Star Student - Week of Oct. 1st

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.
~Albert Camus

We are most fortunate to live in a state where the four seasons are definitive and purposeful.

 

While our family went on a drive to Home Depot over the weekend, we snapped this pic while in the car never thinking the image would capture how beautiful the colors were...

Another picture-perfect photo (thanks to Katherine!) was captured this week of our "Star Student"- Mr. Cameron Jackson!

 

Each week, the students in Cam's class are given a different job or task to be in charge of for the duration of their time in school.  One student is given the honor of being "star student" and this week, Cam was chosen.  He was beyond excited about this opportunity.  He picked out his favorite photos to bring into class and the teachers helped him put them up on the board.  Cameron also was asked to chose one item for show-and-tell...a big note was sent home indicating it could not be a live animal or food, so we decided not to send Stella the cat.  Cam brought his saxoflute- an instrument that is a cross between a saxophone and a flute.  He can make very loud sounds with it and his classmates loved it!

With the weather turning a bit cooler and the rain falling, it seems that it's still a bit impossible for Cameron's mood to be affected.  Even in the chilly wet climate, Cam sports his smile proudly!

Cut, (no) Cavities, and a Carnival- Week of Sept. 24th

Since school pictures come around once a year, it was time to get Cameron to the barbershop for a haircut.  The clippers used to make him very nervous.  He wasn't so keen on the loud buzzing so close to his ears.  Now that he sits in the barber's chair himself, Cam just scrunches his neck when the clippers come around bracing for their "tickle" effect. 

A visit to the dentist wasn't quite "ticklish" but parts of it were enjoyable for Cam.  Our brave boy didn't mind having his teeth looked at and cleaned by the very nice hygienist.   The dental tool that removes the water from your mouth is referred to as "Mr. Sucker" for the kids.  For some reason, Cam thinks "Mr. Sucker" is quite hilarious when it sticks to his tongue.  Instead of a sticker, Cameron chose a small snake toy that he tried to scare his Dad with.

 With a clean bill of health from the dentist, it was smooth sailing the rest of the week.  On Friday, the family (with friend Emma) ventured out to the Let's Move Liam Carnival... (www.letsmoveliam.blogspot.com)  Liam is one of Cam's good friends from school and a carnival was set up to help raise support for his schooling.  There were plenty of games for Cam and Emma to play and even a photobooth.  The props shown here were available for the pictures and Cam is trying to hold that sword steady and give his best pirate/argh face!  Emma and Cam even won two goldfish- look for upcoming pictures and the chosen fish names.


It will be a few weeks before we have the school pictures, but Cameron certainly looked quite handsome in his white shirt and jeans.

Family Pics - Week of Sept. 17th

"A picture is a poem with words" ~ Horace
"A picture is worth a thousand words" ~ Napoleon Bonaparte
"The soul never thinks without a picture" ~ Aristotle

Every week, this blog tells a story with pictures.  This week is no exception.

In fact, this week, the pictures are the story.  Cam's amazing nanny, Katherine, can count 'photographer' as one of her endless talents.  She graciously volunteered her time (and awesome camera) to take some fall family shots of the Weatherfords.

Some find it hard to believe that with all of Cameron's challenges, he is one of the happiest kids around.  Cam's parents find it fitting that he tackles each obstacle and still smiles!

  Because of our weekly updates here, we have compiled more pictures of Cam than we ever imagined.  Thankfully, he's pretty photogenic!!

10,000 Posts - Week of Sept. 10th

It was a little of this and a little of that this week...

Cam's big backyard is home to lots of wildlife and some insects hang out as well.  Chris brought a praying mantis inside to show Cameron and it seemed both Cam and the mantis were quite inquisitive.

Almost every week now at the Grand Valley University campus in downtown Grand Rapids, Cameron is helping a professor and receiving some awesome physical therapy as well.  He is working on balance, reaching, walking, and of course, having a good time while doing it.  Although you won't see Cam sporting this hat around town, it does help him practice taking off a hat and putting it on.

As a sneak peek at a possible Halloween costume this year, Chris and his boy have some fun with a toy rocket that flies into the air when you press the big red button.

A big thanks to Cam's Oma & Opa (Grandma & Grandpa) for providing Chris & Jane with some r&r. 

We thought it important to mention a milestone we surpassed this week....Cam's blog has had over 10,000 page views in its span of 5 years.  We are so thankful to all of you, Cam's avid bloggers, who have kept this weekly entry going.
Many of you who read this are people that have touched our lives and Cam's in such a positive way, we are forever grateful.  If there's one thing we've learned- it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that Cameron is one of the coolest kids ever!!

Back to School! - Week of Sept.3rd

While some kids dread the thought of going back to school, Cameron couldn't be happier to be back in the routine!  A preregistration day offered a glimpse into Cam's new classroom and allowed him to meet his teachers before school began.  He had his picture taken, picked out a toothbrush, and found his yellow cubbie with his name.

Tuesday marked the official start and Cam had a few added tasks added throughout his longer school day.  The Wellerwood PreSchool has a Head Start program that Cam is a part of for this school year.  The bus picks him up at 11:50am and then he is picked up from school at 4pm.  The twist this year is that Cameron eats lunch with all of his classmates at school!  And after lunch, he brushes his teeth.  The menu is federally mandated and unbelievably healthy. A sample will need to be posted in an upcoming blog to see how it compares with your own lunch.

There are 12 kids in Cam's class and he's already made some new friends! 
His teacher has told us that he is most definitely one of the happiest kids she's ever seen. 
With Cam learning new things every week, he may have to work on his patience skills- he certainly can't wait for his school bus to drive down the street to pick him up!

Summer Sets - Week of Aug. 27th

Labor Day marks the "unofficial" end to summer...it seems this year our summer has flown by and we're not ready to say farewell to our favorite season just yet.

And fortunately for us, swimming and playing in Lake Michigan felt like mid-summer versus Labor Day weekend!

The water temps were perfect and there were plenty of playmates to hang out with.  'Auntie' Jo and Will ventured to the big lake and spent the night.  Cousin Annie hung out with 'her monkey boy' Cam and the weather couldn't have been better.

Good friends Keith and Bobbi spent Sunday with the family and brought some delicious burgers for one of the last seasonal cookouts and dinner on the deck.
Chris' talents are endless and the "monster" watermelon shown here was created and carved by Cameron's dad.

Due to an excessive amount of sand gathered on the shoreline, Will and Cam cleaned up very nicely in a sudsy bath.  What an awesome cottage weekend complete with Grandma, Grandpa, Aunts, Uncles and lots of cousins!!

Monday marked another sunny day and a very special birthday party for Will's 4th!  It was a pirate themed celebration complete with a scavenger hunt and treasure.  Cam and his parents used one of the goodie bags treats on themselves in the form of a pirate tattoo.  Cameron and his dad sure do look like swash-buckling pirates- argh!!

The Sunshine Sunroom - Week of Aug. 20th

Cameron has definitely settled into his new house.   Even though it is a different home, thank goodness, Cam's buddies can still trek over the hill to find him.

Pictured here are two of his favorite girls, Megan and Emma sitting in the sunroom, coloring.
The sunroom looks out into the backyard where different animals are seen quite frequently.

This week, the turkeys wandered through looking for treats and meandering around.
We've been told the Thanksgiving birds fly up into the trees to sleep, but we haven't witnessed that yet. 

The sunroom has become the place to read books, color, paint, and watch Stella the cat sunbathe.

"But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine."
~Thomas Jefferson

"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow."
~Helen Keller

Five is my Favorite - Week of Aug. 13th

"Life is like an ice-cream cone, you have to lick it one day at a time."~Charles M. Schulz

"We dare not trust our wit for making our house pleasant to our friend so we buy ice cream."~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Not everyone loves birthday cake.  Cameron's preference is definitely ice cream.  He's also discovered that picking out his favorite toppings to add to the frozen treat makes it that much more delicious.

So, for Cam's 5th birthday, the theme was an ice cream sundae bar.  Toppings included fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries...and the good stuff- oreos, m&m's, reeses peanut butter cups, cookie dough bites, twix, miniature chocolates, nuts, gummi bears, sauces, etc. plus three flavors of ice cream.  Many thanks to Katherine, pictured with boyfriend Paul, for all of the preparation work!

Cam's parents gave him a new bike that hooks onto the bike Chris rides.  Previously, Cameron rode on the back which required him to lean and turn to get a good view of the sights while riding.  Now he's able to easily look at all of the surroundings while still feeling the breeze in his face.  Plus, he has his own pedals to practice riding on his own!
Cam's birthday activities included friends and family enjoying their own ice cream creations, playing baseball in the backyard and just hanging out with everyone.

As an extra treat, Grandma & Grandpa came in for the weekend to spend the night while Jane and her dear friend, Leslie attended their 25th high school reunion with Chris and Leslie's husband, Dan.  We're not certain who had more fun that evening, but we certainly send a big thanks to Cam's Oma & Opa!!


Cameron is so blessed to be surrounded by so many who love him and support his every accomplishment!!  We can't thank everyone enough for the company, fun and gifts to celebrate one special boy turning five!!