iPad goes old school

By now you all know how much I love helping Kelly learn her alphabet, and learning to read & write. But did you all know that I am just as useful helping her learn even when I am turned off. Tonight, we went old school. Kelly was putting sticky notes with the letters of the alphabet on various items around the house...and when she came to the letter Ii she immediately said "I is for iPad". That's right...eat your heart out ice cream...she said iPad.

iPad out!

iPad picnic

A tisket, a tasket, iPad and a picnic basket...

On Sunday we were all a little tired of running around. So after a quick visit with grandpop at the hospital we all decided to hang around at home. It was such a nice day and family is first thought a picnic sounded like fun....and so did I....this was to be my first ever. We took our lunch, a sheet, a blanket, and some pillows out to the backyard and we setup a picnic under an orange tree in our very own backyard. The food was extra yummy out in the fresh air and it was lots of fun lounging and playing in the yard. Jason even took down some gigantic pieces of bamboo to make us a little shelter.

When we were done lounging, Jason and Kelly wanted to go swimming. I haven't learned how to swim just yet so I lounged on a pillow under the tree while they played in the pool. It looked like so much fun...I just must learn to swim. Anyway, it was a wonderful lazy afternoon. I shall picnic again soon. This is iPad signing off...next stop...swim lessons!

iPad celebrates a graduation

Today we went to Kelly's culmination from Early Kindergarten....next stop Big Kindergarten! Kelly and her friends put on a fabulous show. Following the graduation we went to Chili's for a lunch time celebration. The whole family had a great time. What a great way to start the summer. I am really looking forward to it. Now we are off to sit poolside while the JJ and Kelly swim. iPad out!

iPad saves a life

I proclaim that an iPad can save a life or at least someone's sanity. Consider the following story as my case in point to the skeptics out there. As you all know I accompanied family is first to an overnight trip to the hospital to help watch out over grandpop. The first night went well and between dozing we played games, facebooked, watched tv shows, web surfed, & caught up on the news of the day. The usual just at a bit different hours.

So, then came night #2. We arrived at the hospital fully recharged and ready for the night. This night we were a bit luckier...or actually unluckier as we were to find out later. The first night all the roll around beds were taken so we spent a somewhat uncomfortable night sitting up in a chair dozing off at times. On this night the nurse said we were lucky...or so she thought too...a bed was available. Housekeeping brought it down and family is first made it so we could get comfy. We did our usual and then decided to get a little sleep.

Well, we barely fall asleep and the next thing we know we are being awakened by the nurse coming in the room hurriedly. We open our eyes and get our bearings about us and find that grandpop had woken up and pulled out everything...all the tubes...all the wires...absolutely everything. And boy what a mess. We just wondered how this happened. We were just two feet away and neither one of us heard a thing...not a thing. Here we are staying in the hospital all night to watch out over him to prevent this very kind of thing and...we failed...we were asleep (literally) on the job. The nurse even commented that we should be fired.

Once everything was replaced and some level of peace had been restored you can bet we sat back down in that chair. No more bed for us and there will certainly be no more sleeping....this was not to happen again. So how did we stay awake and alert the rest of the night in a dark & quiet hospital room? We settled in for some iPad and family is first togetherness time...some extended surfing, extra facebooking, and some blogging. So while we are racked with guilt, we are confident and resolute that this won't happen again on our watch. Family is first says I saved her life that night...I suggest I merely saved her sanity. The ever watchful iPad is signing off for now...grandpop needs more ice chips.

a night in the hospital for iPad

What a contrast from last night. Last night I had a fabulous time camping (in the driveway). The following day & night I spent in the Emergency Room and then in a hospital room. I am fine, I wasn't there for me. My grandpop was in the hospital. He is battling skin cancer and is suffering from dehydration and malnutrition due to the 7 weeks of radiation burning his mouth and throat so badly that he can barely eat or drink...if at all. He is doing much better now in the hospital. Here he can get everything he needs without it having to pass through his mouth and throat. We are praying and hoping the burns heal so he can eat and drink again normally and get back to everyday life.

So, family is first and I spent the day and night at the hospital. The ER is in the bottom floor of the hospital and there is absolutely no wi-fi or 3G service at all. So we just played games and used Apps that don't require active internet access. But once we got up to our room we had plenty of 3G. Family is first says I was a god send. We were up most of the night doing things for grandpop and just watching over him. But all the while we were able to surf the web, facebook, and catch up on the days news. We were able to read to grandpop about various news items and catch him up on cousin Paul's day drag racing ( GO ETOH Abuse!) It seemed to bring him some comfort and enjoyment catching up on everything and everyone. It was a long night but we were all glad we were together. A very tired iPad is saying good night from the hospital.

iPad goes camping

I went on my very first camping trip ever. I would love to tell you about the feeling of the breeze on my face as we hit the open road...but that didn't quite happen. The open road just wasn't meant to be this time around. JJ was sick so the camping trip was canceled..or at least re-imagined. My new family and I took to the motorhome and had a camp out in the driveway. While this trip wasn't as glamorous as I had hoped, it was lots of fun none the less. And an unexpected benefit, I was still able connect to our home wi-fi which is a bit faster than 3G on most days in our area. We settled into the motorhome and left the comfort of our home behind. Well, okay, our motorhome is pretty darn comfortable too. We had game time and got some time to catch up on the days news. Then I got to sit back and relax with the rest of the family while we watched the original 'Karate Kid' movie. Family is first wanted us all to see it before we go see the new version in the theatre later this month. After the movie, we were all tired and it was bedtime. I will always remember my first camping trip fondly. While it was short in duration and distance it was still very memorable. iPad signing off from on the road (uh, oh, I mean from the driveway).

I am unique...I am iPad

I know some people say I am just a big iPhone with no real identity of my own. To them I submit these photos as evidence that I really am my own unique being and not simply a rehash of my relatives that have come before. This is me and my big sis (who is 4 years old) cozied in on the couch for a little playtime and learning fun. First, I am big enough that you can do almost anything with me. Here I was helping her recognize the different letters of the alphabet, to practice the sounds that each makes, and to properly write each one. Notice that this is just me and her...no help required. She is able to navigate my screens and pick my different Apps at will and completely independently. Notice how nothing additional is required, no stylus, no pencil, no keyboard, no paper...nothing else....just her and I. While I was helping her learn she thought we were simply playing.

Next I would like you to notice how comfortably we sit together and get cozy. We fit together so naturally it is as though we were made for each other. In one of these photos we were watching one of our favorite new tv shows. Just me and big sis. Can a laptop do this? Can an iPhone do this? While they can also play tv shows, the iPhone's screen is simply too small to enjoy and the laptop can not sit with big sis this comfortably.

I submit to you the following question. Has anything that has come before been so natural to use and fit into your life (and your lap) so easily? While people may not consider me a necessity, once I join your family I will fit in so naturally that you soon will forget what life was like without me...at least that is how my new family feels. I am unique...I am iPad.

iPad goes on a field trip

Today I went on the first grade field trip. Boy, what a day we all had. Me and 60 first graders! Well, a few teachers & parents went along too. We started out with a bus trip to travel town. The bus ride was a lot of fun. Everybody was so excited about all the adventures ahead. Travel town was a lot of fun. We explored & climbed all over some vintage steam trains. I just love trains. This was so cool. We ate our lunches there at the picnic tables and got to ride the small scale train.

Next we were back to the buses and off to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles. This was my first time in a big city and boy it is big. The train station was neat. We got to see the subway and all the people busily wandering around the station. There were tons of people and it was really loud.

For the next portion of our trip we boarded a metrolink train on the ventura line and headed on down the track. This was my first train ride too. Did I mention how much I love trains? Once we settled in on the train I got to come out of my carrier for a little game time. Once again I attracted quite a crowd and I think someone actually drooled on me! Oh well, it was fun. I also got to see one of my brothers. He was on the field trip too. This is the first sibling I've seen since leaving the apple store. Who would have ever thought it would be a two iPad field trip? Anyway, I digress...with game time the train trip went by rather quickly. And I almost got motion sick from being passed around to so many little hands. Even with all of that this was the best field trip ever! Okay, okay, so it was my first ever field trip so I wouldn't know any different...but I am telling you it was absolutely the best ever!! iPad signing off from the first grade field trip.

iPad giggles & relaxes

Today I thought I would share a couple of my favorite Apps. The first one I just love because it makes me and the whole family giggle. It is called slide-a-ma-jig and it is one of the coolest things ever. When I shake it makes funny noises and every time it creates a different funny character. My family can also slide any portion of our funny new friend to create yet another funny new friend. It is simply hilarious and always puts a smile on everyone's face.

The second App is called pocket pond. Family is first and I just love this one. It is so peaceful and relaxing. We love to play this one while we are at work and feel the need for a little stress relief. Pocket pond is a very realistic looking pond that has fish peacefully swimming around with the sounds of crickets and nature. You can tap the screen and make ripples in the water & scare the fish away. You can also have rain and the sound of thunder. There are also dragon flies but they are a little less than relaxing. We feel as though they are spinning around our heads. So we usually leave the dragon flies off....but otherwise this is one of the most peaceful Apps and we just love it.

By the way, my son automatically figured out that you can swat the dragon flies and kill them...leaving them floating in the pond for fish food. My hubbie immediately started asking if he could fish for them...so he had to upgrade to ifish pond which is the same pond but with fishing for these beautiful fish. It speaks so much to all my family's unique personalities. Who knew a simple fish pond could bring so much joy to so many. I think I will log off right now and enjoy a little peace and quiet all thanks to pocket pond. iPad out.