Bring on 2023 - Week of Jan. 2nd

"What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year." ~Vern McLellan 

"And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been." ~Rainer Maria Rilke

Our New Year began with our Arizona family consisting of Grandma Sue and Layna with us until Thursday evening.  Monday was our busiest day trying to fit in multiple things.  Cam and his cousin played lots of different games together and luckily, they aren't too competitive and actually enjoy the interaction of the games.  

Everyone assisted with the removal of Christmas tree ornaments.  Layna was on her uncle's shoulders (and head) to reach the highest decorations at the very top. 

For lunch, we made our way to a newer place, Bobcat Bonnie's, to dine in their outdoor igloo we had reserved.  Each of us ordered something different and we all approved.  The heater inside the dome and blankets to use were greatly appreciated.  Plus, it was a new, unique experience for Cam's grandma and cousin.

We traveled to Ms. Amanda's home on Tuesday to say hi and to see her puppy, Otis.  Grandma Sue and Layna spent quite a bit of time with Amanda last summer and wanted to be sure to see her before they left.

On Wednesday, Cam had a scheduled haircut and his cousin wanted to come along as well.

When Thursday arrived, it seemed all too quickly that we were taking our final pictures and packing up.  

Cam and Grandma Sue have a standing picture each time they see each other now to determine how much Cam has grown.

Layna had to get in on the standing shot so we can begin checking her height progress as well.  

At the airport, there were hugs all around.  This was the very first time we could say, "see you in a few months!" 

One of our family Christmas presents we announced is for Chris, Jane and Cam to travel to Arizona in the spring to spend time with family out west.

Friday felt much too quiet in our household.

That evening, Cam and Jane rented the movie "Lyle, Lyle Crocodile" to watch since they had read the books together.

On Saturday, we were looking forward to another family Christmas present- dinner and tickets to our local minor league hockey team, The Grand Rapids Griffins.  As an added bonus, it was also the 2nd annual sensory friendly game.  

Cam has always had an aversion to very loud noises and this game promised the following: no goal horn, decreased microphone volume, decreased music volume and a quiet room if you wanted to watch the game away from the crowds altogether.  

We ate a delicious meal at a restaurant we didn't even know existed inside the arena!  Thankfully, we had made reservations because it was quite busy.  

We found our seats and settled in for the exciting view of the hockey game.  

We were all laughing at the sign depicting "Wacky Kids Cam" knowing it was showing camera shots of kids in the stands but cracking up with the play on words.

Before leaving, we stopped in the quiet room to check it out.  Not only was it quiet, but so relaxing.  Cam thought it was especially cool that you could see the game on big screen tvs as if you were right in the front row seats.

Although the Griffins didn't win the game, we definitely felt like the night was a big winner for us!

Camology Quotes:

Cam and his cousin, Layna seemed more like friendly siblings during their time spent with one another.  Jane told them they were like a brother and sister who got along really well.  When they were playing games together, they both commented.

"You're fun, Layna, and funny!"

"We're good together, forever and ever." ~Layna

Feast and Family - Week of Dec. 26th

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend." ~Melody Beattie

Due to our blizzard conditions on Christmas Eve, we had rescheduled a gathering to Monday.  The Feast of the Seven Fishes which derives from the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, celebrates the abstinence of meat until Christmas Day.  We had planned to partake in this tradition with the Haroldson/Bumphrey family and chose to still do so two days later.  There were far more than seven fishes and they were all delicious! 

On Tuesday, we said goodbye to Oma and Opa, thankful they were able to remain an extra day and most grateful for their gifts and staying with us over the holiday.  Even though the snow still blanketed the grassy areas, the roads were clear for driving.

Cam had time with Ms. Amanda for a couple of days while his parents completed some work tasks they both needed to attend to.  These two made a healthy chip dip, worked on activities and visited Amanda's pets.

Friday evening couldn't get here soon enough as we awaited the plane arrival from Arizona with Grandma Sue and granddaughter, Jalayna on board.  Their direct flight was only about 20 minutes late.  

Chris picked up his mom and niece bringing them back to a house full of hugs and excitement.  

As is typical, we attempt to pack as much fun as possible into our visits.  

Saturday was New Year's Eve and first up was an outing for Cam's cousin Layna and her Uncle Chris.  They had a reservation for tubing at our local ski slope.  The "magic carpet" escalator takes you and your tube up the hill so you can easily jump on and make your way down. Back at the house, Grandma Sue, Cam and Jane enjoyed time to catch up on life and chat.  

That evening, we decided to have a little dance party with our disco ball lighting up the room to the beat of the music.  Sparkling grape juice and snacks completed our celebration.  Although the U of M football game didn't go our way, the house was filled with giggles and screams hanging out together.

On New Year's Day, we had to keep the fun going.  Board games, puzzles and watching a movie were all on the January 1st list.  An old-time favorite is Candyland, which Layna won.  We watched the movie "Encanto" because Grandma Sue and Jane had never seen it.  The music was good and the film became a sing-a-long at one point.  After dinner, Cam, Layna and Chris bundled up to take the garbage down the long driveway for the next morning pickup.

The two cousins make each other belly laugh by a simple gesture or remark.  Even though they officially met in person just a couple of years ago, it's easy to see they'll have a lifelong friendship...most of the time (we're quite certain) filled with the best giggles!

Camology Quotes:

Sometimes a thank you is unprompted and unexpected.  There are times when Cam seems to be in tune as to when they are needed most.  When getting ready for bed one night, perhaps he noticed his parents were a bit tired from a long day of work. 

"Thank you for always helping me.  I know you have to help me more than other kids and I really appreciate it.  I want you to know that."

A Very, Very White Christmas - Week of Dec. 19th

"A balanced diet is a Christmas cookie in each hand."

The First Christmas Cookies 

Those who would like to take credit for the invention of the Christmas cookie will have to arm wrestle the Germans for it. They believe that Weihnachtsplätzchen, a term that refers specifically to cookies and broadly to holiday treats, encompasses the origin of Christmas baking. The tradition goes back to the monasteries of the middle ages where monks had access to sugar and the spices we now associate with Christmas cookies: cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and cardamom. It’s interesting that the word “cookie” comes from the Dutch word “koeptje” because the Dutch brought the first Christmas cookies to the new world in the 1600s. Four hundred years later we live in a country that can’t imagine Christmas without cookies. In fact, cookies may have become popular at this time of year because, unlike pies and cakes, they can be stored for longer periods of time. Before refrigeration, it was possible for cookies to be baked in advance and kept on hand for visitors or given away as gifts. 

Modern Christmas Cookies 

In the average American household at the beginning of the 20th century, sugar was a luxury, iceboxes were used to keep food cold, and cooking was done on coal or wood stoves. As the gas range was introduced, cookies became more sophisticated because temperatures could be precisely maintained. Refrigeration allowed for the use of chilled doughs. When the Great Depression of the 1930s ended, buttery, sugary cookies took America by storm.

In preparation for the Christmas holiday, our cousins made their way to Grand Rapids on Wednesday for some holiday baking. Coco, Libby and Coco's kids Calla and baby Arthur arrived in the afternoon.  Amanda was hanging out with Cam and ready to join in.  This was the first time Cameron met his newest cousin, Arthur.  He is very excited to have a fellow boy cousin.  After frosting sugar cookies, dipping oreos in chocolate topped with andes mints, and baking peanut butter thumbprints with hershey kisses, we declared our afternoon a success!

Everyone in our Grand Rapids area and along the surrounding lakeshore kicked their activities into high gear with a confirmed blizzard warning beginning Thursday at 4pm and lasting through Christmas Eve/Saturday at 7pm.  

We were relieved to welcome Oma and Opa early in the afternoon on Thursday.

The snow machine began and didn't show any signs of stopping.

Chris went outside to snowplow twice daily.  A barely visible owl appeared in our treeline.

Our activities for both Friday and Saturday consisted of staying inside, gathering a few presents, cooking and choosing movies to watch.  Our theatrical list included the sequel to A Christmas Story entitled "A Christmas Story Christmas" as well as National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and Noelle, a Disney movie.  Our dinner menus were comprised of salmon, flank steak and honeybaked ham.

Cam was acutely aware of the tasks needing to be accomplished on Christmas Eve- stockings to be hung, any presents still needing placement and a couple of surprises he had worked on with both of his parents individually.  He provided ongoing reminders throughout the day.

Cameron, as a 15-year-old, enjoys sleeping in on weekends and during school breaks.  Christmas morning was no exception.  Chris and Jane, along with their son, weren't awake until 8am.  Oma and Opa soon followed.  As we leisurely took our time with stockings and presents, it was joyful but serene.  The personalized gifts and experiences given were favorites.  The afternoon and evening was relaxing as we talked about the morning activities.  We all found ourselves in the living room enjoying a show.  Well, some of us (namely Opa) may have been so relaxed that the time incorporated a nap.  Even though the weather outside was truly frightful, inside our home was indeed delightful!

Camology Quotes:

As our teenager continues to figure out life, he came upon an important life lesson.  Prior to Christmas, Cam was very happy creating a personalized water cup for his mom with Chris ("Love My Mom" inscribed) and choosing an experience for his dad with Jane (Muskegon Luge lesson).  During the day on Christmas Eve, Cam said to his mom.

"I'm so excited for you and dad to open your presents.  I think I like giving more than receiving!"

Rolling into Break - Week of Dec. 12th

"I like to compare the holiday season with the way a child listens to a favorite story. The pleasure is in the familiar way the story begins, the anticipation of familiar turns it takes, the familiar moments of suspense, and the familiar climax and ending." ~Fred Rogers

This week seems to bring on the phrase "fast forward" as we realize it is only two weeks before Christmas. Cam was scheduled for three half days on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday for school.

On Tuesday, Jane received a message we'd all been anticipating- we would soon be welcoming another cousin into the world.  Our new cousin, Arthur, was born Wednesday morning and we were all super excited!

Friday evening, Jane & Chris went out to dinner while Amanda and Cam hung out together and enjoyed Culver's delicious meals and the customary dessert of ice cream custard.

As we worked to finish Christmas projects, Saturday was filled with activity.  Cam assisted both of his parents independently, keeping each of them on task. Chris and his son made chocolate covered cherries and pretzels for Chris to bring into work for a holiday luncheon. Cam helped his mom with packages to mail out to Arizona, California and the east coast.

On Sunday, we planned a trip to see Oma and Opa in Grand Haven. The decorations at Rosy Mound were so festive and they wanted us to enjoy them as well.  Cam still loves making the trip knowing that he'll be able to see them and also push every door button for entry and exit.

Oma had completed quite a bit of Christmas cookie baking so of course, everyone sampled.  We brought Cam's grandparents an early gift of an Amazon fire stick so that Chris and Cam could configure it for Oma and Opa to watch the Disney + programming.

It was easy to say goodbye this time knowing that Jane's parents are headed to Grand Rapids a few days prior to Christmas.  We were also entrusted to transport the delectable holiday cookies back to our home.  Oma appeared a bit nervous and Opa a bit sad that he wouldn't be able to sneak any more cookies for a few days.  Jane promptly put them away upon arrival as they await our family gathering. Let the willpower begin!

Camology Quotes:

On Friday evening, Chris was teasing Cam as he was getting ready for bed indicating he was certain his son had saved him some delicious frozen custard from his dessert.  Without missing a beat, Cam responded with:

"Have fun checking the freezer, Dad!"

Picturing the Story - Week of Dec. 5th

“Every picture tells a story. But sometimes it's hard to know what story is actually being told.” ~Anastasia Hollings

Without pictures, you would simply being reading words instead of seeing visuals in Cameron's blog. Steven Sasson invented the self-contained digital camera at Kodak in 1975. It weighed 8 pounds and had only 100 × 100 resolution (0.01 megapixels). The image was recorded onto a cassette tape and this process took 23 seconds. His camera took images in black-and-white and was the size of a toaster!

We recently found a picture dated 1903 of Jane's great grandmother sitting in a loveseat that was made by Jane's great great grandfather.  The loveseat is more than 120 years old!  It's been recovered and is now a favorite perch for our cat, Stella.  The original photo was scanned, uploaded to Walgreens and made into a canvas print where it is now displayed.

This week we received our Christmas cards from Shutterfly and went to work sorting, stuffing and addressing.  It is a family tradition with an assembly line concept.  

Each year, we have a mini photo shoot to use the pics in our cards. The Gaupers have taken our family pictures since 2014 and we always marvel at their ability to capture their subjects so well.  A sampling shown here is just a fraction of what they send with the release rights in addition to web size and full resolution, all digitally.

On Saturday, Chris and Jane were scheduled for two holiday parties and Ms. Ann had committed her afternoon and evening to hang out with Cam.  

In the morning, Chris and son made two loaves of homemade bread in preparation for the afternoon gathering for the Lori's Voice board of directors holiday party.  Taste-testing followed and it was approved.

After Cam's parents left the late luncheon, they picked up dinner for Cam and Ann and arrived home before 5:30p.  

Following a quick wardrobe change, they were off again for the Fishbeck holiday party. Since Chris is the IT Director, the expectation was an on-time arrival and a later stay.

While the couple had a great time chatting with everyone and eating dinner, Cam and Ann watched the Beethoven dog movies and ranked them accordingly.

Sunday, we headed northward to bring lunch to Coco, Max and Calla.  It was a chilly day but toasty warm inside looking out at Lake Michigan.  We gifted our cousins the same new ornament we added to our own tree this year.  In honor of the University of Michigan Wolverines winning the Big 10 championship and headed to the Fiesta Bowl and hopefully, the National Championship, the handmade decoration seems very fitting. Go Blue!

Camology Quotes:

In Cam's class at school, they were creating positive messages about their families and each other.  One of his classmates provided the following message: "You are great at not running us over" which made us all chuckle.  Cam wrote the following about his parents:

"Dad, you are nice!" and "Mom, you are kind and helpful."

Parading Around - Week of Nov. 28th

“Cats are unpredictable as they don't know what they're going to do next until they make it happen through nosiness, invention, acrobatics, and sheer force of will.” ~Stewart Stafford

Cam loves watching our cat, Stella.  They seem to have their own way of communicating.  The "adult kitty" as Cam sometimes refers to her, fully understands that if she wants something she should meow (incessantly) to our son which in turns leads him to ask/pester us until she is satisfied.  Stella also thoroughly enjoys the Christmas tree and being camouflaged underneath it.

On Wednesday, Chris and Jane were invited to attend the Adaptive Art Open House at the high school.  The principal, students and teachers were all in attendance.  Cam talked about his artwork and we especially liked his head vision pictures.

Thursday, Dec. 1st was Oma's birthday!  We had planned to meet Cam's grandparents at the Olive Garden restaurant in Fruitport to celebrate.  When we arrived, we were surprised to see the parking lot full at 5:15p.  Our scrumptious dinner was topped off by a free dessert for Oma.  She chose tiramisu and shared with us all.  It was Cam's first taste of the Italian classic and he really liked it.  He did ask about the taste of coffee and if it would keep him awake on a school night.  We won't disclose Cam's grandma's age, but we will say she seems ageless to us.

Friday evening, Ms. Amanda hung out with her buddy Cam while Chris and Jane enjoyed a date night at a retro arcade.  

Saturday morning was a chilly one with temperatures in the high 20's.  The brisk wind made it feel even colder.  We were expected to be a part of the Ada Village Santa Parade scheduled to commence at 11am.  Cam and his parents were lined up, holding the Brody's be Cafe spot at 10:15am.  The parade is always exciting, being a part of the festivities right in the middle of it all.  Jane and her son stopped off at the cafe to wait for Chris and thaw out a bit with some hot drinks.

Sunday afternoon, we made plans to meet up with Coco, Max and Calla at FMG. Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is a 158-acre botanical garden, art museum, and outdoor sculpture park located in Grand Rapids.  The Christmas Around the World exhibit features 46 trees and displays representing countries and cultures from across the globe. In addition to the trees, the botanical area is filled with fresh poinsettias, evergreens and amaryllis. Volunteers help decorate the trees and set up displays, including 350,000 lights inside and outside the park.  After viewing each and every display, we were all impressed and picked out our favorites.  Upon exiting, we headed to Buffalo Wild Wings for some tasty food.

As we relaxed at home that evening, Cam's dad was feeling quite tired.  He was so exhausted, in fact, that he decided to hitch a ride on the back of his son's powerchair! 

Camology Quotes:

Ms. Ann works with Cam daily as his tutor.  One of the writing assignments was to think of a food that you enjoy that some people may not have tried.  Write a persuasive paragraph in which you convince readers to try the food you have chosen.  The following was Cameron's entry:

"Fish is really delicious.  They have breaded fish, fried fish, or baked fish.  I like breaded fish the best.  I like to order perch or cod.  You can dip it in tartar sauce or ranch dressing.  The fish tastes mild.  You should try it!"

Lots of Giving - Week of Nov. 21st

"Always give without remembering and always receive without forgetting." ~Brian Tracy                                                                                           
"It is not happy people who are thankful.  It is thankful people who are happy." ~Unknown

Friendsgiving is known as a Thanksgiving celebration with one's friends. In Cam's homeroom at Northern High School, experiencing Friendsgiving is a tradition.  Monday's lunch for Cameron was a literal feast.  Everyone contributed and Cam's teacher even sent Jane an email indicating how delicious his mashed potatoes were.

Tuesday was Cam's last day of school for the week and the sunrise was most spectacular.  An afternoon substitute bus driver misunderstood Cam's request to pull up close to the driveway.  Instead, he drove our high schooler all of the way up his driveway to drop him off.  Now that's front door service!

We welcomed Oma and Opa on Wednesday afternoon and with all of the upcoming prep work for turkey day, the family opted for a Culver's dinner that evening.

Thursday morning, we got to work straight away.  Max provided our fresh organic bird earlier in the week, which he raised and 'prepped' for the big day.  Cam and Opa busied themselves with the stuffing preparation.  Oma brought her homemade cranberry relish.  After Chris carried the ~27lb bird to the oven, we all took a break.  Next up was peeling and cutting potatoes, preparing the sweet potato casserole and green beans.  Everything was in progress when Coco, Max and Calla arrived with homemade carrot soup, our first course in the upcoming meal.  We enjoyed light appetizers as all of the items baked away.

Thanksgiving for our family is a reminder of everything we are thankful for.  At the top of this list is each other.  As we gathered around the table for our literal feast, we were all marveling at the spread.  We talked about our own traditions and favorite parts of the meal.  Coco, Max and Calla were the perfect addition to our day.  Dessert, which we had to eat well after dinner, consisted of homemade apple turnovers and peanut butter bars topped with chocolate.  Everyone enjoyed ice cream to round out the options.  We bid farewell to Coco, Max and Calla and then gravitated to the living room where we watched a Disney movie, "The Pacifier."

Friday was relaxing as we tackled some indoor projects, included finishing the Christmas tree decorations.  We did enjoy turkey day leftovers and watched another Disney movie, "Freaky Friday" which was apropos.  Oma's Christmas cards were completed and ordered and we knocked another item off the list.  Jane was also happy to be wearing a holiday sweater that Oma had given to her own mother.  After all of these years, it is still in great condition and very festive.

Oma and Opa packed up Saturday morning to head back to Grand Haven.  We thanked them for all of their help and company.  

The Raisch family arrived in time for the kickoff of the big rival football game, University of Michigan vs. Ohio State.  The game took a major turn in Michigan's favor in the second half.  The final score was 45-23 and although the game didn't turn out in our friends' favor, everyone maintained their sportsmanlike conduct.

That evening, Cam's parents told him they wanted to go out to dinner to celebrate U of M winning the game!  A new Mexican restaurant, El Centenario, was now open so we opted to support local.  The meal was delicious for each of us and we're happy to have another option close by.

As we continue to partake in our leftovers, we hope each of you enjoyed your own celebrations and know that our thankfulness includes you too!

Camology Quotes:

After our authentic meal on Saturday, Cam shared a very helpful suggestion with his tutor, Ms. Ann.  One of her grandchildren is named Bexley.

"Ms. Ann, Bexley should go to El Centenario since he is learning Spanish.  He could speak it there and order his dinner in Spanish!"

Here Comes The...Snow - Week of Nov. 14th

 "There's nothing like that first snow.  Soft as a cat scruff and bleach white, so bright you can almost see your reflection in it." ~John David Anderson

Growing up in Michigan, Cameron knows the weather can change quickly.  We often talk about how local meteorologists anticipate the first big weather event of the season.  The excitement kept growing as did the expected totals of snowfall in Grand Rapids.  By mid-week, it looked as if the forecast may actually come to fruition.

Wednesday at school, Cam and his best bud Brody were fortunate to see their good friend, Mrs. Festian.  She was at the high school to see the dress rehearsal of the high school production, Shrek.

By the time school was finished on Thursday, the snow began to fall more quickly and with more purpose.  As we watched the local news that evening, schools were already closing.  A little after 11pm, Forest Hills Northern joined the others for Friday's snow day.  

Chris made it to work Friday morning, but was home by lunchtime.  For his first official snow day of November, Cam helped his mom make Oma's turkey tetrazzini recipe and we continued to see the white stuff drop from the sky.  That evening we watched the movie "Unaccompanied Minors" centered around a group of teenagers stuck in an airport on Christmas Eve due to a snowstorm... how ironic!  Cam loved all of the shenanigans and we enjoyed a good laugh.

Saturday's haircut for Cameron had to be rescheduled as the outdoor snow globe persisted in our local area.  It was impressive to witness layer after layer continue to climb.  The lawnmower Chris and his son converted into the snowblower saw plenty of action as Cam's dad cleared our driveway a few times.  The guys cooked up their famous homemade chili in the afternoon and we made cornbread to accompany the chili for dinner.  Being stuck at home was made better by choosing another movie that evening.  Cam had wanted to see "Gigi and Nate" when it arrived at theaters in September.  Since we hadn't seen it on the big screen, we found it for rental on a streaming service.  The flick is based on the true story of a quadriplegic and a capuchin monkey.  It was the first movie Cam had ever seen that depicted someone in a powerchair and using a ceiling track.  He couldn't believe it!  Throughout the viewing, Cam commented about similarities and differences.  Our conversations continued long after the movie ended.

Sunday morning, we busied ourselves peeling almost 20 potatoes, chopping them up and boiling them. Cam had signed up to make mashed potatoes for his class Friendsgiving, scheduled for Monday.

Grand Rapids/Montague: Sunday

After lunch, the snow had stopped falling and we decided our cabin fever had come to an end.  We drove to Montague and oddly enough, our 10 inches of snowfall in Grand Rapids amounted to less than 2 inches at the lakeshore.  The clear roads were welcome and after we gathered a few things at our cottage, we settled in at the Haroldsons.  Our turkey tetrazzini made the trip and our early dinner was accompanied by fresh fruit, warm bread and a salad.  Coco made the most delicious homemade peanut butter bars we had ever tasted.  The shining sun made for an impressive sunset.

We settled back into the van for our trip back to Grand Rapids since it was a school night.  During the drive, the conversation turned back to the movie once again.  We agreed it was refreshing to see the powerchair population represented.  One of our favorite quotes from "Gigi and Nate" was provided by the main character.  "We thought we were rescuing her.  The truth is, she gave us the one thing we needed most. Help."

Camology Quotes:

While eating our delicious turkey tetrazzini, Chris requested more "tetrazOnni" and Cam corrected him right away.

"It's tetrazzini, Dad.  I got you on that one!"