Cranford’s Holiday Family Meet the Guzman Family
Your family names: Lacey & Mike Guzman
Family Names: Mikey (3) & Jax Guzman (2)
Tell us about your Christmas decorations. How did this start?
The day we closed on our house we were told by our new neighbors that John St. is the “Christmas Street” so we better be ready. When our first Christmas rolled around, we put up some lights and maybe two inflatables. About a week later a few friends played a joke on us and took our blow ups. We told our families that our decorations were taken off the front lawn and they felt so bad for us that they collectively bought us five new inflatables. The next day, our friends returned ours so we were already up to eight and it’s been growing since. Year after year, Mike would add more lights or inflatables… one year you couldn’t turn the lights on in the downstairs bathroom or the breakers would blow. Now Mike has it down to a science, where things get plugged in and EVERYTHING is strapped down with zip ties.
Why do you do it? What is your goal?
When the pandemic happened Mike really took it to a new level and the amount of joy it brought people was amazing. It is very touching to have people thank him and see how excited kids get. Now our own kids are obsessed and ask all day when the inflatables will “wake up.” It is also such a nice time on John St. with our neighbors. We all spend most nights outside together and the kids all play, it’s really such a magical time.
How else do you celebrate Christmas and the holidays?
It has become a tradition on John St. to spend a lot of December nights together with all the kids outside. On any given night Santa, friends and family members will stop by. We love being a part of the annual Santa visit sponsored by the Jaycees. We have done it every year since we had our first son; it is so magical! Every Christmas Eve we go to my sister’s house, who also lives in Cranford, and our boys wear matching pajamas and sprinkle reindeer food on the front lawn.
Tell us about your family, where did you both grow up?
I grew up in Elizabeth & Mike grew up in Roselle. We met in high school (Roselle Catholic) and actually attended prom together.
Why did you decide to raise your family here in Cranford?
We knew we wanted to be close to our hometowns but wanted that small town feel. We had our hearts set on Cranford. Now that we have been here for 7 years, I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else, especially with young children.
What activities have you and your family been involved in the community?
We try to be involved in everything! We love attending the street fairs, breakfast with Santa at Garlic Rose, the truck parade, all the fall activities, we love going to the pool in the summer – just everything, we love it all!
What is your favorite thing to do in town as a family?
Our favorite thing to do in town is very simple… we walk. We walk to Nomahegan and play, feed the ducks or we walk downtown and spend hours running around the clock.
Local Restaurants – what are your go-to faves?
We love Frenchy’s, Ambeli, Vinny’s & Mr. Jay’s.