Goodbye Summer, Hello Baseball - Week of Sept. 4th

"By all these lovely tokens September days are here, With summer's best of weather And autumn's best of cheer." ~Helen Hunt Jackson 
"There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart." ~Celia Thaxter

As fall approaches, a common question heard in our household is "when does my baseball start?" Thanks to the West Michigan Miracle League, Cam has been playing ball since 2014.   This league accepts players, ages 5-18 with different abilities.  Signing up online for a small fee confirms your child's placement as well a very cool team jersey and baseball cap.  In the spring, the shirts are adorned with pro ball teams, and for the fall season, college teams reign.  If there is a special request (for two pals to be on the same team, for instance) they always try to honor it.

For the first fall season opener, the helpers were players from the Hope College Girls Softball Team.  They volunteered last year as well.  Britta, pictured with Cam giving a high five found us and asked if she could be Cam's helper because she also volunteered last year and was his buddy then!  We couldn't believe she found him.  He was very happy.  The other bonus is having one of your best friends on your team.  Brody is in Cam's 4th grade class and they ride the bus together.  These two crack each other up all the time. They also share the same teacher, Ms. Kathy, one of the biggest baseball fans around. Kathy and her husband, Kevin, were in the stands for the opener, cheering on the boys.

There was more to come for our Saturday, so we took advantage of a couple hours of relaxation before heading over to Hager Park for Will's 9th birthday party.  The soccer fan had played a game that morning and was ready for his celebration.

Hager Park has a huge wooden structure with ramps and playground equipment.  After exploring all of the recreation gear, everyone gathered at the picnic tables.
Auntie Jo brought in pizza and breadsticks for all. Although we had to leave a bit early, we were happy we met up with everyone, and had a breadstick for an appetizer.

Next on our agenda was heading up north to Country Dairy, where we met Oma and Opa for a delicious dinner.  Country Dairy was established in its current location in 1983 as a milk processor and bottler.  The fourth generation general store, restaurant and Moo School attracts people from all over.  After our meal, which included free refills of self-serve chocolate milk (!), we all drove over to Stony Lake.  We were invited to a reception for Brian and Sarah who were just married.  Jane used to babysit the Stony Lake kids in the summer, and the combined families are life-long pals of ours.  It was such fun to catch up with everyone and all of the kids were so sweet to Cam.  Our son was a trooper after such a long day and evening, he even played a game of large ring toss before we departed Stony to head over to Oma and Opa's.  It was great to have a short drive to sleep for the night.

The next day provided plenty of sunshine and an inviting beach setting.  After having some time with Oma and Opa, we bid them farewell as they had reservations for a cruise around Muskegon Lake that afternoon.  After thanking them for everything (meeting us for dinner, homemade goodies, a place to sleep and the list goes on...) we then took our beach side seats.  The waves were perfect for a tour in the inflatable kayak.  Jane & Cam enjoyed the relaxing ride, while Chris paddled around Lake Michigan.
As we packed up our things, Cam looked at the lake and said "Goodbye Summer, see you next year."
Counting the days, summer, counting the days...

Camology Quotes:

Cam is still attending weekly PT appointments since his surgery recovery.  Jane found a place close to home, Center for Physical Rehabilitation, with awesome therapists.  One therapist Cam works with is a Grand Valley graduate and he had worked with Cam before in the program.  Patrick now sees Cam fairly regularly.  On this particular day, they both thought it was pretty funny that each of them wore blue pants and orange shirts!

"Cam, you are stretching really good today."
Well....it's because I'm 10! 

Change Can Only Happen If You Ask - Week of Aug.28th

“The only way that we can live, is if we grow. The only way that we can grow is if we change. The only way that we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we are exposed. And the only way that we can become exposed is if we throw ourselves out into the open.  Do it. Throw yourself.”~ C. JoyBell C.

Cameron is in the community on a daily basis.  Sometimes, we are still surprised by inaccessibility.  We also realize we only notice it due to Cam's powerchair.  Last year, we had asked Jude's Barbershop about making the sidewalk close to their entrance more accessible for a powerchair.  The access area is actually 3 stores away.  Cam's stylist, Ms. Amelia, also pressed forward with the request.  It took some time, but lo and behold, the new Jude's powerchair enabled entrance, circled in the picture.  A small thing to most, but a gigantic change for us, especially with winter around the corner.

This week marked the beginning of 4th grade for Cam!  It also the marked the first time our son had started the school year before Labor Day.  He was ready and anxious.

Cam asked to help with the garbage.
Chris rigged up a bungee cord
so Cam could haul the cans back
to the house.  Ask for change to make
it happen.

Right before school started, the district newsletter arrived with information about a new app for the busing system enabling parents to see where the bus was located, thereby knowing whether a school bus would be early or late.  Technology advances are exciting for Cam, and his parents.  We logged into the app and discovered Cam's info wasn't showing.  Cam encouraged Jane (aka- asked repeatedly) to figure out why we couldn't see the information.  After multiple calls, being transferred, and awaiting callbacks, it was discovered that since Cam uses a transportation system that isn't directly affiliated with the district (due to special needs), it was currently unavailable for us.  Since our tech savvy boy was insistent about uncovering the information, Jane wrote an email to the district advocate explaining the situation.  A prompt reply indicated that the communication should have been clearer in the newsletter and that the transportation system Cam uses would be exploring the use of the app as well.
Jane explained to Cam that although we didn't have access to the app yet, we had made others aware. Most importantly, things may not happen just because they are not working the way they should.  You can only change something if you ask for it to be changed.  On a side note, Cam's bus was 30 minutes late the very first day.  While waiting in the sprinkling rain, Cam announced to his mom, "See, this is why we need the app!"

With Friday off of school and Labor Day weekend in our sights, we headed north to visit our favorite lake.  A quick stop at the classic Dog-N-Suds was requested previously by our summer-loving son.  Cam thinks it's so cool that you order your food through a speaker by the picnic tables.  The frosty mug root beer dining establishment was hopping with activity.  Their delicious food and lakeside view make it a favorite spot.  A sweet couple offered to take our picture and when one of them guessed Cam's age as 10, he exclaimed, "how did you know?!"
We descended on Oma and Opa's right after lunch and spent the night.  Some cloudy weather in the afternoon prompted Cam to request some iPad time.

The next day, though, was picture perfect.   Our kayak made quite a few voyages over the waves.  Although they look harmless here, they seemed larger than life in the flotation raft.  Chris and his boy enjoyed the thrilling rolls over the water.

Back on the shoreline, the bakery shop was in full swing as we created delectable desserts in the sand and thought up different names for our creations.

It's always hard to believe how quickly September creeps up on us.  Although the summer is short, Michigan days like this one are glorious.

An added bonus to the weekend was a stop at the family garden on the way out of town.
Uncle Joe was insistent that we take home an array of potatoes, tomatoes and carrots.  We were more than willing.  Our uncle taught Cam how to spot the potato vines and dig the delicious vegetables right out of the ground.

Uncle Joe mentioned how good homemade salsa was with the garden tomatoes and on our way home, Cam announced we would need to make salsa upon arrival.

After a quick trip to the store for a few additional ingredients, the boys got busy and created a most tasty dip for tortilla chips!

Camology Quotes:

Cam spends a portion of his day with other 4th graders in his inclusion class.  Mrs. Kemperman is his 4th grade inclusion teacher and Ms. Kathy is still his special needs teacher.  Over the weekend, we stopped by to see the Schulze family.  Aunt Joyce asked Cam what grade he was in, which prompted the following lengthy discussion...

"Why is it that your age does not match the grade?  Why not... you are 4 years old and in 4th grade?"

A Camping We Will Go - Week of Aug. 21st

It's funny how a tradition begins and you don't even realize it until you are smack dab in the middle of it.

This was our second year trekking to Hungry Horse Campground, located in Dorr, MI, just 30 minutes south of our home.  Our stay was booked for two nights, Wednesday through Friday, and two cabins were reserved.  The cabin we stayed in last year, Tucson, has a ramp, small bathroom and mini refrigerator.  Auntie Karen and Oma were in their own cabin, Scottsdale, which included the same amenities, as well as an extra sink for doing dishes.  Our camping homes were approximately 50 yards apart and Cam enjoyed traveling between the two locales.

Upon arrival on Wednesday after unpacking, we headed to the pool. The solar-heated water was warm and inviting.  There weren't too many other kids and an added benefit for us was utilizing the pool lift to transport Cam in and out of the water easily.
After a delicious charcoal-grilled meal of burgers and hot dogs, we headed over to the office area to join in our first ever Hungry Horse hayride!
We didn't know what to expect.  Our first stop on the ride was the owner's farm where everyone had a chance to feed the horses and cows.  Cam and his mom also sat in the huge tractor tire pulling the hay wagon.  By far, the most surprising part of the venture was going over some steep hills and bumps in the trails behind the campground.  We were all taken aback by the rolling ride and our adventuresome kid could not stop laughing and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
The evening was cool and the tasty s'mores and toasty campfire warmed our insides and outsides.

Thursday morning, we awoke to rain showers.  Oma and Cam played a family favorite, Yahtzee and both of them actually rolled a fairly high score.
Chris and his son had planned a short fishing expedition and the sprinkles were not going to stop them.  It turns out the first fish Cam caught wasn't a fish at all...it was a turtle!  Since we didn't plan on turtle stew for dinner, the reptile was spared and released back to the lake.

The ladies drove into town to partake in a coffee stop.  After a delicious lunch and an afternoon movie viewing in the outdoor gazebo, the cloudy skies turned to bright sunshine and we were once again off to exploring.
New to the campground this year was the addition of pedal bikes in the shape of tractors.  For a small fee, you were able to ride around the area for 30 minutes.  Cam decided we should race and each time we went, a new leader was chosen.  Auntie Karen counted us down for takeoff.  Everyone had a turn on the bikes and the area residents of seasoned rv campers welcomed our free wheeling and cheered us on.
We realized that for once, Cam was able to see us at his own level while on his powerchair.  It may be why he didn't want to see our time expire on the fun cycles.
Besides two playgrounds, Hungry Horse also owns an inflatable jump pad. This larger than life platform feels like a buoyant trampoline.  We had a blast taking turns bouncing each other and Auntie Karen showed off her jumping skills as well.

The couple who runs the campground don't market their establishment as being accessible, but it is truly one of the most unrestricted places we've stayed.  The country feel of the atmosphere, the fellow campers, and the surrounding area have drawn us in.  Prior to checking out on Friday, we were already making our plans for summer 2018 and agreed that a three night stay would be better than two.

On Saturday, back in Grand Rapids, Cam and his dad found a perfect spot for fishing less than five minutes away.  The newly inspired fisherman is intent on catching an amphibian next time!

Camology Quotes:

Miss Amanda and Cam have enjoyed a weekly outing to Arby's for lunch.  They enjoyed the surprise of having the car in front of them purchase their meal in the drive thru.  Miss Amanda explained to Cam that it is called "Pay It Forward" when someone does that for you.  Each time we enter a drive thru, Cam happily exclaims,  
Mom, we should pay it forward! 


While helping his dad in the yard, Chris asked Cam what the name of his business should be.
Deliveryservicewagon.com.
Chris asked: "Do you have music service?"
Unfortunately, that is not available at this time, but we are working on it for the future.

Double Digits - Week of Aug. 14th

Surprise is the greatest gift which life can grant us. ~Boris Pasternak 

Has there ever been a time when you thought you knew what was going to happen, but it ended up being even better than you imagined?

It seemed as if each day held a treat this week, not necessarily to be eaten, but definitely one to be savored and enjoyed.

Cam and Amanda were chosen as professional painter assistants when Papa Ken insisted he paint our kitchen after receiving some technology help from Chris.  We now see bright blue where there once was 'boring' beige.  Lake Michigan water will surround us all year round.

On Tuesday, we welcomed 'Auntie' Leslie from North Carolina, and on Wednesday, her boyfriend, Mr. Jay from Georgia.  These two ascended for their 30th high school reunion with Jane.  They were forewarned that it was Cam's birthday week and surprises were in store.  We couldn't have guessed that they had hidden gems as well for Cam.  Auntie Leslie brought Crazy Forts, a kit of plastic rods and styrofoam inserts, an assembly for easily creating awesome forts inside the house.  The idea came from witnessing Emma and Cam enjoy many different fort creations over the years.
Mr. Jay is a master board game aficionado.  He presented Cam with the game, King of Tokyo.  It became an immediate family favorite and we were all a bit startled by Cam's ambitious, daring Tokyo plays.

Thursday was Cam's actual 10th birthday.  Our inquisitive son had guessed that he was going to Craig's Cruisers.  After all, he had asked over a month ago and yes, he remembered the request. However, he had no idea what is in store.  Our first surprise was a morning of rain, actually a downpour.  Regardless, nothing was going to damper the day.  Oma and Opa arrived shortly after 10am marking the first official bday surprise.

As we all traveled to Craig's Cruisers, Cam had no idea what awaited him.  Upon arrival, we were all given a wristband/card for 3 attractions (go-karts/bumper boats) arcade games and buffet, due to a pre-purchased birthday package.  Cam didn't realize he had a birthday package and was also unaware that 3 of his best buddies would be in attendance as well.  Brody, Emma and Liam all arrived with a parent ready to celebrate!  Brody and Cam have been at Meadow Brook together since kindergarten.  Obviously, Brody nailed the iTunes gift card for his buddy.  Maybe Cam was beyond excited in this video because he's been aggravated by endless ads on one of his favorite games.  Jane kept commenting that he would need to earn money or ask for a gift card to purchase the no-ad version.  It was a wish come true for the birthday kid.  The rain stopped outside and that meant outdoor go-karts and bumper boats became available attractions.

Oma and Opa had picked up a delicious chocolate birthday cake from our favorite bakery, Ryke's, on their way into Grand Rapids.
When you have a celebration equally fun for adults and kids, it's tough to say who enjoyed the day more.  Cam's parents were told by the majority of adults present that it was the best birthday party they've been to.  As an added bonus, each and every person in our group gave their earned "tickets" from the arcade games to Cam as an extra added bonus.

Back at home, Oma and Opa graciously spent the night and their ten-year-old grandson enjoyed opening presents from his grandparents including a national park quarter album, school clothes, books and a toy ice cream truck.  Grandma Sue sent a homemade blanket and book of puzzles.
One of Jane's good friends and colleagues sent an NYPD baseball cap and stocking hat.

You would think once one's actual birthday has passed, the festivities have as well.  However, there was one more planned and it didn't involve Cam's parents.  On Saturday, the adult crew in the household were headed to the high school reunion.  Ms. Amanda arrived to spend the evening with Cam.   She and Cam ventured over to the Woltjer family home (Amanda's boyfriend's fam) to partake in a special party given in our 10-year old's honor.  A delicious dinner, homemade chocolate cake and balloons were more than enough to blow this kid (and his parents) away!
Brooke, pictured kneeling with Cam posted this awesome tribute: celebrated this dude's 10th birthday tonight! Cam, even though we have only known you for a short time, you have become so special to us and have brought us crazy amounts of joy! 💙🚔🍫

It was a week of renewed friendships, unexpected gifts and one sweet surprise after another.
Our infinite love and thanks to you all!

Camology Quotes:

Trying to keep Cam's birthday activities quiet was a challenge, especially when the questions kept coming and coming..  
Mom, are you going to get me a cake for my birthday? 
Do you want a cake? 
Yes, you should always have cake on your birthday. It is important. You had a cake, Mom.

With Cam's ticket winnings, he was able to pick out some wonderful, cheap gifts.  He asked what the whoopee cushion was.  Jane told him it was a cushion that tooted.  Upon arrival home...
Where is my Toot Pillow?