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.

I Bring You The Archer Family Christmas Tree

A few weeks back the Archer family packed into the honda civic (the van was being worked on) and headed out into the wilderness to cut down our tree. We didn't realize when we set off on our journey that we'd be searching in the midst of a heavy flurry. The farm was great. Kate and Steve gave us the heads up. The trees were really reasonable and the landscape was picturesque. There was the beautiful cobblestone house as you drove up the hill and a really pretty farm. I imagine inside the big farm shed there were tables and a stage and Danny Kaye and Bing Crosby were dancing around. Anyhow, it was a fun day.

Jack was eager from the start. Here he is trying to nail his mother with a snowball.

Lily, not so eager.

Jack sizing up the lot

Jack was so excited to run, especially in the snow. More rapid than eagles he flew...

Lily reminds me of the little boy in "Christmas Story" when he yells,

"I can't put my arms down."

There's Clark. The tree farm equipped him with a saw. Thankfully no roots dangling off the tail of our car.

Jack and Lily thought this tree was nice

Daddy and Lily pausing a moment for a picture. Lily is so not a snow bunny.

Lily: "Hey dad, how's it going?"

David: "Little full, lotta sap."

Our Snow Angels

Behold Yon Tree

Me and My Babes

I adore this picture. I love how Jack is helping David here. It's the sweetest.

Aunt Jody Visits

David's Aunt Jody came to visit over Thanksgiving and the kids soaked up as much Jody as they could. They loved her! Actually, I think you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone that didn't love Jody. She's so much fun and has the best laugh. And, she gives our kids books about a flatulent Santa Claus. I love the pictures below...