Wheel Run - Week of Apr. 10th

“The secret to living well and longer is this: eat half, walk double, laugh triple, and love without measure.” ~Tibetan Proverb

This was our first full week back in the swing of things.  We seemed to share the same sentiment as the deer in our backyard...feeling a bit sleepy.  Monday morning was full of lots of yawning in the Weatherford household.  A very curious deer wanted a closer look.

As the weather showed a milder side this week with climbing temperatures, the morning strolls to the end of the driveway felt a lot like Arizona to Cam and his mom.  They also commented how neat it is to see the rising sun and still peek at the moon while heading to the bus stop.

When Friday arrived, we were all ready for the weekend and relaxation.  While Cam's parents enjoyed a dinner out, Ms. Ann and her buddy finished their tutoring and had their evening meal together.  As much as we wanted to sleep in on Saturday, we couldn't linger too long.

We were on our way to the 28th Annual Wheel Run For Everyone 5k to benefit Renew Mobility where participants were encouraged to come out and walk, roll, jog, or wheel.  All the money raised supports the vital mobility equipment program. The Doctorate in Physical Therapy students at GVSU for the past 27 years have been raising to support Renew Mobility!  

Cam is an official Youth Ambassador for Renew Mobility, a local non-profit whose mission is to enhance independence through access to mobility equipment.  They've provided quite a bit of equipment to the Cameron over the years and Jane is on the board of directors.  The executive director requested that the Youth Ambassadors (Cam and Luke) ring the official starting bell for the 5k at the Grand Valley Allendale Campus.  

At exactly 9am, the Youth Ambassadors rang their bells after Ms. Coleen, the executive director, announced the beginning of the race!  Everyone was off for the 3.1 mile run/walk/jog/wheel/drive event.  It was perfect weather with a bit of sunshine, overhead clouds and mild temps in the high 60s.  GV grad students were stationed at about every half mile marker to cheer everyone on!  The milder weather this week prompted some early bloomage on campus.  The entire course was all on wide sidewalks and we told Cam it may have been the longest consecutive drive he has done yet.  After the race, sponsors had set up tables and tasty bagels were available any of the race participants.  Cameron thoroughly enjoyed a cinnamon bagel from Panera. There was also a table set up with the Renew Mobility brochures.  We thought we recognized a pretty cool kid on those cards 😉

The remainder of our weekend was a combo of indoor and outdoor projects.  The riding mower was inspected with a maintenance check completed by father and son.  They also deposited more rocks near the end of the driveway to offset the runoff that keeps happening during excessive rainfall.

One our favorite trees in the backyard showed off its blooms, which only last about a week.  While we reviewed the weekend events on Sunday, even though Cam had to wake up a bit earlier on Saturday, he declared "it was really worth it!"

Camology Quotes:

Jane and her son worked on some indoor projects over the weekend.  We sorted through some old pictures of Chris and his family and read about Grandma Sue's history that she sent us last year.  Now that Cameron is older and we've met all of Chris's siblings, the stories had more relevance.  They also sparked more interest in our son.

"Mom, can we ask Oma and Opa for old pictures and their stories? We should put them all together in a book!"

Family Far and Near - Week of Apr. 3rd

"We didn't realize we were making memories.  We just knew we were having fun." ~AA. Milne

The author of Winnie the Pooh was spot on.  The remaining two days we had in Arizona were definitely fun-filled.  I do believe, though, we all knew it would be memorable.

After the amazing breakfast buffet on Monday morning, Jane wanted to do a bit of shopping in Old Scottsdale.  Much to her surprise, Chris, Cam, Nate, Zac and Ulysses all tagged along.  As an experienced shopper, Jane only needed one store to complete her list.  After 30 minutes and asking a friendly store owner, a single location fulfilled all items.  

Late in the afternoon, we met up with John and his daughter Layna, and Grandma Sue at The Organ Stop in Mesa, Arizona. 

In 1972, the original Organ Stop Pizza restaurant premiered in Phoenix, Arizona at the corner of 7th Street and Missouri Avenue with a Wurlitzer pipe organ which was originally built for Grauman’s Hollywood Egyptian Theater. This unique concept of a pizza parlor with a pipe organ was envisioned by William P. Brown, a Phoenix real estate developer whose enthusiasm for the theater pipe organ and its music led to the creation of this landmark attraction. The phenomenal success of the Phoenix restaurant prompted plans to open another Organ Stop in Mesa. It opened in 1975 near the corner of Dobson and Southern Avenue with a Wurlitzer organ from the Denver Theater in Denver, Colorado. In the theater, the Denver instrument had 15 ranks, or sets of pipes. The instrument was totally rebuilt, and the decision was made to enlarge the organ to 23 ranks for its debut in the new Mesa Organ Stop. In its new and improved location, Organ Stop Pizza and its Mighty Wurlitzer have come to be known as the biggest and best in the world as attested to by many of the world’s finest theater organists and, more importantly, the hundreds of thousands of patrons who visit each year. There are continuing efforts to make additions and improvements to the organ, endeavoring to fine tune the instrument closer and closer to perfection. 

Following our fun at The Organ Stop, our caravan of 3 vehicles made its way up South Mountain.

South Mountain Park in Phoenix, Arizona is the largest municipal park in the United States, and one of the largest urban parks in North America and in the world. It has been designated as a Phoenix Point of Pride. The park's lookout point rises over 1000 feet above the desert floor. Beyond the roads leading to ramadas and the summit, the park features 58 miles of trails for cycling, hiking and horseback riding. It took us almost 30 minutes to drive up the mountain from its base.  We all watched the sunset together before making our way back down the mountain.

Tuesday was our busiest day yet and our last full day in Arizona.  We certainly did pack a lot in.  After breakfast, Cam and his mom and dad, along with three of his uncles and their mom ventured over to see Cam's great Grandma Mary once again.  We chatted, looked at more pictures and had a nice visit.

Our next stop was Cam's Uncle John's workplace.  He runs a treatment center in Mesa for individuals trying to better themselves in different ways.  He introduced all of us to his clients that were present and talked about how it's never too late to bring family together.  As a family, we had the honor of serving lunch to the clients.  We then dined together right there in the office.

Cam and his dad, along with Ulysses and Grandma Sue all picked up Layna at school that afternoon. We then had a bit of respite prior to heading out again. Cam's Uncle John hosts a weekly video podcast.  He is inspirational, working to help others find their meaning and their full potential.  John asked his brothers to be his guests for the podcast taping at the studio.  He also requested Jane, Cam, Layna and Grandma Sue to be in the audience.

It was a true professional setup and we were all impressed!  You can view the video podcast by clicking on this link.  Family Matters Video Podcast.  The five brothers are in full view and the audience was invited in at the close of the broadcast.  After the studio visit, we took our caravan to Portillo's for a fun, relaxing dinner.  We had to say goodbye to Layna and John that evening.  Wednesday morning, we enjoyed our last breakfast buffet with Grandma Sue, Nate, Zac and Ulysses.  Cam told his uncles and grandma how much he would miss them.  As we said our goodbyes and talked about how we would meet up again, the smiles and laughter continued for Chris and his brothers.  Our travels back home on Wednesday brought continued discussion, reliving our favorite outings and talks.  We didn't make it into our beds until almost midnight on Wednesday.

Thursday and Friday were still a part of Cam's spring break so we all enjoyed a bit of extra sleep.  Cam had a chipped tooth fixed on Friday and his parents reluctantly tried to get back into the swing of things at work.  On Saturday afternoon, we were so happy to welcome Oma and Opa!  They arrived early to spend Easter Sunday with us and were eager to hear about Arizona.  We watched "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" after our flank steak dinner.  Cam and his grandma could not stop laughing about all of the antics in the movie!  We attended church the next morning, sitting with our dear friends, the Raisch family.  Later in the afternoon, Mike and Eric arrived for Easter din.  It was fun catching up, swapping stories and eating a delicious ham meal.

We apparently brought the Phoenix weather back to Michigan as we enjoyed one of the nicest weather days for Easter.  Not only did the sun bring extra brightness and warmth, the recent memories certainly did as well!

Camology Quotes:

Cam's Uncle John always makes him laugh. Seeing him at his own workplace, though, gave Cameron a different perspective.  He was able to see how his uncle is helping others on a daily basis, providing inspiration and his own experiences.  Cam was also proud to be introduced as part of the family and after meeting Uncle John's clients, he quietly said to his mom:

"I loved seeing Uncle John's clients' faces light up when he was speaking."

Up, Up and Away - Week of Mar. 27th

"Spring is a time to find out where you are, who you are, and move toward where you are going." ~Penelope Trunk

Many of Cameron's friends travel for spring break.  Our family typically doesn't take any trips during this timeframe annually.  However, this year was different.

Before embarking on our journey, Cam completed 3 days of school, healing from a double ear infection.  By Wednesday, he was back to 100% and attended the final power soccer practice of the season.  The coach allowed each player to retain their chair guard and borrow the power soccer ball for the off-season.  Cam plans to practice in our driveway this summer to acclimate himself to the rules and strategy of moving the ball down the court to the goalie area.

The high school official spring break began on Thursday, March 30.  We left our home at 7:30am to travel to the Detroit Metro Airport, approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes from our location.  We arrived in plenty of time for our 1pm departure.  Traveling with Cam's power wheelchair produces a bit of anxiety.  The 450lb chair is driven by an airline luggage representative who brings it to the underbelly of the plane for transport.  

Even though we had pre-checked our luggage, we were required to check in prior to security to review Cam's power chair information.  The Delta team was quite impressed we had pre-filled our paperwork and laminated it.  Shadon assisted us and loved chatting with Cam.  She asked if he could be featured in Delta's internal blog!  She mentioned they had recently completed a new training program for wheelchair transport.

The plane ride was 4 hours, 22 minutes long and Cam was an absolute champ.  This trip was extra special for us all.  We were headed to Phoenix, Arizona to see all 4 of Chris's brothers and family in the Scottsdale area.  Cam and his mom had never even met some of his siblings.  On Thursday evening, we finally made it to our hotel.  We were greeted by Chris's mom (Suzanne), his eldest brother, John with John's daughter Layna, and their youngest brother, Ulysses.

The fun began on Friday morning when we met at the hotel breakfast buffet, a literal feast.  We ate at Jason's Deli for lunch where Suzanne's sister, Debbie, joined us.  Our dinner out was to The Angry Crab Shack and we all enjoyed some type of fish dinner.  Bibs were passed out to each of us and no one was hungry when we left.

That evening, back at our hotel, we enjoyed catching up with Cam's Uncle John and Uncle Ulysses. Although Cam knows Uncle John since he's visited us a few times in Michigan, it was the first time he met Ulysses.

Saturday morning was relaxing and we were adjusting to the 3 hour time difference.  Early in the afternoon, we ventured to the McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park with Uncle John, Layna and Uncle Ulysses.  The park has an interesting history.
In 1967, the Fowler McCormick’s donated 100 acres of McCormick Ranch to the City of Scottsdale stipulating that it be used as a park for all to enjoy. At that time the land value was $1 million. Their hope was that the gift would encourage others to give as well as to make Scottsdale a better place to live for succeeding generations. The original location of the park was to be on 50 acres on the west side of Scottsdale Road. Complaints arose from the town of Paradise Valley so, to avoid difficulty, it was agreed to move across the street, wholly within, Scottsdale city limits. The land size of the park was cut from 50 to 30 acres. In 1971 Guy Stillman chartered the Scottsdale Railroad & Mechanical Society as part of the agreement with the city of Scottsdale to establish a Railroad Park on the donated land. The original purpose of the Society was to provide technical expertise to the McCormick Railroad Park. Later that year, Guy began to move his Paradise & Pacific steam railroad to the park land, donating two narrow gauge 5/12 scale locomotives. Residents celebrated the grand opening of the city of Scottsdale’s McCormick Railroad Park on Saturday, October 4, 1975 with free train rides, games, music and a Wild West Shootout. The facilities were a “bare minimum” and the one mile of track had been supplied by donations and laid by volunteers. The highlight of the event was a ride on the Paradise & Pacific Railroad. At the time of opening, approximately $1.25 million had been invested in the park and its facilities. Over the last 40 years the park has evolved into one of the most popular attractions in Scottsdale, with approximately 1 million visitors a year.

We all embarked on the Paradise & Pacific Railroad where we sat on top of the train for a tour around the park.  We were so excited Cam could ride too since they had wheelchair access.  Layna and Jane took a ride on the carousel.

Later that day, Chris's brother, Nate arrived from his Washington flight.  Cam and Jane had never met Nate and he is a younger brother to Chris by 2 years.  It had been more than 20 years since Cam's dad and his brother had seen each other.  We all settled in catching up on the past.  Dinner that evening was at our hotel restaurant.  Nate's arrival was unknown to Chris's mom, Sue and also to Chris's grandma, Mary.  The surprise was unbelievable.  Between the joyful screams and tears, everyone settled in for our meal.  That evening, we gathered in our spot to chat some more, getting to know Cam's Uncle Nate.

Sunday morning brought the next surprise, Chris's brother, Zac.  Zac is 8 years younger than Chris and they also hadn't seen each other for 20+ years.  Once again, John orchestrated the surprise for their mom.  At the hotel breakfast, Sue couldn't believe her eyes and the tears and hugs followed.  As we got to know Zac, it became apparent that all of the brothers had common traits.  

After the morning meal, we went to the gravesite of Sue's brother, Doug.  Chris and his brothers all looked up to their Uncle Doug and he passed away unexpectedly in 2005 and John was the only one of the nephews in attendance at his funeral.  Chris's grandma Mary lives just a few miles away.  We were able to witness the surprise one last time when Zac and his grandmother saw each other after many years.  The early afternoon was spent looking at old photographs and listening to the brothers relive memories.  That evening we ate the biggest Chinese buffet we had ever seen.  Afterward, we ventured over to the mountains to catch the last bit of the sunset.  It was the end of a memorable and the beginning of more memories.

Camology Quotes:

Cam is a great travel companion since he meticulously checks and remembers every aspect of the journey.  We also refer to him as a safety supervisor. While on the Arizona freeway in our rental van, he was acutely aware of the higher rate of speed and the additional number of lanes.

"Dad, I think I need all of the seatbelts available in this vehicle.  We are going fast!"

Bring on Spring - Week of Mar. 20th

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome." ~Anne Bradstreet 

"In the Spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours."  ~Mark Twain

With the official start of Spring this week, we also seemed to encounter the official start of sickness for Cameron.  When he arrived home Tuesday from school indicating that his ear felt stuffy, Jane took him to the doc the next morning.  

After the official diagnosis of a double ear infection, Cam was home for the day.  The last two days of the week were a bit of a struggle, battling a cough and runny nose.  

He was able to try out a new rear view mirror attached to his power chair to see if it could be functional for him driving in the hallways at school.

Friday evening, Ms. Amanda arrived with a Chipotle dinner for Cam.  Chris and Jane ventured out to have their own dining experience and a grocery store run.

Saturday brought some of the weirdest spring weather ever.  In the morning, it began raining, then hailing, then freezing rain and finally, large white flakes of snow descended upon us.  Luckily, the snow didn't stick around and we were still able to head out to JT's for dinner, less than 5 minutes from our house.  We met Ms. Ann and most of her family there to partake in their famous cod (fish and chips) dinner.  They only serve it until Easter and they use a homemade batter.  We had a great time catching up with Molly and Ella, Christopher, Zach and of course, Ann.

Sunshine accompanied our drive to see Oma and Opa on Sunday.  We met them for brunch at 11:30am. It was busy but we were seated right away.  After waiting over an hour for our food, Opa asked the waitress to check.  Once she walked away, Cam looked at Opa and said "Thank for asking her, Opa!"  After dining, we went back to Rosy Mound where we worked on a few tasks.  One of them was helping Oma sort through some paperwork to determine what could be thrown away.  As she was making good progress, Cam piped in and said "Wow Oma, you're really doing a great job!"  We are thinking that perhaps Cameron should be for hire... "Do you need someone to cheer you up?  Be on your side?  Show encouragement?  Keep you going? Feeling like you're in a jam?  Just call on Cam!"

Camology Quotes:

Cam loves helping his dad with computer projects. Chris was telling him about new employees starting and making sure he had everything ready.  Lucky for the IT Director, his son is always on the lookout and thinking ahead. 

"Dad, you'd better check the Monday we are gone."

The Planner - Week of Mar. 13th

"Failing to plan is planning to fail." ~Alan Lakein

Cameron’s mom is a planner. Her son seems to be have inherited this trait and elevated it. For the first time in a few years, our family will be boarding a plane in less than a month. Like most trips, reservations are made in advance. Following that, the most common course of action is to simply wait until the time of departure. According to Cam though, it is imperative to double-check all aspects by actually calling to confirm. As Jane has explained, a confirmation number assigned to the reservation is always provided. However, this isn’t good enough for an experienced voyager like Cam.  He and Jane first called the hotel.  Sure enough, there were a few missing details regarding requests that were inputted.  The person we talked to also recommended calling the morning of our trip just to double check.  The next discussion with the handicap van rental also proved beneficial.  We knew exactly where to be located for our pickup and reviewed arrival times.  Next week is our final confirmation call with the airline, Delta.

With all of the travel discussions, Jane was the one scheduled to take flight this week.  A one-night stay in Florida for her job was on the docket.  Although it meant missing Cam's power soccer practice, his dad captured plenty of pictures.

We weren't certain if a power guard for Cam's chair would be available to use, but one of the soccer Dad's picked it up from another location and brought it to the Y.  Cameron wasn't apprehensive and accepted the challenge of trying to play.  Although he doesn't know all of the rules yet, he said he really liked it and can't wait for the next practice.

Friday evening, Cam and Ms. Amanda had hang out time before a winter weather advisory began late that evening.  

On Saturday morning, it looked like a snowstorm outside!  Chris and his son had haircuts scheduled for after lunch and they braved the freezing temps and blowing white stuff.  After successfully making it home and up the driveway, we settled in to watch the Disney remake of "Lady and the Tramp."

Sunday brought sunshine and melting snow.  After indoor projects were completed, we all headed outside for some fresh air.  It may be tempting fate, but we decided it was time to remove the snowplow stakes that Chris and Cam place on our driveway prior to the winter season.  With the official start of spring next week, we certainly hope we have seen the last of the falling flakes!

Camology Quotes:

An email from Cameron's teacher arrived on Jane's traveling home day:   One quick story about Cam this morning: Megan and I were out of the building yesterday for a training, so this morning as kids were coming into the classroom, I had said good morning to about four other students with barely a "hello" or "good morning" response from them, then Cam came in and said "good morning, how was your day yesterday" to me! I was so pleased since the others didn't even really respond to me at all! Great job to Cam. He's always so polite. :)

Cam's teacher also relayed this story to him the next day and he told his parents at dinner Thursday evening.

"That makes me feel good to know I made someone happy!"

It's a Surprise - Week of Mar. 6th

“Would you like to know your future? If your answer is yes, think again. Not knowing is the greatest life motivator. So enjoy, endure, survive each moment as it comes to you in its proper sequence -- a surprise.” ~Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration

This week was full of surprises in different ways.  Wildlife appeared in the evening and during the day.  A wandering skunk surprised Chris when he and Cam were trying to adjust the outside lights.  The deer have been visiting more, seemingly curious to find morsels hidden in the ground.  Stella continues to be a part of Jane's work day very intrigued by each meeting she attends.

Tuesday's schedule at Cam's school included special basketball games honoring a former student from Northern.  Cam was given the task of passing out programs to everyone who came to watch.  

Much to his amazement, he greeted many of his former teachers, Ms. Kathy, Mrs. Wells, Mrs. C. (aka Ms. Konkle) and Brody's parents.  Jane stopped in to see her son at work, but couldn't stay long due to her own schedule.  

Another spectator is one of Cameron's favorite people, Ms. Rachel, the executive director of Brody's Be Cafe.  Cam plans to work at the cafe this summer and Rachel has been an advocate of his future employment for a few years now.

Another unexpected development came Thursday evening while we were all sleeping.  At 5:11am we received the text message indicating Cam's school would be closed on Friday due to inclement weather.  Almost 8 inches of the white stuff blanketed our area overnight!  Although Cam is not a fan of snow days, he always makes the best of it.  He split the day helping his parents and by lunchtime, the roadways were clear.

Ms. Ann arrived before 4pm for Cameron's tutoring session.  She knew something was "up" for that evening, but did not know exactly what the plan was.  At 5pm, Cam and his parents entered their van and Ms. Ann was instructed to follow in her vehicle.  In just a few minutes time, we arrived at "Ever Play Cafe" which is in between a few shops and eateries.  Ms. Ann was very confused since she had never been there before.  She said "I know that restaurant is closed and I'm not getting my shoes repaired so what are we doing here?"  As we escorted her into the Cafe, she burst into tears being greeted by her family and close friends for her surprise birthday party!  The private party rental was set up by her adult children complete with catering and dessert.  We had fun reconnecting with everyone.  Ann was presented with a collection of thoughts and pictures about her which her daughter, Katherine (a former nanny of Cam's) had organized.  The two-hour party reservation was over much quickly.

Saturday morning, our dear family friends reached out asking if we wanted to meet for a late breakfast/early lunch at The Gathering Place.  One of their daughters and our buddy, Emma, had recently started working there.  We were excited to have yet one more surprise in our week.  When we arrived at the restaurant with Emma's mom and one of her sisters, her smile and reaction was a memorable one.  It was one of the longest lunches ever for Cameron, but he was happy to hang out chatting and catching up.

In a week full of the unexpected, it was no surprise to move the clocks ahead Saturday night for daylight saving time.  We all felt just a bit sleepier Sunday morning.

Camology Quotes:

Friday afternoon, Cam was in planning mode.  During his tutoring session, he was keeping an eye on the clock knowing that his dad needed to get home in time for Ms. Ann's surprise.  When Jane walked upstairs from her office, he immediately asked:

"Mom, do you need me to text your husband for you?"

The Power of Soccer - Week of Feb. 27th

“My disability exists not because I use a wheelchair, but because the broader environment isn’t accessible." ~Stella Young

Cam is typically willing to try something new.  Most Wednesdays, Mary Free Bed has power soccer practice at the local Mary Free Bed YMCA, just a few minutes from our house.  We wanted to learn a bit more about how power soccer came to be, so we researched its inception.

• 
  During the 1970’s, some imaginative teachers in France created a form of football (known as soccer in the U.S.) suited to the abilities of students with severe physical disabilities who used power wheelchairs. 
• In 1982, some energetic Canadian power chair users developed another form of Powerchair Football which they called "motor" soccer (later called power soccer in the US) which followed the rules of able-bodied soccer and applies the strategies of able-bodied rugby and basketball. 
• In 1988, power soccer was imported to the USA by a disabled sports program founded by university students in Berkeley, California. During these early years, the various forms of Powerchair football were played with most of the countries being unaware of each other’s endeavors. 
• In 2004, a US Power Soccer coach, David Ruelas, visited Belgium on vacation and discovered the European form of the game. He then made contact with Herve Delattre, the Director of Powerchair Football in France. Their subsequent discussions, led to the idea of developing Powerchair Football into an international sport. 
• In January 2005, 24 representatives from seven countries (France, US, Canada, Japan, England, Belgium and Portugal) met in Le Chesnay, France and laid the groundwork for the formation of the International Powerchair Football Association (IPFA). 
• In July 2006, teams from Canada, Denmark, England, France, Japan and the US, as well as delegates from Portugal, Turkey and South Korea, met in Atlanta, GA, USA. While the teams engaged in many practice sessions and a test tournament to fine tune the proposed laws, other delegates worked on a constitution and elected the organization’s first officers. At the end of these meetings the standardized Laws of the Game were adopted, the constitution was ratified, the name was changed and the international governing body, the Federation International Powerchair Football Association (FIPFA) was formally established with headquarters in Paris, France. Over the next several years, many powerchair associations formed around the world and the number of teams competing within FIPFA worldwide is estimated at over 250.
• In August 2006, United States Power Soccer Association, (USPSA) was born. The USPSA became a legal entity in October 2006 and was granted 501 (c ) 3 non profit status February 2007. 
• The USPSA is headquartered in Carmel, Indiana.

 After trying out the specially designed soccer power chair, Cam couldn't believe how fast it spun around.  He also decided it may be easier if he would be able to drive his own personal chair with an attached guard.  We are hoping to try that route for him at the next practice.

On Thursday, we welcomed our longtime friend, Amanda and her sweet daughter, Sally for the evening.  They were seeing a concert in Grand Rapids and arrived in the afternoon.  It turns out Cam and Sally share similar tastes in favorite foods and they were both quite delighted by their chicken tenders dinner. 

We had made plans to visit Oma and Opa after lunchtime on Saturday.  The start to our journey was a bit later than expected, but we still arrived by 3pm.  Every time we take the exit off the highway, Cameron lets out a big cheer knowing we are getting closer to his grandparents cool apartment.  After visiting and completing a few small projects, we made our way out to dinner.  Don Luis Mexican restaurant was our destination and none of us had ever eaten there.  We were not disappointed by our fajita dinners, quesadilla and grilled shrimp.   

We can always count on Cam to ask the same question after visiting Oma and Opa... "When are we going to see them next?"

Camology Quotes:

Each morning, if we are able to see the sun, the sunrise looks pretty spectacular from our front door.  On the weekend, we truly can enjoy its beauty and re-energize and rejuvenate.  Cam always sees it as a time for his parents to cross something off of the list.

"Mom and Dad, when are we going to start our taxes?  We need to get them done!"

Snow Daze - Week of Feb. 20th

"A snow day literally and figuratively falls from the sky, unbidden, and seems like a thing of wonder." ~Susan Orlean

Monday was a day off for Cam due to his mid-winter break.  He was back in school on Tuesday and then Tuesday evening, the local meteorologists indicated a winter storm warning would be in effect beginning at 10am on Wednesday.  From one day to the next was a dramatic weather change.  Out of caution, all of the local schools were closed on Wednesday.  Then, Thursday ice, freezing rain and snow was in the forecast along with another storm warning, so once again, the local education system shut down for the day.  It was a rare occasion that for both Wednesday and Thursday, the closure announcement came before Cam was asleep both nights.  Catching some extra zzz's was a bonus for us all.  

However, since both Chris and Jane are set up as remote workers, neither of them had any breaks.  While Cam worked on keeping himself busy, his desk was moved out to the living room.  He would've rather been in school, but we all made the best of it.

Friday was a full day of school and we had an outing planned that early evening.  Fish and chips is now a weekly special at one of our local favorite restaurants, JT's, but only during Lent.

The history of the fish fry dates back to the 1800s.

German and Polish Catholic immigrants settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the 1860s and began the tradition of the Friday fish fry. During Lent, they didn’t eat meat on Fridays, instead eating the fish they caught in Lake Michigan. From 1920 to 1933, Prohibition prevented taverns from selling alcohol. To keep customers coming to their businesses, Midwestern tavern owners sold meals of fried fish. Supper clubs rose in popularity during the mid-1900s, and their Friday fish fries became a tradition for many Midwesterners.

Ms. Ann, Katherine & Paul, Bexley and Sophia all met us at JT's for dinner.  Cam has declared that their homemade batter on the cod is the best in all of Grand Rapids!  

Saturday was consumed with home projects and having our longtime friends, Steve, Patti and Emma for dinner.  Burgers, homemade french fries and veggies were on the menu.  We committed to try to gather together more often.

In the early afternoon on Sunday, we headed northward to visit Coco, Max and the kiddos.  We hadn't seen them in a few weeks and they already looked different.  While Calla helped make brownies, she took on the expert position of batter taster.  Cam and Arthur looked quizzically at each other and we all had fun catching up and chatting.  After dinner and quite a few brownies, the sun was already setting.

We said our goodbyes with the promise of hanging out again very soon.  The beach looked inviting, but will be even more so once that snow finishes melting away.

Camology Quotes:

Chris sometimes acts more like a kid than his son, which we all appreciate and laugh about.  One evening, Chris was spinning Cam around while he was in transit in his ceiling track lift.  Cam "jokingly" laid down the law for his dad as it related to the spinning antics...

"Not at bed and not when I first wake up, Dad.  I need to set some boundaries for you!"