This year I decided to save myself the frustration of creating the perfect family Christmas card by choosing pictures taken over the course of the year.
Traditionally, I eagerly plan a stress-filled holiday-themed photo shoot with major expectations for everyone to look merry and bright, because that works…
This brings me to the making of 2008’s Christmas card, may it forever live in infamy:
My vision was a spontaneous looking picture of the family cozy in bed. Ya know, because we are famous for snuggling in bed with our holiday-themed jammies while we read classic children’s literature and sip hot cocoa. In actuality I’m horribly selfish with my bed and Big Daddy P is lucky to even get the left side of it. I’m pretty sure this photo shoot was the first and last time the kids have ever been in our bed.
First there was this shot:
Look at me with brown hair looking all smart. Big Daddy P looks utterly confused and Little BooBoo is obviously thrilled to participate. MERRY AND BRIGHT PEOPLE!
Then there was this shot:
Behold the darkness, followed by this shot:
Let there be light! And too much of it!
And finally, the happy family. Happy that it was all over with anyway…
This was as close to merry and bright as we were going to get that day.
How are your holiday cards coming along? Share your stories!
MOMMYFRIEND 
Great photo! Love your pj pants! What did you end up with for 2010?My card just has the little guy on it and I’m hoping it gets here soon so I can get them addressed! Fingers crossed! So much to do!
Well you got a wonderful photo in the end!
Thanks Mommy Friends! This photo shoot was a real joy, one for the books.
That is a great photo! I’m always so relieved to find one to use.
That’s an adorable photo – definitely Christmas card worthy!
I love the pics!! Even with little ones crying or just not paying attention… they’re still fun!
I did a combination this year of photos of our daughter taken throughout the year, and one family photo taken especially for the card (which I sent out the day after Thanksgiving).
I did a post with some of the funny outtakes from that photo shoot:
http://www.thewriterrevived.com/2010/11/wordless-wednesday-family-photo-shoot.html
And the winner:
http://www.thewriterrevived.com/2010/11/wordless-wednesday-happy-holidays.html
The whole thing was so stressful, I will probably not do it next year. LOL
So behind this year, just about to order them – go figure, I have a new baby! Had to get a recent photo with her, of course, and getting her in her happy mood during the short daylight hours is tough!
That is awesome – I love that picture! Even if it took you several attempts to get it just right! 🙂
That is such a cute idea! Pictures stress me out no matter what they are for, but Christmas cards seem to just increase it! My kids will probably grow up hating pictures, because no matter how well the shoot starts out, by the end I am YELLING at them to SMILE!!! (so effective, right? haha!)
sounds just like our cards! My daughter seems to think it’s her mission in life to find out just how much memory is left in the camera! argh!
What wonderful pictures!! Thanks for sharing. Maybe that should be my card, too.
love it!real wins out for me every time! Great post – thanks for sharing. Your kids are absolutely adorable. Amy http://mommetime.com/