Taken for a Ride

Santa House 2012

Merry Christmas!  Since you've been fretting, your card is not lost in the mail. I didn't send one this year.  I feel bad about this every day when I open my mailbox full of cute families immortalized on cardstock.  Oh well.

We did make it to see Santa.  This is what a one year old looks like when you make him wait outside for an hour and half, to see a man with a big white beard, 2 hours past his bedtime.

Thanks aunt Alison for the reindeer sweater!  Fisher's worn it every day this week. . .literally.  It makes me feel better when at least one of the two of us looks like we got dressed in the morning.

Thrilled. . .

Critter Barn

The "Critter Barn" was all fun and games. . .

Who knew there were so many kinds of bunnies?

Until the ducks came after Fisher . . .

I think he set a world record in the one year old sprint.

Run Fishy, Run!

You can never be too careful at a Critter Barn . . . that's for sure.

Our county has many working farms. . .I really do live in the country

Christmas Fail

Just when you think you nailed Christmas. . .

Your Christmas tree falls over. . .

sadly this is after I tried to pick it up and put it up straight . . .again

Your snowmen cupcake toppers look like The Joker . . .

super scary

Your Gingerbread house was condemned. . .

Sometimes I really put the "plain" in Jane

And the Santa House is closed . . . Again.

That's right Fisher you have to wear your dweeby Santa outfit one more time. . . Third times the charm!

Christmas Tree Tips

There are many rules to decorating a Christmas tree.

1.) The more lights the better

2.) Weave said lights in and out of the tree, wrapping branches individually from trunk to branch tip. Yes you need lots of lights.

3.) Small ornaments on top, big ones on bottom

4.) Interesting and or sentimental ornaments should be showcased in prominent spots (Obvi)

5.) Big glass balls are great for adding shine and look
particularly pleasant in the middle of the tree towards trunk

6.) Themes aren't necessary but a few of the same ornament spread throughout the tree will add visual consistency

7.) Red draws the eye first- distribute red ornaments throughout workable surface evenly

8.) A little bit of fantastical whimsy is always a good thing.

9.) Hide the best presents in the tree to open last. As an added bonus when you take the tree down in January you will have a surprise present or check to open that was forgotten.

10.) Don't listen to anything I say. This is our tree. Ugliest tree ever. One year olds are Christmas Tree game changers.

I pretty much hate this tree . . . everything about it

Holidazzle

We kicked off the holiday season a with the Grand Haven Jingle Bell parade with the Schaals.

It wasn't clear who had more fun the adults or the kids? And it had nothing to do with our coffee tumblers full of wine.

Double Fisting

Leave it to Julianne to teach Fisher how to double fist. She may have taught me too.

Buckeye Nation

Disaster. Grandpa's babysitting privileges have been revoked!

Bath Time Rewind

What a difference one year makes. Thanks Erica for visiting!

Seattle (land of compost)

Here is what I learned on my recent trip to Seattle:

1.) Seattle obsesses over recycling and most people have a personal compost canister on their counter. Gross. Kind of. The city picks up compost free of charge once a week with the trash (not free). If Grand Haven charged as much for trash as Seattle, I would compost and obsessively recycle too.

2.) I'll take Fisher anywhere. The little man miraculously turned into a travel pro. It only took him 15 states and trips to the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Little man gets around.

3.) When your brother in law announces in front of all the guests at your sister's shower that Fisher seems a little ahead. He really means Fisher has a little head. True.

4.) Seattle is not full of dirty hippies . . . Only some

5.) I really wish my sister lived closer. Although hopefully she leaves her counter compost container in Seattle.

Best Thanksgiving Ever!

We're celebrating in Columbus today, but I couldn't wait to share the newest member of our family. Dylan Arthur Dreiblatt, born early this morning.

Fisher has a cousin!

Isn't he the cutest?

My mother's next grandchild will be born on Christmas. Halloween and Thanksgiving are already covered.

Fisher's Baptism

A long, long time ago (mid-September) we baptized Fisher.  We shared a great weekend with friends and family who traveled near and far to be with us to share Fisher's special day he won't remember. . . but we will!

My namesake, Jane Fisher the original visiting from Columbus

No one paid attention to the little man at all.  (Martha, Lee, Chris & Chris)

Guest star, Alison Lardo visiting from Atlanta, posing with Jann

Aunt Martha gifted us with a special bottle of "Fisher Vineyards" wine at Fisher's birth.  We took this opportunity to enjoy it's deliciousness with our guests Saturday night.

Fisher learns dancing on table tops late nite = good times

Sunday brunch crowd, post service

This face sums up Fisher's excitement for the day

My friend Carolyn graciously let us borrow her son Greyson's baptism outfit.  It did occur to me that I was short changing my future grandchildren of a heirloom outfit.  So if you are reading this in 30 years looking for the whereabouts of Fisher's baptism outfit . . . sorry . . . I went cheap.

Thanks for coming everyone, but I'd rather just drink my milk on the grass.

I promise Nick was there too.

Happy Birthday Fisher

Happy Birthday Fisher! Because nothing says first birthday party like taper candles and skeletons.  Next year we'll go with a happy pumpkin theme or something more appropriate . . . maybe.

As I explained to the man with an expression of shock on his face when he glimpsed Fisher sitting in the trunk of my car while I loaded in pumpkins and groceries on top of him- I've never won a parenting award.

Our 1 year old lion.  Thanks grandma Jann for the great costume!

The family- I feel we look quite rural/suburban here.  I think it's my Meijer shirt and the crepe paper in the background.

Hallobirthday Tablescape.  My favorite part is the little pumpkin in the tree

Even a one year old can experience the joy of PRESENTS!

Just give me the cupcake already mom.  Do I have to pretend like I've never had one of these before?  You were sneaking me cake ages ago.  Writers note:  See above- I've never won a parenting award

 For those of you who feel the need to an excessive amount of photos of a little man in a lion costume check out my Facebook.

On 30

I'm (almost) 30 days past 30 and thankfully it feels a lot like 29 . . . pretty good.  I don't feel 30 until I look at pictures of myself and think who is that lady?  She definitely looks 30.

My dream of spending the eve of my 30th birthday frolicking in a Florentine piazza didn't come true, however I did manage to round up the family for an evening picnic and hike at the beach. 

Fishy loved to play in the sand, probably because it guarantees a post play bath

Still handsome when he's grumpy

Did you know sand is our regions greatest export?

Birthday girl and her favorite son

Can you spot the kite surfer?  This is a major sport on Lake Michigan in the fall

The beginning of fall color

West Michigan's famous dunes

The first sunset of my 30's

It wasn't the Duomo at sunset, but on a night like my 30th birthday I'll put Grand Haven, Michigan up against anywhere in the world.  It's take your breathe away beautiful.  Although I wouldn't complain catching the first sunset of 31 on the banks of the Arno.