Play Ball, Play at the Zoo - Week of Sept. 12th

“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.” ~Elizabeth Andrew 
 “You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.” ~Winston Churchill
 “Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation’s compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain loving one another.” ~Erma Bombeck

Reed & Cam

During Cam's baseball season with the West Michigan Miracle League, each week there are different groups who arrive early ready to assist the kids with any help they need.  These volunteers spend more than 5 hours on a Saturday giving their time to others they have never met.  Most are college students.

Cam & Amanda

 The Grand Valley State University Men's Baseball team was on deck for Saturday and Cam was eager to find a helper with his dad.  Reed approached our baseball player and asked if he could hang out with him.  Cam brought him directly to Jane and said "I want you to meet my mom."

Aunt Gay, Aunt Joyce & Uncle Joe
 & Cam

The rain held off for the game and sunshine prevailed.  The fans were out in full force including Cam's nanny, Miss Amanda, Aunt Joyce & Uncle Joe and Aunt Gay, as well as Oma and Opa.  Cam flashed a winning grin when he crossed home plate twice.
Oma and Opa spent the day and evening with us.  We shared a blue gill fish fry dinner with our good friends, the Raisch family, accompanied by no-calorie homemade french fries (who are we kidding?!) and vegetables...we just had to throw at least one healthy item in there.  Good company, great food and full bellies are a winning combination.

Opa, Oma & Cam

On Sunday, Chris headed off for work in Ohio and Jane took Cam and his grandparents to the Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park to hang out with the animals and meet up with the Schulze and Cook families.

Cousin Annie & Cam

It was a perfect day for a picnic lunch and safari ride.  The sun was warm and even the kangaroos looked pretty lazy relaxing in the grass.

The Bakers- Cam & Oma

Feeding the animals is one of the best activities and nutritious as well since you are only allowed to purchase lettuce leafs and carrots for them to munch on.

Cam and Oma tried out a new recipe for applesauce muffins over the weekend.  Chances are if the batter tastes good, so will the finished product.  A big thumbs up for the delicious breakfast treat!

Camology Quotes:

Loud noises are not a favorite of Cam's.  Over the years, the various "drills" at school have proven problematic and upsetting.  This year, the trend seems to be changing.  An email from Cam's teacher:

"You can be so proud of your son!  We had our first fire drill today and he did great. He started to cry a little when Mr. Shaw announced it, but he stopped himself and was brave and did it without tears."

Cam said:  "I just thought 'stop' in my head and I stopped my tears!"

He relayed the exact same quote when he excitedly told his parents that night.  Every day we're proud of our son, but there are things he says that certainly seem as if they could be applied to our adult lives as well.