Dance Party at the Archers

Don't Stop Till You Get Enough...

Christmas Morning

Warning: Lots of Pictures!

We had a nice, early Christmas morning. We were joined by Toni, Dave, Kate, Steve and Matt. So, please keep that in mind when you look at the abundance of gifts. Geesh. It's almost embarrassing. Needless to say, Santa was very good to the Archers. Here are some pictures before the kids came downstairs. It seems Santa forgot to close the fireplace doors on his way out.

Santa left a letter for Jack and Lily.


No wonder it took us awhile to open presents!

New easel! Score!


New little kitchen set.

Lily looks like she's playing jenga with the presents.

David looking rather serious. I think this was his new cap from Matt.

Jack found this in his stocking!

I guess a nurse has to have a nice bag.

Taking a breather and discussing gift strategy with Uncle Matt.

I never would have guessed, when I was at Geneseo, that some day Matt would sit with his niece and graciously hold her princess shoes and read her Pinkalicious books

My hair looks like I just passed through a wind tunnel here but it's the only pic I have from Christmas of me...so enjoy.

Have I mentioned that Lily is a bit taken with Steve?

She wanted Steve to admire her new princess gown.

I found this picture on my camera later.

I think Lily and Kate were both wearing princess heels in this picture.

David and his princess on Christmas morning

That Grandma Toni is so funny.

I wish Toni had been wearing her princess gown in this picture. :)

Christmas Eve

Here are a few pictures from Christmas Eve. We went over to my mom's and opened some gifts. Of course I didn't get any pictures of me or my mom. But, you can see the kids were excited.

Hurry up Dad!

In honor of Firefighter Jack this year...

Jack got so excited when he opened the Charlie Brown book. It played music. His little black and white shirt is from Aunt Bridget.

Lily is so serious about opening gifts

More to come!

On a Mission

I still have to post pictures from Christmas but for now I thought I would post an after Christmas shot. We had a great holiday this year. Here is Lily in all Christmas gifts. The dress is from my sister. The stroller is from Toni and Dave. The dog is from my Uncle Tim. The red slippers are Jack's from Santa. And that lonely scoop of ice cream in the background is from an ice cream set my mom gave the kids. I like how Lily is wearing a dachsund and pushing a dachsund. She is so coordinated already!

Pip Pip Cheerio

We were so excited to get a visit from the Londoners. Taryn and Dave look terrific and, despite being pulled in a thousand directions, seemed fairly well rested and very happy. The kids had alot of fun with them. My Uncle Tim and Aunt Margaret came over to have pizza and open some early Christmas gifts. Jack was a little under the weather but it's amazing how resilient a child's spirit is when there are presents around. Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures from our get together but I did manage to snap a few (much, I'm sure, to Taryn and Dave's delight) the next morning. Good times!

Miss these guys...


Lily wanted to be in the picture.

I think Taryn and Dave should have consulted with Jack before they hired their wedding photographer. I happen to know he's VERY reasonable.

Time Out

We've been trying to introduce the concept of "time out" to Lily. It's hard to keep a straight face sometimes when I look and see her sitting there. Half the time she just gets up and flashes a smile. But every now and then she stays put. She is asserting her independence these days. The best part though is when Jack sits next to her to keep her company. He is the sweetest... Last night we took our tree down while the kids were napping. When Lily came down the stairs she burst into tears. Jack said, "I think she's upset because the Christmas tree is gone." Then he rubbed her shoulder and said, "It's ok Lil, we'll get another one next Christmas."

Time Out For Goldilocks

She Seems To Be Taking This Pretty Well

Easier To Pass The Time With An Entertaining Big Brother

Why It's Hard to Discipline Her...

Happy New Year!

From our household to yours, happy new year! We wish all our family and friends joy, peace, health, prosperity and patience in 2011. This past year has been filled with ups and downs. We are grateful to be living in Rochester again, though we miss our friends in Buffalo. Our beautiful children are thriving and healthy. We have a roof over our heads, food to eat and our health...I think we have to remember the basics sometimes and realize just how fortunate we are. Awhile back I read the following article by Garrison Keilor and loved it. I know it's intended for Thanksgiving but I think it is just as relevant for the new year. Cheers and happy birthday to Uncle Matt-ee!


At the risk of sounding like Pastor Bob of Pigeon Knob, I have to say the best thing about Thanksgiving is the thankfulness part. It certainly isn’t your loud relatives and their embittered children, and it isn’t the weather (overcast, with a 50 percent chance of snow). It is the sheer gratitude for the fact that you have somehow, once again, navigated the treacherous channels of life and avoided the greasy hand of death and have not thrown your savings down a rat hole or contracted an insect-borne disease so rare they plan to name it after you.

It’s an unjust world; mortality has us all by the tail; we live in a culture of complaint; and yet, as we all know, there is much to be grateful for—though we’re reluctant to say so, fearing it may sound smug or boastful.

In my childhood, Dad bowed his head and gave thanks to God—for the food, for redemption, and other stuff—a fine custom that I have discontinued. My prayers sound pompous to me (“O Thou Who didst create the growth hormones that produced this enormous bird…”), and I feel odd saying them in front of Jews, agnostics, atheists, “spiritual” people, Uncertains, Rosicrucians, ophthalmologists, and the tired old Anglicans at our table. But I also feel odd if the food is hauled into the dining room and we simply dig in and feed like jackals at the carcass of a fallen gazelle. There should be a graceful pause, a meaningful look around the table, an appropriate word or two. To that end, I had a table grace painted on the dining-room wall above the mantel.

O Lord, we thank Thee for this food,
For every blessing, every good.
For earthly sustenance and love
Bestowed on us from heaven above.
Be present at our table, Lord.
Be here and everywhere adored.
Thy children bless and grant that we
May feast in paradise with Thee.

If I printed the prayer on cards and passed them around, it would feel like a school assignment. Instead, I just look up at the wall and start singing (to the tune of the doxology), and everyone else in the family chimes in. If it sounds good, we might segue into “America the Beautiful” and “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” And toss in the hymn “Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow,” sung to the tune of “Hernando’s Hideaway.” It isn’t a party unless you sing a few songs. Group singing is one more thing for which I am grateful. It’s civility in its purest form. If you have a few hairy-legged baritones and basses, you can launch into “Old Man River” or “On the Road to Mandalay.” Although you must all resume toting the barge and lifting the bale tomorrow, it’s inspiring to hear 15 people find harmony around the Thanksgiving table. And it sets a tone. No crying in the cranberries. Lighten up. It could, as we say, be worse.

Garrison Keillor is the longtime host of public radio’s Prairie Home Companion and the author of numerous books, most recently Pilgrims: A Wobegon Romance ($17, amazon.com). He lives in St. Paul.