Omi Camp part 2

Monday 6/20

After a good night's sleep we are taking it easy this morning. The garden needs attention. The tiny little rose bush Helen gave me a year ago really likes the big planter. And look at that pretty butterfly. I like taking photos like that.

 

From noon to 1 pm William has a virtual class. He wanted to take this 2 week course to learn coding. We are a bit worried because we can't really help him but he is set up on a table in the loft, computer plugged in, headphones ready. Today is the first day and all goes well. He is excited. He has forgotten to bring his mouse but we can get that later at Target which is only a mile away.

We are invited for dinner so he can see (mainly) his cousins. It's a nice day and we can be outside. William found the game were you stomp on to make a "rocket" fly.

Ups, I don't think you can see the red thing fly. In the photo it shows just across Caleb's legs. It flew so well that we manage to get it stuck in a tree. After a while throwing things and shaking the tree we got it back.

After dinner Sarah plays with the kids dominos. 

The children wanted to play a little basketball before we left and then it happened: Papa collided with Owen and they both fell. They both got scraped up but luckily neither one broke anything. Papa was quite sore for a few days. It gave us a terrible scare. 

Tuesday 6/21

I was not very good taking photos. Papa needed a bit of TLC after that fall. I also started working on the monthly church newsletter. I always try to have a really good and fitting photo for the front page. This is from our garden. It is one of the (three) sunflowers which were seeded by the children in our church in black pots as a fundraiser for the Ukrainien Relief. I had transplanted mine into a large planter. Isn't this a nice photo?

William had his second day of 12 to 1 pm class. After that we had lunch and William and I went to the Science Museum to give Papa a rest. William loves the Science Museum and asked for it. We decided to buy a membership so we can go anytime ... 2 adults with up to 7 children/grandchildren including the Dome (IMAX). He loved it. The nice thing about a membership is that you don't have to stay too long to feel you got your money's worth. It is not far and we can go anytime.

In the evening we went to the ACAC were the cousins and family are members. This year they also joined the swim team. This day it was their second swim meet. OK, it was a bit boring because there was quite some time between the events when one of our 3 swam but overall interesting. We had taken our two folding lawn chairs. One of Sarah's friends had reserved a table and Sarah had snacks. The weather was perfect. It was quite exciting when one of our swam. They said they could hear Omi yell, ha-ha. Why didn't I take any photos?

When the twins were done it was 8 pm and we left. We took Colin and Owen with us for the night. Unfortunately Colin right away complained that his ear hurt. He seemed quite miserable but mainly because he was (everybody was) so tired. Sarah told us what we could give him and with that and a hot-water bottle he finally fell asleep. And so did Owen and William. 

Everybody had a good night and woke up with a smile to a really nice day.

Wednesday 6/22

Everybody awake and happy. After they climbed into our bed there was not room for Papa and Omi, ha-ha.

Well, what to do. It was a gorgeous day. Breakfast? After a bit of this and that at Omi's how about a donut? You should have heard the response. They each decided which one they wanted and we ate them outside the shop. 

Good thing Omi had wetwipes in the car. These things are sticky.

And then we went straight from there to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden we we also have a membership. Papa had read that now their butterflies are back.

It was truly quite a show. Except they didn't hold still for me to take good photos. But I can say that I have never seen that many butterflies in this place. Nice.

There is a chart with all the different kinds in the conservatory at the moment. A lady explained that they constantly have to update the chart.

Of course especially the 5 year old twins don't have a very long attention span so we moved on. Love the lotus. I used to have one in my little fish pond "box" at the lake house. Memories flooding back.

There are always pieces of art in the LGBG and they change. This time it was all creations from wood. This was a gigantic spiderweb.

Of course the three had to run up the wooden house at the lake.

Nice view from there. And very peaceful (if you didn't bring your grandchildren ha-ha).

And of course there is the children's section with the monkey bars and the climbing tree. this tree is so amazing. But flip-flops not the best shoes for it.

We had to be back home by noon because of William's class. He is ready!

We take his noisy cousins out on the back patio. 

Lunch and then William made three more desserts from the leftover 'grass' and 'rabbits'. Papa passed out some more extra 'tails'. What would we do with so many mini marshmellows. It is too hot for hot chocolate.

I can't remember what happened here. Probably a little bit of TV.

Mama Sarah picked her kids up after finishing work at 5 pm. It is not much out of the way for her. I think we all had a good time.

Thursday 6/23

Can't remember what we did in the morning. After his virtual lesson though and lunch, Papa went with William to the Science Museum again. Yeah. At 3 pm there was a movie followed by a lecture in the Dome. Birth of Planet Earth. We think William liked it very much.

After dinner the three of us played our card game. William is a really good player. The lid of course is a help when you have to hold 13 cards in your hand. I think we started that last year or even the year before.

O.k. another report for the parents. 

We are enjoying this time ... but are very busy.