Traditions

Originally uploaded by Jason Archer

I’m putting the finishing touches on a “New Years Letter” while updating our Web site and putting together a picture book that encapsulates the year and I figured I’d do a quick update on the past two weeks. Why? It’s Christmas and they were two really good weeks.

We started break by Micki and Grace enjoying doing some Christmas break prep while I worked. They did some shopping and mailing of presents while getting some things decorated. We did minimal setup in the house because we were basically running on fumes to get to break. Micki got her thesis paper back and got a 99%. She finished her M.A. in Education with a 4.0.

I think the Christmas eve services was a great event for us. We went to a traditional candlelight service and dinner with the Clevengers. It was perfect for me to get focused. We also decided to gear down Christmas with minimal gifts and begin the process of giving more than receiving by finding some great places to give. We did that the Wednesday. Grace made an ornament putting the names of the people we supported. Very meaningful.

Christmas day was very mellow. We woke up late and had a relaxing morning. Micki made our traditional cherry cheese kuchen.  Mom’s recipe.  We opened gifts, made Christmas phone calls, and prepared to get together with the Page family. I had tried to coordinate a big trip. Micki had asked that we don’t do anything but chill. So we did. And I am so glad. We had no plans, but wound up having tons of plans with friends. Christmas eve was with Clevengers. Christmas night we spent time with the extended Page family and play family games. It was awesome. We got home late Christmas night.

The weekend was spent on bleachers as Grace had a basketball tournament. Two games on Saturday and two on Sunday. Their team won the tournament, so it was pretty fun to see. Grace did a great job. She’s gaining some confidence and becoming one of the stronger players on the team.

The rest of the week we did some really fun stuff. One day we did pajama day. I borrowed a video projector from work and we watched three movies all day in the basement in our jammies. One day we did Christmas with the Durochers. We had lots of time where we were just hanging out. Doing some reading. Relaxing. Some naps. New years eve we tried to have a party with no kids. We wound up having dinner with John and Lissa in Battle Creek and heading home to hang out. John and Lissa left and Joel and Janette came over to hang until midnight.

We finished off break with a family fun day. Headed to Lansing to do some after Christmas shopping. Taking back some stuff. Eating out. And catching a movie. We wound up seeing “The Princess and the Frog”. After leaving the theater, we looked and saw “Invictus” was playing in 45 minutes. We decided to be spontaneous and do a double feature. We refilled out popcorn and headed back in. It was awesome. Both movies were good. We then had the Chilcote’s over to watch “Pirates of the Caribbean 2″ last night. Worship today. Now we’re gearing up for the week. Laundry done. Clothes laid out. Lunches made. Dinner in oven. Maybe family hot tub tonight. Short weeks ahead for the next two weeks.

As I look back, I’m really thankful for friends, great jobs that afford us to unplug, and time to relax. We needed it after this fall. The exciting part is that I’m not teaching tomorrow night, not teaching at the church and Micki is done with her coursework. All in all, we’re excited about the winter and spring and all 2010 has for us.  |  Christmas 2009 Photoset

Wednesday

Thanksgiving break was one of the better ones in Archer-dom.  Lots of what we remember usually have to do with setting a good tone.  We had been watching some Food Network shows on great new ideas for dishes.  After finding a few favorites, we got our supplies and enjoyed a really fun evening cooking and baking in the kitchen.  All three of us.

Thursday

This year we decided to head to Durochers early to hang and prep for the day.  It was a good call.  We arrived early, made some appetizers with the kids, and had a blast.  10 kids and 10 adults.  Lots of noise.  Great food.  Seems like we ate all day.  The kids performed some skits and puppet shows.  We all snuggled down and watched Muppets from Space.  Looked at black Friday ads.  Relaxed.  It was a genuinely good day.  Oh, and one of our highlights was Mick’s milk.  You see the pic.  You can guess.  Ask her about it.  A great moment.

Friday

Friday morning was my first “Black Friday” experience.  Up at 5.  At Strods at 5:15.  Shopping after hooking up.  Here’s the nutshell for me on black Friday:  Much ado about nothing.  What I loved was the adventure of being together.  Loved being with John and Lissa.  Loved seeing the excitement of Micki looking for deals.  But I really didn’t see much at a discount motivating me to be up that early and wait that long.  Plus, I’m seemingly ruined lately for consumerism with much of what I’m reading lately about our wealth and responsibility with our wealth.  But enough “debbie-downer”.  It was really fun to be together.  But don’t count on me next year.

Later in the afternoon we wound up hooking up with Duros to catch “Fantastic Mr. Fox”.  Really fun movie.  Great time.  Later in the evening we were wandering around the mall and saw Duros eating at the Alpha Coney Island.  We stopped and hung out a bit more.  That’s where we captured the soon-to-be-classic “Jasmin Soulpatch” video.  Later that night I helped Strods make a 50th wedding anniversary video for Lissa’s parents.  Wow.  50 years.  I hope to celebrate that someday.

Saturday

Saturday Micki worked on her paper while I was helping a friend drywall the ceiling of his basement.  After getting cleaned up, we connected with the Pages at Outback.  Dave treated us to a great meal with all of the kids.  Dave and I were at the “kid table”.  A great meal and fun being together.  We were planning on going out after dinner to see “The Blind Side”.  After heading over to Jackson and discovering it was sold out, I hopped on my Fandango iPhone app and bought tickets in Lansing.  We ran to the cars and drove about 80 to Lansing and made it in time.  We couldn’t sit together, but it was a fun adventure.  We got to ride up with Shanna and her friend Monica.

After getting in late Saturday, I prepped for our class.  Sunday the class was a bit lame.  But the afternoon was good getting time to gear up for the week.  All in all, fun long weekend.  Great friends and great adventures.  Definitely thankful.

Thanksgiving Photoset |  Fantastic Mr. Fox Photoset

Grad Card

Originally uploaded by Jason Archer

She did it. And I’m so proud. Micki now has her Master’s Degree. She finished this weekend and walked toward glory on the stage. We are so excited. She has been working so hard for so long on her coursework, and it finally paid off. Her research thesis and presentation is still being finalized, but the celebration has begun.

As per Mick’s request, we didn’t do much. Grace, John, Lissa, and Uncle Duane joined me in the press box of the SAU Fieldhouse (thanks Duane Skene), and watched the ceremony from the “luxury box”. After a brief photo shoot, we headed out to Lansing to Smokey Bones, the bookstore, and some light shopping. We’re going to have a party during Christmas break when the thesis is all done and we have more time and capacity. It’s been a long road and fall, but it’s worth it.

To see Micki in a classroom is to define what calling is. She’s a natural. She was created for this. The Ph.D. is off the grid for awhile. Now is the time to celebrate!

Graduation Photoset

I just got around to producing a short piece of Grace at her second cross country meet.  It was a perfect example to demonstrate how to use iMovie for my students Monday.  They got a kick out of the video as well as the tool.  I think this was in Sand Creek, but I can’t be for sure.  I do know it was her favorite course.  Notice the first leg her speed at mile .5, and her speed at mile 1.75, the finish line.  She had plenty in the tank!  We’re so proud of her for not just starting, but finishing.  I’ll post some more vids later this month on two other races.