Tree, Lights, Check! - Week of Dec. 2nd

Cameron has been in a "helping" mode and asks to help out with everything!
This trait came in very handy for Christmas decorating... Chris and Jane have a system worked out for the holiday setup.
Chris brings everything up from the basement and takes out the tree.  Cam helps assemble the tree and they "unfold" all of the branches.  Then it's time for Jane to enlist Cam's assistance for ornamentation.

Cam was an excellent helper deciding which ornaments were placed where.  For the first time, we decided to place all of the family ones together and the special Cam ones in the same spot.  The finished product is one in which each family member played a role in its completion.
Although Stella the cat didn't lend her paws, she tends to lay underneath the tree where it seems she's convinced no one can see her.

Katie and Cam took a "field trip" out to our favorite farm stand, Heidi's.  While they picked out some goodies, they were given an ear of popcorn and were told to
place it in a paper bag in the microwave and it would "pop."
Chris and Jane weren't too sure about the explanation and had their reservations.  The doubters were proved wrong!  Sure enough, the ear of popcorn popped in the microwave and the ear of corn still had some attached.  Cam couldn't gobble it up quickly enough and certainly didn't have time to be interrupted for a photo shoot!  We highly recommend this very tasty treat!!

Thanksgiving 2013 - Week of Nov. 25th

Definition of Thanksgiving: 1. the act of giving thanks  2. a prayer expressing gratitude  3.  a public acknowledgment or celebration of divine goodness.


Any time we gather with family is a day of thanks and for the very first time, this year, we shared our turkey day celebration with the Haroldson family.  Our cousins drove from New Jersey and proceeded to prepare an amazing meal, including a 22-pound turkey!  It was perfectly delicious and paired with 3 (yes, three!) different types of stuffing- oyster, chestnut, chestnut & sausage.  Cameron preferred the mashed potatoes to the stuffing.  Desserts included pumpkin and apple pie as well as chocolate cream.  Cam opted for the chocolate cream, determining it was the closest one to ice cream.

Thanksgiving brought family together, but it also welcomed the white stuff!  Although not quite enough to go sledding, Chris and Cam had fun with the converted riding mower turned mini snow plow.  A salt spreader is attached to the back and even Jane had a lesson in driving maneuvers.  Even though the little machine is quite loud, Cam enjoys riding and helping determine where to go next.

Happy Birthday, Oma!

Due to the holiday, Chris and Jane both had Friday off of work and Oma and Opa stayed overnight for some additional time with their grandson.  After breakfast, the crew traveled to the Indoor Market in downtown Grand Rapids to have lunch and browse the different vendor spots.
With Oma still recovering from knee replacement surgery, Cam joined her in the physical therapy exercises she's assigned to do.  She indicated that it's much more enjoyable to complete the PT tasks with Cam as an active participant.

Cam showing off his dance moves!

The weekend was filled with additional family visits- cousins over for the football game and dinner on Saturday, then travels to visit Annie at her new home and Aunt Joyce and Uncle Joe on Sunday.
Sunday was also Grandma's birthday (we won't say which one!) and Cam, Chris and Jane were very happy to see her and celebrate how wonderful she is!!

We give thanks for so many people and the shared time with others we enjoyed over the holiday.
Hopefully, your Thanksgiving was one of happiness and feeling full...and not just from the turkey!

Gobbling up a nap after dinner...

Traditions - Week of Nov. 18th

We can't pinpoint the date we started it, but when Cameron was a toddler we began hiding his favorite Elmo toy before bedtime and he'd have to find it.  

The places of concealment varied greatly, but the reward was Cam's reaction when the discovery was made!  So, most evenings, Chris or Jane (mostly Chris) figures out new places to conceal Elmo and also Curious George.

This week, Chris truly outdid himself when he expertly perched the stuffed animals outside of Cameron's window with a spotlight on the pair.  We should have captured video of one proud boy for discovering the surprise behind his window- the laughter certainly was heard in the entire neighborhood! Sometimes a tradition never grows old.

Each year about this time we begin to gather pictures for the family Christmas card.  Oma and Opa paid a special visit over the weekend. Cam's grandparents went to the Grand Rapids Indoor Market with him and Jane to eat lunch and browse the different vendor areas.  When the family returned, it was the perfect chance to set up a mini photo shoot.  Much to everyone's surprise, Chris and Cam had fun clowning around pretending to be thinkers and saying "hmmm" while deep in thought.

Rounding out the weekend was a trip to the barbershop for Cameron.  He's come a long way since being very nervous about the clippers and haircuts in general.  Now, he looks like a pro and loves to have his stylist, Amelia, put "product" in his hair.

Traditions, like hobbies, come and go, but there are certain ones we hope stick around for quite some time to come.

Train for Two - Week of Nov. 11th

By the time the weekend rolls around, most everyone is ready for a break from the daily grind.

Most Saturday mornings, Cam asks if his buddy, Emma, can come over a visit.  On this particular day, a collapsible Thomas the Train fort was ready for occupancy!

In the past, a small Elmo tent was frequently used for play but it became apparent that it could only comfortably accommodate a single kid.  The "train" was definitely intended for two or more children.  Emma and Cam were quite pleased that they could stretch out and both have room to sit.

However, it turns out that when Cameron and his buddy were done with the locomotive fort, another passenger couldn't wait to try it out! Stella, the cat, now considers herself a part-time conductor of sorts, spending quiet time in the tent, but only when the kids are not in it.

On Sunday, a strange spring-like storm arrived in West Michigan with sheets of rain and very strong winds.  

Luckily, the weather let up by late afternoon so Cam, Chris, and Jane could travel a few minutes across town to celebrate Molly's birthday with Katherine, Ann and Gordy.

 After a delicious dinner, a chocolate cake was presented with candles.  Molly asked her buddy, Cam, to help blow them out!  He happily accepted the challenge and gladly tried the delectable dessert.

An unexpected surprise arrived in the mail this week- we were expecting the invitation to the annual Mary Free Bed holiday party, but were quite surprised by the photo that ended up being used for the invites...look closely...and you just might see one of the most photogenic boys we know!

I Lost my First Tooth (finally!) - Week of Nov.4th

In this pocket you will find, A teensy, tiny tooth of mine. So while I sleep where dreams are made, Let's see if you can make a trade. ~Author Unknown

Milestones and the timeframes that accompany them sometimes go unnoticed.  When a first tooth comes out, though, the post effect can't help but draw others to take notice.

Hole= bottom right

This was a week for fighting off sickness in the Weatherford household.  Jane was sick most of the week while Chris stayed relatively healthy and Cameron ended up with an ear infection.  So, when Cam's incredibly loose tooth fell out before bedtime on Wednesday, it was cause for celebration!  It's difficult to place a tooth under a pillow when one doesn't sleep with a pillow.  However, Cameron has some stuffed animals in bed and it just so happens that Elmo has a pocket- the perfect place for the tooth fairy to find a tooth!  When Cam woke up the next morning, he quickly checked the pocket on Elmo and found 3 quarters...which he promptly placed in his piggy bank.

On Saturday, Cam's nanny, Katie, took him on a field trip to play with her family dog, Oliver.  It seems that Oliver is just the right size pup for Cameron.
Not only did he enjoy playing ball with Oliver, Cam also had fun giving him treats and petting his super soft fur coat.

As we feel a chill in the air and winter closing in, it's good to have our nice cozy blankets...since we don't have an Oliver...

Halloween 2013 "CamTank" - Week of Oct 28th

After countless evenings working in the Weatherford garage, it began to take shape. From wooden slats placed on the floor and spray painted to wooden wheels on a track, the machine started to become a reality.
Chris and Cam had definitely outdone themselves this year with the one and only...

The Windcrest Crew

"CamTank!"

Of course, one can never predict the weather for Halloween and this proved a bit challenging with a forecast of rain- all day and all evening. On a positive note, a balmy 65 degrees was also in the plan.

In the afternoon, Jane was able to spend time with Cameron at school and join the all-school Halloween parade led by the school's principal!  Cam was dressed as a soldier and since his CamTank was a bit too large to fit through the school doors, only his actual costume was a part of the parade.

Trick-or-treating on the Windcrest street was the highlight of Cam's day.  Finally, he was able to show off and drive the CamTank!  Because the tank was so large, Jane & Chris wondered if Cam would still enjoy driving it.  It was a bit jerky, but the soldier battled through the wet terrain and mastered his tank maneuvers.
Although it was a very wet evening, all of the kids and adults had a great time!  A big thanks to "Auntie" Roe and her niece Rachel for being a part of Cam's platoon with us.

Once again, Chris has designed and engineered an idea from scratch and made it come to life with Cam's expert assistance.

Hope your Halloween was filled with lots of goodies, giggles, and grins!

The Helper - Week of Oct. 21st

Michigan Sunrise- view from our front door

"We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone." ~Ronald Reagan

Life lessons...some are taught by example, others by repetition, and few are simply inherent.
Helping is certainly a lesson taught by showing someone how to help and watching others help, but also may be a trait that is instinctive.



Cameron requests, on a daily basis, to help his parents in some way.

Cam helps Jane every week at the grocery store- finding the items they need, helping direct around the store, and of course, happily accepting a free cookie at the bakery.



This past week, Cam and Chris have been busy, every evening, working diligently in the garage. It has been temporarily transformed into the October workshop area.  In preparation for Halloween, Cameron has been assisting his Dad with the ultimate "costume" for 2013.  It begins as an idea and any visitor passing by would see pieces of wood, nails, screws and many, many power tools.
A special visit from Oma and Opa gave Cam the opportunity to show off the results of the father/son team creation thus far.

As Cameron completed another week of helping, we have to give a hearty thanks for all of YOU reading this blog and continuing to help us find the words each week...this past week, Cam's blog passed the 20,000 views mark!!

Fall Photo Shoot - Week of Oct. 14th

Have you ever met a "bucket filler?"  Are you a bucket filler?  Cameron fills buckets every day...with his smile, laughter, words, and actions.  Chris and Jane have realized more and more that their lives and Cam's are surrounded by bucket fillers.

Many Thanks to Katherine for taking some amazing fall photos of our family!  And a big thanks to Katie for taking Cam to the apple orchard for a class field trip.  You are both extraordinary bucket fillers!

What is the "bucket"?
The bucket represents your mental and emotional self.

How do you feel when your bucket is full? When your bucket is full, you feel more confident, secure, calm, patient, and friendly. Your thoughts are positive and you expect positive results. When your bucket is overflowing, you experience an intense happiness that can spread to those around you. Have you ever felt better after someone gave you a friendly smile or happy grin? This is the "ripple effect" of a full bucket.

How do you feel when your bucket is empty? When your bucket is empty, it contains few, if any, positive thoughts or feelings. When your bucket is empty you can easily become sad, negative, insecure, nervous, angry, depressed, stressed, worried, afraid, or physically ill. When you experience any of these feelings, it's easy to believe that life is too challenging and that nothing you attempt will be successful. An empty bucket can affect your behavior and cause you to express your emotions in a way that empties the buckets of those around you. What affects the level of happiness in your bucket? Negative life events. The careless or even cruel words and behavior of others can also affect the level of happiness in your bucket. It's important to know that you are responsible for what you choose to think and when your thoughts are positive and healthy, your bucket levels will reflect it.

What is Bucket Filling? Actions or words that show that you care about someone. Saying or doing something kind. Giving someone a heartfelt smile. Using names with respect. Helping without being asked. Giving sincere compliments. Showing respect to others. There are hundreds of wonderful ways to fill buckets. The language of bucket filling has become synonymous with being kind and thoughtful. Your bucket will be filled when, at the close of each day, you reflect on the ways in which you have filled buckets.