Oodles of Oma - Week of Sept. 25th

A house needs a grandma in it. ~Louisa May Alcott
Grandmas are moms with lots of frosting. ~Author Unknown
Grandmother - a wonderful mother with lots of practice. ~Author Unknown

It was a privilege to have Cam's grandma stay with us while Chris was out of town all week.  Cam's dad traveled to Orlando on Sunday to attend the Microsoft conference with 30,000 other people.  Back in Michigan, Cam was treated to a daily dose of Oma.  Jane was beyond grateful for her mom's assistance, time and endless energy.

Crafting and playtime were the after-school activities of choice for Cam and his grandma.  A version of "The Price Is Right" became a hilarious evening game of guessing how much items in the house were worth and then punching them into the cash register.  Cam was asked to determine amounts, provide change and count money.

It's no secret that Oma is an wonderful cook. She and Cam made crepes which were eaten for breakfast nearly every morning during the week.  For dinner each evening, the trio of Oma, Mom and Cam figured out a delicious meal and we all had fun trying some new dishes.  Cam is shown here shaking cauliflower in a bag seasoned with olive oil and salt/pepper, ready for roasting.


On Friday, a half day of school equated to an afternoon of fun.  Following lunch, Miss Amanda, Cam and Oma trekked over to Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park where they enjoyed an uncrowded setting.  The giraffes are definitely one of Cam's favorites.  Getting up close and feeding the Boulder Ridge inhabitants makes the experience even better.
After the park, Jane was able to meet Oma, her grandson and Miss Amanda over at Spoonlickers in Ada to take a break for a tasty afternoon treat.  The homemade frozen yogurt dessert shop provides a self-serve experience for the yogurt and all of the toppings.  The only catch is that you pay by the weight of your dish so one must be mindful of what's being added.  The homemade cookie dough, brownies and other delectable delights are tough to resist, though.
Late that evening, Cam's dad arrived home (yeah!) and once again, we were thankful for Oma's presence to stay with Cam during Jane's airport run.
The next morning, our family enjoyed a delicious Dutch apple pancake for breakfast and then we made our way to the West Michigan Miracle League field.  Another picture perfect day awaited us for baseball.  The fan base was strong with our Oma and two of Cam's teachers, Ms. Barbara and Ms. Kathy and Ms. Kathy's husband, Kevin.  Brody and Cam, classmates, buddies and teammates were super excited to see their teachers outside of school!

Jane & Oma at Artprize Friday morning

We treated Oma to lunch after the game and arrived home for some afternoon relaxation.  We said goodbye to Cam's grandma late Saturday afternoon and truly thanks are not enough for all she did and continues to do for our family!

On Sunday, Chris, Cam and Jane made their way down to Artprize to check out a few entries.  We live in such a great community where this unique artistic contest represents traditional art, but also art in many different forms.

We found different sized metal poles with sticks for making music, orange inner tube floaters on the river and even concrete rocking chairs to sit in.

"Art is in the eye of the beholder" and there was much to behold in Cam's hometown of Grand Rapids.

3 Cam's at School!

Camology Quotes:

If a word or phrase is uttered that Cam has never heard before, he immediately questions what it is.  One morning the temperature had dropped and Oma looked at the lower temp and exclaimed,
"It's only 52 degrees.  Well, isn't that something!"

Why do you say that, Oma?
"Say what, Cam?"
You said, 'isn't that something!'
"Oh, well I meant that it's surprising, that all."
Why did you not say that then, silly?