Santa Success

Never doubt the popularity of a Santa shack in a small town.  This was my take away after braving a 30 minute line to see the big man in downtown Grand Haven.  At least I know people under the age of 70 do live in this town.  I thought about aborting the Santa mission after 10 minutes of standing in line with no gloves . . . (maybe Santa will bring me some?) but then I remembered Fisher was in a bow tie.  You can't pass up an opportunity to photograph your child in a plaid bow tie at Christmastime in a Santa shack put on by the local kiwanis. 

It was a perfect Christmas memory . . . for me.  Fisher clearly had no idea what was going on.

Fisher and Jane's first visit to Santa

Christmas Cheer

Totally posed, but totally cute.

Why does my mom make me do such crazy things?

On second thought I like being a baby in the ornament bin

Christmas Card Rejects

Rejected Christmas card photos 2011. 

'Tis the Season

My mother-in-law sent an email asking if she could skip the Christmas tree this year.  I *tried* to politely let her know this was not okay.  A lovely, lit, decorated tree currently sits in her great room.  (You are thinking, thankfully I don't have a high maintenance daughter-in-law like that).

My mom thought a 8 foot tree would really be big enough in her new family room.  I *not* so politely told her this was really too small.  We are going to pick out a 11-13 foot tree next week. (You are now thinking it might be better to have a high maintenance daughter-in-law than daughter . . . )

This is the extent of my Christmas decorating this year:

I just found this candle for $3 less than I paid online while looking for this pic- the beauty of shopping local.  

It doesn't even smell good, but I felt like I had to buy something from Sue at the Scent shop on Grand Haven's main drag because she was so nice. No stockings, or lights, trees or nativities in our house this year.  The movers brought all boxes marked Christmas (of which there are 5) directly to the basement. 

It's okay you can call me hypocritical.  Glad I can count on my family to bring the Christmas cheer and generally deal with my not so practical demands.

'Tis the season

Where have all the foreign cars gone? First impressions of Grand Haven

I have now been a resident of Grand Haven for 7 days.  During this week I have yet to see another Lexus automobile.  I have been actively looking.  Seriously not one. This is a good thing as so many people in Dallas had my exact car I would often try to enter the wrong one grocery bags in hand.  Here I am unique. . .

My other first impressions about my new hometown:

• It feels much grittier than Texas.  Everything in Texas is sunny, clean and well dressed (at least in Dallas). Here things are grey, roads and bridges look like they might fall apart mid-crossing and I saw a cute twenty-something  girl wearing grey heeled Mary Jane shoes with white tube socks. 
• This is not a suburb, it is a small town.  They write country songs about places like this.  There is even a factory blowing smoke visible from downtown. 
• Nick no longer works at the office.  Instead he is off to "the plant" in the morning.  
• There is a boutique paper store on the main street.  I haven't been in yet, but it looks decent.  I am going to have to get used to shopping local- driving 1 hour to Buy Buy Baby yesterday was not fun.  This is a very good thing in my book.  You even buy your organic local milk in glass jars at the local bakery- for $11.50!  This price is steep when you go through 1-2 gallons of milk a week, might have to stick with Horizon Organics from Meijer. 
• Speaking of Meijer- Nick is thrilled.  He demanded that I shop exclusively there because "thats what my mom always did."  I associate Meijer with midnight college runs to pick up lofthouse cookies and Love Actually. . . don't ask. 
• People are unbelievably friendly and overwhelmingly white.  (Is that a controversial statement for this blog?)
• Our house is really, really small but indeed more updated than our last place.  The movers told me "you must have moved from a huge kitchen, I have never seen someone with so many kitchen boxes".  I told him I like plates, glassware and serving pieces. . . a lot.  He looked confused.
• In a weird way it feels more like home than Texas ever did.  I guess I sorta like the grey sky, no sun until June atmosphere
• Bring on the skiing!

Fisher our first night in town

A Quesa-D-YA Farewell

One of my biggest regrets about leaving Texas?  I won't see the below little ones grow up every day.  This and the plethora of Mexican restaurants.  Yum Queso.

 

Emory (the oldest), Conner, Campbell, Greyson, Fisher

When we moved to Texas Courtney (mother of Campbell- orange dress), was really my first friend.  I have learned when moving to a new place finding one person in the know who can tolerate you and introduce you around is key.  (Note to self: I need to find this person in Grand Haven.)  Through Courtney other friends followed, among them Catherine and Carolyn. When we met 3 years ago none of us had kids- now there are 5 mini people calling us mom.  Well Fisher and Greyson don't talk yet. . .but you get the point.  It was a pleasure watching these kids grow from day 1.  I will miss them more than anything else in Texas.  If nothing else they taught me that kids aren't that scary.  Fisher should thank them for this too.

Greyson and Fisher.  Greyson is 1 month older than Fisher.  Here it kind of looks like he could eat him.  Maybe they will be college roommates at UT?

Courtney, Me, Carolyn.  Unfortunately I am not much skinnier than this now. . .ugg

Nothing like a 75 degree day in late November. 

Grandma Jann

Thanks Jann for coming to play with Fisher!  We had a great time.  Fisher learned quickly that Grandma's are the best. 

Jann enjoys a snuggle with both the love objects

Tis {almost} the Season: Open House Invites

As if we didn't have enough going on the last couple of weeks (although you would never know it from my blog, 9 posts already this month? If only there were other things I could do one handed while feeding little man) during my mom's first visit we made invitations for her holiday open house.

The sketch on top of their new house was done using the last unpacked pens in my house and we lined the envelopes using Cavallini vintage Christmas paper ordered from Paper Source.  Mom couldn't believe how easy it is to line envelopes.  I warned her it is addicting. . . when she returned home to Chicago she proudly told me that she purchased her own tape runner.  This made me {very} happy.

Her last holiday party invites were sent out on 8.5x11 copy paper complete with a black Sharpie scribble through the incorrectly listed event date and a new correct date handwritten over the top.  Serious paper nightmare. Glad we are improving every year.

Power to the People

Fisher demonstrating his favorite pose.

We may have a future leader of Occupy Wall Street 2031 on our hands.  His father would have a minor heart attack. 

Power to the people.

House Hunters: Grand Haven

Finding a suitable place to Grand Haven has been a serious nightmare.  I scour Craigslist and the Grand Haven Tribune every day, needless to say there are very few (read this as zero) listings for a 3 bedroom/2 bath house, with a yard and within walking distance of town no matter how much money we are willing to spend.  This appears to be the holy grail of listings for the area.  It wasn't this hard to find an apartment in NYC. . . seriously.  Two realtors, a favor from an architect family friend and several tears later we have submitted an application on a place.  What did the couple relocating from Dallas choose?

Option 1:  Big house, bad location

Option 1 is a 4 bedroom, 2 bath new construction house in a subdivision in Spring Lake.  There is plenty of space for guests and an updated kitchen, but the beach and town are a 15-20 minute drive away.  Jane fears living on a cul de sac in the country might be a little scary, however the appeal of working appliances and room for crafts is hard to resist.

Option 1 lacks character

Option 2: Small house, great location

Option 2 is a 3 bedroom, 1 bath "updated" house in downtown Grand Haven close to shops and entertainment.  At 1050 square feet size is a definite problem, as is general lack of curb appeal and closets.  However, there is a nice yard for Lola and rent is well under budget.

Option 2 maybe too much character

Option 3: Hotel, motel Holiday Inn

Option 3 Nick moves his family into his hotel room at the Holiday Inn which he has been occupying for the last several weeks.  Hey at least it's waterfront. . .

Crazy Town

If you are one of the 10+ voicemails on my phone I apologize.  My email response time is averaging 7-10 days as opposed to the usual 1-10 minutes.  I am currently living in crazy town.

• My husband is working in Michigan and commuting home on the weekends
• He closed his first independent deal the same day Fisher was born . . . awesome timing (but yes I am super proud of you Nick!)
• The deal means we are moving to Grand Haven, Michigan ASAP
• I am caring for a newborn and trying to simultaneously pack up our house, say goodbye to friends, and find a place to live in Michigan . . . alone (well the grandmas have been in town to help)
• Our current place is filled with boxes.  They are also "showing" it for rental.  Apologies to the people who came today and had to witness a breakfast for lunch, non showered disaster
• The moving truck is scheduled to come the day after Thanksgiving, our stuff has no where to go
• We can't find a place to live that is suitable in Grand Haven
• I had to resign from work/tie up loose ends with former employer
• Fisher refuses to be anywhere but in my arms.  So much for all the fancy toys/chairs/swings.  This makes packing (doing anything but watching TV)  even more of a challenge
• My dog is depressed. Seriously.  It is so sad.

In January when I am snowed in, with nothing to do in a new city, with no friends, I am sure I will look back on this time fondly.  Right now I pretty much just want to cry.

My all time favorite sign

The Man Behind the Name

Naming a child is hard.  Nick and I didn't want to make the same mistake we made with Lola.  Have you ever said Lola Lardo out loud?  It's a rather ridiculous name.  Hopefully we fared better with Jack Fisher Lardo.

Since high school I wanted to name my first son Jack Fisher after my paternal grandfather.  Growing up Grandpa Jack was my all-time favorite guy.  He was a mid-western Grandpa in the most traditional of senses- firm yet affectionate, generous but not indulgent.  To me he was everything a Grandpa was supposed to be.  He died when I was a sophomore in high school and I still miss him every day. 

Grandpa Jack was born and raised in the Palmer Woods area of Detroit (and no we are not related to that other "Fisher" family of Palmer Woods, although that would be nice).  He moved to Ohio as an adult, but maintained a love for the state of Michigan, particularly the Detroit Lions and Harbor Springs in summer time.  His collegiate flag was more of the scarlet and grey variety than maize and blue, I can overlook this one {major} character flaw.

Growing up his visits were highly anticipated.  He would bring us to the toy store and let us pick any toy we liked (although there was heavy lobbying for the guys to always get a yellow Tonka truck) and he would take Alison and me to JCPenney to buy matching dresses for the holidays.  Despite it's less than steller fashion selections I will never hate this store.  Fond memories are stronger than polyester blends. 

Mostly I liked having him around because of his laugh.  He seemed to genuinely love spending time with his grandkids.  As a 0-16 year old nothing is better than having an adult deem you worthy of his or her time.  Everyone should have a grandpa like Jack.

He wasn't only amazing to his grandchildren.  He loved his wife Jane (the original- here you were thinking I was the original Jane Fisher, but in fact I am only a copy) and was a hard worker.  His basement was filled with deal toys from years in sales.  Growing up I found these very impressive.  Occasionally he let us take a deal toy home from the basement collection.  This was so cool.  I mean what 10 year old doesn't want a plaque from Sara Lee for excellence in sales 1973?  And on that note, Sara Lee butter crumb coffee cake was always served for breakfast.  He was nothing if not loyal. 

He taught me super important life lessons like a lady should always wear a skirt.  I own one pair of dress pants.  I think I wore them once in 2009.  For his funeral I purchased a black leather skirt.  A staple in my wardrobe ever since.  Black leather skirts always make me think of him.  Funny because I am pretty sure he was not a black leather skirt kind of guy.  He probably would have told me I looked lovely anyways.  He was that type of guy.

He was the kind of guy to have a fridge in the garage stocked with every kind of soda.  Coke, Diet Coke, Sunkist, 7 UP, Vernors, Fresca . . .  After his death the garage fridge was one of my first stops.  It was basically empty.  I cried.  He was really gone.

It is my prayer that our son share more than just a name with Grandpa Jack, may he also be blessed with yellow Tonka trucks, a full fridge and Sara Lee coffee cake.

Jack Fisher on his 75th birthday

J. Fisher Lardo celebrating Veteran's day in his camo.  Grandpa Jack served in the army, "guarding" the Panama Canal during WWII.  Yes I realize Panama was not a hotbed of WWII activity.

I Dream of Tablescapes

I dream of having a set of china for every month.  A dear relative who shall remain nameless to protect the innocent has 12 different china patterns that she cycles throughout the year.  Each china pattern reflects the month in some way- April is floral, December is Christmas etc.  She keeps them in her basement and swaps them out on the first of the month.  I love this.  One day this will be me.  Some dream of saving the world, I dream in china.  I know this is embarassing.

Going through old photos this morning I came across the following tablescapes from the last couple of years.  I tend to follow a few general rules.

1.) Everyone needs a placecard and a seat, menus are a nice plus
2.) Think in layers of texture and color
3.) Even if you are not going to use the knife or the fork- it is always best to create a full place setting including all utensils, wine glass and water glass.  This is why we have dishwashers.
4.) Grocery store flowers are the best- just don't tell anyone
5.) You can never have too many candles
6.) A glass of champagne or prosecco to begin the evening sets a festive tone and takes the edge off of the hostess

 .

Lonestar Lobsterbake

Christmas- yes should have ironed the tablecloth. . .oh well

Seriously whats not to love about a grocery store bouquet

Casual Sunday dinner with friends, the placemats are actually dish towels

Ladies only engagement dinner.  This was a non drinking church group- hence the single glass

Twilight dinner and a movie party

Thanksgiving.  I love incorporating fruit and unexpected flowers

Can you tell I love hydrangeas?

Mother's night out party, I often use Christmas ornaments at each setting.  Nice little take away

Thanksgiving #2.  Not my favorite, the flowers were too dramatic.

I loved these menus, combining handwriting and type.

Birthday Wishes

Fisher is super lucky to have an aunt like my sister Alison.  I hope he grows up to be as smart, successful, positive and interesting as her.  Happy Birthday Alison, we all love you. 

7 Days in 7 pictures

Happy 1 week birthday Fisher! 

Monday

You make it through labor & delivery perfectly healthy. 

The classic baby in bin shot

Tuesday

The hospital is rough.  Good thing we have dad to keep us company.  The nurses use words to describe you like exceptionally aggressive and uncharacteristically strong.  I would be grumpy if I didn't know how to eat too.  No worries.

 

Wednesday

Gram Weze arrives!  Everyone breathes a collective sigh of relief.

Weze & Fisher's first photo

Thursday

Our household is currently all about the multi-tasking.

Shiner, computer, baby, remote = happy Nick

Friday

I know, I know not eating is really tough.  For everyone. 

Feed me mom!

Saturday

Fisher's first football Saturday and another Michigan loss.  Let's hope they win another national championship in his lifetime.

Sporting his Michigan colors

Sunday

Today Fisher learned to eat.  This is a big deal for everyone's sanity.

Fat(ter) & Happy(ier)

 

Camera Practice

Saturday the 29th was beautiful in Dallas.  Nick and I took Lola to the dog park at White Rock Lake and went for a short walk for camera practice before the big day.  We didn't know when Fisher would be arriving, but something about this afternoon on this crisp, fall day felt special and I will always remember it fondly.  Here are our last photos as a party of two+ one scruffy dog.