Winter Break Begins... Week of Dec. 14th

Just before winter break begins, you can feel the anticipation of relaxation.  But the few days before the last day of school are filled with activities.  The day of Cam's school party, he and Jane were dressed in red and when Michelle arrived after school, she was too!

Cam and Ms. Christy

Cam gave Christmas cards to all of his teachers and helpers at school as well as his bus drivers.  The holiday greeting is a favorite project Cam and his mom do together- deciding which pictures and Jane creating the poem.

The weekend plans were set for Saturday and Sunday.  We first ventured over to visit Ms. Mickie and hang out with Mr. Ken.  We met so many people and everyone said Cam had the best smile.  Mr. Ken kept telling him how tall he was getting and how much he liked our Christmas card!  It is always good to see our good friends and neighbors of 15 years.  Cam asked if we can go again and we most certainly will.

Lunch at the exclusive Target dining followed by some holiday shopping filled our afternoon.

Chris and Cam worked on homemade chocolate covered cherries for the remainder of the day.



Sunday afternoon was reserved for our Christmas celebration with Auntie Jo and Will.  We dined on homemade mini burgers and freshly made french fries and opened presents.  After playing some games, we had big plans to see the annual light show.

Every year, the local baseball park decorates the area to drive through (for a hefty fee) and it's something Auntie Jo and Jane have done with their boys for a few years now.  Pictures can't do the display justice and Cam and Will had to pick their favorites as we slowly made our way around the festive surroundings.
Afterwards, we were able to get both boys to agree to a photo complete with Santa hats- a rare occasion to catch everyone smiling at the same time!

A notable change in our household has been the appearance of the Elf on the Shelf.  Cam named his elf, Gerrit, and this elf has been busy moving around our home.  Every morning, our curious boy has been actively finding the mischievous helper.  This picture captured Cam's loudest laugh and favorite hiding place of his elf.  Of course, though, many questions ensued after his discovery.  Cam's questions included, but were not limited to, the following..."how did he write on the glass?....who put him in there?....is he ok?"

We expect this holiday season will be full of even more surprises!



Cam-ology Quotes:
(Mom) Cam, what are you thinking of for dinner?
"Do we have any leftovers we have to eat?"
(Mom) I sure do love you, Cam.

Traditions, New and Old - Week of Dec. 7th

Ms. Ann & Cam- Cam's 1st Fish Fry

"The holiday season is a perfect time to reflect on our blessings and seek out ways to make life better for those around us." ~ Terri Marshall

Starting new traditions can be just as much fun as continuing those we already do annually.  On Friday evening, we were fortunate to have Oma with us and our family traveled to Sparta to meet Ms. Ann, Christopher and Cassie to enjoy the monthly fish fry at the Moose Lodge.  We dined on delicious perch and potatoes.  Cam was pretty excited they also offered chicken tenders and french fries.  We met some incredibly sweet people, along with a woman who kept telling Cam how handsome he was- we think he may have been blushing!

On Saturday, Oma and Cam tackled the gingerbread house decorating.  In case you haven't been gingerbread house shopping lately, they now come pre-assembled and have a complete set of sticky frosting and candy to create your own unique design.  Be forewarned that it seems quite impossible to duplicate the picture-perfect houses shown on the box.
We were all quite pleased with the outcome, though, and it's now proudly displayed on the dining room table for all to see.

Sunday afternoon, Dec. 13th, was a balmy 62 degrees in Grand Rapids, Michigan!

Even though there was a bit of rain, we decided we needed to venture over to check out Dave and Busters.  Cam had never been there and in addition to being in a giant arcade, they also serve up some very tasty food.

Expanding our annual outings made for a busy (and very fun) weekend!

Cam-ology Quotes:
(Dad) Cam, you look pretty.
"Dad, girls are pretty.  I am handsome!"

Ms. Ann hung out with Cam on Saturday eve while Chris and Jane attended the FTCH holiday party.
How was your day?  What did you do today?
(Ms. Ann) Well, Mia (her dog) was having a hard time because of the parade and all of the noise outside.  She was inside most of the day because of all of the activity.
Did you put on her shirt?
(Ms. Ann told us the last time she talked to Cam about Mia's 'anxiety shirt' was in July!  The shirt is put on Mia to help calm her)

Jane explained to Chris & Cam over the phone that a nearby restaurant called Taj Mahal (which Cam has never been to) was closed.
Why did it close?
(Mom) I don't know, Cam.  It is definitely closed.
Well, that's a bummer!

Oh Christmas Tree!... Week of Nov. 30th

There's something magical about putting up the Christmas tree each year.

Our family tradition begins with Chris standing up the tree, while Cam supervises.  Once all of the branches are ready for decorations, Cam works with Jane to decide where all of the ornaments should be placed.  Upon completion, the room feels warmer, the glow of the lights shine brightly and each object dangling from the tree holds a memory.

Cam has asked to drive around to see the outdoor holiday decor almost every evening.  He explains we can "go wherever you want" each time.  We surprised him with a quick trek over to the historic Ada bridge.  The lights intermittently blink throughout the entire area.
The Ada Covered Bridge is a 125-foot span Brown truss covered bridge erected in 1867 in Ada, Michigan.  Carrying Bronson Street across the Thornapple River, it is located just south of where the Thornapple enters the Grand River, in turn just south of M-21. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The milder weather we're experiencing, combined with an abundance of sunshine, has produced some picture-perfect sunrise and sunset photos.

However, the lack of snow has also meant that winter sports are currently on hold.  The only "sledding" Cam has experienced of late has been in his elementary school gym!

Thanks to Michelle for sending this pic of our Michigan boy on a snowboard!


Cam-ology Quotes:
Mom: Explaining Operation Santa Claus at Cam's school and Cam asked what donate means.
"Mom, I have an idea for what to donate.  How about all of my clothes that don't fit that we are saving for our friends."

Cam riding in the van during complete silence: "It's a most wonderful time of the year!"
Mom may need to reduce the saturation of Christmas music while driving :)

What I'm Thankful For... Week of Nov. 23rd

With family antibiotics prescribed for strep throat the day before Thanksgiving, Jane, Chris and Cam were very thankful for friends and family still willing to join in the festivities.

Michelle and Cam worked diligently on two projects for the holiday.  They created these homemade turkeys with a pine cone for the base, Cam's traced hand for the feathers and the phrase "I am thankful for..." written as a reminder.  The duo also created a Happy Thanksgiving poster for all to see.  Cam helped Jane set the table and place the handmade turkey at each plate.

Oma and Opa arrived in the morning ready to prep the delicious turkey.  Cam was very impressed with how quickly Opa maneuvered the turkey. filling it with stuffing, binding it together and adding the piece of bread to keep the stuffing inside the bird and moist.  After the turkey was in the oven, Cam assisted Oma with mini apple pies, getting them ready for cooking after dinner.  Auntie Jo and Will arrived early afternoon, ready to relax and enjoy family time.
Before eating our feast, each person had to say what they were thankful for and then we said a family prayer.  Cam was thankful for "everyone and the delicious food."  At the end of the day, we were all feeling rather stuffed and Chris and his son had to relax their tummies by laying on their backs.

Over the weekend, we enjoyed quality football time with our buddies and were so happy to see our favorite Anna home from college.  In all of the silliness that ensued with this group, it is a gift to see the smiles and hear the laughter.

As a family, we have much to be thankful for. In addition to our awesome family, so many friends are family to us and whether they are in the vicinity or close to our hearts, they're always there.

Each of you reading this blog has in some way impacted our lives. Never underestimate your impact on others.

On any given day, try filling in this phrase "I am Thankful For..." and you may be surprised at just how many people, places and things you can fill in that space.

Cam-ology Quotes:
Dad cutting up cheese and summer sausage for his own lunch after Cam had eaten
"You know, Dad, it is polite to share..."

On Saturday: "I will remind you and Dad to take your medicine, Mom.  I'm here all day."

Cold Happens - Week of Nov. 16th

“The sun did not shine. It was too wet to play. So we sat in the house. All that cold, cold, wet day.” 
~ Dr. Seuss, The Cat in the Hat 

Every fall, heading into winter it's almost inevitable that Cam will be the unfortunate recipient of a cold or virus.  And this mid-November was no exception.
Jane flew out of state on Sunday for work while Cam tried to fight off sickness back in Michigan.
It was a long week for Jane's boys with restless, sleeping nights and a day off of school.
On Thursday evening, Cam had his bath early and dressed in pajamas, ready to pick up his mom at the airport right at 8pm.  Jane was so excited to see her family, and quite relieved her flight was on time!

We shared a "Pass the Pasta" dinner with lifelong friends/neighbors and each family offered up a favorite Italian dish.  We dined on Tuscan Chicken, Bowtie Alfredo, and Pistachio Pasta along with salad, bread and fruit.  Everything was so delicious and the kids played games afterwards.

The remainder of the weekend was spent creating crafts with Emma and resting on the couch, with Stella keeping a watchful eye.

The weekend also brought our first official snowfall!  This was the best kind of winter weather- the sun shone to capture the glimmer of white crystals and the roads remained clear.    

Cam-ology Quotes:
"I love you so much, Mom!  I love you even when you are away."

(Mom) What was it that we wanted to look for at the store?
Nutella pop-tarts!
(Mom) You're right!  I'm so glad you remembered.
I had it in my mind, Mom!

Pro Pics 2015 - Week of Nov. 9th

Since Halloween had passed and we had actually been given pumpkins in September, it was time to retire the orange fruit.
Chris ingeniously created a trailer hitch for Cam's power chair to transport the squishy pumpkins out to the neighboring tree area.  Cam took his job very seriously as he took multiple trips with his dad to finish the fun task.  There are some very happy woodland creatures in our surrounding woods.

As a yearly tradition now, the dynamic duo known as GauperPhoto took a mini photo session of the Weatherford family back in September.

With busy schedules and fall weddings, Holly and Ryan Gauper had their hands full.

It was well worth the wait for our pics, especially since they send a link for download, along with a release to re-print the photos wherever or whenever we choose.

Of course, we've saved our favorites for the Weatherford Christmas card, but here's a sneak peek of a few that didn't make the holiday card cut.

"The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it." ~ Ansel Adams

Thank you to the Gaupers for being such awesome photographers and capturing the essence of the Weatherford family...smiles and laughter!

Super Sleepover - Week of Nov. 2nd

Do you remember your first sleepover?  Feeling a little anxious, excited, and possibly a bit nervous as the sun began to set?

Cam has known his buddy, Emma his entire life. He will tell you Emma is his best friend.  The two of them have talked about having a sleepover for a couple of years now and schedules finally aligned to make it happen.

Cam's bed has a pull-out trundle which provides a perfect setup for spending the night.

One of our favorite mottos- "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."  The first sleepover attempt after Halloween wasn't a total success since Cam woke up and had trouble going back to sleep.
So, our second attempt was cause for celebration!  Emma is a veteran sleepover attendee and came prepared with books, a flashlight and her favorite blanket.  She told Cam stories and they fell asleep even before Chris and Jane did.
The next morning, the sleepover duo woke up early thinking about their food options.  Cam and Emma happily enjoyed a nutella pancake breakfast before hanging out and playing for awhile.  She is like a big sister to Cam and we look forward to more sleepover parties in the future.

Another new experience for Cam was heading up into the attic over our garage.  A pull-down ladder provides a staircase to the area.
He told his dad "I have never been in the attic before" so Chris first placed the firetruck costume in there before bringing Cam.  Always ready to try new things, Jane & Chris sometimes marvel at the fearless nature of their son.

The homemade fire engine may be in the attic, but Chris took the time to document and post the instructions for anyone else to create it: (way to go!)
Post for Creating Cam's FireTruck

In other news...our community newsletter included a pic of Cam and Ms. Ginny who pushed Cam in a 5K race this past summer for Team Triumph!  We are so happy to see our friend Ginny receive this honor!

Over the weekend, the boys sported matching sweatshirts.  Jane thought they looked so handsome, she had to ask for some posing.  Cam's response: "Let's take a picture by the fireplace.  It looks nice."  Thank goodness our son supports his mom's habit of taking "just one more" picture!

Cam-ology Quote:
(Dad) You and I will be twinsies today.
I have heard of twins, but I have never heard of "twinsies!"