar to Mal.
Decorating Grandpa Ron's home for Christmas. Hot cocoa, music, and memories!
Post-Christmas Concert at Lakeside with Grandma LaLa!

It's all in the numbers...

If you know me at all, you know I am NOT a numbers person, but I'm gonna give it my best shot:

27: # of days since my last posting
21: # of years Jonathon (JD) Hinrichs just turned last week on April 15 (Ouch!)
38: # of years my brother, Tim, turned last week on April 16th (that one doesn't hurt so much...he's always been older!)
16: # of years Hannah, JD's sister, turned on April 6th (ouch again, but I like it because she can drive to LM to babysit now!!! Just to find her a car of her own!)
78: # of years Dan's mom just turned. Amazing, the woman acts like she's in her 50's, I swear.
5: # of weeks the kids have left to be in school. Christian will be graduating Kindergarten and Mallory, the young little lady she is becoming, will be moving on to 4th grade next year.
5: # of weeks until our camping trip to Montello at the Wilderness Campground (owned by a guy Dan used to race cars with, Bobby Weiss)
55: # of hours a week I have been working on average at the shop
more: # of hours a week Dan's beeen working at the shop!!
3: # of average hours a day the kids spend at the shop with us (getting their homework done, helping out around the shop, and hanging out with Mom and Dad, saving their hard earned $$ from having to pay daycare!)
8: # of dollars Mallory earns for helping out at the shop and at home per week
5: # of dollars Christian earns for helping out at the shop and at home (ask them who cleans their bathroom!!)
0: # of nights we play volleyball now
lots: # of fish Dan caught with Brian Lichtenberg this past Saturday on Green Lake.
lots: # of dollars Tara spent on her facial and spa experience at Evensong with Lynnell Lichtenberg on Green Lake
lots: # of hours Grandma La La slept the next day after watching the kids for Dan & Tara
0: # of ideas I have left of numbers of things to post!