Camper

A New Toy

Okay, I'll admit it: I'm always slow picking up on new toys, especially those of the technical variety. But in the past few days, I've discovered Instagram, a smart phone photography app. Although I loaded it on my phone months ago, I didn't "get it", so I forgot about it. Then a few days ago while working on a photo project, I was inspired to give it another try. A friend who is an Instagram expert emailed the instructions to me and I kept tinkering until I figured it out. I'm far from being an expert but I have started having fun. So has Campbell. She watched what I was doing and wanted to do it, too.

Every day I let Campbell suggest how to fix her hair and this morning she suggested the hair style you see in the Instagram photo here. When I sent it to her mother, I remarked that I didn't know where she comes up with these ideas. Krista said she watches all the high school girls and hair styles on TV and then wants to imitate them. A little scary, huh?

Another fun image that emerged this morning was also suggested by Campbell. She is "babysitting" a childhood Teddy Bear belonging to one of her mother's friends. This morning she thought of half a dozen different "poses" for Teddy Bear. This is my favorite, I call it "Ragtime Teddy".

When I got my smart phone about a year ago, I bought it not for the internet and email access but because it had the best camera phone on the market. A funny thing happened, though. I didn't like the photos I took with the camera phone. I'd try but I always decided I like the photos from my "big" camera better. Of course, you can't, or don't always want to carry your "big" camera and you miss some fun to remember everyday events. Now with the discovery of Instagram, I've found a way to truly have a portable camera for those occasions. Oh, I still like my "big" camera better, but this new-fangled thing just might turn out to be okay.

So I guess the lesson here for me is that I shouldn't be so slow trying new technology and new ideas. I'll admit I get in my comfortable grooves ruts and like to stay there. Happily, spending so much time with a fun, inventive and engaging 4-year old should help me break that bad habit!

Dotti

For Love of Reading

A house without books is like a room without windows.

 - Horace Mann                

Books. Reading. Stories. Information. Ideas. I can't imagine life without these elements. My grandparents were voracious readers and in turn their six children were as well. My mother passed this love of written word on to me, I passed it on to Krista, and now she has passed it on to her daughter. We're a family of readers.

Every Tuesday morning, Campbell goes to story hour at the library. The stack you see in the image above is the stack of books that she acquired yesterday and we'll read each of these books together before next Tuesday when we trade out this stack for a new set. Yesterday I read to her ... at her request ... until I was hoarse. When she gets a book that strikes a chord, she likes to hold it, feel it, browse it, become acquainted with it.

I know that feeling! Although my 83-year old mother received a Nook for Christmas, which she uses to some extent, she confessed to me that she still likes the feel of a real book in her hands. I'm the same way. I don't have a Nook or a Kindle; I don't want one. I also love the feel of newspapers and magazines, both of which I read a lot, in my hands. Reading these stories on the World Wide Web just isn't the same. Besides, if you read a book in Kindle, you can't put it on your bookshelf when you've finished it.

You see, that's the other part of the equation when you're a lover of books. Krista and I confessed to each other recently that when we read and thoroughly enjoy a book, we like to keep it, perhaps to read again or maybe just to "be" there, like a good friend. That's why we both have complete sets of the Harry Potter books, we both wanted our very own copies in our own homes.

And so, based on the evidence thus far, this gene has been passed onto Campbell and we couldn't be happier! One of the joys of keeping her during the day is that I'm helping her learn to read. The joy, happiness and pleasure this brings me is immeasurable and indescribable. This may be the most important gift I ever give to her.

Yes, what Horace Mann says certainly resonates with me. What about you? Do you delight in reading? Have you gotten one of those new-fangled e-readers? We'd love to hear your stories!

Dotti

 

 

Lunch with the Princesses

One of the high points to Campbell's trip to Walt Disney World was her Lunch with the Princesses in Cinderella's castle. Although her fascination fades in and out somewhat, Campbell is still very much enchanted by the Disney Princesses. She may change her favorite from time to time but she still loves them all. So in in advance of our trip, her mother made reservations for us all to have lunch with the princesses.

When the time came, we had some preparations to make first. Campbell very wisely did not want to wear her princess dress all day long so while Krista was checking us in, Peepaw helped Campbell get dressed while I snapped pictures. First came her Rapunzel dress, then came her sparkly shoes. That photo is just a tad reminescent of Cinderella trying on the glass slipper, don't you think?

Not long thereafter we were in the line to see Cinderella in person and have Campbell's picture taken. These two images are courtesy of Disney photographers. (By the way, when I grow up, I want to be a Disney photographer!)

As soon as that bit of  business was complete, we climbed the steps up to the tower at the top of Cinderella's castle into a beautiful banquet hall, fit, of course, for a Princess. As we ate, many of the other Disney Princesses came in one by one and worked the room, going from table to table so each and every little girl and boy (yes) and even adults (you wouldn't believe!) could have their photos taken with the princesses.

Here you see one very happy little girl with Ariel (top left), Aurora, Belle, and Snow White. I think you can tell by the look on her face that Campbell indeed felt like a princess herself. The real fun, though, was for her mom and dad and Peepaw and DotDot as we watched our little princess see a dream come true.

And as a bonus for the adults, the food was wonderful! In fact, it was so wonderful, that I was too busy eating to take pictures ... until dessert time.

The large top photo is Campbell's build your own sundae, below that on the left is strawberry sorbet which was given high marks. In the center is chocolate mousse which I will tell you melted in my mouth! And finally, the fixin's for Campbell's sundae.

In years to come, even as she outgrows the Disney Princesses, I know Campbell will remember how lovely this afternoon was. But then, everything at Walt Disney World is practically perfect, isn't it?

Dotti

What Really Matters

 

Dotti

 

 

 

Kitchen Helper

True confession: As my retirement approached, I found myself feeling a little nervous about the fact that I was going to be keeping Campbell every day while her parents were at work. On the one hand, I was thrilled to have this special time with her, to have her all to myself. On the other hand, I remembered being the mother of a 4 year old. I was not the most patient mom around.

Since taking over Campbell's daycare responsibilities, I've realized more fully than I did before that there is a big difference between caring for a young child during daytime hours versus caring for a child 24/7. My patience isn't infinite by any means, but it's much more enduring than it was thirty years ago. It helps that Campbell has been a most delightful child to keep. She's bright, she's engaging, she's witty, she's fun, always ready for a new adventure.

And always eager to help. Which is where this photo comes in. Today while I was cooking the vegetable soup for our dinner, Campbell kept asking, "What can I do?" Well, of course a 4 year old child can't chop vegetables so finally I let her pour liquids in the soup pot and stir for me. As I watched her, I knew I wanted to capture this image, so I ran upstairs to grab my camera. (When will I learn to keep it by my side?) This is the moment I captured.

It may not be special to you but I assure you, it is plenty special to me. In a sense, it defines the roles I play now: Teacher, nurturer, companion, and always, grandmother.

Does it get any better than this?

Dotti

Walt Disney World Reflections

There are so many photos from Disney that I'd like to share with you but in an effort to keep from overwhelming you, I'll send them to you in storyboard form over the next few days as they come out of my Photoshop Elements program.

We ate at Tony's Restaurant our first evening at Disney. All you Lady and the Tramp fans know that Tony's is the restaurant where Lady and Tramp first "hooked" up so the Tony's at Disney, is of course, modeled after the restaurant in the movie. Not only was it huge fun, the food was actually very good ... this from a self-avowed critic of all Italian cuisine.

I was lucky enough to get some fun photos from that evening which you see in the storyboard above. Descriptions are as follows:

Upper left: Campbell playing in the fountain that was just a few feet from our table.

Upper right: The Lady and the Tramp statue that sits atop the fountain.

Middle right: Campbell and Krista eat spaghetti a la Lady and Tramp.

Bottom right: The actual fountain mentioned here.

Bottom left: Krista and Adam

Middle left: Tony's menu.

If there is a Walt Disney World trip in your future, I encourage you to include Tony's in your dining plans. It was not only a delicious experience but a charming one as well.

Dotti

PS - I'm posting today over at Focusing on Life. Stop by and say "hello"!

Disney World - As Seen By Campbell

We're home from Walt Disney World, a trip that was a dream come true for Campbell. But that's what they say about Disney World - "... a place where dreams come true." They certainly did for Campbell. In a few days, I'll have some more photos showing some of Campbell's dreams coming true but for our first "home from Disney" post, I thought you might like to see Disney through Campbell's eyes (with a little help from Mommy and Daddy).

Each photo that you see today was taken either by Campbell or one of her parents on their final visit to Magic Kingdom and Epcot. Campbell loved both parks and couldn't get enough of the various roller coaster rides, including Splash Mountaing, Space Mountain and Test Track. I think she rode Test Track no less than six times. Fortunately, she just did meet the minimum height requirement that allowed her to ride these faster rides.

Campbell was the height of fashion in her Princess Sunglasses, Mickey shirt and Ariel locket. Speaking of that locket, for weeks before our trip, she told all of us numerous times that it was her dream to have a locket. Not just any ordinary necklace -- a LOCKET! Well, as the man says, Disney World is the place where dreams come true.

No trip to Disney is complete without a photo in front of Walt and Mickey. Remember ... this was all started by a mouse.

And, of course, Mom and Dad had to get into the act with the obligatory Cinderella's Castle photo.

Lucky Dad! He got to do all the rides that went around in circles because Mom doesn't do circles. Roller coasters, thumbs up; circles, thumbs down. For Campbell, however, all rides were thumbs up.

There you have it, our first installment of our very own Disney Story. I'll be back in a day or two with more photos and more stories.

Dotti

 

Photos by Campbell

Yesterday Campbell decided she'd like to take a photo of the cup that holds her colorful markers. With a little bit of help from me, this is what she managed. Not bad for a 4-year old holding a camera that is too big for her.

When I posted this on my Flickr page last night, I got several nice complements which, needless to say, stroked her ego! This morning I showed her how the image looked on the internet and she was motivated to take another photo, again with a camera that was a bit unwieldy for her to handle alone. You can see the results of that effort below.

Campbell's interest in taking photos waxes and wanes but she does seem to have a good eye for composition, color and style. As we've mentioned before, Campbell is a bit of a girlie girl and consequently, something of a fashionista. Sometimes it seems she's 4 going on 13 because her opinions about clothes are so firm, she either likes an outfit or she doesn't. There's no persuading her otherwise once her mind is made up.

I'm not sure where all this is going to lead us but I am sure that it should prove to be an interesting journey.While raising our children is the most rewarding job we'll ever have, it's also the toughest, made more so by the fact that children don't come with owner's manuals.

But is there any job that's more important?

Dotti

Musing on 2011

One of my recent photo assignments for a Flickr group was to gather together some of my favorite photos from 2011.  Oh my goodness!  What a difficult task that proved to be!  I felt like somebody had asked me to choose which of my children was my favorite. Of course, I only have one child so that's not something I'll ever be confronted with but you get the point.  While my photos are not as precious as my family, many of them are special to me, some for pure artistry, others for warm memories.

As I tackled this task, I couldn't help but ruminate on the year just past.  It was a good year! There are so many fun memories tucked in my photo files.  Small wonder I back them up in three places! I can also look back and see how my work has improved . . . or not.  I certainly hope it's the former rather than the latter.

But, my oh my - where does the time go? It seems that days are long (though never long enough) and years are short.  Krista keeps remarking about how big Campbell is getting.  Even though that's to be expected, I understand exactly what she means. There was a time when I thought my little girl would never grow up.  But look at her now!  A mother of her own 4-year-old daughter. I'm glad she cherishes these wonderful early years with Campbell because once they're gone, they're gone.

But not one to be glum, I look forward to the many good times ahead.  Yes, Campbell is growing up way too fast but it is such an exciting journey.  How can our hearts and minds ever hold all the precious memories we're creating together?

One thing is for sure, I'm glad my camera is never far from my side.  I probably have at least 15,000 pictures on my hard drives, I've made a dozen or more photo books, I've printed and framed many of our favorites.  And there's a reason for all of this: I want to preserve as many of our precious family memories as I can.  This is my legacy to my daughter and granddaughter.

Dotti

Happy New Year!!!

All of us here at Camper wish all of you

the happiest of new years.

Krista, Campbell and Dotti