Family Photos

 

We bought a new camera a few weeks ago...finally. Our old one was three years old (we got it just before Owen was born). It had been through Marine Land (splashed by Whales), beach trips (sand in the lens and grooves) and more. It still works, but it was starting the literally fall apart.

As usual we decided on a Canon. We researched others, but we came back to the PowerShot. It is our third Canon Powershot, our first was years ago when 2.2 megapixels was the hot technology and cost over $500. This lovely camera cost $200 and has 8 Megapixels with a 6x Optical Zoom.  It also has Image Stabilization and Facial Recognition. The only feature we will miss from its predecessor is the flip screen which Canon has removed in its lower-priced Powershot cameras.  We will need to keep the camera in a case to avoid scratching the display screen from now on. 

I hope this Canon will do as well as the others did for us. The only downside is that the camera battery light goes on long before the battery is actually low. But, it certainly takes good pictures of our family.

Birthday Fun

 

Two weekends ago Bear turned 3!   I have been a bit slow getting around to posting some pics to the great event.

We decided to do a "Construction" themed party for him since he loves trucks, and helping his dad with "work" around the house.

We got hard hats from a party store, tool belts from the dollar store, and donated some money to Rona's social committee in order to get some L'il Hammer aprons.

Here are some of the workers on site:

The kids built things (and then knocked them down) with "giant"  blocks and helped with the lawn care at the site:

We had some games, this one is place the pylon in the right spot (blindfolded):

 

And, the workers drew up some site plans and construction drawings:

What construction party would be complete without cake with dump trucks and diggers on top?

Birthday Wishes

 

Bear's b-day is on Thursday. The big numero "3".  And, what does he want for his birthday? Asked numerous times...this is the answer we get:

" A Lion, a Zebra and a Hippopotamus"

Happy (?) Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to me.....

- Bear woke up at 6:15
- With a poop in his diaper...and down his leg
- Hubbie worked last night - so he is asleep now

Thank goodness my Bear is so worth it.

Happy Mother's Day to my mom...who is likely amused at my troubles.

Having Two Blogs

Is a lot of work.  I wonder what would happen if I talked about Bear on my Marketing blog. Do you think anyone would mind? Or, perhaps I could talk about Marketing on this blog...would you, my readers, be bored? Perhaps your Eyes Would Glaze Over?

I should simply find the time...but with a "almost" three year old, and work, and reading, and shopping...how can I possibly write two blogs?

And, then I think. Well this one should be more important - after all it is a tribute to the most important person in my life - my Baby Bear. Then the devil on my shoulder says - but you are passionate about marketing, social media, SEO and all that good stuff - don't you deserve that outlet.

So I guess I continue to write two blogs.

Disney Magic

Technorati Tags: disney,vacation,florida,mickey mouse,branding

I have been away from blogging on both blogs for about two weeks now. One week due to a holiday to Florida, and the second week due to computer exhaustion as I had over 230 emails to read at work alone.

My first blog post after my break is going to be shared between Okbabybear and MEGO due to the subject being about our vacation with Bear and about the incredible Disney experience!

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When I was a child my family went to Florida almost every year, so by age 13 I had been to Disney 8 or 9 times. This year we decided to make the trip south with Bear and his grandparents. I was both excited and nervous about the trip. Excited to see my little boys face when the Disney magic touches him, and nervous in case what I remembered wasn't real.

I didn't have any reason to be worried. We arrived at the gates just after they opened and by 11 o'clock I had my money's worth! Disney is simply a brand that gets "it". From the ticket takers, to the cleaning crew and the photographers to the characters - each Imagineer at Disney is a representative of the brand.  Everything that is done, even the little things, are done to perpetuate the brand message. 

Park a stroller in "stroller parking" - chances are when you return from the ride that the "parking" lot will be arranged in straight lines making it easy for you to get your stroller out. Exit the Pirates of the Caribbean and you might just run into Jack Sparrow himself putting on a show.  Or as part of the "Year of a Million Dreams" you could meet an Imagineer who hands you a "Fast Pass" that gets you into the short line for the most popular rides.

The highlight of the day for my son, and therefore for the rest of us, was visiting Mickey's Toon Town where Bear met his favourite Mickey Mouse Clubhouse characters. We arrived at the area 10 minutes before they opened. Instead of a person coming out to open the gate - they sent Pluto and Donald.  In this area the kids can visit Mickey & Minnie at the Judge's Tent, and Donald, Pluto and Goofy in another building. We started with Mickey & Minnie, who were just arriving as we were.  My son screams out "Hi!" and Mickey turns and waves as all the adults laugh at my adorable little Bear. When we get our turn with Mickey & Minnie, my son, nervously leans over hands between his knees, and says to Mickey " I...I..have a suitcase!" Well actually he has a Mickey Mouse back-pack...but close enough. Magically, my son's favourite show comes to life. Disney photographers take pictures of the moment, but instead of not allowing you to take photos, forcing you to purchase over priced images in order to savour the moment - they let you take your own pictures. Of course, they give you a card with a PhotoPass number so that IF you want to purchase the images - YOU CAN.  And, I likely will...sucker that I am. But I feel rather warm and fuzzy about not HAVING TO...since I already have some cute shots of Mickey & Minnie with Bear. 

Despite line-ups at rides and beverage carts, and crowds around characters and parade routes - not once did I hear an angry customer or a snide remark between park goers.  It seems that everyone was touched by the magic of Disney. 

A Great Way to Wake Up

You may recall a few weeks ago we had an incident in the morning with regards to the toilet training. Due to that, I wasn't thrilled at 7:30 this morning when Bear shuffled into the bedroom and said "I pooped".

In fact, my first thoughts were
1) Oh no
2) There is going to be poop everywhere
3) Another dirty diaper first thing in the morning, what fun!

As I was pulling myself out of bed, he called down to my husband who was already awake and downstairs. We all converged in the bathroom where we discovered by "I pooped", Bear meant - "I pooped in the potty all by myself!"

Success. It will be a good day!