DON'T Read This TRIP REPORT If You're a Princess Hater!

[mom2rtk]

That's my biggest worry!

He's is such a caring, compassionate kid. Yesterday when we were waiting for his friend to get there, a little girl was looking for something to play with. When she got over to DS, he said, "Hi, I'm T. Would you like to play?" And they sat together and worked a puzzle.

BUT, he's also the kid who does his work accurately, but quickly, so he can go play.

We'll make our next move after we get his results in the next week or so. Oy! Such decisions to make!!!


That's great Janet!

You may want to consider using a mono- or tripod too. Who knows where you'll be sitting and what type of situation you'll be dealing with once you get there.

Good luck!

Don't you just wish they came with a set of instructions for us poor parents? Heck, I still worry we haven't done it all right. If my input can help anyone down the road, then I'm happy to help. I'm afraid all I do is muddy the water though!

I can see why you suggest a monopod or tripod. That sucker is heavy! I think I have a monopod here somewhere, but don't know if I'd have room to use one from my seat. I've been practicing a little. I think if I keep my arms tucked in, I can hold it ok. I'm hoping between the IS and keeping my shutter speed up, I might be OK.

Regardless, it's very cool to have one of these in my hands to play with! Can you believe people actually carry these things around Disney? It makes my sigma 50-150 f/2.8 look (and feel) like a lightweight!

Have fun with the "new lens"

I'll share my kid starting school story; Sam's b-day is July 22nd. She will be 18 this year. Our school says a child must be 5 by Sept 1st to start kindergarten. Sam was a bit shy at that time (just turned 5), and we lived out in country at the time, so I thought it might be good to start her so she gets more social.

It turned out that it was a good thing for her, she blossomed into a chatterbox and did well.

Kadence's b-day is Nov 14th. She started at 5, but turned 6 soon into the year. I'm glad she is a bit "older" for where she is in school (1st grade now) looking back now, I don' think she would have been as ready if she would have been a younger 5.


I do think pre-school is a good determining factor on readiness. So if that option is available to you I'd go for it.

Paige's b-day is in June and she was a younger one too, but she did fine. She had one good friend that was 11 months older than her, but in the same class.

I know each kid is different. I have to look no farther than right upstairs where the boys are right now to confirm that. But I do think girls are just more inherently social than boys. So I'm guessing it's easier for girls to be youngish.

That said though........ I was really quite happy for Katie to have a September birthday, completely taking that decision out of my hands for her.

Have fun with the Canon!!! I hope you will share some pictures with us!

Thanks! I'll share......... assuming I'm not just too busy crying............

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Don't you just wish they came with a set of instructions for us poor parents? Heck, I still worry we haven't done it all right. If my input can help anyone down the road, then I'm happy to help. I'm afraid all I do is muddy the water though!

My parents always made reference to the Parent Handbook... I think the hospital neglected to put it in our goodie bag...

I can see why you suggest a monopod or tripod. That sucker is heavy! I think I have a monopod here somewhere, but don't know if I'd have room to use one from my seat. I've been practicing a little. I think if I keep my arms tucked in, I can hold it ok. I'm hoping between the IS and keeping my shutter speed up, I might be OK.

My 80-200mm is the "old" style... the new versions are soooooo much lighter!

Keep working with the lens. You really should (if hand holding) keep your shutter speed NO LESS than the length of the lens to avoid camera shake, but it's easier said than done.

Is there any way you could sneak into commencement rehearsel?


A bit OT: I got a call from a very frantic bride last night. I'm booked for her wedding Saturday and she called to tell me that the chaplain (sp?) told her I can't come ANY CLOSER to him, the pulpit, or the couple than the LAST ROW OF GUESTS (there are 200...)! She was flipping out! I was planning to attend the rehearsel, but it sounds like he and I will have to have a chat and come to an understanding. I've had ministers in the past give me stern warnings to not come too close, but I don't roll that way anyway! I use my long lens for two purposes: 1) so I can stay back and give the poor bride and groom some breathing room and 2) to use the heck out of depth of field. I told her not to worry. I will work it out!

 

[mom2rtk]

Well, I'm up for air for a few minutes. I'm caught up on my work and now all I have to do is clean the entire house top to bottom in the next 24 hours. Piece of cake, right???????? You wouldn't think so if you saw it.......

I'd be in REAL trouble if we were hosting a party here or something. But Robbie didn't want a party or big gathering. So we invited Grandma & Grandpa to the graduation itself, then out to Longhorn Steakhouse. He doesn't get excited about much. But man, that kid loves to eat. All 125 pounds of him!

Replies in red:

My parents always made reference to the Parent Handbook... I think the hospital neglected to put it in our goodie bag...

Well, I didn't get mine 18 years ago either. I think it must be out of print.......


My 80-200mm is the "old" style... the new versions are soooooo much lighter!

So yours is heavier? Man, I'd like to see your arm muscles!

Keep working with the lens. You really should (if hand holding) keep your shutter speed NO LESS than the length of the lens to avoid camera shake, but it's easier said than done.

I've been trying to squeeze in some time here and there to work with the lens. And yes, I'm going to try and stay over the inverse of the focal length. The bad part is I won't know for sure until I'm in the auditorium what the lighting is like.

I have found that if I prop my elbow into the side of my stomach, right above my hip bone and hold the lens with that hand, my arm makes a nice triangle against my body. Sort of a built in tripod. So that's the form I'm going with. I might look stupid, but it won't be the first time..... and it won't be the last.........

I really don't know if I'll be better off with this lens with the 2.8 aperture but all the extra weight, or if I should have just tried out my Tamron 18-270. But at full extension, my largest available aperture would be 6.3.

Regardless, I've always wondered what this lens was like to work with, so it's been fun to have one in my hands. It does make me feel better about my Sigma 50-150, which is what I settled for when looking for a low light telephoto. It is infinitely more usable day to day because it's smaller. Of course, it doesn't have IS like the Canon beast........

Is there any way you could sneak into commencement rehearsel?

Well, that was today and I didn't ask. I know Robbie wouldn't want me to draw any attention to him, so he wouldn't want me sneaking in. Or even asking to come, but being the only parent there.

And he says they graduate alphabetically, but by "house". Since he's in house 1, I really won't have quite as much time for practice as I thought. I better get my technique down fast!


A bit OT: I got a call from a very frantic bride last night. I'm booked for her wedding Saturday and she called to tell me that the chaplain (sp?) told her I can't come ANY CLOSER to him, the pulpit, or the couple than the LAST ROW OF GUESTS (there are 200...)! She was flipping out! I was planning to attend the rehearsel, but it sounds like he and I will have to have a chat and come to an understanding. I've had ministers in the past give me stern warnings to not come too close, but I don't roll that way anyway! I use my long lens for two purposes: 1) so I can stay back and give the poor bride and groom some breathing room and 2) to use the heck out of depth of field. I told her not to worry. I will work it out!

Good luck tomorrow! I hope you can get the chaplain set straight in short order! Do let us know how it goes!

Wanna borrow my rental beast for the day??????

 

[MDsMomma]

I am so glad I found your trip report.. we were there the same exact time... I am so happy it will be warm when we go next week! And guaranteed to be warm...

 

[mom2rtk]

I am so glad I found your trip report.. we were there the same exact time... I am so happy it will be warm when we go next week! And guaranteed to be warm...

I'm glad you're along for the ride!



We're actually considering going back the same week this year.

No one said I was sane, right?

How "cool" that you get to go back so soon, and during a time when you KNOW you won't be freezing!

 

[SmallWorld71]

Hi,
I don't spend much time on the Trip Reports board, but your report caught my eye. The outfits you make for your daughter are beautiful! You are so right to enjoy it while you can. My own DD only enjoyed the princesses for a short while. On our last trip she was 7 and really had no interest in them anymore. Even when she was younger, she wasn't a huge fanatic. When I asked her which princess she wanted to be for the Pirate and Princess Party (she was 4), she gave me a look and told me she wanted to be a pirate! LOL She loves the fairies though, so we had a great time meeting them last trip.

Anyway, DD and I had a question for you about one of your DD's outfits. On her skirt that has all the Minnie's dressed like princesses, who is the one to the left of Tiana? DD is a big Minnie fan so she was looking closely at it and we couldn't figure it out.

Thanks!

 

[mom2rtk]

Hi,
I don't spend much time on the Trip Reports board, but your report caught my eye. The outfits you make for your daughter are beautiful! You are so right to enjoy it while you can. My own DD only enjoyed the princesses for a short while. On our last trip she was 7 and really had no interest in them anymore. Even when she was younger, she wasn't a huge fanatic. When I asked her which princess she wanted to be for the Pirate and Princess Party (she was 4), she gave me a look and told me she wanted to be a pirate! LOL She loves the fairies though, so we had a great time meeting them last trip.

Anyway, DD and I had a question for you about one of your DD's outfits. On her skirt that has all the Minnie's dressed like princesses, who is the one to the left of Tiana? DD is a big Minnie fan so she was looking closely at it and we couldn't figure it out.

Thanks!

Well I'm glad you found us!

You lost her to the pirates at age FOUR? Man, you were robbed!

Tiana is flanked by Minnie as Belle to the right and Minnie as Ariel on the left. Didn't my friend Gretchen do a great job on it?

I'm only on a momentary cleaning break getting ready for my son's High School Graduation tomorrow.

Anyone want to stop by and help clean? Pretty please???????????

 

[SmallWorld71]

Ah....now I see it. She is sitting on a rock with her fins. When I was looking before, I thought the rock was part of a dress with and Apron. Couldn't for the life of me figure out which princess wore a gray dress. LOL

When DD was younger, she used to love to dress up as Cinderella and use her brother's Peter Pan sword. She was quite the sword wielding princess.

I look forward to the rest of the report.

 

[mom2rtk]

Ah....now I see it. She is sitting on a rock with her fins. When I was looking before, I thought the rock was part of a dress with and Apron. Couldn't for the life of me figure out which princess wore a gray dress. LOL

When DD was younger, she used to love to dress up as Cinderella and use her brother's Peter Pan sword. She was quite the sword wielding princess.

I look forward to the rest of the report.

Well, I see your DD has 2 older brothers, just like mine. So perhaps the cards were stacked against you! I think it's great when a little girl is equally at home in a princess gown or holding a sword though!

 

[mom2rtk]

OK..........boo hoo.......... I'll post more tomorrow. Graduation went fine. It was a great day. But still ........

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Awwww!!!



It's a proud, but sad day!

[congrats to the grad!]

 

[mom2rtk]

.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Those look great, Janet!

You done good!

 

[mom2rtk]

Those look great, Janet!

You done good!

Thanks Jen!

I actually did better on my friends' kids, I think because I was more steady and not as concerned about blowing it.

Now if I can just figure out this senior portrait thing........

 

[basketkat]

The pictures are great!!!!

 

[jenseib]

All caught up. I was getting behind again, but luckily I didn't miss much and I did see your pics on the other thread...and I think they are wonderful!!!

 

[mom2rtk]

12/17/10: EPCOT

Anyone ready to move ahead with the trip? Perhaps it's been so long you forgot there WAS a trip?????

We love going to Disney's hard-ticketed parties. But those late nights make it really hard to find a good touring plan. We love to do rope drop, and that's just not possible after a late party night. We're not willing to give up our early Magic Kingdom mornings. Or our early DHS day. Or even our early Animal Kingdom day this trip. So once again.......... like every other trip, we had to shortchange Epcot. One day we'll do it up right, rope drop through Illuminations. But for now, we always choose it as our late start morning.

But by this point we were both tired and needed a slower pace. We didn’t get there until 10 AM. I knew it would be busy that day because of the evening EMH, but there just wasn’t a different day to do it.

We headed for Soarin first thing to get our fastpasses.

We wandered around some shops and rode Test Track standby waiting for our fastpass window to open so we could get Test Track fastpasses for later.

Once we had our Test Track fastpasses, we headed for the World Showcase and our lunch ADR at Akershus. Every time we go, I ask if we can sit back in the main dining hall. This time instead of being told no, they explained that they seat the front area first, and if we wanted to wait they could put us in the main hall. I said yes, just for a change of scenery. We had sat out front on our last 3 trips. The main dining hall just feels more like a castle.

Before too long, the princesses made the rounds. It really was nice to be out in the Main Dining Hall. There's a lot more room there and it's much prettier.

I particularly love the way the the Christmas wall decoration makes Snow White look like she's having a bad hair day!

When Ariel came to the table next to us, she decided to have a little fun with the girl's hat..............

After lunch we headed off to the World Showcase.

 

[Caretames1]

12/17/10: EPCOT

Now this is an amazing photo! It just speaks to me.

Honestly, If I had to shortchange a park, it would be Epcot. In fact that is the park we're skipping ropedrop in Sept. Tea Party comes 1st!

 

[mom2rtk]

Now this is an amazing photo! It just speaks to me.

Honestly, If I had to shortchange a park, it would be Epcot. In fact that is the park we're skipping ropedrop in Sept. Tea Party comes 1st!

Thanks Carey! I always feel like I need to take a few obligatory shots of Spaceship Earth. I have a similar night shot I'll be adding soon.

I like Epcot, but shhhhhhhh........... don't tell anyone............. I just don't get excited about it like so many do. And I love learning about the world around me. I love nothing better than watching the Travel Channel, or Discovery Channel, or History Channel. But I guess Disney's just not the place I want to be in learning mode.

But mostly I think it's because I want to soak the little kid stuff for as long as I can. When Katie gets a little older and develops an interest in Epcot (beyond Soarin and Test Track!) I'll probably enjoy it more.

 

[Tinkermom76]

We have never sat in that area before, next time we eat there I will have to remember to ask for it!!!

You had a great Ariel, I have seen some pretty funny looking ones