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.

Back home and start of Omi Camp

While we were gone ... the four grandchildren now are all on summer break. The twins now are not preschoolers any longer. While abroad we received this photo. These signs appeared in their front yard. Colin (right) and Owen (left) are now Kindergardeners. Life might get easier for Sarah and Wade. In autumn all three will be off in the morning on the same schoolbus to the same elementrary school and are done at the same time in the afternoon. 

Back home we had one week to get ready for William to come to "Omi Camp" (that's what he calls it). And right away we are also back in the old routine. Wednesday (6/15) is when we replace the nanny quite often. Normally we take care of the three at their house but this time I thought I wanted them at our house. We had a grand time and a lot of fun. We got take-out from McD which was a disappointment. We ordered 3 kids meals but they only had 2 toys for the boxes. Really? Colin was the last  -  without the toy. He was upset. But he had received 3 of the large cookies. Mmhh. He decided to share them with his brothers and eventually the matter was forgotten.

Maybe it helped that we later stopped (on the way to their home) at Sweet Frog. Oh how they like that place. We have to explain why the place close to our house is no more. Explaining business and economics? Ah, all was good. Except for a little brain freeze here and there.

D-day! Friday June 17. James and I are on our way to Hendersonville, North Carolina, which is very close to Lutheridge, the camp where Nashville grandson was this week. Its about 6 hours each way for us to get him. Luckily, the gas price in North Carolina is a nice surprice. 

When we contemplated with Helen about the itinarary of the summer Helen suggested it would work well if we could pick William up from Lutheridge for "Omi Camp" afterwards. Her second thought was what about the luggage he needs in Virginia? He can't take things like his computer into Lutheridge. I offered to call our mutual friend from Paducah who lives close to the camp. Stephan and Donna are wonderful people and of course they offered help. Helen dropped William's stuff of with them.

We had chosen the Ramada Inn in Henderson to spend the night because it seemed convenient for Stephan and Donna. And it was. The Outback Restaurant was very close and we had a lovely dinner together there.  Sorry to say we were a bit noisy. OMG, we had to laugh about a lot of stories we recalled when we lived in KY and worked at Grace Church.

Next day: Omi and Papa can be relied upon. We were at that camp at 8:30 am sharp. William was happy to see us and off we were on our way back.

The parents Helen and Ben both were asking for photos. Proof that we had him. Really? We were driving. 

OK. Potty stop. Here the photo says "Claremont at 10:14am".

William has always been an excellent traveler. The next photo says "Oxford at 1:59pm" (must have been a town we were driving through). Reading in the car. Yes, he always has been a good traveler. 

We were back in good time. James and William even walked to the Publix to replace the milk I had forgotten to put in the freezer and had gotten (very) sour.

Saturday

We tried to organize ourselves. William was very helpful. He cleaned his trunk. A good hosing out did it and we could put the things back in which he used in Lutheridge but doesn't need here. 

The crepe myrthle is making the patio rather messy with the flower petals. William knows were to get and return the blower. Big help. The weather is perfect to sit outside in the shade.

Sunday - Father's Day

William likes boiled eggs for breakfast.

The old question in this family. A tradition. A game. Would you like another egg? Is it or is it not an empty upside down one?

Papa is serving this morning. Ha-ha, we remember when William was little and asked why Papa has a dress on.

In the afternoon William has a wish. He explains that this year he didn't get the dessert on Easter Sunday which is another tradition in this family. Omi had green jello for the grass but no canned pears and no mini marshmallows. He walked with Papa to Publix to get it. Dessert after dinner: rabbit in the grass.

I think he is taking a photo for his parents.

Alright, here is my first effort to catch up writing the blogs. I think I have disappointed William's parents with not  providing enough info. It has been a wild and crazy week though. I will try to do better.

Day 17 - the end of this trip

Friday June 10

The alarm rang at 4:50 am. Not too bad because it is already light outside. The taxi arrived promptly at 5:30. Saying good-bye is never easy. Jane had made us feel so welcome considering that we had invited ourselves and she wasn't even home when we arrived! We hope we will have reunion with "our Brits" soon again.

We had been told by email from the airline to be there 3 hours early and we were. All went very well. James is a lifetime premium member which of course always helps. Security was very efficient too. The machine beeped for me every time when I went through for all 4 flights. I had to mention my "new knee". But it is really no problem. I don't understand the people who get bent out of shape when they are frisked a little bit more. After all it is for all of our security. 

We had two hours to hang around. Unfortunately the lounge for us was temporarily closed. So we had to snoop a little in the shops and decided on breakfast. We splurged a little because we were pretty sure that the airline food was not going to be any better. Our business class traveling is over, ha-ha.

Helen will be proud of us. She highly suggested for us to use "Airborne" when we travel. I don't like the orange juice you usually get anyway so I just ordered 2 glasses of tap water.

At the gate.

And take-off. We have exit row seats and I am between windows. To far to the one in the door. Have to be a contortionist to the one just behind me. 

I was so hoping we would be taking off over Windsor. I always love seeing it and the castle. 

I am mighty proud of myself. There it is! And I captured it. I can see the Castle, The Longwalk, Peascod Street and Clarence Crescent. Fun.

I cropped and highlighted and adjusted the photo (not bad for a free program).

In flight entertainment.

Ha-ha, we were right.

The dessert was surprisingly good.

We landed in Philadelphia shortly after noon. Soon we had found the lounge. Our next flight was just shortly before 4 pm. The hot mushroom soup felt very good.

By PHL.

Welcome RIC. Ah, warm weather greeted us. We took an Uber home. When James tried the first time he was shocked. The price was 3x the one we took going out. When we had our luggage James tried again and this time it was what it should be. 

Sarah had offered to stock up our fridge but we didn't think we needed anything. The leftover milk I had meant to put into the freezer was sour in the fridge.  We needed steps so we decided to walk to Publix for milk and salad kits. It felt really good.

James and I have talked a lot about how many really nice people we had met in England and in Ireland. Natives and immigrants alike. Friendly, helpful and social. Actually, we didn't meet anybody who was not like that. 

And having had time with Kate and David and Jane was special as always We are home with a very good feeling. And we thank the Lord that we were able to do this trip.