Cam's 6th Birthday! - Week of Aug. 12th

You often hear people say..."once you have kids, time will go by in the blink of an eye."  So very true.
It doesn't seem possible that Cameron Jackson turned six years old this week!!
Since Cam recently played in his first official baseball game, his parents thought it fitting that he attend a Whitecaps minor league ball game on Thursday evening.  And what a nice surprise it was to find cousins Coco and Libby at the game, too!

Saturday was Cam's actual birthday and from the time he woke up, it seemed his outdoor party couldn't commence soon enough.
Now a curious thing about this six year old is that he doesn't really like cake.  He much prefers ice cream.  However, many people invited to Cam's party do like cake.  Now, if you add the cake to the frozen treat, the birthday boy doesn't mind it so much.  Each of Cameron's birthday have been celebrated with a custom cake from Ryke's bakery (www.rykes.com). With technology advancing in all areas, it seems only fitting that the baking industry has found new ways to express creativity.  The ability for a baker to take a picture image and transfer it onto a

Cam, Forest, Cousin Ollie

cake in an edible format is delicious ingenuity.  The real treat for Cam, though, was a custom-made ice cream sundae.  With over 20 toppings to choose from, the birthday boy's favorite was hand-crushed oreos and peanut butter cups over vanilla and chocolate ice cream, all topped with chocolate sauce and real whipped cream!  After the delicious dessert, all the kids had a great time playing in the backyard.

Cam & Ms. Kathy

Simultaneous games of whiffle ball, boccie ball, and bullseye were in full force.  After corralling the youngsters, it was time to take a swing at the Curious George pinata.  After each one took a few swings, each child held a string attached to the candy monkey and pulled at the same time.  Only one string actually released the "door" inside, but every kid thought they were the one that pulled the correct string.  It was a scramble for the candy and everyone shared quite nicely.  The best parties are the ones that keep going past the "end" time and Cam's party didn't disappoint, hosting the last twenty or so people for tasty pizza and breadsticks.

Forest, Ms. Kathy, Cam, Liam, Betsy

Cam was very surprised by all of his gifts- THANK YOU!!

A special thanks to Oma and Opa for picking up the Cam cake, to Ms. Ann for providing evening Cam care, to Ms. Kathy for spending special time with Cam during his party, and to all family and friends who were with us in person to celebrate Cam!

People come into our lives for a reason and we know that so many are here to stay because of our sweet boy!
In the wise words of Dr. Suess~ "Today was good.  Today was fun.  Tomorrow is another one!"

Substitute Teachers & Beach Baseball - Week of Aug. 5th

Megan, Sarah, Cam & Emma

Our Ms. Katherine was on vacation this week, so we called in some subs for Cameron.  Actually, he requested his neighbor girls.  They eagerly accepted the task of playing school with Cam while Katherine was out.  They did teach their student many things versus playing.  In his home school this week, Cam was quizzed on flash cards, learned the difference between his right and left, found internal organs of the body on a puzzle and began simple math.  Somewhere in there, we did find time to make brownies as well.  Along with the girls, Ms. Molly (Katherine's sister) and Oma filled some gaps with Cam Care this week.  Many thanks to you all!
It was a busy weekend for the Weatherford family.  Saturday morning, we shared breakfast with good friends Keith & Bobbi.  Jane & Cam ventured over to Wellerwood for a play group date.  They had fun seeing Ms. Kathy (Cam's teacher), sharing some treats and playing on swings.  Jane was so pleased to meet Kathy's parents- they are wonderful, just like Ms. Kathy!  After play group, it was off to cousin Ollie's 5th birthday party where Cam saw lots of panda-themed toys and goodies, Ollie's favorite. 
To round out the day, the family ventured northward to the cottage to get ready for the Sunday afternoon beach baseball game!
The teams were created
by cousin Harper- the Gulls and the Rockets.  Every one had a chance up to bat and although rain threatened during the game,
no delays due to weather had to be called.
Cam and Chris had a hit and ran to first base!  Chris had a home run and Jane had a base hit which she ran in as well.  Cousin Annie was teaching Cameron how to use the glove and Cam was very interested in the snack assortment available at the game.

It was such a fun afternoon for everyone and even though our team, the Gulls, didn't have the final win, we sure had a great time playing.

Chris and Jane celebrated their 10-year anniversary this weekend and were reminded of their favorite quote..."Life is a journey, not a race.  It's the little things we learn to embrace!"  It's been an awesome journey with many more adventures yet to come...

Cam's 1st School Graduation - Week of July 29th

Cam's handmade graduation cap & personalized diploma

When Cam's parents were younger, they looked forward to two graduations- high school and college.  It seems that with the newer generation, there are multiple grad celebrations.  This week, Cameron attended his very first one!

Ms. Kathy and Ms. Sara giving Cam a super smooch!

Wellerwood Early Childhood Center has been Cam's school since he was 2 and 1/2 years old.  He had the benefit of working with several different teachers and therapists throughout his time there.  This past year, he was able to enter a Head Start program, eating lunch at school and learning different things to help him prepare for kindergarten.  Since Cameron is headed to the big "K", it was the last year he could attend Wellerwood and most unfortunately, the last year any kids would attend the school.  It is closing and Cam held the honor of being in the last "graduating" class.

The teachers at Wellerwood made the students go through the real deal, walking up the steps with their caps and receiving their official diploma. Don't be fooled by Cameron's fancy shirt- the tie is a part of his t-shirt!  An extra special tasty treat was created by the teachers using little debbie snack cakes and thin licorice ropes to mimic mini diplomas.

This memorable ceremony was attended by Oma, Chris and Jane.  Cam was so excited to show everyone his cap and diploma!   He rode the school bus home one last time from Wellerwood and there was quite a crowd to greet him at the end of the driveway! ~ Emma, Ms. Ann, Oma, Auntie Ronda, and Jane.

For Cameron's grad treat, he wanted
to help make some delicious banana bread with his sweet friend, Emma. The kids were official taste testers of the batter and even enjoyed eating the actual bread.

Happy 1st Graduation... of many more to come... for our Cam!

Wild Animal Park - Week of July 22nd

There are some days when you feel like a kid again, especially when you experience something through a child's eyes.  And then, there are some truly unique days when you discover something you weren't even aware of and as an added bonus, share it with your child.

Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park has been in existence for three years and is less than 20 minutes from our home.  The Park is situated on 80 acres of land and contains an exotic collection of animals and reptiles.


When Jane, Cam, Oma and Katherine went to visit Boulder Ridge, they weren't sure what to expect.


After walking through the gift shop area, they entered into a reptile house featuring iguanas, spiders, geckos and other creatures.  From there, you step into the outside area where at first glance, huge tortoises and gators appear to be sunbathing.
In addition to an aviary you can walk through, one of our favorite stops was the bunny pen.  With trained park attendants nearby, you're able to hold and snuggle the beautiful soft creatures.

The sanctuary outside contains a giraffe arena as well as a play area for kids in a giant sandbox.  One of the most creative attractions is a safari ride- a modified school bus painted with zebra stripes providing a fifteen minute ride around a natural habitat area including emu, ostriches, zebras and others.  We recommend paying a visit to Boulder Ridge (www.boulderridgewap.com).

In the meantime, it's always fun to take a ride on the wild side with the penny horse at Meijer!

Water Worlds - Week of July 15th

Even though every day should be a beach day in the summer, it isn't always possible to make that happen...
Thanks to our awesome friends, the Scannells, Cameron can now enjoy the water right on his back deck!

The kiddie pool has come a long way from the circular round option that used to be the only choice.
Cam's friend, Emma, was convinced that the pool itself was going to be shaped like a "kitty" but was alright with the product that was set up.  It's actually deep enough to go under the water so Emma played "fish" with Cam and kept grabbing his feet.

Chris and Jane also think this may double as a cheap hot tub option during the summer months!

Jane, Cam & Katie VB

Every July or August, the family travels to Stony Lake, just north of our cottage, to visit longtime friends considered family at their cottage on the beautiful warm lake waters of Stony.  It's always a memorable time and special visit when Jane sees the kids she used to nanny for in the past summers.  Now they're all grown up, and some have kids of their own.

The day was filled with swimming, boat rides and playing in the sand. Cam received some early birthday gifts which he was very excited about!

Anthony, Cam & Alyssa dining lakeside

One of the water toys at Stony worked out perfectly for Cam while Chris pretended to be an underwater attack fish that kept getting his feet.  Anthony enjoyed this game too and it kept the boys occupied for quite some time.

The boat ride around Stony Lake is a family favorite.  We dined on an assortment of toasted pb&j sandwiches and grilled chicken.  Fresh fruit seems to taste better on the open water.  We had fun watching some expert water skiers and even spied a beautiful family of swans.  Visits like these feel like 5 minutes instead of 5 hours, but it makes the time together even more precious.

Birthday Celebrations for Chris - Week of July 8th

LifeHacker Challenge: Honorable Mention Award!

It's so easy to celebrate a man who is an amazing Dad to Cam and the best husband to Jane!

Chris has never been one to brag about himself, so Cameron decided his blog was the best place to do it! 
Cam's Dad entered the "CamMobile" invention into a contest (unbeknownst to his son and wife) online to create something out of PVC.  Since he had already designed and built the famous mobile, it was easy to include it as an entry.

Although he didn't win, he did make the Honorable Mention category and it was fun to read the comments of others indicating he definitely should've won top honors!  Read the story here...

http://lifehacker.com/hacker-challenge-winner-create-your-own-pvc-shower-rac-642642997

Playing "Pong"- check out that score!

Sometimes it's fun to find birthday presents everyone can use!  This year, Chris' special day turned into a celebration week... on his actual birthday, Cam assisted with opening the first present, a "Man Crate."  The Man Crate came wrapped in duct tape and then Chris and Cam used a crowbar to open it.  Inside was a Retro Gamer Kit- included was an old school Atari joystick pre-loaded with 10 games...Pong, Centipede, Missile Command...the list goes on.  Additionally, the crate was packed with lots of candy- cracker jack, oreos, rice krispie treat, nutter butter, etc.  Cam's Dad also received a World's Greatest Dad pillow (because he is!) that will nicely hold a pop can and remote while on the couch.

After a quick preview of Atari, the family headed over to see cousins Coco and Libby.  The girls cooked a most delicious birthday dinner for Chris serving up grilled steak, chicken and a fabulous pasta dish as well as salad.  Coco made a "Dutchman" (combo of German/Dutch Chocolate) cake with German chocolate cake mix and whipped chocolate frosting with melted peanut butter chips on top- yummy!  She even had Cam's favorite ice cream dessert- mini drumsticks!

Opa, Cam & Oma

On Saturday, Chris, Cam and Jane drove north to the cottage where Chris received a few more birthday surprises- a new swimsuit and life jacket from Oma and Opa and an inflatable kayak from Jane & Cam!
The kayak is perfect for Lake Michigan and super comfortable since it's inflated.
Cam's grandparents took a turn as well and with the calm water, albeit a bit chilly, it was the perfect chance to get out on the water and enjoy the ride.

The new water craft was in use the whole day, with Cameron taking many rides.  He helped Jane paddle quite a bit, and it was quite relaxing just to float along in the Lake Michigan water.

Family cottage is just to the left of the kayak front bow!

On weekends like these, it's tough to leave the big lake and return to the city, so we're thankful another weekend is around the corner.  A huge thanks to Oma for the delicious strawberry cheesecake, Coco and Libby, JJ & Jeffrey for their delicious dinners and Oma and Opa for meals and extra help.

A big Happy Birthday to one who does so much for us all- we love you Chris/Dad!!

Special Visit, First Parade, Cousin Wedding - Week of July 1st

Ali, Leslie, Cam & Erin

“How many slams in an old screen door? Depends how loud you shut it. How many slices in a bread? Depends how thin you cut it. How much good inside a day? Depends how good you live 'em. How much love inside a friend? Depends how much you give 'em.”
~Shel Silverstein

A dear friend of Jane's (from the 4th grade on!) drove to Michigan from North Carolina with her two lovely daughters to spend a few days at the Weatherford home. 
The girls had a great visit making a stop at the Farmer's Market, eating meals outside, and spending playtime with Cameron.   Cam showed off his bike-riding skills outside and took them to one of his favorite dining establishments for milkshakes, Culver's.

For the first year ever, Chris, Jane and Cameron were actually in Cascade for the 4th of July parade, which takes place within walking distance of their home.  The family is normally at the cottage, but with Cam's recovery in week two from the tonsil/adenoidectomy, the
option to stay put seemed best.

With a front row seat, the Independence Day parade was a bit louder than we anticipated, but after getting over the initial noise level, Cameron settled in.  He especially liked the marching band with the drumline.  After the parade, a free carnival was available to the kids.  The fire hose sprinkler and petting zoo were Cam's favorites.  He loved the soft sheep and the very pet-able bunnies.

Festivities continued through the weekend for the family with a wedding for cousin Annie.  Both Chris and Jane were in the wedding and Cameron did an awesome job staying completely quiet (in a very warm church) throughout the ceremony.
However, while both of Cam's parents were occupied with wedding duties, there was a failure to take pictures with everyone dressed up.  The reception took place at the corral by the cottage so the day after, we snapped a few photos.
Such a fun weekend and we wish cousin Annie and Clarence a very happy life together!

No More Tonsils & Adenoids - Week of June 24th

Ear infections have been quite frequent for Cameron in the last few years.  He was referred to an ENT (Ears, Nose, Throat) specialist a few months ago who checked Cam's adenoids and tonsils.  The specialist found that both of them were quite large and may be causing the ear issues.  Surgery was scheduled for June 24th.
The day of surgery, Cam couldn't eat anything and could only drink some water a couple of hours before the procedure.  Surprisingly, he was very cooperative about the entire ordeal.  Because they had to give Cameron anesthesia, we asked him which parent he wanted with him and he chose Dad (although he did say Mom first, but ended up saying Dad in the end...)

Cam with his get-well gifts

The surgery itself only lasted about 30 minutes!  Cam's specialist wanted him to spend the night at the hospital (with his parents) just to be certain he was doing alright before going home.  Cameron was a bit upset after waking up, due to his throat hurting so much, but after a few hours, he wanted to try to eat.
Staying in the hospital was much more fun with visits from cousins Coco and Libby as well as Katherine and Paul, Ann and Molly.
In his first week of recovery, Cam was pretty impressive.  Ready to try crackers and mac-n-cheese the first day he was home, he stayed hydrated and took all of his medicine without complaint.  While in the hospital, one of our star patient's nurses had told us that the medicine he had to take every 4 hours tasted absolutely awful.  Although his facial expressions told the story of how badly it tasted, he really was a champ about taking his meds.

Ms. Kathy and Cam with get-well cards

To help in recovery, Cameron received quite a few gifts including Curious George activity books, lots of books to read, and a Curious George beach discovery set and magnets.  Cam also had a very special visitor- his teacher from school, Ms. Kathy!!  She brought get well cards that each of Cam's classmates made and a book that all of the teachers from Cam's Wellerwood School had signed...his very first yearbook!

Later that same day, Cameron played the role of supervisor for homemade strawberry jam making.  We do hope it lasts through most of winter!  A huge thanks to Katherine and Ann for all of the heavy lifting with the strawberry goodness.
Cam sends a big thanks for the unexpected get well gifts from Oma and Opa, Aunt Joyce and Uncle Joe, and Cam's bus driver- Ms. Marci.  We also couldn't have made it through recovery without Katherine and the Raisch girls!