Return to Sender - Week of July 23rd

"How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." ~A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh 

The phrase “All good things must come to an end” traces its roots back to the 14th century and the pen of Geoffrey Chaucer, the famed English poet best known for The Canterbury Tales. In his earlier work Troilus and Criseyde, Chaucer wrote: “But at the laste, as every thing hath ende, She took hir leve, and nedes wolde wende.” While the exact modern wording didn’t appear in this form, the sentiment- that all experiences, even joyful ones, eventually conclude- was clearly expressed. Over time, the phrase evolved. By the 17th century, variations like “All things must end” were circulating in English-speaking regions, and eventually the word “good” was added to emphasize the bittersweet nature of endings. It’s now one of the most universally recognized idioms, used to express everything from the end of a vacation to the closing of a cherished chapter in life.

Such was the case as we laughed and enjoyed our last few days with Grandma Sue and Layna.  Monday night, we feasted on our very own seafood boil consisting of fresh crab, sausage (andouille and turkey), shrimp, potatoes and corn on the cob, along with homemade cornbread.  It was quite the assortment and we all decided that we needed an expert "crab shell remover" after all of the effort to extract the crabmeat.

Chris created a wooden card holder for his son to enable Cam to be an integral part of the many Uno games that were played Monday and Tuesday.  Tuesday evening, we picked up photo books for Grandma Sue and Layna from Walgreens that Jane quickly created filled with pictures from their visit.  We also stopped by a local restaurant to see Ms. Ann, her daughter Katherine (Cam's former nanny) with her family and friends. 

Wednesday morning arrived much too quickly.  We gave each other big hugs before Chris drove his mom and niece to the airport for their 10:30am flight.  Fortunately for Cameron, Ms. Amanda was there to fill the void left and spent the rest of the day with us.

Saturday afternoon, we loaded up our van to head northward to spend the night at the cottage.  It was steamy hot in Grand Rapids and the lake breeze was a refreshing relief.  Upon arrival, our cousins came over to show Cameron the new electric toy vehicle in use.  How cool it was to see them both driving when they met on the road.

Beach time was mandatory with the nice temps and Lake Michigan has steadily gotten a bit warmer.  Cam hung out under the tent to chat with Jeffrey about some legal questions he had 😉 It's so nice to have a lawyer in the family.

We also celebrated our younger cousin's birthday with a grilling extravaganza and delicious side dishes.  The evening was capped off by a beautiful sunset.

On Sunday, Oma drove out after church to spend the afternoon and evening with us.  Cameron was asked by cousins if he wanted some makeup applied to which he politely replied, "no thank you!"    

A welcome breeze provided us relief from the warm air near the beach.  It was surprising to see army helicopters fly by and pretty exciting!      

We had some water time before getting ready to go to dinner at Old Channel Inn where we met everyone for a final bday celebration for our cousin.  Although we had to say "see you later" to our Arizona family, we were thankful to be surrounded by our cousins and Oma to close out the weekend.

Camology Quotes:

We often comment on the fact that, at times, Cam seems to be more of a 'parent' than Chris and Jane.  This was exemplified when he chastised his parents after going to bed one evening.

"Hello! The TV is up too loud...I'm just letting you off with a warning, Mom and Dad!"

Precious Cargo from Arizona - Week of June 16th

"Family visits are proof that love travels any distance." ~Unknown

There are times when not have everything planned out becomes the best plan of all.

Monday evening, Chris's mom and niece arrived at the Grand Rapids airport shortly after 9pm.  Tuesday morning, our official start to being together for the next nine days began!  

Cam and his cousin, Layna wasted no time settling in and playing games with Grandma Sue and Ms. Amanda.  The "Guess in 10" game led to plenty of mistake responses and lots of laughter.  Layna also enjoyed being Cameron's teacher, quizzing him on different schoolwork. That evening, we watched one of Cam's favorite movies ("Out of My Mind") as a family and the kids gave Chris a hard time for falling asleep.

Wednesday included some outdoor strolls and making homemade cookies.  The standing crew had their official height photo taken as cousin Jalayna is edging closer to the top of Cam's head.

On Thursday and Friday, Chris and Jane took time off of work to spend with our extended family.  Chris put his niece to work helping with some non-profit decals and she was able to create one for her water cup too that said "I 💗my family."  Grandma Sue and her grandson strolled outside while Layna and her aunt completed a quick shopping trip.  They returned home with mini custom donuts for everyone.  

Friday was a working day for Cameron at Grand Valley University downtown.  His cousin wanted to see his teaching skills in action, so she accompanied Cam and his mom.  

Back at home, Layna tested out Chris's riding lawnmower in the afternoon. We had all been enjoying home-cooked meals, but did decide to take the family out to dinner on Friday.  Carolina Lowcountry Kitchen was a first-time experience for each of us.  Hushpuppies were brought to the table for everyone to try.  Dinner was delicious and fun for our crew.

Saturday included some driveway power soccer practice time⚽ Cam showed off his skills while his cousin passed him the oversized ball.  We all took part in more indoor game playing as well. Layna asked if she could test out Cameron's power chair so she could see how it felt while he sat on the couch for awhile.  She is the only other person he has allowed to sit in his chair and drive it.

Sunday was our cottage beach day!   Oma met us at the lake so she could spend some time with Grandma Sue and Jalayna too.  The grandmas enjoyed chatting with each other on the deck.  Chris, Jane, Cam and Layna headed to the beach and felt the strong wind while watching some kite surfers (parasailing) on Lake Michigan.  We were all thankful to escape the heat from the city.  We dined on our outdoor deck for dinner before loading up the van. Of course, Calla and Arthur showed off their helping skills to Layna showing her how they assist with all of the safety hooks for their cousin, Cam.  We deemed it a very successful day, proven by the fact that Layna was sound asleep on our drive home!

Camology Quotes:

With family in town, we always enjoy some special treats.  Grandma Sue tasted a grasshopper milkshake and the cousins requested extra creamy whipped cream for their homemade cookies.  When Jane returned from the store with the goods, Cam excitedly said:

"That will make the bomb dot com! But I did not mean a real bomb, Mom!"

Summer Break Sweetness - Week of June 9th

 "Look deep into nature and you will understand everything better." ~Albert Einstein

Frank Clark said "If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere."  Sometimes this seems like a lifelong lesson...

Cam wished his mom a happy birthday Monday morning and Chris arrived home Monday night from his Canada fishing trip!

With Cam's break officially in full swing, Ms. Amanda is back with us for summer hangout time with Cam.  The duo have already settled into a weather-dependent morning routine.  They typically head out after breakfast for a two-mile stroll through the large pedestrian walkways near our home.  The morning activity is such a great way to start each day.

Tuesday afternoon, Cameron reunited with his buddies, Brody and Maddie. They all met up at Brody's Be Cafe in Ada to help out with the hot dog cart.

The weather has continued to be very pleasant.  Friday afternoon, Cam and Amanda had some deck time while Chris and Jane found a downtown deck to hang out as well for a date night.  We are so thankful for our Ms. Amanda who has always felt like an extended member of our family.

Saturday late in the afternoon, we made our way northward.  Our goal was to spend the night at the cottage now that Cam can make his way in.  We had a nice dinner and watched a movie.  The sunset was a bit hazy due to the Canadian wildfires but it was still beautiful to see.

We all had a good night's rest and cousin Annie rode back with us to Grand Rapids.

Sunday was a day to celebrate Cameron's dad for Father's Day!  He truly is a one-of-a-kind super duper dude.  He is also incredibly humble.  Even though this day is set aside to honor dads, for Chris's son and his wife, they feel honored by Chris daily.  A shout out to all the great dads we know!  Hope it was an awesome day 😎

Camology Quotes:

One evening, Jane and her son drove over in the van to Costco to fill up the gas tank. Upon arrival, they realized it was closed.  Cam lamented:

"Well, you live and learn, Mom!"

A Grand Finale - Week of June 2nd

"Sunsets are proof that endings can be beautiful." ~Beau Taplin

"They may forget what you said but they will never forget how you made them feel." ~Carl W. Buehner

When you finish something, feelings can be conflicted.  It can be a relief that something is over, but also a pang of sadness that it's completed.  Jane brought Oma to Grand Rapids on Wednesday, Chris left for a Canada fishing trip and Cam bid one of his bus drivers farewell.  Ms. Betty, a part-time driver, dressed up like a bee and made all of the students laugh!

Wednesday evening, Jane took Cam's grandma to see a concert- a first-time experience for mother and daughter. At the Van Andel Arena in downtown Grand Rapids, Barry Manilow put on a two-hour show. It was pretty impressive for an 81-year-old.  Cam and Ms. Amanda had fun hanging out back at home since neither one of them recognized any of Barry's music.

Thursday was the final day of the school year!  Cam arrived home at lunchtime and said he was looking forward to his summer break.  

Friday morning, Cameron took full advantage of his first day of vacation to sleep in.  We were scheduled to be at Grand Valley University downtown at 10am.  A working session with the PT graduate students is always beneficial for Cam. He learned there was a connection with two of the physical therapists and the location where he receives weekly PT.  They all loved his t-shirt which reads "I'm going to go stand outsides, so if anyone asks, I'm Outstanding!"  

Chris checked in with us every night and sent a few great pics our way of his Canadian adventures.

Oma and Jane made their way to a local greenhouse favorite, Koetsier's, while Cam was working with Ms. Ann.  

Cam's grandma had asked her daughter to pick out flowers for her upcoming birthday.  They found a beautiful geranium arrangement for the back porch.  Cameron showed off his driving skills via the new sliding glass door that was recently replaced to make for an easier exit/entrance.  He and Oma played games and enjoyed their time together.

Saturday morning was another forthcoming ending.  The spring WMML season held their final games on a perfect baseball weather day.  As an added bonus, the Home Depot crew provided the volunteers as well as grilled hot dogs, chips and water.  Owen was Cam's helper and he told Cameron that his dad worked for Home Depot.  

Ms. Patti and Mr. Steve surprised Cam as spectators and Oma was so happy she could see the baseball fun.  Before leaving the field, we snapped a quick picture of Cameron and Daniel, teammates and friends.  The two of them will be at the same summer camp session this July.  Jane convinced her son to take one more photo with his mom and grandma before heading over to the grilled hot dogs.  After a quick stop at the shoe store, the remainder of the afternoon was spent relaxing and watching a movie. 

On Sunday, Cam and his mom and grandma ventured to the cottage.  They had a bit of a challenge entering when the automatic lock wasn't cooperating.  Thanks to their friends and neighbors, they were able to find a way in.  After some organizing, they made their way over to visit with the cousins.  The youngest of the bunch was on the move and stopped to check out his cuz, Cameron.  His older siblings always love the chance to help secure Cam in the van and they take the job very seriously.

It was hard to believe Cam's grandma had been with us for four nights.  We had dinner together at a sushi place in Grand Haven and then brought Oma back to her place.  We couldn't thank her enough for all of the hangout time with us.

Jane also had to thank her son for a good week while Chris was on his well-deserved fishing trip. He was great company and provided some comic relief.  

Cam also showed off his math skills on Friday.  When Oma, Jane and Cameron were all in the van headed downtown, Cam announced "we will be on this highway a total of 6 times this weekend!"  As his mom counted out the trips, she exclaimed "Spot on, you are absolutely right!"

Camology Quotes:

All of Cameron's former and current teachers hold a special place in his heart...and ours.  Ms. Kathy sent Jane a text this week indicating she was taking down her "teacher board" in her room for the end of the year.  She noted that the one pictured always has a special spot each year.  When Jane showed her son, he commented:

"I do not remember that picture, Mom, but I'm glad Ms. Kathy does."  

Laser Focus - Week of May 26th

"To be great is to be misunderstood." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

"I guess I should warn you, if I turn out to be particularly clear, you've probably misunderstood what I've said."  ~Alan Greenspan

 

While Cameron is nearing the end of his school year, many projects are making their way home on an almost daily basis.

Chris and Jane endured a very busy work week and by the end of it, we were all looking forward to the weekend.

We hosted our longtime friends and neighbors, Patti, Craig and Cara for a fish dinner on Friday evening.  It was such fun to catch up and prior to saying goodbye, we had already lined up another date in July.

Saturday was our fun-filled day of activities.  The morning started off at the West Michigan Miracle League baseball field.  Although the morning was cooler, it quickly warmed up on the field.

Dick's Sporting Goods supplied the buddy volunteers as well as bags filled with sunglasses and a water bottle for the players. The Sporting Goods team even had their own shirts made to represent their day of helping out. 

Cam's buddy was named Will and the two posed for a picture after the game.  

Daniel is another friend on Cameron's team and the boys will attend the same summer camp together.  They both have the exact same powerchair as well. As always, Brody and his best bud were goofing around after the game.

Cam had a few fans in attendance too!  Auntie Jo arrived to surprise Cam as well as Ms. Cris and her daughter Mary Jo.

We had a few hours to relax before making our way to the "Main Event" to celebrate Brody's birthday with his family and friends.

The planned line-up included bowling, followed by laser tag, then pizza, cupcakes and arcade games.

Cam had a blast bowling using the cool ramp to launch his bowling ball down the alley.  The lights adjacent to the lane change colors as the ball passes by.

Cameron had never experienced laser tag.  

Laser tag was invented in 1979 in Dallas, Texas. It was originally supposed to be a Star Trek-based game, but several years and adaptations later, the game was separated from the series. In Midwestern USA, laser tag is a people's favorite.  

Even though he was a bit hesitant, like most new encounters, Cam was willing to give it a go.  And, wouldn't you know it, it ended up being his favorite part of the entire event!  Of course, when the best aspect is quickly trailed by delicious pizza and cupcakes and then arcade games, you couldn't have asked for a better ending! 

Camology Quotes:

During dinner, Brody's mom was telling Cam all about Remy's (Brody's younger sister) horse show that was being streamed online.  They were talking about a recent horse event that took place in Scottsdale, Arizona.  

Cam quickly asked Ms. Jenny, "Do the horses fly?"  

She looked at Cam in disbelief and said "Of course, they don't. What do you mean?"

At this point, Cam could not stop laughing and responded with "No, Ms. Jenny...I meant...do the horses fly there in a plane?!?!"